2008- Crested Butte Colorado - Memory Lane

Dave and I had traveled together to Southern California in the Spring of 2008 as a new couple without the kids as I had not met them yet! Once we realized our relationship was serious and more than just dating, after about 6 months, I met the kids! It was an instant connection and the next thing you knew I was in love with all three of them! The phases of our relationships as a family and individually have been super fun to watch grow....Below are pictures from our first trip as Dave, Heather, Miles and Katrina...besides some adventures in St. Louis together like baseball games, The Zoo, Museums, restaurants, festivals etc we had not traveled together yet (all 4 of us)....We packed our bags after Christmas in 2008 to join my Mom, Dad, Andrew (my brother) and Jess (brother's girlfriend) and hit the road from St. Louis to Crested Butte Colorado where my family has been several times! The kids had never skied before. They took Ski lessons while Dave, my family and I hit the slopes! It was a wonderful growing experience for us as a family and also for my Mom and Dad to get to know Miles and Katrina better! We had a fantastic week together and took wonderful pictures. This will be a trip that remains in our heart and memory forever! I remember crying to Dave after this trip because of all of the emotions him and the kids brought me....it was a sweet trip I will never forget.
Since then, we have obviously gotten engaged and married, traveled many places such as St. Lucia on our honeymoon, Florida and North Carolina to see family, South Carolina on vacation, Vegas, Boston, Cape Cod, the drive/ move across the country through Wyoming, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska etc and here we are in Oregon!

Fun Times with Good People ...

TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN! 

LOOK HOW LITTLE THEY WERE

almost there

gorgeous drive

Miles and Katrina - first ski adventure

sweet cheeks and baby teeth

awww

one of my favorite pictures of ALL time! framed outside her bedroom

framed in black and white in our home



Baker Family in 2008 before I was officially a Baker :)

hahaha

the truck was filthy after the road trip...Yes Life is Good

Hot Tub time

the view was amazing

my favorite kids

Dave and I



Katrina singing her heart out

The Talent Show is at the end of the year and Katrina is ready! She has been practicing!

Enjoy. (click link below)

http://youtu.be/hiWFR5ZsO9M

Before and After!

Miles and I at the beginning of the week were DOWN AND OUT and SO SICK with strep throat...It hit us hard out of the clear blue! No one that we knew in our friends, neighborhood or at school had strep or was sick. We were stunned to be so SO sick. We went to the doctor Tuesday morning together and he said our throats looked "extremely angry!" I wanted to punch the doctor when he said that because I WAS SO ANGRY for us to be so sick and hurting so bad! HAHA! Miles and I had major "sick bonding" time Monday-Wednesday and he went back to school Thursday...I was still so sick and finally better by Friday evening!

By the time this weekend came around, I was so HAPPY to be better and feeling my normal self for many reasons!

It was Dave's 39th Birthday!!! Saturday, Dave turned 39 years old. He is not a big fan of celebrating his birthday so we kept it low key as he wanted. I told him next year, I will be 30 and he will be 40 years old; those WILL be big birthdays and we WILL celebrate with a fabulous trip or something! Saturday Night we went to a wonderful Italian dinner in Lake Oswego, enjoyed a movie and had a nice time alone together.

We took a nice walk Saturday morning down the road to Garden Corner and planned out our front and back yard makeover that we have talked about since our move in. We spent pretty much the entire weekend in our yard and had fabulous weather! The kids enjoyed a ton of time with their neighborhood friends, riding bikes, playing basketball, hide and seek and running around! The front yard we tackled first! Below are before and after pictures.

The back yard had a garden box that we removed and did some weeding, raking etc..It needs mulch and will be complete!....

Everything is looking so great. We are ready for Spring BBQ's, time with family visiting and friends in the neighborhood. Though we put each other to work in the yard this weekend, we still enjoyed time together so much. I thought to myself many times this weekend while loaded with mud, dirt, tired of yard work; I don't think anyone else I know can make me laugh and smile the way the birthday man can! We have a great time together, even doing yard work!!!! What a fabulous man, husband, Dad and friend! He deserves all the best in his 39th year...I love him :)

                                                                            BEFORE!

YARD BEFORE! Bushes...

                                                                                   
                                                                             AFTER!

YARD AFTER! Shrubs and flowers!

Home sweet home...We couldn't be happier here.

flower pots and cushions on rockers...ready for morning coffee and evening wine :)

Happy 39th Birthday My Love!



Crab Pot

Dave and I love our neighborhood for many reasons but the biggest reason is because of the people who live in it! We have seriously met some of the greatest people. I know I have said that a lot lately but I mean it! We love our house and this is home, so loving the people around us is that much more exciting!
Last night, my next door neighbor and friend had us over with three other families and we had a Crab Pot dinner. The first time my parents met Dave we did an Low Country Boil which is pretty much the same thing! As you will see in the picture, it is New Orleans style eatin! The crab legs were honestly some of the best I have ever had! The kids played together and put on a talent show for us full of dancing, singing, jokes and yo yo tricks! We had the best time. I went kind of picture crazy because the kids are so cute and our friends are so great! Enjoy pictures from a very fun evening!

Raechel, Erika, Lindsay, Jennifer

The smallest and sweetest at the party!

Blake, Miles and Cole

Stella and Katrina

Scott and Jeffrey!

the kids eating before the adult meal is served!

belly time!

DINNER IS SERVED! SO FUN

So delicious

Erika and Craig

two wonderful women and an adorable baby!

Family picture- only missing Isaac

Such a fun time.

Thanks again Hachmeister Family, we had a blast!

Handful

A local Tigard OR. woman started her own business. She designed a bra that is great as a sports bra but also practical for every day use! She has inspired breast cancer patients that have had surgery and made them feel better about themselves as the bra has an insert option! The business has taken off and she is so inspiring. She works at our Club in Tigard OR. She has been on the news and the bra is making a name for itself! Even Mom's at Hot Mama are talking about it! The name Handful bra makes sense but it's not named for what you may think!The woman who started the company as a little girl was called a "Handful" by her father! How great is this. Check out the video below. A fun video to show what a great bra this is for all women! She is inspiring! Why didn't I think of that?! YOU GO GIRL!

http://www.handful.com/


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAi5m1csr5I&feature=g-upl&context=G2a95f11AUAAAAAAAAAA

The Fine Line...Really Sick or Not?? Oh-Parenting!

Sick Day vs. Mental Health Day

Causes of a Sick Day: Fever, aches, chills, pain, vomit, pajamas, bed and shut eye (the list goes on)

Causes of a Mental Health Day: A test, a mean child at recess, the annoying teacher, the girl you like being absent (the list goes on)


Miles has had the 24 hour stomach bug and is getting better this evening but starting after school yesterday he was feeling legitimately crummy. This is the conclusion we came to after much debate. He started complaining of an upset stomach before dinner. As a parent I immediatley think, was this because he did not want to eat what was for dinner? He didn't like the looks of dinner? Or was he serious? He excused himself from the table after eating maybe 4 bites and being told no desert. I rolled my eyes and huffed thinking he was not really sick, he was just being picky about food again!

After dinner last night the complaining continued, pepto bismol was distributed and water bottle filled to the top as he was in and out of the bathroom every 20 minutes (Too much information??? Sorry). Just after 10pm (bed time 8:30pm) he finally fell asleep...I'm thinking the poor guy has had a rough night, hoping he is better for school.

As a parent you want to be sure he is ok but we were all in 5th grade once! We also want to be sure he was truly and honestly sick! I remember growing up and trying to "fake sickness" so I didn't have to go to school and take that dreaded test or see that mean girl at recess! Watching TV in my pajamas sounded a lot better! Growing up, my parents made sure I knew what "sick days" would look like and when I was truly sick they would tend to me but when I wasn't sick they knew I was "BS- ing" them. My Mom and Dad were smart. 

I think of them a lot when Miles and Katrina are sick! I remember one Saturday morning in St. Louis Katrina was complaining of an upset stomach on our way to dance. I felt her head...no fever...I was thinking she just did not want to go to dance! It was not until there was throw up all over the back seat that I believed her. Needless to say we turned around and headed home! I guess I learned a lesson there, though she has tried to pull a couple mental health days since! I also remember a couple times where Miles has had a big game or a performance at school and some how that causes a belly ache or a head ache only to find out it was nerves. So, where is the line? It's a fine line for sure!

This morning I found myself saying the same things to Miles that my parents once said. "Miles I want you to feel better and I don't want you to go to school if you truly feel sick but a sick day does not mean you will be able to stay home and play video games all day. It means you relax on the couch or in your room etc. It's not a fun filled day off." After texting Dave to let him know I was keeping Miles home from school he texted back "ok but NO VIDEO GAMES", great minds think alike! We are smart!

Anyway, Miles was not kidding, I saw for myself and he was truly feeling crummy, though I don't want him feeling bad ever it reassured my decision to keep him home. I went to the store after talking with Mom (my go to, nurse RN) and got popscicles, bananas and soup. We have had a lazy day to say the least. I was lucky to get a few things done around the house and that was the extent of it!!! 

Needless to say, the kids will never get away with faking it...Not with me as their Step Mom...I tried to pull those same tricks and it never worked, so I cannot let it work for them! If you aren't sick you go to school! HAHA! Are we mean?!!? Just another reason our kids are resilient I suppose!

 Baker Family Rule #2 -Don't Get Sick-

Been Busy!

Well the house decorating continues a day at a time! We are still having fun with it. We recently painted the down stairs 1/2 bath in the entry way and it turned out great! Just enough color to pop! Thanks to Dave for helping me edge!

done!

Katrina is turning 9 years old tomorrow (Feb. 21st) but Sunday night was the big celebration!

Sunday we surprised her with the Papasan Chair in her room from Pier 1 ~ that she has been wanting so badly! She was surprised and very excited.
Happy Birthday from Heather and Daddy!

L.O.V.I.N.G her chair!

cupcakes ready to be decorated for the cupcake decorating contest!

Dave announcing the rules for the hunt!

The girls are ready for the Scavenger Hunt!

Thanks to our sweet neighbor friends for making the hunt a success!

HAVING FUN! 9 years old and loving it!

running to next house for the hunt!

the hunt and their findings

Miles and his buddy staying out of the girls way....there were 7 of them, they know better! HA!

Katrina's pretty cupcake!

Cupcake # 1-7 and number 3 was the unanimous winner!

cupcakes and ice cream

PRESENTS!

Sweet girlfriends gave the sweetest gifts!

The Party Glasses!

Party Glasses!

HAPPY 9th BIRTHDAY!


After the exhaustion from the Slumber Party wore off, we went to a neighborhood friends house this afternoon for lunch and MORE fun with kids! We had a nice lunch and the Mom's had "Mom Time" which was needed!

 Presidents Day Weekend has been a successful one!

I am more and more thankful for the people we have met here in Oregon every day!

The Crew today before a hike to the water from our friend Erika's house!