Shayden likes to float in the baby float:)!

Bishop jumped off the DIVING BOARD!!

The princess...

THIRTEEN THINGS I THINK ARE SUPER COOL RIGHT NOW

1. Nickelback...can you say YUM! They are all gorgeous & they sound amazing!

2. Keeping with music...I have also discovered Fergie. My husband loves her for reasons other than her vocals but the girl can sing!

3. Big sunglasses...I can't wear them because mine are prescription (STOP...I know I am old!) but they are super fun!

4. Desperate Housewives...it is finally back on track...who will get married, who will split up? Will Gaby & Carlos get back together?!?! Hmmmmmmmmmm

5. Gaucho pants & babydoll t-shirts...a girl's best friend:)

6. Sushi...it is NOT all RAW people! Try it...if I can learn to love it so can you, I promise!

7. Gaudy jewlery...I say, the bigger the better. Fake is just as fun:)!

8. Wedge heels...I LOVE THEM! I have one pair and I want more.

9. Saturday night church services. It is SO much easier if you have kids. And the preacher doesn't have to rush for the next service!

10. Movie taverns...eat, drink, & watch a movie.

11. My girlfriends & I going out for a prom night...you laugh but it will be a riot!

12. Chaise lounge chairs. I love them....my next couch will have one!

13. Forever 21 baby clothes....Shayden can dress just like me...so cool:)!

Blessings abound...

Things are slowly settling down. And by settling down...I don't by any means mean SLOWING down...just getting back to the normal level of chaos that we are used to:). All but a few boxes are unpacked, our house is beginning to look & feel like HOME...it is a GREAT feeling! I walked in today & just felt HOME...I had to sit down & thank God for that. I wanted to sit down & just enjoy being home...it was a GREAT feeling!!! We still have many things we want to get done...I even want to get the downstairs bathroom painted before Shayden's birthday party...we'll see:)! And our new neighborhood decided to have a community garage sale THIS weekend so I even get to try to get rid of all the stuff we decided we didn't want...whoo hoo!! That was nice of them:! (If anyone reading this lives nearby & wants to add some stuff...call me.) We got our pool key in the mail today so I guess I have to go buy a swimsuit...ugh!!! We plan on hitting the pool most days this summer so if you are in the mood to swim...give us a buzz,..we would love the company!!

This blog is not without a favor. I have a prayer request for all of my prayer warriors out there. I was chatting with one on my bosses this evening & it came out that he has been diagnosed with cancer & will be seeking treatment at MD Anderson in Houston. I was very disturbed & upset to hear this. I have grown to like him a lot in the last year. It is early stages & he is seeking experimental treatment...please pray for complete healing and peace for him & his family. His name is David! I told him I would get my prayer warriors on the ball!!!

Thanks guys!! Have a fabu week!!!

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Surreal,,,

My life seems so surreal right now. I drove home to a beautiful new home. I pulled into a driveway & walked through a GARAGE:)! I walked up the stairs of my new home to see my shoes in the closet (thanks to my FABU hubby!) Tonight there is a tornado watch & we don't have to worry about driving into town. Brad is across the street,..talking to NEIGHBORS...real people. I, personally, think they seem a bit odd but hey, they are neighbors, right?!?!? I am loving our new home...we have been here three short days & I just feel like I am home. I loved my old house...it was great, but I love being in town. The country was nice but I like being able to order Chinese food or grab something besides Sonic:). I like living a block from the park...heck, I like having SIDEWALKS:)!!!

To top off the new move, Shayden decided to start WALKING...yes, walking! I got her ready for bed on Sunday night & was going to let her "walk" to brother (aka teeter for two steps & fall into his arms:) & she just took off!! Bishop & I just gawked at her in shock!! Of course, we tried this for awhile & her absolute favorite thing to do is toddle over to Bishop & collapse in his arms...they would both crack up. It was the most beautiful thing to watch! The only sad thing was that my mom & dad AND grandpa had JUST left. They commented on the way out the door that she would take off soon...they just didn't know how right they were!!

I am still trying to get used to things. I am searching for a preschool for Bishop & trying to figure out where things are. I have decided that I don't like the local Wal-mart so I will try to do my grocery shopping when I go to work on Wednesdays. That was random but oh well...

The dogs are adjusting...for the first day, Shadow just sat in the dining room chair...I don't think he knew what to think. Shelah just lays in the living room by the couch...it is the only familiar furniture:). We are getting close to unpacked...it will be a LONG process. There is so much we want to do but my main goal is to have it "organized" by Shayden's birthday party which is the 16th of June & all are welcome by the way!!!

I should go...I need to do laundry...

Thanks for all of the prayers...they have been felt. Thank you to all of my fabulous helpers...I could not have done it without you....I felt like the luckiest girl in the world on Saturday!!

To Brad...you have been amazing...more than amazing. You have done SO much for me...you are my rock on earth. I love you more than I could ever put into words...

LOOOOOOOOOOOONG Day....

A day in the life of a stay-at-home mom....

6:00 - Brad's alarm goes off for the first time.
6:15 - Brad's alarm again...
6:30 - You guessed it...Brad's alarm again:)
7:00 - Brad FINALLY gets up & on this morning (this is not normal people!) goes & fixes Bish a waffle
7:15 - Shayden starts to stir in the next room so I go & get her bottle ready

By 8:40 somehow we are all ready to go...

9:02 - We drop off Bishop at his class & headed to Jenn's to get her
9:20 - We got everyone loaded & headed back to the church for Bishop's field trip
9:23 - Stop at Sonic for necessary caffiene
9:30 - Pick up Bishop to drive to Gainesville for a field trip to the zoo with 45 other 3 & 4 year olds
10:15 - arrive at zoo & spend 2 FABULOUS hours looking at giraffe's & bears...whoo hoo:)!
12:15 - We head back to Justin to grab lunch
1:15 - Eat lumch & have about 20 minutes of adult conversation
2:00 - arrive home & put Shayden down for a nap
I spent the next two hours SCRUBBING the master bath & packing boxes...OH...& let's not forget LAUNDRY
4:00 - get ready for work...grab kids & head to Mc'D's
4:45 - arrive at work & am bombarded by 10 kids ready for crafts...whoo hoo again:)
8:30 - arrive home after entertaining 40 kids at McD's...parents, I am NOT a babysitter...they are still YOUR responsibility!!!
9:00 - get kids to bed...whew
9:05 - type ridiculous blog because I don't want to go fold clothes...:)
9:30 - I'm off to pretend to fold the clothes while secretly watching Jericho...:)

Good night...HA...in like 2 more hours...

*sigh*

:)

Flash Flood

Wow. I guess if you have never been in a flash flood then you don't realize how scary it is. I was scared to death. When I got home from picking Bish up from school, I turned on the weather & there were storms with rotation in them all over the metroplex. Being the chicken that I am & yet being smart enough not to stay at OUR house, I drove into town to hang out with a friend. As the afternoon wore on, we decided it was safe to go home. In theory we were correct....
There was a traffic tie up in the five short miles between our house & Jennifer's (thank you Jenn for putting up with us, by the way:). We soon realized it was because there was water over the road. Some cars were crossing it, others turned around...Brad went across, I turned around. Brad got scared...he realized the new saying around here, "turn around, don't drown" made sense. I was smart but was also now 45 minutes from home instead of five. What should have taken me five minutes ended up taking me an hour and a half??!! I was so terrified. It was pouring down rain & there were wrecks everywhere and water was creeping up on the roads. I was wondering if I was even going to make it home the back way. Bishop was crying, I was crying, Brad was freaking because we couldn't get home...it was horrible. PRAISE GOD that Shayden stayed asleep. Lesson learned...ALWAYS have a spare bottle in your car...ALWAYS have a bottle of water...and ALWAYS go pee before you leave...!
We survived & when the storm with tornados hit later, our house didn't blow away so...WHEW & THANK YOU GOD:)!!!

It was a wild day...certainly NOT your typical Tuesday afternoon...I think I have decided I prefer ordianary:)!

Have a FABULOUSLY, ordinary Thursday my friends:)!!

Not for sale...

I have a mild obsession with bedding. Now, if it were brand new & luxurious bedding then one might think that was normal. It’s not. I have had the same pillow case since I was a child…& quite honestly, it was my parents so it is left over from the seventies. If you have EVER been to my house, you have seen it…it is green & blue & basically obnoxious. It has faded & is VERY thin but I refuse to give it up. The pillow inside of it is worse. It is not even really a pillow at this point. It is some ratty old stuffing inside of a case. I also have an attachment to my very old down blanket. I have had it since I went to college. It has survived several duvet covers & is now just a blanket. It is so worn out that there are places without feathers…just two pieces of material sewn together…it isn’t even all that warm anymore but I refuse to part with it too. The other blanket on our bed is a Cabbage Patch blanket…not from the recent Cabbage Patch craze but from the one when I was a child. It is ridiculously thin & looks ridiculous on a married couples bed but Brad & I actually FIGHT over that one...yes, fight. It has been washed so many times that it is super soft so we both want it. This is all sad I know…I have no idea why I have such attachment issues with my bedding. We will get new bedding to go in the new house but I can promise that all of these will go too. I let go of the duckies…the junky old pillows & blankets ARE staying…!!!

You guys are laughing again, aren’t you….*sigh*…

Blessings Abound

If you can watch the Home Makeover show without crying then you are STRONG! We are not regular watchers because it is just horribly heartwrenching to watch. But tonights episode is based out of Lawton, Oklahoma (thank you Elizabeth) and we drove by when they were working on it so we wanted to see the story behind it. It is absolutely heartbreaking...it literally makes my heart ache. I pray that their spirits have been lifted in their new home & that God will continue to work on & through them.

So often we take so much for granted...I am guilty. We are SO very blessed...it is in watching shows like this that I realize that we are so lucky. So, thank you Lord for all of the blessings that I take for granted...walking, talking, seeing, hearing...a loving family...we are SOOOOO blessed!!!

These pictures were taken today...Bishop being the great big brother that he is took Shayden for a walk up & down the sidewalk in front of Mom & Dad's house. A sidewalk...I can't wait to have one of those where I live....

Happy Sunday!!

GLORY TO GOD!!!

Fabulous Friday

I haven't blogged on the house in a while because it has been such an emotional roller coaster. One minute things are fine, the next...disaster. It has been quite stressful & very draining. I had no idea that buying a house was this traumatic. At the moment, things seem good. We should close on this house on Thursday, and close on our new one next Thursday. Keep praying...we haven't signed on the bottom line yet!!

Some things have changed since we started this process. We are not getting anywhere close to what we were asking for our house. (Thank you Countrywide & FHA....I hope you don't believe in Karma...:) That has been our nightmare...but thanks to my wonderful parents we are proceeding anyways. Since we aren't making the amount we thought, we were not going to be able to afford a new house. They decided we needed to be back in town & wanted us to move so they stepped in & are helping more than I can ever thank them for. I don't even feel like they should but my very unselfish parents told me, "You will inherit everything we have when we die...we have it to give so why shouldn't we get to watch you enjoy some of your inheritence?"

If you thought people like this don't exist anymore, I am here to tell you THEY DO. They are amazing, selfless people who have done nothing but encourage not only me, but Brad, and many of my friends throughout the years too. So, thank you MOM & DAD...I don't deserve you guys anymore than I deserve such a loving & forgiving Heavenly father. The best thing I can do is try to show my children the same unconditional love & support that you have shown me....I know you learned it from two pretty special people too:).

I love you....

FRIDAY FEAST

Appetizer: What is your favorite kind of bread?

I am not a huge bread fan BUT I ate at an Italian joint last week called"Pazzo" and the bread they served with marinara was VERY good:)!!

Soup: When was the last time you bought a new pillow?

It has been a while...we have memory foam pillows though so they last awhile!

Salad: Approximately how many hours per week do you spend surfing the ‘net?

I plead the fifth....more than I probably should...

Main Course: What’s the highest you remember your temperature being?

That would be a question for my mom....I don't remember stuff like that!! Bishop had 103 once & I freaked!!

Dessert: Fill in the blanks: When I ____________, I _____________.

When I drive, I SING:)!

When I shower, I SING:)!

When I am bored, I SING:)!

And if Sanjaya can make it to the finals on AI, then I should try out:)! HA!!

SHE IS STANDING...but she doesn't know what to do next:)!!

My Boo...

Princess Buttercup with her people...

Bishop is a cheeseball....just like his daddy!!

Gun control...

I want to start out saying how very sad I am over what happened at Virginia Tech...it truly put a black cloud over this week. I ache for everyone involved. I am praying for the families that have lost a loved one, for the college students who will live in fear for a long time, & for the the family of the gunman. I can't imagine what they, too must be going through.

In light of what happened, many people are already jumping on the gun control bandwagon. They scream that we need stricter laws & this wouldn't have happened. Don't fool yourself. This did not happen because a college student could go buy a gun. It didn't happen because people are allowed to own guns. It happened because we as a society have removed Jesus Christ from our society...it happened because parents have decided that any kind of punishment that hurts our kids feelings or their bottoms is bad. I have family members that refuse to tell their kids no because they think it is negative. My mother, a teacher here in Texas, was informed that teachers shouldn't use red ink to grade papers because all of those red marks make the students feel bad. We are trying to hard to make sure our kids don't get "damaged." Somewhere in trying to protect them we have forgotten to teach them that bad things happen, people WILL make fun of you, people WILL make you feel bad. But instead of blowing away half the school, you dust off your bruised ego, you turn to Christ for strength, and you move on. The only thing gun control does is take the guns out of law abiding citizens hands. The good, responsible people who just want to protect themselves lose out. The criminals will ALWAYS have guns.

I realize that this may hit a nerve with some people. I am from Texas & was raised around guns. My dad started teaching me to shoot at age 5. I was taught that they are weapons & they ARE dangerous. My dad looked me in the eye & told me that I had better not pull a gun out unless I was ready to use it. I will teach my kids the same thing...I want to know that if someone breaks into my house in the middle of the night, I will be able to protect my family...

Whew...stepping down now...

As usual, Elizabeth takes better pics with my kids than I do:)!

PRAYER REQUEST

I just got a call from my friend, Robin. Many of you know her. She had a prayer request & asked that I post it on my blog because she knows lots of mommies read it. Her girlfriend, Kristin, is pregnant & due in June. She went to the doctor last week & found out that it has a chromosone disorder & will only survive a week after birth. The doctors said that sometimes they could last a year but due to another heart issue that he suspected things would be very bad. She said that Kristin is taking this very hard...understandably so. Please pray that God will work in this situation...and give Kristin & her husband & their entire family some peace & acceptance. God is the only one that can provide "peace that surpasses all understanding."

Thank you blogging friends...Robin knew that many of you would be prayer warriors & wanted me to post it....that makes me realize how blessed I am to have all of you!!!!!

The End of an Era...

The ducks are gone. If you have known me for any amount of time, you know that my bathroom is COVERED in little yellow ducks. I have had a duckie bathroom for a VERY long time...since I was at Tech. The duckies were apart of my college culture if you can believe that. When Jodi & I lived at Indiana Village, I had a bulliten board on my bathroom wall and it was filled with pictures of ducks that people had colored, drawn or seen. There was the infamous "Hurt Duck Hotline" picture from Katie. She was poking fun at me for calling the city when I discovered a duck at the resorvoir had a coke plastic ring around his neck. And who could forget the dead duck picture from Juan who thought my bathroom was a little out of control:). I had duck Christmas lights around the mirror....it was fun. After Brad & I got married, they decorated our little tiny apartment bathroom...Brad even allowed me to paint the bathroom duckbeak orange. Then we moved ot our house now & he allowed a muted shade of orange but he still allowed all the ducks to stay. He even let me add more...:)!! But yesterday, I took them down. They are now safely tucked away in garbage bags with garage sale stickers on their heads:(. Brad rejoiced when I told him that the ducks would not be joining us at the new house. I told Jodi & there was a little sadness in her voice....it truly is an end to an era...which means we are getting old but that is a whole nother blog:). I kept a few special ones...Brad's devil duck, the pink evian duck Jodi drank lots of water & sent off for, the duckie painting & flower pot also Jodi's handiwork. The little Ernie doll that sings "Rubber Duckie" went to Shayden who thinks it is pretty cool...at least I can smile about that...:)

Stop LAUGHING...I am truly a LITTLE crushed about it:)!!!!!

Please pray...

It is late & I don't feel like going into lots of details...

Satan is attacking...we are having trouble with our house deal. It is nothing ot do with contracts or money....basically we are getting screwed by the system. I have prayed all along that we are doing what God wants us to do & maybe this is His way of halting something that is wrong. Or maybe it is Satan trying to mess up a good thing. I don't know....

I DO know that God is in control & has all the power. Please pray that all of this can be solved quickly...that we can all find a peace in this situation...that it all works out...

Thank you....I pray that I can get some sleep...

Hillary

A man died and went to heaven. As he stood in front of St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, he saw a huge wall of clocks behind him.

He asked, "What are all those clocks?"

St. Peter answered, "Those are Lie-Clocks. Everyone on Earth has a Lie-Clock. Every time you lie, the hands on your clock will move."

"Oh," said the man, "whose clock is that?"

"That's Mother Teresa's. The hands have never moved, indicating that she never told a lie."

"Incredible," said the man. "And whose clock is that one?"

St. Peter responded, "That's Abraham Lincoln's clock. The hands have moved twice, telling us that Abe told only two lies in his entire Life."

"Where's Hillary Clinton's clock?" asked the man."

Hillary's clock is in Jesus' office. He's using it as a ceiling fan."

If you plan to support Hillary Clinton in the next election, please do not tell me. I am not sure that we could remain friends & I know about it....:).

I'm kidding...

...sort of....

It was Col. Mustard, in the library, with the Candlestick...

We are dorks. I mean, we already KNEW that, but now it is offical. Nick & Shelly came over last night & we sat around playing Clue. Yes, CLUE...the board game for eight year olds. For the record...it was THEIR game:)! It is quite complex...I played it when I was a kid & it seemed a lot simpler then:). Though I was confused throughout...I WON!! It really was Col. Mustard in the library with the candlestick. And do you want to know what is worse...I had a good time & want to play it again:)!!!! Maybe we should bust out Operation & Life:).

It has been quite a day & it is only 2. We got up early to go watch a parade. Two of our friends have little boys on the same T-ball team & they were in the parade. I think it lasted all of 2 minutes but we held our signs proudly & cheered anyways:). After that we hit a couple of neighborhood garage sales. It would have been nice to know which house we were going to get...we could have decked it out today. Instead we bought Shayden some shoes, a dress, Shyanne a shirt & Bishop a light saber. Whoo hoo:). On the way home, we stopped at a furniture tent sale & then stopped off at a friends neighborhood get together. We were crashers:).

Now, we are both playing online poker & it is just NOT my day:). I have lost it all so I am going to put the kids down for a nap & take one myself. I must get rested for ladies night....:)

Happy Saturday!!

HOLY BUTTERBALLS

YES...that is Bishop's new saying:). We were driving around looking at houses tonight & out of nowhere, "HOLY BUTTERBALLS MOMMY!!" I cracked up. He was completely serious....he had no idea what was funny. I love my son:)!! His new favorite sayings are:

"No, not really."

"Does that sound like a plan?"

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"I need FIVE MORE MINUTES!!"

"No MA'AM!!" (He says this to Shayden when she is messing with his lego's b/c that is what I tell her when she is getting into things she shouldn't!)

Life is grand...we have a contract on our house. We looked at three this evening & fell in love with two of them. We will place bids but won't hear anything until Monday! Please keep praying for us to find the RIGHT one....I just want to be where we are supposed to be.

I should go to bed...I just lost all of my online poker money to BRAD!!!

I'm the lucky one!

Sometimes these things just happen....

Right, Shawnee?!

Anyhoo....

Today was a stressful day. Shayden was fussy & I later found out at the doctor it was because she not only had an ear infection but her eardrum had burst. I only had to donate $85 to find that out. (No worries...your ear drum bursting is not as scary as it seems...I too PANICED but the eardrum can heal itself...science lesson of the day.) I am too tired for words due to the fussiness of said baby at nighttime. We lost another house in the bidding world of foreclosures so we STILL have no place to live. I yelled at Brad because I was stressed & that made me fell more crappy. I sent something by mistake & was upset about that....suffice it to say....not a great day.

I am edgy, grouchy & cranky. But as I sat down at the computer I looked at the pictures on my desk & I remember the sleeping husband in my bed. I HAVE the important things....I have 2 beautiful children that I adore. I am looking at the picture Bishop colored Shayden because he was sad that she didn't feel good & thinking....gosh, I am lucky. I can not imagine my life without my son....beneath that wild boy exterior is a heart of pure gold. His hugs could cure anything!! I love my family....Shayden has a personality all her own. She demands attention but she will reward you with a smile that makes you forget how high maintenance she REALLY is:). And then there is Brad. He has his flaws but he is my everything. He loves me far more that I deserve most days. I am lucky...he knows that....just ask him:). Above all of these things, I have a GOD who also loves me when I definitely don't deserve it. I am not worthy & yet he holds my hand anyways. I feel like i have let him down in this search for a house. I know that He will work it all out....I just have to trust. TRULY trust...."If you have a faith as small as a mustard seed NOTHING will be impossible for you." (Matt 17:20) I just need to remember that that is not a lot of faith....a mustard seed is small. I KNOW it will be okay....JESUS, I am making a public declaration...I TRUST YOU!! Put me in a house that is where you want me to be!! Let me be open minded about many things....stomp out satan & let us live in your will.
To my friend who has been wavering as well....we can make it. We need to look past the small stuff & see the big stuff. My dad has a ridiculous quote but it rings true..."Don't sweat the petty stuff & don't pet the sweatty stuff:)."

And I will leave you with my favorite quote & there is a prize for whoever can name the movie it came from....:)

"Don't let the man get ya down..."

Whew,,,

WHAT a weekend!!! It was a LONG weekend, I am EXHAUSTED, but it was FABULOUS:)!! I may not recover for weeks, but it was worth it:). Friday started with a bang when we hosted our first Bunko party. We have been saying we were going to do it since we moved here & didn't. We decided to go ahead & I am SO glad we did...it was a blast!! I hope everyone had as much fun as we did. We will definitely do it again & those that missed need to come. It was very fast paced & kept everyone energized & I didn't realize half of my friends are comedians:). I laughed too hard:). That was a late night but we still got up early to hit the garage sales Saturday morning. Shelly. Elizabeth & I left around 9 (I know...we are not TRUE garage salesr leaving that late:) & we had fun browsing through other people's castoffs. Elizabeth decided to buy a pool float (a nice one) and it never occured to any of us that we were in the BUICK!??!? OOOPPPPSSSS....where are we going to put that? Somehow we fit it in the car...we must have looked like the Beverly Hillbillies. I should have bought the cheap ficus tree I wanted...we could have just hung it out the window with the bright blue raft:). We migh be redneck's if....I'll save ya the trouble:)....
Elizabeth took the kids with her after lunch....that left me solo. Brad & Tammy went to Lawton to see his grandpa. I went shoe shopping & to get my nails done for the birthday party that evening. WOW....I had NO idea what to do with myself. I am NEVER alone....it was almost scary. Having two kids with me ALL the time almost makes me scared to be alone...it was weird:). After some drama upon arriving home, we went to Summer's THIRTIETH birthday party. It was an ABSOLUTE BLAST!!! I don't think I can top it for Brad's 30th which APPARANTLY I need to start planning now!! We stayed out until FIVE in the morning (it was really only four due to the time change) but sheesh!! I haven't done that in years!!! But it was SO much fun!!! (It was amazing Summer...many kudos!!!) Sunday, we slept in...THANK YOU ELIZABETH! We met my parents for lunch & went & looked at a house. More shopping after lunch, a trip to the park, & a fabulous dinner of sushi with family & friends. It was an amazing weekend. The weekend was not without drama, however. There are some issues that I have become aware of that I guess I have been ignoring that now HAVE to be dealt with. I can't say much, just that my feelings were very hurt & I am just totally unsure where to go from here.
I must go to bed now...I have mucho sleep to catch up on!!!
Adios...

FINALLY SOME PICTURES!!

Happy New Year!!

Utter chaos....

I have been promising a Baker family update for sometime now but I still don't have the time. As if our lives were not chaotic enough, we have decided to sell our home & find a new one. Uh huh, right:). We are trying to find another foreclosure but that is proving to be quite a task. I am understanding why buying a home is one of the most stressful things there is. Do we settle for a different location on a good deal? How far is too far from work? What can we comfortably afford? AHHHHHHHHHHH!! I know God will put us where we need to be...I KNOW that, but somehow it is still supremely overwhelming. Please pray for us...

I had intended to write more but Brad needs a shower & he is telling me that Bishop feels warm & to take his temperature...G R E A T...

Tomorrow is another day....happy Tuesday!

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