Griswold (Baker Family) Christmas Tree** 2010

SMALL SPACE + Griswold tree experience = TOO LARGE!!!!!!!!!

Sleigh Bells in Sherwood Oregon is SO COOL! The scenery was beautiful and the experience of Dave chopping down a tree that I argued would be too big was quite a scene! We searched and searched for "The Perfect tree"! Once the tree was found I was sure it would be too large but was convinced otherwise. When we got the tree home, not only did my hopes of a Charlie Brown Tree fly out the window, but the tree stand would not fit the tree trunk, and the tree took up half of our "dining room"....It's a great tree to say the least and the apartment has the awesome smell of Christmas! Anyway, long story short, we are going to have a very cozy (maybe a little cramped) Christmas this year in our Temporary Apartment Home with our LARGE Christmas tree. Enjoy a few pictures!

off we go!

GRIISSSSWOLD!!

Was beautiful there

Notice the SMALL space and the LARGE tree! Fun times! No where else for the chair to go...



Thanksgiving & The Polar Express

The weekend has been eventful so far! Dave and I spent a very relaxing day together on Thanksgiving as the kids were with their Mom and her family. The kids had a nice time and lot of food. Dave and I went down town to The Harbor Side McCormick and Smicks for a lovely untraditional dinner of sea food and wine! I plan to make my first Baker Turkey in a new home next year! You're all invited!! We had a great time and great conversation as always!
Last night we had a great evening with new friends, Erik, Terry and Ella. Ella is Katrina's best friend at school and they are great together! We boarded the Polar Express in Hood River and listened to Carols, The Polar Express book, drank cocoa, and saw Santa...Thus far, it's been a memorable 2010 Thanksgiving with lots to be thankful for!!!

Thanksgiving Dinner

Harbor Side

The Thanksgiving Holiday!

Though I am sad to be away from our families this Holiday Season, there are still a lot of things to be Thankful for! I am so used to the huge spread at Thanksgiving but this year Dave and I are breaking tradition a little! I told him, until we have a home kitchen to cook in, we should just make reservations and head out! So that is the plan. The kids are with their Mom this Thanksgiving. Dave and I made reservations at a restaurant owned by McCormick and Smicks by the river in Portland. We look forward to a delicious meal and some holiday shopping! Yes, we are crazy to fight the crowds, but it could be fun!!! We wish our families a Happy Thanksgiving Holiday. We'll be thinking about all of you!! We are very Thankful for ALL of our Family and Friends and pray for continued health and happiness!
Love to all!

Food Coma!

This weekend flew by!!!! Friday night we watched It's A Wonderful Life...What an great Christmas movie! Classic. The rest of the weekend we (Katrina and I) baked a lot! We made chocolate chip cookies, banana bread and pumpkin bread which were all a hit!!! We ate a lot, watched Miles play soccer, shopped for Christmas and enjoyed an awesome brunch with great people! Dennis and Ileen Daley are my sister in law Karie's, Aunt and Uncle thru marriage. The kids' Uncle Sean has a sister, niece and nephews here in Oregon and an Aunt and Uncle in Washington (if you follow)...Anyway, It has been great having a connection out here to some family friends because it gives more of a home feeling to living so far away from our families. Dennis and Ileen are great! They are amazing decorators, Ileen is a phenomenal artist and painter, with a great home and they're awesome cooks! For them to have us over for a Mexican brunch was so delightful and kind of them! I got a lot of great ideas from Ileen, she is like Nate Berkus the decorator or something! We played games, talked, drank mimosa's and ate A LOT...(Hence Heather's weight gain...seems all I have been doing lately is eating....) I am truly getting in the Holiday Spirit!!! Time to lay on the couch from my Food Coma!

Boggs- Yes, another blog about our dog!

I'm very concerned that we adopted a sickly dog!!! After two weeks of diarrhea, two trips to the Vet, blood work, stool sample, change in diet, and medicine we've come to find out our dog has Roundworm. Roundworm infects the intestines of puppies and can be something Boggs has had for a while that her Mom gave her as a baby breast feeding. It can also be something that the dog gets from the dog park or other dogs that are not up to date on their shots! Boggs is up to date on shots and is given a heart worm/roundworm preventative every month (like all dogs should have!)...Let's pray that the medication will kill all of the GROSS worms...We cannot see the worms which is a blessing! Boggs is eating and drinking and having play time so we hope this will cure her!!!  If I am like this over my dog, will I be a freak about future babies too!?? Don't mess with my people or my dogs!!! HAHA!

Dave- World Wide Rental Director

Though Dave's job is still very new to him, he is impacting the company he works for in very positive ways. Dave works for a company called Climax Portable Machine Tools and has been assigned the title of World Wide Rental Director! The company has locations all over the world and plan grow quite a bit with the help of people like Dave. They are already located in places such as Germany, Mexico, U.S, U.K, Singapore, Canada (Alberta) and more. Dave has recently been assigned a huge project and the travel responsibilities begin at the end of the month. While this is so cool for Dave, he will get to see a lot of the world and learn a ton about how different countries do business, he will be missed while he is away! Dave was well respected at Enterprise and impacted their company in very positive ways. I know he is missed at Enterprise and that they have lost out on a truly smart businessman. He is smart, quirky and fun to have on any business team. He is a valuable asset thru his education and experience in the rental business. I know if Dave reads this he will get a quirky grin on his face because he is not good at accepting compliments. He is always working to be bigger and better so he won't accept this compliment but he is truly impressive and incredibly smart!!! Though Dave is still in his first year in the company he is making great first impressions! He has a big presentation today that he has worked so hard on and I am thinking about him ROCKING IT!!!!

Miles "Ambassador" at school!

We received a letter this weekend that Miles is a 4th grade ambassador! A lot of kids applied and interviewed to become a school leader and role model called an ambassador. He was so excited when we received the letter, I read it to him. It explained that there were so many students who interviewed and they thanked those students but they only have few slots. Miles was chosen and meetings start next week! He asked me, "Do you think this will help me get into Harvard someday!?" Funny. Congrats Miles!

June 26, 2010~ Best day ever

I still think about my wedding day and how special it was. Women always talk about their special day, their wedding day and what it's like. They dream of it being perfect, pray for no rain if outside, pray everyone makes it there, that the dress fits, the hair looks great, the makeup, that the food is good and all the vendors show up etc. My day was so special for many reasons. We had over 80 people that we love from all over the world there with us! We had people from Finland, New York, Kansas City, St. Louis, Florida, North Carolina, California, Boston, Hawaii, and more. We had my dream destination wedding. Family and Friends from all ages 7 months to 90! The weather was great, the view was amazing, the company was the best ever. Most importantly my new husband put me at ease and made it very easy to remember what a wedding day is about! Not about the material things but LOVE and family and friends. Cheesy, I know, but I felt so blessed my wedding day. Everything went off without a hitch. Miles and Katrina helped make it very memorable with their charismatic speeches and songs, my Mom and Dad did a wonderful job  planning in Florida with our coordinator who rocked the wedding and keeping everything organized. My in laws Jay and Mary Ann put on a wonderful Welcoming Dinner. I would say everyone in attendance on our special day could feel the love and had a great time! What special memories!!!! I would not change a thing! Dave and I still talk about our day and will forever! Thank you Mom and Dad.

Our Parents

Our Beautiful Family

The flowers were my favorite part!!!

The beach...my dream come true

My loves...

Mom and Dad

MY HUSBAND!!!!!

Miles "The Negotiator- Money Man"

Miles has two favorite TV shows, 'American Pickers' and 'Pawn Stars' on The History Channel. He is learning a lot about items that can be worth money and the work people go thru and negotiations people make to earn the money! He went to the Pawn Shop with his Grandpa Ernie a couple evenings ago and came back disappointed because he expected the shop to be more like the shows. I guess the shop was small and didn't have much. Anyway, Miles has been a negotiator since I have known him and has progressively gotten increasingly more aware. He says things like I want to make some money, what can I do? If I take out the trash how much will you pay me? If I trade in this game at game stop they will give me this amount of money towards another game. Dad, How much do you think this baseball card is worth? Dad, I want a job? I am going to start sweeping decks! Heather can we go to garage sales, I want to see if I can find a treasure worth something! Long story short, Miles understands that with money comes things that he wants! He is willing to earn the money or trade things that have been bought for him such as games, baseball cards etc. for something else he wants. There are wonderful qualities developing here. Miles is competitive and charming and really enjoys having money. I see a wonderful businessman in the making. For example, a couple of weeks ago we went to the downtown Portland Markets to walk around. Miles found a Toy Booth with Yo Yo's. The Yo Yo he wanted was $17. He told the salesman that he only had $10 (Miles had more than $10 but the salesman didn't need to know that!) and asked if he would take $10. The man said yes! So we chuckled and on we went. Katrina found a booth with stuffed animal puppets. The puppets were $20. Katrina spoke up and said, "Will you take $15? All I have is $15 dollars. " Miles says, "yeah she can only afford $15 will you take it?" The man said yes! Katrina pulls her wad of cash out of her purse and Dave and I were laughing from afar because she obviously had money! The kids were having fun! We come along a sunglasses booth. I was going to buy a pair of sunglasses but at this point there is no way I was going to pay full price because the kids were so successful in being businessmen! So it was my turn to negotiate! The sunglasses were $10. I told the salesman that I have $7 and asked if he would take 7. He says, "no, sorry they're $10." Miles speaks up and aggressively says to the man , "What, you don't want to make any money today!??!" Dave and I lost it laughing! We couldn't believe how passionate Miles was and he was right!! Either the man was going to take $7 for the sunglasses or he was going to lose the sale! The man lost the sale! From now on, I am taking Miles shopping with me!!!

Miles helping Katrina with her wad of cash! Remember, she told the man she only had $15.

Katrina digging in her purse...Do you see the salesman at the puppet stand?



Miles giving the man money for the negotiated sale and thanking him. I think it is funny Dave and I were looking on, taking pictures of the transaction!



Our Neighbor ~ Phil

Phil is in his eighties and is almost always in his pajamas. Rumor has it that "old man Phil" fell asleep a few years ago with a cigarette in his hand and caught his couch on fire. No one was hurt. His day usually consists of reading the paper which is delivered to his door every morning or reading many books in his apartment, chain smoking, watching the news or old movies and even sometimes listening to music. He waits for the mail man every day and takes his trash out twice a week! I introduced myself to Phil the first week we moved in when I saw him putting out his recycle bins to take to the recycle center. He asked about me, my husband and the kids. An hour later he knew little about me our family and I knew quite a lot about him. He is from Alton Illinois so we share the Midwest friendliness! He says that people here in Oregon "don't give a shit about making friends." He had me come into his apartment where he showed me pictures of his wife who passed away a while ago, his daughter who lives here in Oregon and is a Nurse at the local hospital and his son who committed suicide in his twenties. His son suffered from multiple personality disorder and schizophrenia. Phil says he does not wish that disease on anyone. His wife always blamed herself for their son's illness and was never the same after he passed. Since then when I see Phil I always say hello which always turns into at least a 20 minute conversation where he tells me more about his college love and the many women who wanted him, his drinking habits, work ethic, fraternity, college classes and much more! The kids and I have made Phil muffins and have taken him homemade chocolate chip cookies. He is a very lonely man who never has visitors that we've seen. I am happy to have Phil as our neighbor and hope that having us as neighbors makes him smile.

13.1~ never again

I think I can honestly say I will never run a half marathon (which means I will never run a full marathon) again. I have not been on a run since the Portland "Run Like Hell"- 13.1 Miles. I have been on many walks and many bike rides with the kids (I need a bike, I have been riding Dave's bike!). I am looking forward to our gym opening again with all new equipment on Thursday, so I will be back in the gym!!! I have no plans to run anytime soon. It's not that I will never run again, but my body is enjoying the change of pace and much less impact on my knees and shins! Training for the race wore me out, hurt my legs, shins and even made my back hurt! I'm too young for that!! I am no all star athlete! The day of the race was a great experience but I'm not sure I had that much fun. The sense of accomplishment was amazing and having the kids, Dave and Tom cheering us on was great. I was very proud of myself for completing the race in 2 hours and 20 minutes. I averaged 10 minute miles in the pouring rain, the fastest potty break I've ever had, chaffing inner thighs which bled for over 7 miles and even hyperventilating at one point thinking there were going to be no water stops (sorry for too much information)! I enjoyed running before this race a lot. I enjoyed the 2 to 4 miles a few times a week and the gym....That is where I am headed. My running relationship is by no means love. I have a new respect for runners. It is a true test to your mental game and your body! I tested myself mentally and physically and did it! I know I can do it and that is where it ends! I am happy with that!! Thanks anyway Katie! Elliptical, here I come!!!!
Oh and Santa, I would really like a bike for Christmas so we can all ride bikes as a family!

FRANK

A couple years ago Miles wrote a letter to Santa Claus telling Santa to give food and water to all the starving children in the world, instead of giving Miles Christmas presents. Santa wrote Miles an extensive letter in return stating that every year he receives a few letters from boys and girls that explain the true meaning of Christmas. That year Santa chose Miles letter as one of those letters and Santa introduced Frank to Miles. Santa gave Miles the privilege and the job of providing for Frank. Frank is a little boy who lives in Africa and was found thru The Christian Foundation For Children and Aging. Miles was floored. The past couple of years Frank has been a huge part of our family. Miles and Katrina earn money for Frank each month thru their grades in school and their success in sports by scoring goals, having assists, making baskets, giving great dance performances, and scoring runs. While eating dinner when the kids don't want to finish their meal, Frank almost always comes up in conversation. Frank has taught our family to be more compassionate and more grateful for all that we have. This week we received the newest picture of Frank. He looks so big! We get about 2 or 3 letters from Frank's Mom a year, pictures that Frank has drawn etc. We also write Frank and send pictures of our family as well. We are thankful for Frank and what he has given our family; gratitude, thankfulness and greater appreciation of what we have.

Frank- Christmas 2008

Frank- November 2010

"The Baker Family" by Katrina Baker

Katrina was feeling creative (as always) and started writing a chapter book last night. She was at the kitchen table writing and drawing pictures for quite a while. She came to me and said, "Heather, I finished the first chapter." I said, "Great! Let me hear it." So she read, (as it was written)

Capter 1 The day I maet (met) heather
" one day my dad took me and my brother to a mixscen ristrunt (Mexican Restaurant). that was where i maet (met)  heather. when I got in the ristrunt (restaurant) I went to the front of it and that was when I saw her face She was so nice to me I loved her the momit (moment) I saw her face.a minot leter ( A minute later) she did not mean to but she spiled coffey (spilled coffee) on someone. but I think she slip (slipped) it was not her flat (fault) "

This is a true story. I was working at a Mexican Restaurant in Kirkwood for extra money while also working at Enterprise. Dave brought the kids in while I was working to meet me for the first time! This was a big deal! Dave and I dated for six months before I met the kids. I was SO NERVOUS knowing that the kids were coming to see me. When they got to the restaurant I spilled margaritas behind the bar that I had made for customers. I was so embarrassed that the kids saw me spill drinks! Isn't it funny that she remembers it as coffee?? How cute! Needless to say, selfishly, I loved that the first chapter of "The Baker Family" chapter book started with the day she met me! HAHAHA!

One of my favorite pictures of Katrina.
 Taken in Colorado a few years ago. She was only 5 in this picture!



~Boggs Baker~

I grew up with dogs and have always been a dog lover. Growing up my experience was with labs and a shih tzu...Both great, loving, family dogs. They were both full of personality and I loved them so much but I have NEVER had a dog that means as much to me as Boggs does. Boggs is a Terrier/Chihuahua mixed breed came to the Baker family thru The Humane Society Oregon and she could not have graced us with her presence at such a better time. She was named after Wade Boggs from the Red Sox. People thought I was crazy to get a dog in the midst of a huge move in a new city with the kids and all of us in such a small space. I truly have no regrets. Boggs is a true joy in our family. We were nervous and anxious as a family with our move to a new city, meeting new people, learning new roads and routes etc. Boggs has helped us in the transition. She is SO lovable, so smart and truly is a people pleaser. Her personality fits in our family well. She makes friends where ever she goes...people and other dogs. Sometimes worms, leaves and grass are her best friend too which is not my favorite part. She does not chew the furniture and has only had one or two accidents this last month. She takes the kids to school with me and picks them up and loves that part of her day. Miles and I are the primary care takers. He has impressed me with his dog skills! He is so good with her. He disciplines her, pets her, helps feed her and helps take her out.  Katrina is the best snuggle buddy with Boggs. She loves to pick her up like a baby and carry her around. She thinks she is so cute! Dave has stated "he loves Boggs "! I was very worried about Dave with a dog as he is not the biggest dog lover and claims to be allergic to different breeds (I think that was his excuse to keep me away from dogs...did not work) .... We may be over reacting a bit but Boggs has been a great addition to our family. I have a feeling a some day when she is not the baby anymore, she will have some major jealousy issues. I can't wait for you all to meet Boggs in person.



Boggs loves the beach. She has been several times.

Boggs and her best friend

The first day we had Boggs. She was so tiny.



Boggs being crazy on Katrina's bed.



Boggs and her snuggle buddy.

Children's Cancer Association-Chemo Pal

Last night was "Chemo Pal" Training. I am so excited to get matched with my "kiddo". I recently interviewed to become a Chemo Pal with The CCA (see website). The Children's Cancer Association is a non profit, non government funded association in the business of bringing joy to sick children with Cancer. Their mission is to raise money thru community events and fundraisers to fund the organization. More than 80% of the funds go to the children with cancer thru toys, projects, field trips, chemo pal's, music RX program etc. In the beginning I received a packet of reading material and a couple exams regarding HIPPA laws and Hospital safety etc. I have had to take two TB tests and go thru the training....Now that is all done and I am waiting for my "match"! The program is going to match me with one kiddo with cancer. I will be attending doctor visits and spending time with my "kiddo" at the hospital while they undergo treatment. The child may have a terminal diagnosis and could very well have a very hopeful prognosis. I am nervous. I will be spending a lot of time with this kiddo (at least 10 hours a month) and their family. During training last night a current chemo pal shared her experience and said at first before the relationship with this child and family is developed, it feels like you have been caught going thru a strangers drawers.It is such a personal and deep issue that these families are dealing with. She has been a chemo pal for 3 years and her first match was a 4 year old girl who passed away after 7 months of knowing her. She became so close with that family that she was invited to their home during the little girls last breaths when she passed and remains close with them today. We were told last night that the success rate of children with cancer surviving has recently gone up to 82% success rate which was great to hear. I am hopeful that my "kiddo" likes me and that he/she has a hopeful prognosis. I am also anxious to meet his/her family. I am going to be seeing things I have never seen before that are quite scary. I am going to be learning a lot about a beast called cancer, more about chemo therapy, relationships and more importantly this experience will keep things in perspective for me. After last night I feel anxious, blessed, humbled and excited. I cannot wait to meet my match! I will keep you posted on this experience!

Halloween for The Baker's

Halloween this year was really fun. Dave and I joined friends on Saturday night for dinner and live music for a few hours. The band was excellent and the costumes were amazing!! Very creative and well done. We didn't see any other Tiger Woods and Elin!! The kids had a blast going thru our "future neighborhood" with all of the kids. The neighborhood was decorated with Halloween lights, glowing pumpkins, and even a few haunted garages! More importantly TONS OF KIDS and other dogs. We look forward to living there. They got tons of candy (even a few full size candy bars which of course were a huge hit). It was a beautiful fall night. Not too cold and no rain! I swear I have never seen a Fall Season like the one we're having in Oregon. The colors on the trees are amazing!



Tiger Woods and Ex Wife Elin



Miles, Katrina, Boggs (Harry Potter, Vampire, Cow Girl)