Baker's Happenings

Through the Years

2012-01-17T08:11:00.000-08:00

Morgan's first day Kindergarten

Morgan's first day Junior High

Morgan's High School Picture

Morgan's first day of college. Go get'em girl!

What Fun It Is to Bid the Year Farewell...

2012-01-16T21:19:00.001-08:00

Hooray for Morgan

2011-10-07T07:28:00.001-07:00

Congratulations Broncs and Phillies! What a fun but exhausting season. And best of all, Morgan medalled again this year! She placed fourth at State in #2 Singles category! Hooray!

Summer Science

2011-09-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

Remember your Chemistry Lab class in college? Remember what happened when you took two compounds and put them together? Depends on the compound, right? Well, see what happened when we put these two compounds together in the water this summer...

Compound #1...we'll call it S.T.E.A.L.T.H.

Compound #2...We'll call it S.M.O.O.T.H.E.

Mix with H2O

Hypothesis: What is tried to be kept apart will eventually recoil back together.

Experiment in motion...give it some time please...

And we have success! Hypothesis confirmed as true.

Hypothesis #2: Does the same result happen when another compound is added to compound S.T.E.A.L.T.H.? Added compound S.L.I.C.K. and confirmed hypothetical outcome as true also.

Compound S.T.E.A.L.T.H. acting radically after experiment

Compound S.T.E.A.L.T.H. showing off

So, what do YOU do when it's cold outside? Sip hot chocolate and read a good book? Not Brandon or Morgan. They brave the waves!

Oh Geesh!

We miss our ski buddies! (Hi Linda and Johnny "Apple-seed"!)

Summer Adventures

2011-07-09T12:38:00.000-07:00

There is this trail that I'd like to take you on and at the end of it is the most hillariously ambiguous sign I've EVER read. It's a 4.4 mile r/t paved road that leads toward the bottom and top of Buffalo Bill Reservoir Damn.

You start by crossing under the main highway towards Yellowstone NP.

The road winds itself along the river Through a tunnel...
You can feel the mist of the water being spewed out of the damn.

You're almost at the top...

We're getting closer to the sign...I'm laughing already...

So does this mean that I can throw my teenagers below? HA HA HA! Does 'equipment' include vacuums and irons?

I'd be crazy to throw this guy down!

Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, It's Off to Work We Go!

2011-07-01T12:33:00.000-07:00

The Bakers are busy this summer "bringing home the bacon"! (I just cook it). We are all gamefully employed learning the business world through our own eyes and hands. Dave is still with Eleutian. Morgan and Brandon work at the Holiday Inn QT's Restaurant, and Brandon, Bradley and Brian got approval from the city to sell water bottles on the main street this summer.

Brandon and Dave designed the cart and had a local company construct it.

However, when Brandon got his job at the Holiday Inn, he gave the business to Bradley and Brian to run.

Morgan and Brandon leaving together for work. And the best part of all this is that they LOVE IT!!!!!

The Ranch Expericence

2011-05-04T15:02:00.001-07:00

We're alive and well and have weathered our first Wyoming winter! We've come out of hybernation and so, on the first beautiful Saturday, we headed south about 2 hours to a small town called Ten Sleep. About ten minutes from there, we drove to the foot of this mountain where we were invited to do some ranching. (WARNING: Some pictures may contain gruesome content...proceed at your own risk).

First order of the day...get to know the victims.

Pretend they're gonna have a wonderful time.

Hussle them around a little to let them know who's boss.

Guide them through the tunnel while whispering sweet nothings.

Give them last minute instructions, and then...

WHAMO!
They got branded, castrated and vaccinated all within maybe 2 minutes time.

Yep! That's me...vaccinating them in the neck. I'll try anything once!

Brandon was taught how to castrate (with rubber bands).

David prostrated, Brandon castrated, and I vaccinated. What a team! Word got around and we've been scouted for a branding at another friend's ranch in a few weeks.

David and Craig (co-worker who invited us)
(His wife, Asia, and her family own all the land you see in the background and that side of the mountain.)

Asia (on the right), her dad and sister

Sorry, but if you come visit us this summer, all the branding and fun will have already been done, so we'll look for something else for you to do. We could take you through a slaughter house...

So, what do you think of Keith Urban (music)?

About as country as I can get for this blog!

Why we love to end the year in California...

2011-01-20T08:32:00.000-08:00

Years ago we started the tradition of going to California for Christmas. Granted 65 degrees is much colder than summer-time, 65 degrees is also MUCH warmer than 30 below (wind chill in Wyoming, OUCH!). This year, given that we are so much further away than we were in Salt Lake, we thought about chillin' (litterally) out here in Wyoming. But one week away from Christmas, we couldn't stand the thought of not being with family, so we booked the plane tickets and took off! It was the MOST wonderful Christmas! (It gets better every year as the kids get older). And this is why....

The first thing we did after we rented a car was of course, HIT THE BEACH, DUH

So the boys found this sea weed that looked like a toilet plunger and discovered new ways it could be used as a more useful tool such as a brain massager for Brandon...

and a hockey stick for Bradley

In front of the LifeGuard station was a 10-foot sand dune. This eventually became a favorite go-to spot everytime we went to the beach. Best boy-romping-spot around!

Later that night, we all got together for a good 'ol fashion Christmas Eve night at Rob and Jill's.

Good thing THESE cousins aren't related. I've never seen a bigger smile on Bradley. PRICELESS!

Brandon and Tanner just got done shooting hoops but somehow found more energy to boogie.

The adults were getting jealous..."Move over kids, this is wiiiiii too much fun!"
Christmas Day, went to Coronado Island and played football on the beach while everyone else ice skated at their rink. NOT US...NO SNOW FOR US!

Grandpa Roy is a good hiker

Christmas Dinner at grandma's house
Also, a favorite tradition, is to catch some waves at the Wave House. If you notice from years past, the kids have improved to where they can actually stand up! (In the winter, we always rent wet suits)

Brian is always the first one in though he doesn't last long since the force of the wave just scoops him away.

My, my, my, isn't he just gorgeous?

Nothing beats a soak in the jacuzzi to relieve some bumps and bruises pain

IT'S ALL GOOD!

We rented the suits for the rest of the day and took advantage of some other waves just across the boardwalk. Had to introduce the sand dune to the cousins too.

On another day, we took the cousins bike riding around Mission Beach for a couple of hours. Also, another favorite and traditional event very much looked forward to every time we go to California.

"Stay in single file...don't run into anyone...if you do, we'll get sued!"

At La Jolla Cove, we stopped to observe the seals (sunning on the beach here) and look what I found...BIG FOOT sitting right next to me wearing Brandon's shoes! (He's only 13. I'm surprised that we had the money to do this trip as he's eating me out of a house!)

I'm trying to practice my artistic 'eye' for photography and so with my little Nikon Coolpix S200, I set out to find the best shots. All taken at La Jolla Cove.

After flying back to Salt Lake, we picked up the truck and drove back to Cody. On the way, I noticed our odometer...Mmmm, what date is it? Too funny!

AND THAT'S WHY WE LOVE CHRISTMAS IN CALIFORNIA!!!!

Signing out for 2010...see ya next year! Hope you have enjoyed keeping in touch with us!

Michelle

Holiday Cheer

2010-12-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

We were invited by this darling couple, Bill and Yvonne Nielson, to their cabin in Yellowstone for Thanksgiving. It was a WONDERFUL weekend spent snowmobiling, eating, and enjoying the company of a truly marvelous family. (That's their daughter Tally on the right).

While the rest of them got to sticking gum drops with tooth picks to make gum drop turkeys, I got my baby fix!

Everybody LOVES Brandon; the girls, the boys...he's just a cool guy.

Then on Saturday, we invited the Korean teachers to our home for a Thanksgiving dinner as well. Morgan got her fortune and future revealed to her. Let's see, it goes something like this, "You'll have a boyfriend, then you won't, then you will, then you won't, (blah, blah, blah) and you'll eventually get married at 25". Hey, who needs a patriarchal blessing after a revelation like that!

We will miss Sear! She has a beautiful spirit.

About 1/2 hour from Cody next to the Southeast Entrance to Yellowstone NP is the local ski resort Sleeping Giant. We decided to check it out one Saturday. It's about half the size of the Majestic Lift at Brighton. Good snow though. But still, makes me miss Alta and the quick 'hop, skip, and a jump' up Little Cottonwood.

And Brian got 'bagged' by Santa at our ward Christmas party

What we've been doing lately

2010-11-19T14:21:00.000-08:00

For Brian's birthday, we spent the night in Billings, Montana and stayed at the Wingate Hotel that has an indoor water park. They spent most of the time on the "frog pads" and playing water basketball. If there's water involved, it's gotta be fun.

For Halloween, we drove to Salt Lake and invited the Peruvian Posee to Frightmares at Lagoon. It was an incredible night...so much fun...It was a weekend of parties and friends.

On a drive out to Yellowstone one Sunday afternoon, we passed a house that had a pile of buffallo skulls out in front. Don't see that every day!

At this activity, the boys prepared Halloween gift bags full of Halloween treats for the Korean teachers and at a BBQ they passed them out. The teachers LOVED them! Most of them have families back at home in Korea and so they miss being with them on holidays.

Back in Cody, we like to do fun activities with the Korean teachers. Here we are at the Rec. Center about to play walley ball. They didn't like it. They prefer volleyball.

And one last post that I forgot about that happened this last summer. The whole Baker family met at the Tahiti Village Resort in Las Vegas for a family reunion. ALL the BAKER cousins made it and here they are!

The girl cousins at the bowling alley

All About the Fabulous Baker Brothers

2010-09-29T11:10:00.000-07:00

Brandon is in 8th grade at Cody Middle. He joined the football team. He LOVES it! (Wished I had put him in sooner.) But of course, if you know Brandon, he's got to do things on his own terms and timeline. #35 - Let me see if I remember correctly his position--tight end and safety. Have no idea what that means, but I know that he's not a lineman nor the quarterback. Geez, I've got to learn this game!

He's somewhere in that mess and it's about this point in the game when I've learned to look away and pretend I'm at the spa because he's about to get a poundin'!

Okay, whew! He came out of that alive

Bradley and Brian are playing soccer this fall, as always. They're on the same team this year, so Dave signed up to coach. They are the two most fascinating players to watch because they play as if they were twins-always together. Brian is like Stockton...he passes to Bradley (Malone) to score. (For those of you who are familiar with Jazz Basketball players)

So I can always get the two of them in the same picture.

Bradley is in 4th grade and he ran for Student Body Vice President. I made these little 'tickle monsters' that he passed out for everyone to stick on their shoulders. He also wore a t-shirt for 4 days and I taped a different picture of him on the back of it each day. One of the pictures was of him picking his nose and his t-shirt said, "Pick a Winner" The kids LOVED to look for different pictures each day the campaign was going. (You know, posters just don't work--you've got to be creative!) He won hands down!

He also entered a region soccer shoot off. He took first place so they're sending us to Casper in November for the State Championship. He's SOOOOO excited. Got a trophy and all...I'll post a picture as soon as Dave sends it to me.

Our Little Quirky Town

2010-09-29T10:15:00.000-07:00

You know you're in Wyoming when...

This horse is waiting while his owner is gassing up. Ha, ha, ha, just kidding! Dave took this picture in one of the cities in Wyoming he was passing through. See Dave's car in the background?

We were kicked out of Big Horn Lake one Saturday by this huge storm. When we drove out of it on the way home, we looked back and this is what was saying good bye to us...never seen a rainbow as colorful.

When you come to visit us, we will take you to the BEST steak house in the world!!!! These cattle are smiling...can you see how happy they are? And when you eat them, it puts a huge smile on your face too because the taste is a euphoric experience. OH MY...and I don't eat meat..well, until now! A 9oz filet with King Crab legs...mm, mm, mm!

So I had been wondering why my allergies had come back after years of absence and on one of my drives I saw this happening which answered my question.

BAD ALLERGIES! BAD, BAD, BAD ALLERGIES

So I followed the truck. It headed for the silos at the granery train station. And tada...this is how food is made and brought to your grocery store! (Barley, by the way) Had no idea...I'm such a city girl!

Wha-la! And there you have a tid bit of what goes on in Cody...fascination when you're a city gal!

All About Morgan

2010-09-22T18:20:00.000-07:00

Morgan will be graduating at the end of her Junior year here in Cody, so she is enjoying High School life to the fullest as if she were a senior

She was just sustained in Stake Conference last Sunday to be on the Stake Youth Committee. She and her partner Corrie left for tennis state championship in Cheyenne today. She has straight A's and will be getting a scholarship to Northwest College for next year, and had a marvelous weekend hiking Zions and going to Homecoming with Harry who lives in Hurricane, UT.

She's gone so much, that I thought I had more pictures of her....hmmmm...that's a problem. I'll have her send some from Cheyenne. We'll keep you posted. They placed 3rd at regionals last week, so they should do pretty well.

Managing Mayhem

2010-09-08T09:23:00.000-07:00

First of all, let me do some catching up of the 'Good Byes' we did during our last two weeks in Utah. and then, until I can download the pictures of the move off my cell phone, we'll have to skip to the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, which was one week after we moved to Cody, Wyoming.

We said 'Good Bye' to American Preparatory Academy (which the kids have since missed sorely once they began school in Cody)

One last 'Hurrah' at Raging Waters. See that slide in the back? We all went down that!

After 12 years, we said our final 'Good Bye' to Echo Reservoir where we skied EVERY single Monday the entire summer without missing one single year!

Bradley learned to slolam this year

Morgan's ride of the summer.

The BEST Helaman Scout Camp in the world!

Wes Murray and his watermelon warrior's mask

The BEST ward parties ever!

Wes Murray again, only that normally he's bald.

We said 'Good Bye' to our house...our home.

"Good bye" Hawaiian sunset dream retreat

Leaving behind spring blossoms....

Nope, we're not leaving him behind. He's too cute!

And just a short 8 hour drive over the hills and through the canyonlands we find ourselves in the little town of Cody.

And here we are, one week later after we've moved and it's the kids first day of school. It's 'the most wonderful time of the year'. I challenge you to find anyone who disagrees with me!

What do you see in Cody that you don't see in Salt Lake you ask? A tree of vultures. This one is one block away from our house. I wonder what attracks them to our neighborhood. I hate to think about it!

You also see deer in your neighbor's yard. They eat everything...

That's why our bushes look like this. That's as far as they can reach up

And when your best friends are not in Salt Lake, that's because they're visiting you!

And they brought with them a little bit of home to help ease the Bradley Blues.

Oh darn, it's Fast Sunday and we're all cheering a delicious breakfast!

Yellowstone National Park is literally a stone's throw through this canyon.

More pictures of the house and Morgan (which I have some how left out) are on the way! Stay tuned.

CODY, HERE WE COME!!!!

2010-08-11T10:03:00.000-07:00

It's official! We are moving to Cody, Wyoming! Hee Haw!!!
We move Sunday August 15.

Here are some of the posts from this year to look back on.
We're going to miss UTAH!

Kids' Spring sports

2010-06-15T13:24:00.001-07:00

Once all the festivities of December are over, January starts us off with a year-long array of sports, And even though there's still some snow on the ground, it always feels good to get outside!

Morgan tried track this year. She started on the JV team and by the end of the season, she was on the varsity team. Had she been able to compete in the finals, she would have taken first place in the 800 m. She got her mile down to under 6 minutes!

Bradley played futsal, indoor soccer.

So did Brian.

Brandon tried volley ball for the first time and loved it!

Bradley and Brian also did baseball again, but this year they were on the same team. Bradley was the pitcher and Brian was their star batter. What a fun season we had!

And that's how we start off the year. We snow ski on Wednesdays, so I don't ever schedule sports on those days but then our Saturdays are filled up with the rest of it.

For the summer, the kids play tennis and we water ski every Monday and when school starts up, the kids also start up outdoor soccer and then basketball. And then the whole routine starts over again in January with the spring sports! Needless to say, I live out of my car for those 9 months. There are days when all I'm doing is chauffering kids around that I don't even get to watch their games! But I say, hey, what else does a mother have to do, right?

Moad Adventure

2010-04-24T06:52:00.000-07:00

Dave and I were invited by some friends to go down to Moab, Utah the weekend after our amazing ski trip for what turned out to be the most spectacular adventure and again, the most fun! We rented a 15 passenger van and headed down Saturday morning.

The first adventure was supposed to be a 1/2 day white-water rafting trip. But because the river hadn't swelled to its usually angry self, it was more like floating in a kiddie pool. And we thought we'd be getting professional pictures on the sight but they didn't even show up, so we don't have any pictures to show. Besides, I need to put this adventure back on the bucket list. (I mean, we had to splash each other to get wet for pete's sake! The water was a mere 38 degrees)

Now, like they say, pictures are worth a 1000 words and even these pictures can't do justice to the rest of the trip. It was simply amazing! After rafting, we went rapelling at Morning Glory Bridge, (for those of you who don't know this arch, it's simply the best place to go rapelling in Moab!) and we explored Fiery Furnace with a private guide and hiked up to Delicate Arch--Utah's symbol.

Our rapell guides

This was a 2-part rapell. First, we rapelled down through a crevase to get to Morning Glory Bridge and then rapelled down the bridge to the bottom of the canyon. We had two guides who travel the world rapelling the most exotic places like Europe and South America but they spend every summer rapelling Moab because they say it's amazing.

That's Mark on Morning Glory Bridge. He planned this whole trip.

And this is Dave rapelling down the bridge.

Dave is rapelling upside down!

So of course, I've got to rapell upside down too!

What an amazing view!!! We rapelled that! Now, we have a 2-mile hike out of the canyon.

Later that night, we ate at some Mexican restaurant. Can you see that we're barely awake?

And I don't remember making it back to the RedStone Inn motel. (hee haw!) It's all a blurr. I only remember waking up too early the next morning for another full day of fun!

We drove to Fiery Furace with a private guide who let us explore all the arches. I have to say, it's the most beautiful place to visit in Utah. I loved it!!

And that afternoon, we hiked up to Delicate Arch. For those of you who have seen our license plates, this is THAT famous Utah arch.

Wow! It's the perfect mathematical equation...A perfect group of best friends + the most amazing adventure = Perfect memories!

Easter Vacation

2010-04-05T08:57:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!

Well, so many of you have been asking about our Easter break that I've had to hurry to put this up! To make a long story short, we were supposed to go down to Kodachrome Basin, southern Utah, for our yearly camping (for us 'cabin'ing) trip with some friends, but since the weather had suddenly turned nasty, we decided at the last minute to head up to the Moyle's cabin for one last ski splurge. It turned out to be the best skiing any of us had done the whole year!

View of Brighton ski lodge from the cabin

We played card and board games

Bradley, Morgan, and Parker getting warm in the sun

We roasted marshmallows (Hailee's were the best!)

Of course we ate a lot! (Henry, where are the other boys? You look like a lost puppy!)

Garret, our Eagle scout in training and one of Morgan's best friends, did a great job of burning newspapers! Now, he just needs to learn to get the wood to burn too!

We skiied 'til our legs fell off...or they closed down the lifts, which ever came first.

Me, Natalie, and Jeana. Jeana just finished her last dose of radiation two weeks ago, just after finishing her chemotherapy for breast cancer. She's a survivor!!! And skiied for three hours straight this day! We're so proud of her!!

sledding

more sledding

Bradley doing a trick

Brandon ski jumping

VALENTINES PARTIES

This year, I thought it would be fun to host a dinner rather than go out. So I invited some best friends over and after dinner we played the mormon version of the Newly Wed game. All three of us have been married for 15+ years, needless to say, we aced that game!

Wayne & Margaret Redding and Jen & Malcolm Woodmansee

Then a week later, grammi and papa hosted a family Valentines party with delicious food and the best games. What fun!!!

Morgan invited Garret

OOGA-BOOGA game. I think Brian won this one!

Sunnin' in Cancun

2010-03-03T07:27:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, Dave and I and some friends flew to Cancun. As you can imagine, it was a dream vacation...the turqoise water, white sandy beaches, lush accomodations at the Hilton and great snorkeling. What more can you ask for?

Hilton Cancun

The sunrise view from our room

Snorkeling at Xel-HaSnorkeling at Puerto Morelos

Ziplining at Selvatica

Swimming with the dolphins at Xel-Ha

Speedboating in the lagoon at Cancun

This is a real house on Isla Mujeres.

Lunch on Isla Mujeres

Touring Isla Mujeres

The welcoming committee on Isla Mujeres

The Little Red Hen and the California Wave House

2010-01-13T18:46:00.000-08:00

I need to preface this next blog with the story of the Little Red Hen. Remember that one? My favorite children's story and one that I repeat constantly to my own.

There once was a little hen who had some chicks. One day, she wanted to bake some bread. So she invited the animals on the farm to help her plant the seeds, water, harvest, and grind the wheat to bake the bread.

However, each animal declined to help with the project so she and her chicks did all the work.

When it came time to eat the bread, all the farm animals eagerly waited for their portion. But did the wise little hen offer her precious loaf of bread to them? Nope. She and her little chicks devoured the whole thing right in front of them.

So what does this story have to do with the California Wave House? Well, there once was a little mother who, with her flock of children, agreed that the next family trip to California would be one that everyone would have to earn. (Because the little mother was getting tired of the children only wanting to do the fun things with the family but not do any of the work or take care of their responsibilities). So, for the next two months, three of the four children worked diligently in making sure their rooms were clean, piano was practiced, and homework done without any nagging from their little mother. However, at the "end of the day", just like one of those farm animals who refused to help out with the chores thinking they'd get a slice of the loaf of bread anyway, one of those four sweet children had not kept his end of the bargain and therefore did not earn the priviledge of going on the trip.

So, in the following pictures you will see only three of the four children having the time of their lives in this most fun and anticipated activity. And thanks to Aunt Amy, who most generously gave each child Christmas money to pay for their tickets, did they have the best time ever.

(And as the fourth child? Well, so far...no missing assignments, test scores are up, bedroom is immaculate, and he just finished practicing the piano and has headed out the door to Mutual. Hmmm, that wise little hen knew what she was doing after all!)

Bran-man, we love you! You'll get it...just hang in there!

(And like Bishop Burton said his his talk this last conference, these life lessons are more agonizing for the parents than they are for the child. Boy is that ever true! But, I know he'll thank me for it one day!)

Raul DiBlasio

2010-01-11T15:40:00.001-08:00

My favorite piano composer. He was born in Argentina, but didn't become famous until after he moved to Chile. Enjoy!

More posts are coming soon

In memory of Jim

2009-12-29T13:29:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday morning December 29, a dear friend of ours suddenly and unexpectedly passed away leaving behind not only his wife Miyo and daughters Jamie, Leslie, and a son Brett who is serving a mission in Korea, but a mourning commuinty of neighbors and a host of "proficient" tennis players. I am posting some video clips from a fishing trip that our families took together in remembrance. My boys still talk about it to this day.

Jim, coach, friend, there aren't words to describe how much we will miss you!

What are friends made of?...

2009-12-26T15:16:00.000-08:00

Sugar and spice

and everything nice.
That's what friends are made of!

Once a month, I get together with the best kind of ladies. We say we're only going to lunch for an hour and it ALWAYS ends up being at least two.
(Who are we kidding?)

And once a week, after a grueling game of tennis we somehow manage to drag ourselves to a restaurant for lunch (below, at the Cowboy Grub). I'm tellin' ya, it's tough...all that laughin' and jokin' around can really put a thick layer of sweat on! (Tennis? Ya, there's some of that going on too..)

At the end of this year, FRIENDS are what I've been the most grateful for...they last forever and I never have to dust them!

Brian's Baptism

2009-12-07T09:20:00.000-08:00

Brian was baptized and confirmed a member of

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

on Saturday, December 5 by David.

A bitter sweet day...Our last...no more...but how exciting!

After the baptism, we all went back to our house for lunch.

Dave just can't get enough of these cute little nieces!

Neither can Bradley

Okay, neither can Morgan

The Patriarchs

David's grandma has been to all of our kid's baptisms. David went to Ogden to pick her up on Friday, we took her to a Christmas concert that night. She slept the night in Morgan's room and after the baptism on Satuday, (and a good long nap) David took her out to dinner at the Lion House before taking her back to Ogden later that night.

Uncle Lee and Grami.

Rock and Linda (Brian's adopted grandparents) also have been to all four baptisms over the years. They're our best friends and we love them SO DEARLY!!!

Just gotta love those cousins!

We feel so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family so close by to be able to share wonderful moments and make lasting memories. Brian will remember this day with a smile.

Happy Birthday, Brian!

2009-11-17T08:19:00.000-08:00

So this is our last 8th birthday party forever. And when it's the last 8th birthday party forever, what do you do? You party 'til you can party NO MORE!!!!

And this is his story.

It was a wintery, blustery, snowy day.

But beautiful in every way.

At 12:30 sharp that cold afternoon,

the 'peruvian possee' gathered in the kitchen saloon.

They filled their bellies with junk food galore

because eating anything healthy would be a bore!

The party clown was funny and clever

and the birthday boy soon began to realize that this would be the best day ever!

"Yes!" he exclaimed, with vigor and vim,

as I caught this picture with his greatest grin.

Then off to the pool, we zipped in a hurry.

Over the hills and through a snow flurry.

to sit on a bench....

while mom took some pictures...

and more pictures...

("Come on! Hurry up! We want to swim!")

Now finally the fun can begin!

And they played and they played...

'til they could play no more...

because daddy's arms became too sore.

And so this little boy, ends his best 8th birthday ever story

with smiles and happiness and a treasured memory.

Happy Halloween

2009-11-08T12:50:00.000-08:00

Okay, so some of us were scarier than others for Halloween. Brian and Bradley didn't think that their costumes were 'Halloweeney' enough because they already play 'army men' almost every other day of the year anyway. Brandon really didn't need a mask to be scary (hee, hee) so the cape gave his cotume away and as for the rest of us, well, we did our best...

King Tut had another engagement that night so I had to make do with Dave...but Dave, where's your costume? (Ha!)

Beauty and the Beast...which one is witch? (Okay, that was funny, admit it!)

The birds and the bees for Halloween?

Gumbi and his sidekick...the two are inseperable! (That would make for a funny movie, don't you think?)

Hope everyone had a great night!

Hillcrest Highschool Tennis

2009-10-23T15:18:00.001-07:00

Morgan played varsity tennis at Hillcrest High. This was her second season. She played singles #2 and had a great year.

Clockwise: Jen (captain), Kelsey (singles #1), Jenny (alternate) and Morgan (singles #2)

Cute girls!

2009-10-12T20:50:00.000-07:00

Bradley finally got up on two skiis this summer. Whew! I was beginning to wonder if he was a Baker.

2009-10-12T20:34:00.000-07:00

This summer, we went to San Diego, as always, and we went to the Wave House on Mission Beach to do some surfin'. We had too much fun! Of course, the real surfin' was just across the boardwalk, and we did plenty of that too, but we just had to try this!