GLEE song "Forget You" sang by Gwyneth Paltrow and Katrina Baker

The Rock Museum with 2nd Graders!

I spent my morning at The Rock Museum learning about metamorphic, igneous and sedimentary rocks!! The kids, despite a few behavior problems in a couple boys, were terrific. Each Mom was assigned a group and off we went!!! I personally think the field trip was an hour too long (3 hours on rocks gets a little too much before lunch time...the kids were starving by noon). Overall it was a cool experience and Katrina's teacher, Mrs. Platt, is wonderful. She is so organized, calm and patient. She has things under control!!!! I did often wonder with the boy behavior issues what kind of parents they have at home, but I suppose I should stay out of their business! HA! Anyway, Enjoy the pics. We had a fun day and Katrina enjoyed having me (especially to eat our special lunch together...LUNCHABLES!..the little things in life ya know?)

Mrs. Platt listening to Katrina's many questions

ROCKS!

Katrina and Ella

Mrs. Platt answering more questions

Katrina's class

The boys

Her class again

Mom and Dad on their first visit to Portland Oregon-SO FUN!

Thursday night my parents arrived to Portland and we were so happy to see them! Of course we immediately cracked open the wine and started our visit off right! We took them to a local McMennamins (very popular restaurants in Oregon) for dinner and had a nice time. Friday we took my parents to Rex Hill Winery, Duck Pond Winery and Dundee Bistro for lunch! There is not a bad scene in Portland. It is so pretty here! We enjoyed wine tasting and had a wonderful lunch together! In the evening my parents got to see Miles play basketball at the halftime Tualatin High School Basketball game. Miles played awesome and my parents enjoyed watching!!
On Saturday we had a fun filled day. Miles had a basketball and soccer games and played well. We went down town and had lunch at the Rogue Brewery and walked and walked and walked ALL around Portland. We had a great day. We rode the new Portland Tram and saw all the beautiful views of the city! Sunday was ski day on Mt. Hood at Timberline! We all had a fabulous time and the weather was wonderful. The kids are great skiers!!! My parents thought it was so cool that Timberline Lodge is where parts of the movie The Shining was filmed. We had such an excellent weekend!!! I am sad they are gone! Enjoy a few of MANY photos!

I will upload the video of Miles at the half time game a little later!

Mom and I at Rex Hill Winery in Newberg Oregon

Mom and Dave with Vineyard in the back!

Boarding The Portland Tram

The whole crew on the tram

coolest views of Portland City and Mt. Hood

Miles at the halftime High School Basketball game! He was so nervous!!

Katrina and Daddy at Rogue Brewery for lunch...They look so much alike!

SKI TIME ON MT. HOOD!

on ski lift

Katrina taking a lunch break and loosening her ski boots!

Great pic of Miles and Katrina and what a view!!!

The Baker Family on Mt. Hood after lunch break

Miles anticipating the slope ahead!

Katrina and I on the ski lift!

Katrina and I skiing. She took a half day of ski school. She did so well!!

Miles with the beautiful views and skies behind him!



Katrina loving "Missy"! She wanted to sit by her all weekend.



Miles with "Rick and Missy"..they enjoy my parents a lot!



Miles and my Dad taking ski lift after their Run down the mountain!

Mom and Dad Verweyst are on their way to visit!

Mom and Dad are on their way to Portland Oregon as I type this and we are truly looking forward to their visit!! Next, we plan to have our Baker parents out here! I love Portland but I love family more. This is going to be great!

Dear Portland Sun,

Please come out so they can see the beautiful sites of this city!!!

Something Clicked

Miles clicked with basketball this weekend. Running screens, making shots, great passes and rebounds!! Miles is #1 in Black Jersey

"Go Baker!!!!"

Katrina's Dream of Juilliard

Katrina had her friend Ella over this weekend. Miles had his friend Noah over. While the boys spent most of their day building LEGOS, the girls listened to a lot of music and kept themselves very busy. They enjoyed talking about school and their future dreams in life while drawing, making bracelets and playing DANCE on the Wii !!! I took a video during one of their "moments" this day and they were completely unaware....listen carefully.

The girls singing Katy Perry.... At the end of the video, Katrina says, "Katy Perry is so lucky. Some day I am going to go to Juilliard!"

http://www.juilliard.edu/admissions/admissions.html

Miles Biggest Fan

Miles has a very committed fan club in Dave and I, but Katrina is the best sister and most impressive sport!!

Miles plays soccer, basketball and baseball (when that starts). He has practice at least once, sometimes two times each week (maybe three times when baseball over laps). Katrina goes to every game with us and occasionally attends his practice with no complaints. As Miles sporting events are a commitment to all of us and take up most of our Saturdays, Katrina is the one who always impresses me. She is getting to the age where she is actually watching the game and understanding what is going on! She always cheers him and his team mates on by yelling, clapping and chanting them on! She is such a great sport and so supportive and again never complains. She is committed to her brother and his sports. It's so awesome to watch! Check out a few pics of Katrina cheering him on.

Miles that was a great play!!

GO BAKER!!!

Life Without A Couch, Microwave and Paint!

Don't get me wrong. I am Thankful for all the wonderful things in our life and that we are able to have a roof over our head while our STL house is on the market!! There are a few things that I cannot wait to have back!!! While half of our life is in St. Louis including clothes, furniture, pictures, decorations etc., I think the three things I have missed the most are:

Our Couch: Dave and I have a fabulous couch. It is huge! It is soft! It fits all four of us comfortably and more! We have been living with a Futon in substitution for our couch and we've had enough. The Futon seems to get smaller by the day. It seats two of us comfortably but not so comfortably. It's not soft and fluffy and I swear it has caused neck and back injuries just by laying on it!!! We are so ready to have our couch back and watch a movie as a family in total comfort!!

A Microwave: While we could purchase a microwave, it seems silly because we will have one in our new house! We would love to be able to pop some popcorn, heat up leftovers, or warm up our coffee if it sits out to long. Instead we have become pros at using the Croc Pot, Oven, Stove Top and our new Lean Machine by the famous George Forman! As this is all great, a microwave is just one of those conveniences you don't think about until you could use one!!

Paint On The Walls: I need COLOR in my life!!!!!!!!!! These white walls are about to drive me crazy!! haha! Thank god we brought a few pictures for our walls. Sure, we could paint, but we would have to paint back when we move out. Sure, we could add drapes, curtains, and decorations, but why waste the money? We may want other drapes etc in our new home!!

On a lighter note, Boggs decided to rebel yesterday and chew up the cheap linoleum floor leading into our bedroom at the apartment. She has never chewed furniture, carpet, floors, or anything!! Something got to her yesterday. The light part of this story is that it was not our new house she was chewing on. She is potty trained and for the most part chew trained (with the exception of yesterday) and we don't have to worry about the floors in a new home!!! That is a positive!

Another lighter note, the STL house is being shown starting next week!! HORAY!!!!!!! Someone buy that beautiful house so we can move on to another beautiful house!!!

Whhoooo Hooo....feels good to get that off my chest! Time to clean my small apartment (another positive...less space to clean!!)

Mis Match Day & Baby names & Weekend!

Friday, all the kids at school earned a fun day by dressing backwards and mis matched!! Thru being Responsible, Safe and Kind (The three main rules at school) the kids earn "panther paws". I guess the entire school had an exceptional week after Winter Break and they all earned a special day! 

Bad quality picture taken by cell phone, but this is how the kids went to school! HA!

Below are Katrina's favorite baby names. On Friday after school she sat down at the kitchen table. I thought she was drawing or writing a story which she loves to do. A few minutes pass and she comes to me with this sheet of paper (below). Katrina wants a baby sister and she is not shy about saying it. When Dave and I got engaged, she used tell people (total strangers in stores, neighbors, people at school, ball games etc.) that we were going to have a baby. I used to get so embarrassed because people likely thought I was pregnant when she told them that which was obviously not the case. Anyway, she is STILL wanting a baby sister (she will take a brother... but wants a sister)....Below are her favorite names....Check them out!

Miles had a great sports weekend, yet again! His basketball team won 38-11. He scored his typical couple of baskets, a hand full of assists & rebounds, but his defense is really helping his team the most, as he is leading his team in steals. (See the video clip below, He is #1 jersey)  The afternoon brought indoor soccer, and Miles lead his team to a 7 to 5 victory, scoring 4 goals.  Of course Dave and I are biased, but Miles is truly a standout on the soccer field, and we hope he continues to play, because he really is a great little player!

Kids are back in school, Holidays are over...Happy Heather!!

Don't get me wrong. I love the Holidays and I certainly love Miles and Katrina tons but I love a routine as well!

The kids are back in school this week after two weeks of break. Enough said! HAHA!

The Holidays were filled with a lot of love and happiness but I am glad they're over because they were also filled with a lot of Food, a lot of Wine, and a lot of Laziness!! Dave and I have been detoxing and I am telling you, we are new people in five days!!!! We were doing so well before our wedding...eating right, staying active , lots of water, etc. Since October (starting with Halloween) we have been active but LESS active, have not been watching what we eat and enjoying wine more often than we should! (We will still enjoy wine but not as often!) This is not some 2011 reslolution plan that we will break. It's a lifestyle that we lead but have been lacking with! We want healthy hearts and healthy minds!! 2011 will be a continued way of life that the Baker's will make a consious effort with!

Back on track! To be continued!

Finley, Amsden & Brogen Reekie

My sister has obviously been quite busy lately! When my friend Katie went to visit her and the boys last week, she was very impressed with how in control, calm and happy my sister was with the boys. She said they had a very good schedule in place and my sister looks great! This was all great news!!  I enjoyed the pictures she sent me VERY much, so I wanted to share them with you!!!! Meet the newest Reekie additions!! Despite a few colds, they are healthy and doing great! Finley is walking and developing quite the personality. Ashley sent a video last night...it appears Finley is not only walking but learning the "2 step" dance as well!! Too cute!

The bottom two pictures are picture of the kids and their friend Ella on NYE.

Enjoy a few pictures. (Katie said Brogen is in the stripes, Amsden in Cars)

Brogen

Finley checking out Amsden!

Brogen and Amsden!

Amsden

The twins! How sweet....crazy cute!

Katrina and Ella on NYE

Miles with the girls!!

HAPPY 2011 everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!