Christmas 2013

Christmas Greetings 2013

Happy Howlidays from the Barcomb’s and the incredible Solo! What’s that… been here, done that? Yes, I know I’ve already been the star of one Christmas letter, but while time waits for no man, or dog as the case may be, I wanted one final chance to put paw to paper and bid a final farewell to all those who have given yours truly, belly rubs and ear scratches over the years. While part of me hopes I’ll still be around this time next year... this old girl’s body may be packing it in. But don’t be sad… I’ve lived an awesome life and really while it would be cool to have Willard Scott put my picture up on the Smucker’s centenarian segment on the Today Show, I don’t think I’ll… wait, what… mom just said they don’t put dogs on that segment, only humans??? THAT is a travesty!!! Right up there with not allowing our kind in fine dining restaurants that serve bacon and prohibiting our use of the furniture like we’re some kind of animal!!! My time here on Earth is almost done, but I do hope the future four-legged family members will take up this cause and right this horrible injustice!!! Ah, but I digress… so without further ado here are the 2013 highlights of Dan, Angie, Lexi, Hunter and Me… Solo!!!

† January, Hunter boy turned 7… and is no longer our baby boy… meaning no more dropped food or unearned Scooby snacks… Solo sad!

† Sports, sports, sports… what don’t those kids play??? Basketball, soccer, baseball and softball… oh my!

† Lexi was top scorer in basketball, made several goals in soccer and as goalie some incredible saves, outstanding defensive plays as short stop and catcher and collected a nice amount of stolen bases this past year!

† Hunter is an excellent soccer and baseball player and is just learning basketball but looks to be following in big sis’ footsteps, which is pretty easy considering they wear the same size shoe!

† March, Lexi turned double digits… the big one zero! How did that happen??? She is officially a tween now… God help us all… especially daddy!

† Besides playing sports, travelling to sports, and eating and sleeping sports… kids find time to do some schooling too! As 5^th and 2^nd graders this year, this will be the last year the kids will be in the same school until Lexi is a senior in high school!

† As a 5^th grader this year Lexi was able to run for A.S.B. president of the school. She lost by a slim margin, but is still an A.S.B. class representative and vows to run again someday… Solo proud!

† As for my mom, Angie, and my dad, Dan… they just celebrated their 14 year anniversary… finally something that has lasted longer than me!!!

† Dad still manages to find time to squeeze in work and bring home the bacon… me love bacon… while busy coaching Lexi’s softball team. And because he loves coaching pre-adolescent girls who already know everything there is to know about, well… everything… he volunteered to coach Lexi’s basketball team this year too.

† Mom also had some big happenings this year. She celebrated a milestone birthday… 29, for the 11^th year in a row. She also got to go see The. Best. Band. EVER. Bon Jovi, in October with her little brother. And finally, not to be outdone by her daughter’s political aspirations, mom became the Vice President of the PTO this year… move over Joe Biden!

† Finally, there’s me, Solo! And while rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated, I am nearing the end of this life. I turned 13 this past July, have tumors near and far, get two shots of insulin a day and am completely deaf and nearly completely blind. My legs don’t always cooperate which means making it to the little girl’s room difficult at times. But with all of these issues… I am one extremely blessed pooch! I have THE best family in the world and while I know I will soon join my BFF, Patches, in the great beyond… I intend to enjoy every day, minute, second to the fullest while I’m here on Earth! Of course for me that means following my bliss… a 23 hour nap!

So as I conclude, what will most likely be my final letter, I leave you humans with these final words of dog wisdom: Greet everyone you meet with sheer enthusiasm, be loyal & faithful, chase after your dreams, take a nap, learn new tricks no matter your age, love unconditionally and above all else, live in the moment… life is too precious and too short… so don’t waste it!!! God Blessings and Merry Christmas, sending loads of love from all of us… Dan, Angie, Lexi, Hunter and most especially, yours truly, Solo!

Christmas 2012

Barcomb Greetings 2012

Well yet another Christmas is upon us, and so you all know by now what that means… another wacky letter from the Barcomb’s. But this year I’m doing it a little different. I mean do you all actually read these holiday letters you get or just look at the pictures, then put it in a pile to read at a later date that never comes??? I have to admit I might be one of those people too. I mean after all, since the inception of Facebook, don’t we all pretty much know what all our friends have been up to lately? I bet you even know where your third cousin twice removed had lunch today. So I have decided to do something ingenious, if I do say so myself… or maybe it’s just lazy, but I think it sums up our year quite nicely and it’s always good to recycle. It is our year in review according to Facebook… enjoy! J

* JANUARY * Happy 2012!!! Wishing you all peace, love and happiness in this New Year! * Six years ago almost to this exact minute, my water broke and a few short hours later a slightly grumpy but beautiful 8 lbs. 6 oz. bouncing baby boy blessed our lives! Happy Birthday, my sweet Hunter! * No school tomorrow! Happy snow day all! * What good is it having a little brother if you can't make him pull you & friend around on a sled??? * FEBRUARY * It’s a daddy/daughter, mommy/son kind of day! The girl and the hubs have basketball then dinner & dancing tonight and me and the boy have soccer then a fancy dinner at IHOP and an evening of Skylanders on the Wii. At least I get to wear sweats for my evening out! * MARCH * Rain notwithstanding, it will be 4:30 girls soccer practice, 5:00 boys soccer practice, 5:30 baseball practice, 6:00 softball practice… who’s jealous??? No one to blame but myself… played the odds of everything landing on one day & lost! * Nine years ago today our lives were forever blessed by a beautiful 6 lb. 10 oz. baby girl! Happy Birthday Lexi! It’s an honor & privilege to be your mom! * APRIL * Today is National Sibling Day! Happy Day to the best little brothers in the world! * That’s my girl! Star pitcher!!! * Happy Easter! He is Risen * MAY * It’s only 5:30 and the whole family are in jammies ready for bed. Long day at the soccer fields. Lexi & her team got third! Proud mama! * 13 down, a lifetime to go! Happy Anniversary babe… love you! * Proud mama tonight! Bumblebees win another! Woohoo! And baby girl hit in the winning run with 2 outs! No wonder I’m graying prematurely! * JUNE * Lexi in the school talent show as the finale, performed to 'School's Out'! Baby girl's still got it! * Kinder "graduation"! I love you, Hunter! * 2 hours left of peace and quiet! And then my baby will be a first grader! * JULY * Yay she made it! Happy 12th Birthday to our sweet little old Solo! Love you, pup! * Beautiful day for baseball in Seattle! And having an elegant $65 lunch of hotdogs, soda, peanuts & cracker jacks! Hope that will tide the kids over until tomorrow! * Enjoying the hubby’s 40^th… yikes!... birthday cake. Bonfire, anyone??? * Oh crud, there goes the smoke alarm! * AUGUST * Open to close... we are outta here! Had a great dinner sponsored by WSU Alumni and a fun day at Silverwood Theme Park! Good night all! * Our one and only Dust Devils game of the year… where did the summer go??? * First day of school! My sparkly Lexi's in 4th and my sweet Hunter boy is starting all-day school in 1st! * SEPTEMBER * Wow, nothing like Facebook to make a girl feel loved! Thanks for all the Birthday Wishes! Until next year when I turn the dreaded F word… Love you all!!! * Yep, indoor recess for the poor kiddos today. On a beautiful Friday in September! Praying for rain and cooler temps to squelch those awful wildfires!!! * OCTOBER * Cold front movin’ in… happy fall y’all! * Great job yesterday to my two kiddos... 3 goals for Lexi and 2 for my little guy! They take after their soccer star uncle!!! * 90 years young today!!! Happy 90^th Birthday Grandma! We love you!!! * Mission accomplished! The 2^nd tooth fairy visit in the last week… this time for the other kid! I think these kids could clean her out before Christmas! * So hard to eat yummy roasted corn-on-the-cobb without any front teeth! * NOVEMBER * So does this mean Big Bird still has a job??? * I'm so sad... my baby's front teeth are already starting to grow in and soon he'll have grown up teeth! So to cheer me up Lexi suggests we can just knock them out when they come in. Way to look out big sis! * You’re going down Huskies!!! Come on Cougs… * UW field goal attempt, NO GOOD!!!! Overtime!!! GO COUGS!!! * OMG!!! COUGS WIN!!! * DECEMBER * Cougar Gold and Mistletoe! * On our way to the Nutcracker, while dad’s gone fishin’! * Yikes, Christmas is almost here and my letter isn’t done yet… ah, but what’s that… recycle all my old Facebook posts, you say??? Voila… 2012 recap is DONE!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS to all and to all a good night!!! J

So that’s that! We had a great year and are very much looking forward to what 2013 has in store for us. The kids are getting bigger… which makes me very sad, as they are at the perfect age! Sparkly Lexi is beautiful, smart, athletic and still calls me “mommy”. Sweet Hunter has a tender heart, gentle soul and will forever be a mama’s boy (in a good way!). Solo is defying all odds by continuing to grace us with her faithful companionship and loyal friendship. And Dan and I seem to be getting the hang of this marriage thing after 13 years of him finally accepting that I’m always right! If I could freeze time, I’d do it now… especially before I turn fo..for..fort… (sorry I’m still in denial)! But alas, I can’t… and although I would give anything to keep my kids little, my face young, and my body strong… I have accepted that time cannot be frozen so we must live for today! “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.” My heart is heavy as I finish this year’s letter. At a time when we should be preparing to celebrate the birth of our Savior in the season of peace and love, twenty angels went to live with our Father this morning at the hands of pure evil. Our heart and prayers go out to all those in Newtown grieving for their lost children and for the many others who have had loved ones go to be with the Lord this year! May God Bless you all! Merry Christmas and Peace in the New Year!

Love Dan, Angie, Lexi, Hunter and Solo J