~Kirkwood~ Missouri~

I miss Kirkwood, Missouri. I miss the beautiful homes, the character, the history of the town, the train and the train station, the restuaraunts, shops/boutiques. farmers market and the people!! Kirkwood was a great place to grow up; great schools, great community, wonderful TRADITION! If I were to ever move back to St. Louis, I would live in Kirkwood without hesitation! Here are a few pictures of the place I called "home".  I think I may have a room in my new house with photos of this place...they make me happy!

On the Road Again!!

After Mexico and Panama last week, Dave is on his way to Texas and Ohio this week for work! In honor of all of his travels, I thought I would blog about our trek across the country this summer! What a crazy summer....Wedding in Florida, Honeymoon in St. Lucia and move to Oregon!!! The kids also had the great experience at Harry Potter World with their awesome Aunt Karie and Uncle Sean! To say the least, it was an eventful summer. After the wedding festivities, we loaded up the necessities and hit the road! Dave drove the rental truck and I drove the Jeep and we were off! We made it a five day trip so we could experience the beautiful parts of the country that we have never seen! Dave has traveled across the country a few times and still had never seen some of this. Please enjoy a few photos.
We are getting settled in Oregon and meeting a lot of new people which has been great. We are looking forward to getting in a neighborhood so we can really call Oregon "Home".

Getting ready to leave St. Louis! Bye Mason Knoll Road!

Snoozing...lots of sleep for the kids on the trip






Entertaining himself



Mt. Rushmore

Yellowstone National Park

We saw a grizzly!

Bison

Elk





so beautiful

Jackson Hole Wyoming is awesome! I can't wait to ski there soon!

We made it to Oregon!

Of Course Baker City was our first stop in Oregon

and more driving!

Finley Eoin Reekie

To brag, I have the cutest nephew in the world. My sister Ashley has a son named Finley Eoin Reekie and he recently turned one! He was premature by 7 weeks but you would never know it. He now weighs 23 (or more) lbs and is walking, talking (Finley talk), smiling, crying, sleeping well, and definitely eating well. I just know he is the light of my sister's life! Her and David (brother in law) are expecting twins any day now. She is having contractions and can barely pick Finley up because she is so ready to deliver the babies. She is doing great and truly hanging in there. I wanted to share this video of Finley with everyone. I could watch video of him over and over again! I love is button nose, bleach blond hair and the Verweyst baby blues, not to mention is smile! He gives me baby fever! He makes me smile and warms my heart. I am proud to share blood with this little man! Check it out.

Dave's Travels

Dave has been in Mexico and Panama all week for work! We have talked a few times on the phone and have had many texts! From the sounds of things they are accomplishing a lot and experiencing culture while they're at it! He shared a few pictures with me while he's been away which I have deleted from my phone by accident (Boo!)....The first night they were in Mexico they were taken out to dinner. He sent me a picture of lamb hanging from the ceiling after slaughter ready to be cooked, grilled, baked or whatever they do to cook them. He ordered a lamb taco dinner and was sure to load on the salsa and guacamole! The next morning when I spoke to him, he was not feeling so well after his breakfast where he at the hottest salsa he ever tasted! You know Dave, he never passes up a challenge and he insists on being a part of the culture he is in, so HOT HOT HOT salsa it was! He regretted it! Yesterday he arrived in Panama where he at Octopus for dinner!!!! The picture was so gross! He said it was actually very good! When he arrived at his hotel he had to use the restroom and he took a picture of the toilet. Next to the toilet was a hose...No Paper Wipes in Panama!!! Awful! Needless to say, I think Dave is ready to come home to us!!! We cannot wait to have him back!

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!!!!!