Cleaning out closets...and other things...

Time for spring cleaning. The first day of spring isn't actually until March 20, but I am ready to start. There is SO much stuff in this house & I am actually wanting to downsize if we move so it is time to declutter. Our garage sale should be quite an event this year:).

(I have wondered if Shayden has been eating all the fruit puffs I put on her walker or if Shadow helped. I just watched & Shadow helps:)!! He is quite sneaky about it too...

It is also time to get back on track...to cleanse my soul. I have felt rather disconnected from God for a little while. I haven't lost track of the right road...I have just been walking along beside it...on a parallel path, if you will. I think our preacher describes it as a "spiritual slump." I am ready to get back on the RIGHT road. I have neglected my time with God...not altogether but certainly haven't been spending ENOUGH time with Him. That has caused me much guilt because I DO know that everything we have comes from Him...nothing of mine actually belongs to me. And when I don't spend enough time talking to him, praying, & just worshiping Him then everything goes a litle crazy. I NEED Him...I need to talk to Him, I need to just be in His presence. So...today is the day...if it means going to bed later, then that is what it has to be. Having said all of this, tomorrow WILL be a better day,...:)!!

God Bless!!

What a day...

Being a woman is hard. You have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders & still smile. It has been an emotional day. KATIE HAD HER BABY!!!! Her & Miss Shyanne Kimsley are both healthy!! She is a big girl...8 pounds, 20.5 inches long. I am SO happy for her...I am just sad that I wasn't there. And neither was my Mama...:(.

Now Katie will learn just how hard being a woman truly is...how do we balance kids with work? OH & let's throw in keeping a husband happy, & a house clean, and social obligations. And somehow amongst all that, science says we should excercise 30 mintues a day...uh huh...when would you like me to do that? Maybe when I get up with my kids the second time I should just run into the living room & do 400 jumping jacks!!!! Society says we can have it all but can we really?!?! I only work part time & it is stressful to balance. Shayden has a fever & has thrown up twice...I have to work in the morning. Brad can't take off or it will cost us $250 in commision....what do I do? The answer is....I don't know. I can't really take off....people depend on me to be there. YIKES!! Please pray for my baby girl....I am praying that it is just a 24 hour thing. I know God will handle it...I am just venting.....

I will try & post pictures later!!!

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE PRAYERS:)!!!

Exciting times!!

My baby cousin is going to HAVE her own baby TOMORROW!!! I am so excited I can't hardly stand it!!!! I am so sad that I can't be there but I know she will have so many cheerleaders that she will probably be overwhelmed anyways. (I will be the annoying one calling her on the phone.. BUT I am the older cousin & I wrote the cousin handbook & I allowed myself that privelage:). I will get to meet her next week...I cannot wait to see & hold her. Shayden will have someone to beat up:)!?!?!? Please pray for her....most of you know Katie...she will go in at 5:30 and begin the process of induction. Pleasepray for a a speedy with no complications & a healthy baby. I will keep everyone updated!!

I LOVE YOU K!! GOOD LUCK!!!!

p.s. I have MY computer back....pictures SOON!!!

As if things aren't crazy enough...

We showed the house today. As in, we gave someone that is interested in purchasing our home a tour of the house. We know her, she is a friend, and we haven't actually LISTED the house but the point is, we SHOWED THE HOUSE!?!?!? Are we nuts? As if our lives are not chaotic enough, we are considering moving. If we sell, IF that is in God's plan, then we would like to stay close by. We haven't listed the house yet, we are still praying about what to do, where to go....we just showed it to a family friend. She seems genuinely interested....I actually think it would be a great home for her. I have NO idea what we would do but I am not going to worry. If God opens this door, then He has a plan & we will go where he leads. SCARE BEAR, though:)?!?!? Please pray that we will follow God's lead!!

We had a wonderful weekend. We went to mom & dad's on Friday & played cards. We got up Saturday & went to a few garage sales....YEA, it is garage sale season!!! We shopped some & then went to church. After church, we met with Jennifer & Billy for a night out downtown. LOTS OF FUN!! Dancing, adult beverages, sushi, watching drunk people dance:)...we had a good time!

My computer went to the doctor on Friday, which means we should be able to post pictures SOON:)!! We called to check on it & the doctor told us it is VERY sick but they are getting there. We had FOUR trojan viruses AND spyware that they are having trouble with. No wonder it was running a little slow...:).

Good night all!!!

No time...

The story of my life....I have no time. Too many other things to do...:(.

I hope everyone has a great weekend though!!!

J.O.B.

I love my job. I really do. It is not a fabulous career where I make loads of money (actually I make VERY little:) but I LOVE it! I love the people I work with. I love working with the kids. I love mingling with the parents. I just love it. There are times when it is stressful or when I am tired and don't want to go to work but for the most part, I truly enjoy it. I realize that is a HUGE blessing. I am able to stay home with my kids & work a small part time job that I enjoy. Spirit Nights are picking up & that is actually fun too. I even like working with the schools!!!! So...there it is. I like working at McDonald's!!! How often do you think you'll hear someone say that...:)!?!?!?!

I am also considering embarking on a NEW career....hmmmmmm....more on that later, I suppose:).

I'm tired...

Due to lack of sleep for the Baker family blog administrator, there will be no blog of length today. Just a quick thought to get you ready for tomorrow...

Keep your faith simple...keep everything simple. Don't overthink things.
Don't sweat the petty stuff...and don't pet the sweaty stuff...

:D!!!

For the record...

I did NOT go to Wal-mart OR Albertson's for balloons!! I went to Party City. It was a little further but ALbertson's was double the price & I figured that the amount of time it took me to drive to Party City would be the same as waiting at Wal-mart. I also bought the stuff for Shayden's birthday party. I don't normally plan THAT far in advance but it was all on clearance...whoo hoo!!

Well, I have worked all day today so I am off to bed...toodles:)!!

BUSTED!!

I have been caught. A fellow blogger & a friend of mine from grade school has caught me. I said that I was going to call Albertson's for some prices on balloons, BUT in a recent blog, I swore off Albertson's too. I guess I just cannot be pleased:). I just demand that stores stand by what they sell & the prices they offer. Does that make me an educated consumer or a too picky twit?! You decide...:)

Thanks Jennifer...you know, smart people sometimes annoy me:)!!!

I lied...

I know, that's bad. But does it count as lying if I ONLY typed it?! I said I would do a Baker family update with pictures but I am not. We are taking the desktop to the store to be fixed this weekend so the odds are better next week.

We went to Walmart today & I am amazed at the lack of customer service. I mean, I have blogged on it before, but it is just plain ridiculous. They have moved the balloons to layaway, but closed layaway & don't keep people back there, & when you finally track someone down for help, they have to call someone. And that someone has to come from customer service at the front of the store & she is the only one up there & the only one that can do balloons. OH, & we don't actually HAVE balloons, you have to go up front & get the bags & pay for them & THEN bring them back here....& if you stand on your head while eating a banana, and sing Happy Birthday, THEN we'll air them up for 25 cents a piece?!?!?! SHEESH!!! Needless to say, I am going to price them at Albertson's tomorrow...

When we left, I also was amazed at how rude our society is becoming. Not once, but twice, while trying to exit the parking lot, two different cars honked at someone else. None of it was directed at me but come on....have a little patience!!!! I get frustrated too but COME ON!!!!

I am off to be a domestic goddess...:)

Home at last...

It was a WONDERFUL weekend. The kids & I had a good trip down there...I think it was my first time to drive alone outside of the city in 5 years....I was proud. I used to do it all the time but have become spoiled to having a HOT driver named Brad:). When I got there, my Papa was MIA (I didn't tell him I would be there early) so we went & got Katie & had dinner at our fav restaurant, Benny's. YUM! I also got to see the nursery in person & it is TOO precious. It looks SO good...it is also READY FOR A BABY!!! Shyanne needs to hurry this along:). After dinner, we went back to Papa's house & just hung out until he got home & Brad & my parents made it. When Papa came in, he paused at the door to take in the state of his home. Katie in her pj's on one chair, me in mine in another, Bishop & Shayden on the floor playing & our stuff everywhere. He is the greatest because he just busted into a smile & said, "Isnt' this nice to come home too." It was totally sincere & is just one more reason I LOVE Oklahoma...& I love Oklahoma because of my wonderful family!!! On Saturday, we did some shopping at the local shops & just hung out at the house. We left around noon today & went home through Lawton. The Extreme Makeover Home Edition is doing a house there so we drove by to check it out. We couldn't get too close but were amazed at all the people invovled...total choas:)!! We stopped in Decatur to eat & tell my parents bye. It was a good weekend...nothing too exciting or fabulous, but what life is truly all about. I can't wait to go back....

I will try to post some pictures soon...I am lazy & hate trying to do it on the laptop. My computer is going to the shop this week though....YEA!!!!

Live from OKLAHOMA...

For the first time ever, I am blogging, LIVE from A-town, Oklahoma!!! I am at the home of my prego baby cousin, Katie, & her hubby, Josh. They have joined the land of high speed internet (no offense Linds!:) so I came over to get credit for blogging. It has been a wonderful weekend with family...

Good night all!!!

On the road again...

Well, I am off to Altus this weekend to see my baby cousin before she has her baby. Though, it would be GREAT if she could just go into labor say, NOW:)!! Just kidding, K!!!

I WILL blog tomorrow though it may be short. Katie has internet...YEA!! I am sure she will let me drop a few lines to get credit. I feel bad....I have not been a true "blogger" much. I usually get on & just say hi. I am planning on a Baker family update soon...pictures & all...aren't YOU excited?!?!?:)

I hope everyone has a FABU weekend!!

Love is in the air...TAKE 2

I had my blog all planned out yesterday but Brad asked me to step away from computer so I complied:).

In case you failed to notice, yesterday was VALENTINE'S DAY!! Last year I deemed it a commercial holiday destined to make people feel bad. I stand by that to some degree but have realized that like anything, you just have to have the right mindset. I was humbled by the many V-day cards we got in the mail and have decided that any holiday that spreads LOVE, "the greatest of these," cannot be all bad. Love is something that is meant to be shared with EVERYONE...God commands it, so I have decided Valentine's Day is all in the interpretation. No feeling bad because you are single...it should not be a holiday for "couples." It should be a holiday about spending time with loved ones...ALL loved ones. And God sent the best Valentine in the world...his son, Jesus....

Share the love, people...share the love!!

Love is in the air...

....but the love post will have to wait...it's Valentine's Day & my husband is requesting my presence...because he LOVES me of course:)!!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!!!

I WON!!

I won at poker tonight...Whoo hoo!! I won THREE dollars...go me:)! I also beat DONALD which is a BIG feat:)! And that is the reason I have no substanial post today....I am a slacker. Tomorrow I will give an update on the kiddo's & post some pictures....

Happy Hump Day:)!!

No blog today...

I am not going to blog today...I am in a mood.

Isn't it amazing how you can be having an amazingly smooth day & then one person says the absolute wrong thing & then everything begins to snowball?!? That happened today around 4:30...I am still upset.

I am having trouble with Bishop....he is talking back & not listening at all. I don't know how to handle it & Brad & I can't get on the same page about it. It's awful & I cannot stand the tantrums....oh, they are awful. There is nothing more wonderful than having both kids screaming at the same time & wondering what to do.....can you tell it has been a bad evening?!?!?!

Hot shower here I come....

Back to reality...

We are home. We left Shreveport at 10 this morning but we just made it home aorund 7 this evening. We made a few stops, did a little shopping, & even played some cards with Mom & Dad before we came home. It was such a FABULOUS evening...so relaxing. I love staying at a hotel...I can sit down & read without feeling guilty about not doing laundry or cleaning:).

I still am not going to post pictures...it takes a while & I have MUCH to do before bedtime. I got one kid in bed, one to go. And then I have to get my bed cleared off. I am the kind of person that would say FORGET IT & sleep on the couch but Brad is not. I was going to put off grocery shopping until Tuesday so I could get everything put away but since we are out of diapers AND wipes, I don't think I can. And let's not forget the Valentine's I have to get ready for Bish AND work &...the list goes on. But you know what...I LOVE MY LIFE:)! I love it....I love to stay busy, I love it! It is crazy & hectic and sometimes stressful & rarely perfect. I have to work hard at my marriage...my kids drain me most days & don't even get me started on the house, but I love my life...thank you LORD!!!!

Speaking of houses, we are thinking about putting ours on the market.......

Later Taters:)!

Lots of beads:)

The annual Mardi Gras parade is over but we have LOTS to show for it! I can't upload pictures because we forgot the USB cable (go us!) but they ARE colorful:)! We got a TON of beads, a few toys, some fabulous cups, and a toy spear for Bishop. You never know what you are going to leave with:). It was a blast! Brad & I went out last night & gambled a little...it was nice to just have a break but you can't beat a date night in a casino where the drinks are free:)! We did some shopping, watched the parade, & are now going to go to bed. Mom & Dad are hitting the town tonight so we are hanging at the hotel. More later...

Good night all!

MARDI GRAS!

We are here!! I don't have much time but I wanted to get credit for posting today. We made it to Shreveport & are going to hit the town:)!! I will try to post more later...

Have a FABULOUS weekend!!

*Katie....enjoy your shower...I am sorry I am not there:(.
**Rebecca & Jenn...sorry I am not there for the party...HAVE FUN but promise to miss me:)!!!!!

A day at the park

Yesterday was a gorgeous day:)! I mean, GORGEOUS. That is the absolute perfect weather for this chick:). We didn't want to waste the afternoon sun so we went to the park...it was SO fun. Bishop amazed me with his coordination on the monkey bars & climbing ropes. He crawled up the monkey bars, dropped down onto the hanging bar, swung, and then dropped to the ground?!?!? Where'd he learn to do that?! Shayden had a blast too...I just sat her on the ground when we got there & she discovered dirt:). She crawled & rolled around all over the place. I took her to slide & even put her in a baby swing...she LOVED that!!! As she would swing forward, she would start laughing so hard...it was SO funny!!!! We did it several times just so I could hear her laugh like that!!! Watch out world...my daughter is going to be a heartbreaker...:)

I miss home...

I know "home is where the heart is." But my heart is always with family. So my heart is torn into pieces thrown across Texas & Oklahoma. The home I am referring to right now is Altus. I miss my grandpa & Katie & all of my family. I miss the kids...I want Bish to get to play with his cousins. I miss the farm, I miss the house, I miss my favorite restaurants....I just miss home. I miss it all SO much more than I ever did because it makes me feel close to my Mama. I miss her...part of my heart is with her & I feel better in her house:). We will be there soon enough to meet a new member of the family...I just had a moment today where I longed so much to be there. I was driving down a country road with the windows down (because the weather was FABULOUS again...PRAISE GOD!!) & I just wanted to be on familiar country roads.

The picture was taken at our farm almost two years ago...and yes, we are REDNECKS:)!

And proud of it....:)

Bedtime again...

Bedtime makes me anxious these days...will she sleep, will HE? I think that is part of the reason I have insomnia...

It was a better day today...no drama. And we had BEAUTIFUL weather...so nice that we went & met some friends at the park. Bishop got to run & play & Shayden loved sitting on the grass & just watching the world go by. It was glorious!!! Whatever part of the country has weather like this year round is where I want to live:)!!

I have a question out there for my fellow bloggers and readers. What drives people to be so materialistic? I mean, I consider myself to be a rather simple person who is easy to please, BUT even I want for material things that I don't need. It is something being discussed in my devotional book...things that we seek that are fruitless. We want things that we don't need, we worry about things that we can't control, we seek & spend time on things that weigh us down & don't better us. Why? I am taking a look at my life & trying to weed out things in my life that are fruitless...things that drain my energy in a negative way.

(That said...I am not giving up television. It doesn't "bear fruit " but it does keep me tied to a chair for a few minutes rest...sometimes.:)

This is what is consuming my thoughts these days....I am trying to "weed" out the garden that is my life. I don't mind some of the weeds...but I do want to get rid of the ones that contaminate the rest of the flower bed. I would love input....

****I am SO not an analogy person....that was weird...:)

This is the greatest thing in the world to see...Bishop & Shayden playing together, interacting, laughing at each other!! They like to play with the Incredibles & with Cars...Shayden LOVES the Hot Wheels.

It has been a LONG day. I hate being this tired...it changes my outlook. It makes me sit & worry about things that I know I shouldn't. It makes me pessimistic & grouchy. I NEED SLEEP. Shayden woke up every 30 minutes last night & I have no idea why. She kept grabbing her ears so I took her to the doctor & no ear infection. I am at a loss....I am open to ideas, ladies.

Because I am moody, I don't want to blog much. I don't want it to turn in to a pity party:). Adios....

FINALLY...

We finally figured out how to upload pictures to the laptop so now you will be BOMBARDED with them:)! I won't post pics of the Girl's Night until I can get the fun ones off of Rebecca's camera. Suffice it to say that we are all dorks & we have pictures to prove it...:).

These are the pictures of Bish playing in the snow. I am not a huge fan of snow anymore. As a child, I loved it. In college, I realized that driving in it is scary. Now that I have kids I realize how messy it is. Wet clothes, muddy shoes, wet kids....dirty carpet...the list goes on. Bish wanted to go "Taste" it though so I relented & bundled him up. I sat Shayden in her walker & opened the blinds so she could see us & I could see her...I know, great mom:). As soon as we got outside, he realized how cold it was. He ran out in the yard & picked some up...we talked about which color snow was safe to eat & which wasn't:). I told him to pick the snow up to make a snowball & that is when he decided that it was time to go back in. He took a run through the flower bed where the snow was the deepest & then we headed inside. It was a short-lived adventure but it was fun to watch. I loved watching him...it was his first time to play in the snow...I feel closer to God when I see him learning about the world & trying things for the first time. There are miracles ALL around us that we fail to see most of the time....

LADIES NIGHT

I am not sure I will get anything substantial posted today but I wanted to post. I GET THE NIGHT OFF!!! Did you hear that...I GET THE NIGHT OFF!! That doesn't happen often so I am just a wee bit excited:). I am even handing over Shayden duty tonight...Brad is getting up with her...for those who are familiar with her sleeping habits, you know what a relief that will be.

For the sake of posting...

Feast One Hundred & Twenty Nine

Appetizer: What was one of the fashion fads when you were a teenager?

Brands were what what cool when I was a teenager...everything needed a brand name splashed on it...Tommy, Polo, Dooney & Bourke. Is that still the case?

Soup: Name one thing you think people assume about you when they first meet you.

It depends on when & where you meet me. I know people who have met me & thought, she's quiet (lol, I know:). And others have met me & thought I was a snob & others would have thought...wow, a little crazy:).

Salad: On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how hard do you work?

When I think of working hard, I think manual labor...on that scale...like a 4 (her carseat is HEAVY:)!! But if you are just talking working in general, i.e. responsibilities, hours put in, etc., then about a 14...welcome to motherhood:)!

Main Course: If you were given a free 30-second commercial during the Super Bowl to sell anything you currently own, what would you advertise?

My craftiness...I make paci holders that are really cute but I am not sure what outlet to use to sell them!

Dessert: Fill in the blank: I love to ________ when it is ________.

I love to SLEEP when it is NIGHTTIME!!!I

(Someday....someday....:)

Day 2...Good food!!

We had the most fabulous dinner tonight & I can't even tell you the name of the restaurant. It was a hibachi & sushi restaurant downtown. It was WONDERFUL! I didn't even order hibachi...I ordered combo fried rice & it was the best I have had since Huie's Palace & THAT is saying a lot:)! It was a bittersweet evening, however. We met to tell Brad's mom goodbye. She has been here for three months for work but now has to go home. She will be missed for sure. Bishop is going to wonder where his Gammy went & I know Shayden will change so much in the next two months!! I was going to post some really cute pictures of their goodbye hug but we can't them pictures to upload to the laptop. Hopefully tomorrow we can figure it out...I have some cute ones of Bish in the snow too. We went out for all of two mintutes because he wanted to play & taste the snow. As soon as we made one snowball, he realized just how cold it was & asked to go back inside. I was thankful...it WAS cold:)! Anyhow...I am off to bed....
Goodnight beautiful people:!!!
WE WILL MISS YOU TAMMY!!!

Challenge accepted....a LITTLE late...

***I decided to join Shawnee in yet another blogging adventure...a blog & picture a day for the entire month of February. I love to blog...it helps me de-stress so maybe this will get me back to the computer. HOWEVER, I did not realize yesterday was the first....my apoligies for being a slacker. I WILL blog twice today to make up for it...***

I want to clarify something. I AM A STAY-AT-HOME MOM. I am not a stay-at-home housewife or chef or babysitter....I am a MOM. We chose for me to stay home with our kids...it is what was best for us. Does that mean I want to keep someone else's kids in my home for some extra money...NO it does not. Please do not assume I want to earn extra income by keeping your snotty little kids....my sanity is not worth the money you will pay me, I have two snotty kids of my own:). Does staying home indicate that my house will be clean...NOPE. My job is to take care of my children...feed them, dress them, play with them, make sure they are still breathing when daddy gets home:). If that allows time to pick up then I will. I assure you that most days time does not allow for such luxeries:). ( You are probably thinking that if I wasn't on the computer blogging that I could get more done...don't lie...it occured to you:). But state law demands that I get a 15 minute break every 4 hours & a 30 minute lunch break for every 8...and I am on the job 24 hours a day so I use the computer in my allotted breaks....so THERE:)!!! Does staying home mean that Brad will have a three course dinner ready every night when he gets home...NO again. (Are you catching on?:) I still have the same two kids to take care of at 5 o'clock when I need to start preparing dinner. I can usually get Shayden to play for about 5 minutes to start but that does not leave time for anything all that complex.
Since I have all of that off my chest, I thought I should come up with my own job description...

MY JOB DESCRIPTION

1. To love & nurture my kids so that they may turn into Christ like, God fearing & responisble upstanding citizens. (And you thought YOUR job was hard!)

2. To tote above children around to their various activities...preschool, Small Fry Club, birthday parties, various playdates...

3. To buy all necessary supplies to sustain above children & their parents. (i.e. grocery shopping)

4. To ensure the safety of the above children at ALL times...24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This requires eyes in the back of my head, 6 arms, 4 legs, and a WHOLE pack of Heavenly angels sent to surround them:!!

5. To help clean & pick up the house when I can...(this is something that doesn't happen often...I can admit to that.)

6. To buy all gifts for various holidays, birthdays, and events. I must see that they get wrapped & delivered promptly.

7. I must complete all tasks for my small part time job outside of the home...emails, phone calls, shopping, planning, creating letters...

8. I must clean the kitchen...I can't stand a dirty kitchen (thought if you saw it right now you would call me a liar) & Brad & I part ways on the definition of clean in the kitchen.

9. To making sure that everyone in my household is fed at the apprpriate times...this includes the dogs (not the fish seeing as we have already killed all 9!)

10. To keep the laundry done...Brad doesn't even know where the laundry room is. You can take one look at my bathroom floor and realize that.

But for the record....I am a DEPERATE HOUSEMOM:)!!!

Go find out which desperate housewife you are:

http://abc.go.com/primetime/desperate/quiz/index.html