YEA!!!

Please notice my brand new, very fabulous header:)! (And PLEASE don't tell my professor about the MANY grammatical errors in this blog...) I will try to let that inspire me to blog here again...

Thank you SHAWNEE for making it more...ME:)!!!!

Those pictures were taken at a Rattlesnake Roundup in Mangum, OK...yes...we are COUNTRY:)!!

Slacker

It has been brought to my attention how very badly I have been neglecting this blog. I do blog on myspace quite a bit but have been ignoring this page. I guess it is because this was more of a family blog and our family is...well...complicated? I have deleted the picture and will put one of the kids up soon....Shawnee is working on a new header...maybe I can get back on track.

The kids are fabulous...both are in here at the moment. Bishop is riding the excercise bike & begging for a pepsi. Shayden is sitting on the floor patting her babies to sleep. That is her new favorite activity...baby dolls. She LOVES them...she rocks them, feeds them, pushes them around in their stroller. But laying them down with a blanket and patting their backs is what gets me. SHe is a good little momma:). Bishop is five. I say that because it is the best way to describe him. He is precious and SO very smart but what an age!!! The attitude this kid can muster amazes me...I shouldn't be surprised seeing that I am his mom but wow!! He did pass pre-k so it is on to kindegarden next year!!!

I am not working much this summer. I am still doing the McD's and wedding planning but school is out so no more subbing. I wanted to work but with daycare going to cost me $1000 a month...I decided to finish up school and start taking the millions of tests needed to become a teacher. Homework has been challenging. I am SO tired of reading...but only two more classes. I am signed up to take a test next week...pray for me. I have seen the practice test and am REALLY apprehensive about it. I have applied for several jobs...my fingers are crossed....

Things are okay...I have good weeks where I feel like God is in control and things are on the right track and bad ones where I lose sight of that. I suppose that is normal. It has only been 6 months and I know that God will show me His plan when He is ready. Patience is just not my strong point....:).

I will try to do better....:)

OFFICIALLY UNMARRIED

Unmarried seems so much nicer...I hate the word divorce. However you put it, Brad & I are officially there. I went to court & finalized it today. It was a very surreal experience...I have NEVER been in a courtroom before. My attorney is a very nice guy & the judge was as well. It was very quick and painless.

I am relieved that this is over. Being in limbo for two months is not fun. I hate that things ended this way...no one ever gets married hoping for a divorce. I hope that Brad can come to terms with his demons for the kids sake...and so that he can be happy. I don't think he knows what it is to be truly happy...

I hate that I have lost my life. No, I didn't lose my actual life but I did leave a life behind. I am no longer a wife...I have moved away from my friends & peers...I have left that life behind. I gave up my beautiful home...I will lose friends just due to lifestyle. No one is to blame...it is just how it goes. It is hard...

God doesn't close doors without opening new ones...I know that. He has opened a couple & I am excited to find out where they lead....

Thank you for all the prayers...they have been felt. Please continue to pray for all of us...especially Bishop...he is having a hard time.

Well...

I guess I decided to keep this blog. And since I haven't blogged in awhile...I guess this will be a summary of the last two months...

* We have officially moved home to Burleson...it has been a transition but I think it will be good for everyone. The kids are doing very well...better than I would have expected. Bishop is a little whiny but nothing terrible. They are sharing a room and that seems to be going really well...I think they both like it?!?! If Bishop falls asleep before Shayden, you can hear her in there yelling at "Bubba:)"

*Bishop started his new school and loves it. He misses his old one but this one is all day so he likes that. AND, he gets to eat breakfast there & for some reason he LOVES that. He will start Tai Kwon Do today at our church...he is very excited about that...we'll see how it goes:).

*Shayden is growing up fast. I can't believe how close her 2nd birthday is approaching. She is not a baby anymore and it kind of makes me sad. She started daycare on Wednesday and she seems to love it! They go outside a lot which is just perfect for her. She is talking up a storm...her new favorite word is "psycho." When the kids are acting silly I call them that & she has picked it up....GREAT:).

*I still have no full time job. I started a McD's this week & I am also going to help a local wedding planner when she needs help. I should start subbing this week...please keep praying. I know God has a plan...

*The divorce is still impending. We are in a waiting period right now. It has been a very emotional ride but I feel like this is what has to happen. I know that there is no way that Brad & I can be together right now. I still pray for him daily...I hope that he can get it together...

* The pics are of the kids playing in the backyard and at a recent birthday party...

Things are going...not great, not bad...so I can't complain. I am not exactly happy with everything that is going on but I know that God does indeed have this all mapped out & He will show it to me in HIS time:). I have stepped out in complete faith...it has been hard...I have good days & bad. But I know...His will WILL be done...

Hope everyone is doing well....

Undecided...

I am not really sure what to do with this blog. I suppose we are still the Bakers....just in a different format. For those who don't know....Brad & I are getting a divorce. There are a LOT of things I would love to write but out of respect I will not. To sum it up quickly...Brad has a lot of issues from his past, he got involved with another woman, and moved out. It was rough for a couple of weeks but things are getting back on track. I am looking for a job and moving home. Brad seems to be stepping up as a dad on his weekends. We shall see. I will continue to pray for Brad but I have to move on. I feel good about life again...no more crying.

So...that leads me back to my question of what to do with this blog. It was originally created to keep Brad's mom & sister informed & so they could see pics of the kids. They neither one checked it so it became an outlet for me. Does anyone still read it? Let me know...

Have a fabulous TUESDAY:)!

Just another day in the Baker house...

I have been accused of being a slacker *gasp*!!!! So, I am back...:)
Last Friday, I picked Bishop up from school & he had something very important to tell me. He informed me that there was a girl in his class named Samara & that she told him that they were getting married. He looked at me & said, "So, I am going to have a wedding & you need to be there, mom." When his dad got home & learned of the upcoming event he informed Bishop that when you get married you have to move out. Bishop assured us that he would NOT be doing that:). I have heard nothing else about it so I have no idea where the relationship stands at this point:).
We made it through that to deal with THIS conversation....well, Brad did anyways.:) He graciously volunteered (uh huh...RIGHT) to go give the kids their bath, I stayed downstairs to enjoy some internet surfing....to my enjoyment, this is the conversation that I got to hear:):
Bishop: "Daddy, what are these?"
Thoughtful silence...
Brad: "Those are testicles, Bishop"
Me...starting to laugh to myself downstairs...:)
Bishop: "What are they for?"
Brad: "BISHOP...don't pull on them like that...you have to be gentle with them."
Me rolling on the floor...
Bishop: "Oh...sorry...but what are testibles for?"
Brad: "They are called test-i-cles and they are what make you a man"
Bishop: "So girls don't have them OR a penis...how come girls don't have them?"
And Brad knowing that this conversation was headed nowhere a 5 year old could understand gave the answer of all answers. "because God made it that way."
I was literally crying...I was SO glad that he had taken bath duty that night....:)
On to Shayden. She has decided that toilet paper basketball is the GREATEST game ever invented. Her favorite new pasttime is to go into the bathroom & tear off tiny pieces of toilet paper and throw them in the trash. It makse the bathroom floor look SO lovely. She has also decided that she knows how to blow her OWN nose..and her baby dolls as well. So, I am now resorting to HIDING the toilet paper. If you come to my home & go to the bathroom only to see an empty toilet paper holder...DO NOT BE ALARMED! Just look around...I am just hiding it from the wee one.
I am done for today...have a Wibderful Wednesday!

A little political...

US POSTAL SERVICE ISSUES RECALL July 26, 2007 8: 10 AM AP Washington , D.C.

The US Postal Service has issued a recall of a stamp they created with a picture of now U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton to honor her achievements while serving as the First Lady of our nation. The problem was discovered when claims had been made that the stamp was not sticking to envelopes, and that mail which had been sent using the "Hillary" postage was not being delivered. Senator Clinton demanded a full investigation into the allegations. A special Postal Service Investigation team was formed and after several months and millions of dollars spent, made the following findings :

*The stamp was manufactured properly.
*There was nothing wrong with the adhesive.
*People were just spitting on the wrong side.

Mini Van Mama

I don't think I make a great mini van mom. Stop right there. What was the stereotype that came to mind when you read the words, "mini van?" You saw polyester blends, no makeup, and bad music didn't you? And you would expect me to tell you my kid is perfect. Well, I don't fall into that. I wear trendy clothes, I wear make up, AND I listen to Loudacris & Lynard Skynard on my radio. And I am here to tell you my kids are FAR from perfect...I just love them anyways. The point is...I was not meant to drive a mini van because the other mini van mom in the carpool line CANNOT understand where to pull up to. I beat her there today because I had donuts for Bishop's class (see...I rock:)! I pulled ALL the way around just like the SIGN SAYS! She showed up and pulled half way around & stopped...she didn't even pull up behind my car. WTF?!?!?!
I think I forgot to mention on my blog that the other day I was having a rough day. The day my wallet went missing. Minivan mom on a power trip was doing like normal & not pulling around. I got out of my car & asked her to move....I was nice, but I told her we were supposed to pull ALL the way around...just like the sign says:). Apparantly it did no good....
Mini van moms have clean cars...mine is a DISASTER. Mini van moms don't jam to vanilla ice just to watch their one year old dance in the backseat. I just don't fit in & I am afraid I never will...
Guess I'll have to get a hummer...:)
Just kidding...

Fall...:(

Um...did I miss something? Like the leaves changing & nice, crisp BEAUTIFUL weather. Nice days that required a jacket but not a winter coat?!?! SHEESH! It went from cool to COLD.....brrrrrrrrrrrrr! I had two crackhe...er...people tell me that they were SO happy about this. I am not...I do not have any cute jeans yet. I do not have many long sleeve shirts that I am excited about. And what about shoes...I like FlipFlops. And the hour that my kids spent outside will now be spent inside.....SCARE BEAR. :(
Anyways...it was a crazy day. I lost my wallet...or we don't know what happened to it. I had it yesterday at the fair and now it is gone. 2 debit cards, account numbers, 3 social security cards. reciepts, a check that needed to be cashed....the list goes on. Sucks. Did I mention it was a COACH wallet. SUCKS DOUBLE! But...I had a phone call that put that in perspective and that is also a BIG prayer request...I found out that one of my closest friends father passed away last week. Most of you know Rebecca. It ws all very sudden and unexpected so she is still in shock. Please pray for her & her family...they are having a really rough time.
Thanks guys....bundle up tomorrow!!!

Life in living color...

WHOO HOO!!! We painted today...or rather my father, husband, and mother in law painted today. (My mom was a slave driver and helped me clean my house...she rocks too.) I LOVE IT!!! I am not even going to tell you the colors...you just have to come see it:)! We painted an accent wall in the living room & finally covered up the AWFUL paint on the inserts in the stairs. We painted our bedroom & bathroom & even a wall in the den!!! IT is BEAutiful:)! SO, thank you to my wonderful, seXy, hard working husband....my super hot, perfectionist MIL, and my fabulous painting pro daddy for working your tails off to make our house look more like a home;)! I guess we will have to have a house warming party now...:)

I'm a believer....I'm in LOVE....HEY

We went to church tonight which is something that we have neglected. I have many excuses & they are just that....excuses. We need to get on the ball and find a church closer to our home but alas if we aren't going to do that we just need to get our butts to church...so we did:). Something that I have realized in the last few months is that people are becoming SO busy that we forget that we are here for a bigger purpose. Work is necessary...but people just seem so involved in SO many things. Most churches don't even have Wed evening activities for kids anymore because people are just too busy. Too busy for God?!?! I am looking for a church that will get us involved there....children activities, sports. I want our lives to be centered and focused around CHRIST. Not football on M-F and dance on T, TH, S...I definitely see a place for all of these things but these things should not be consuming our childrens every waking moment outside of school. WHEW....I will step down now but that is just how I feel & I am tired of apoligizing for it. That is what I belive. My son will play sports in the spring but it will not consume all of his time ( Please no hate mail...I am not knocking anyone on this...activities are important & I encourage them...some people just take it a bit far!) . And we will STILL have dinner together!!!
Our preacher preached about God...shocker, I know;)! But he reminded us that God never leaves anything incomplete...he ALWAYS finishes what he started. When we are in the middle of trials & tragedy...we can't see the finish line but he does. After it is all over we look back and say...OH, I get it. So this is for my friends who are hurting right now. You are NOT in a sinking ship...and it is okay if you panic...God has the paddles & he is rowing to shore & He can do it without you. He can do it without me...we are right there with ya:). But in 6, 8 months...maybe even a year...we will all look back & say, Gosh God rocks. He NEVER quits:)! I love you dearly my friends....
AH...sappy, huh? Well, I needed to say all of that. I am going to try to start an interesting new ministry...thanks Shawnee. Your goofiness has inspired me:)!
Have a FAB evening:)! HUGS!!!!!!!

If you don't find this amusing, then you don't have a husband. Or you have a perfect husband who never annoys you in which case you must drink...a LOT:)! Anyways...I have found us Halloween costumes, girlies!!! We will ALL be desperate housewives. I have it planned...we don't need to buy a thing...we ARE the costume:)! Who knew a tv show could make our jobs seem so seXy & appealing?! I can't wait...:)

Goofballs

There should be a drug that cures stress....

OH...that's right, there is...it's called ALCOHOL:). But partaking in it everytime you feel a little stressed would get you labled a "problem."
What do YOU do to destress...I mean, I know the main things...pray (believe me I have done that), how showers, crying...anything else I should know about because I can't sleep at night. I KNOW in my heart that things will be fine...I KNOW this....but convincing my head what my heart knows is just difficult somedays. Money has been an issue but it is quickly becoming a bigger issue. That causes fights & rifts & just all out drama....don't you wish you lived here?!?
Brad's job is stressful...angry, stupid customers, not enough $$, too many hours for me to get a job....ah...the list goes on but I am tired of people thinking I am "playing the victim." I am not out for sympathy...I am just venting. I am praying about our situation & trying to determine what I need to do to help out besides not eating:)...evey little bit helps right?!
There should be a positive to every blog so here is mine....I have had a long day so I am going to go drink a glass of wine...hey, that was a rhyme...hAHA HA HA...I am so funny....
goodnight:)

Don't mess with THIS cowboy;)!

Rule #1....Post to both blogs...CHECK:)!!!

It's official...the blogging challange has begun. Shawnee & I are going to post a blog a day for one month...starting today. Anyone else care to try!?! Hopefully it will help my stress level & I can start sleeping again:)!!! I am also giving up bread as of today. Not all bread products but plain bread...buns, rolls...even the homemade bread my neighbor mad:e:(
For my first blog of the challange I am going to just catch up on a few of the things I have WANTED to blog on but have not had time...
** Shopping with children sucks. Capital S. It is a sure thing that at least one, possibly two, will have a HUGE humiliating melt down. And everyone will stare & you will want to melt into the floor. You swear that you will never do it again but another Monday rolls around & you must & thus begins a pattern that ruins your Monday forever. I will have nightmares about today's shopping trip for AWHILE!!!
** There is NO such thing as customer service anymore. Cashiers are rude, service people ignore you....it is truly sad. It makes me scared to think about how rude people will be in twenty more years.
** Hillary Clinton is a smug wench. I can't stand her...she was on tv the other day spouting off, "When I am president," SCARE BEAR!! Surely America is not that stupid....
** Save the Cupcake...Save the World...
** I have quit watching the nightly news. It is far too depressing. I miss the weather & I actually miss staying caught up on stuff but it seriously makes me depressed to watch it. There is way too much evil & hatred in the world. Let's start passing kindness & love forward, okay?!?!
** My neighbor is making some CUTE barrettes! The little kind that snap shut & hold the hair out of their eyes but they are wrapped in ribbon & have bows....they are FABULOUS! She is selling them for $4.00 a pair & I highly reccommend them! She sells bows too and she momograms anything...
** Shameless plug number 2...Brad is trying to meet a sales goal. If you or anyone you know needs pest control...please call or reference him. He will work with your schedule & he just rocks:)!!!
** Bishop will be FIVE at the end of this month!?!?!?
** Please continue to pray for our troops....they need it!!!!!
** I am done...I better save somthing for tomorrow!!
I LOVE YOU GUYS...seriously....I am passing the love forward......now you pass it to someone else!!!

Just another day in the neighborhood...

These are pictures taken yesterday. Both Bishop and Shayden LOVE to be outside...LOVE IT! I don't know what we will do when it gets cold. Shayden literally walks to the front door & CRIES to go outside. Bishop loves to drive his jeep and even though she looks scared in the picture, she loves to ride with him. We strap her in good and off they go! It is SO hilarious. Bishop actually stopped and got out to rebuckle her in one day....such a GREAT big brother!

They are both changing so much. Shayden isn't a baby anymore & Bishop is a big boy these days. School has made such a difference in him...he has matured SO much in the last month. He still loves school & his teacher. He doesn't even mind homework. I had to pick him up early to take Shayden to the doctor & he cried...he did NOT want to leave! He is learning to write and is doing a GREAT job. Shayden is just getting too big. She no longer has that baby face...she looks like a toddler. *sniffle* That is hard...she is still very much a diva. She knows what she wants & she knows how to get it. She is picking up on a few words....her newest words are: please, thank you, Papa, JenJen. My only concern is that her new favorite hobby is throwing her babydoll on the floor and stepping in her belly & then giggling. I would consider counseling if the baby didn't squeal when she did it but I think that is where her glee comes from...making the baby make a sound. I hope that is the case...:)

I was going to upload a bunch of pictures but my computer is being SLOW. I did get them on myspace so if you want to see pics from homecoming & the jeep riding....click on the "Shana @ Myspace link" and then click on "pics"...there is an album labeled Homecoming. And if you need help with a mum,..call me...I have discovered a new talent:)!!!

Three days and counting...

We have made it through the first three days of school. *whew* It is going well...Bishop LOVES it, I am getting used to driving back & forth to his school & Shadow & Shayden seem to be adjusting to Bishop's absense. We are settling into somewhat of a routine...as routine as we can get I guess:). I try to put Shayden down for a nap when we get home from dropping him off so I have time to clean & RELAX for 5 minutes:)!
Bishop assures me daily that he is not learning ANYTHING. They just play and eat snacks and go to the potty. Works for me....;)

What else is new in the Baker household:

~ Brad is now certified to sell Sentricon....a termite home defense system. If you need one, call him:) Heck, if you need any kind of pest control, call him...he does good work:).

~ Shayden is quickly turning into a toddler...she is JUST like Bishop at this age. She LOVES to turn off the television & empty my desk drawers. She has learned to love junk food & BEGS for it as only she can. Plastic hangers are her vice....

~ Shana is adjusting to this new life. Being a school mom is quite interesting. Car lines, lunch money, checking folders & worrying about checkmarks is a whole new ballgame. It has been stressfull but it will even out soon....I think:).

~ Shadow is better....we don't know if he is sick or was just missing Bishop during the afrernoon but he seems to be feeling better.

~ We are going home to Oklahoma for Labor Day and can't wait!! I want to relax at the farm:)

~ If you are on our Bunko team...look for an upcoming date soon....we need to gamble!!!

Have a FAB holiday weekend friends!!!