Monday, November 26, 2012

Gratitude

My 2013 New Years Goal (starting early) is to keep a Gratitude Journal. Every day, I will be responsible for writing in my journal. What I am thankful for , grateful for, and show/write my appreciation for those things. I think it is important on the best of days and even on the worst most terribly tragic days, to remember all that we have to be grateful for. I have heard of these journals through friends, family and even OPRAH (yes, I said it). I think a journal like this can change someones life and their perspective of things. I believe that what energy in your actions you put out, is the same energy and action you receive in return. To be a thankful person and to live with gratitude and gratefulness is something to live by and it can change your life. Be Grateful. Don't focus on all the negative things in life when there is so many positive things to focus on. Afterall, we can only focus on what we can control.

I think during this time of year especially, it is difficult for kids to see the big picture, the meaning of the Holidays. I think by keeping this journal and having the kids share what they are thankful for as well will be a great addition to the Holiday. Instead of focusing on what we don't have that our friends have or what we want instead of what we need, we should focus on what we DO HAVE ...which is an abundance of THINGS ....including LIFE and HEALTH...LOVE and FAMILY!


Here is to Journal-ing!!

A successful Barnes and Noble Journey! 2013 Calendar - Gratitude Journal- Address Book!

TIME TO GET WRITING!


BE GRATEFUL

Saturday, November 24, 2012

~Thanksgiving~ 2012

Well another Thanksgiving has come and gone by so fast! The Holidays are here! Because we will be traveling at Christmas and our families had lots of stuff going on this year, we spent Thanksgiving with friends!! I baked cookies, a pie, pumpkin bread, made "Grandma's Green Beans" and Dave and I headed next door to have dinner with friends! We enjoyed a very low key, relaxing Thanksgiving! We love the Holidays. We look forward to seeing family at Christmas. Dave got the Christmas Lights up and the tree is complete! Katrina and I have tickets to the Nutcracker with friends in a couple weeks and we have a friends Christmas Party next weekend. We are staying busy! The kids have been off school all week! They did a lot of hanging with their friends, we saw movies, had sleep overs, did baking, some shopping and hung out! They go back to school for a couple weeks and are off again for the Christmas Holiday! We are geared up and have our shopping lists ready! All is well at the Baker home! We are blessed.

Here are a few recent photos of the Thanksgiving Holiday!

Katrina with her girlfriends at a Birthday Party!

Katrina with her friend Katie baking cookies...one of three sleepovers during the holiday week
 
 
The girls' cookies! They were yummy!

All of our baking goods, ready for the pie, the pumpkin bread and chocolate chip cookies I made for Thanksgiving!
 
We watched my favorite Christmas movie this week as well! White Christmas!
 

Dave made me a nervous wreck but he did a great job with the Christmas lights!




Thanksgiving Day Love

Jenn and baby Brook on Thanksgiving - Love them

Brook

Our house! Pretty Christmas lights and wreath!

our tree!
 
 
KATRINA ~NOVEMBER 2012

MILES ~NOVEMBER 2012
 
HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE! 
 


Saturday, November 10, 2012

a new baby and some football!

WELCOME BABY BROOK HACHMEISTER!!!
 
Brook Marie Hachmeister was born on November 8th weighing in at 7lbs 5 oz. and was 19.5 inches long. We met her yesterday and all had a chance to hold her. I fell in love and Katrina especially cannot wait to be a big sister..I don't think Miles knows what to think, but I could tell he thought she was pretty cool! She is so tiny and precious and most importantly healthy! The Hachmeisters are dear friends of ours and our next door neighbors and we could not be more happy for them! Jenn (Momma) and the baby are doing awesome!
welcome baby Brook!


I AM IN LOVE!

She is so tiny and precious


Katrina is going to be a perfect and wonderful big sister and baby sitter!


my Friend Raechel having her turn to hold the baby!

 
I didn't get a picture of Dave holding her but he had his turn too and that was fun to watch!
 
 
Dave, the kids and I went to the Tualatin High Football game last night for some fun in the cold to watch them win a playoff game! Miles ran around with all his middle school buddies (growing up and too cool for school) and we kept warm in the bleachers with the Atkinsons! We had a fun night!

Neighbor and friend, Kelly and I keeping warm!

Ryan and Katrina


Thursday, November 1, 2012

Halloween 2012

The kids had a really fun Halloween this year. Miles had soccer practice and came home to get ready for his night out with buddies. He was a Beat Up Soccer Player and his make up was good! Katrina was a Skeleton and a really cute one! Her and I went to a Halloween Dinner at our friend Erika's before coming home for her to meet her friends for Trick O Treat! They went "alone" in a group with a parent shadow!! They had a great time! TOO MUCH CANDY from the evening...
 
My sister in St. Louis dressed up her boys as the life cycle of a butterfly! So creative! She made their costumes herself! A Caterpillar, A Cocoon, and a Butterfly!! Love my nephews and love that my sister is so cute...what a creative, awesome MOM!
 
Some more of the greatest costumes of the night go to cousins on the East Coast! Cutie Pie, Anna in Boston was Barbie in a Box (LOVE IT!!) and Audrey, Lucy and Sadie had a good time in North Carolina and were cute as always! We cannot wait to see them at the holidays!
 
Miles and Katrina (Miles had practice, the make up came later)

at the dinner party my friend and Science teacher Lindsay, did an awesome experiment!

the kids watched intently!




Riley (Cookie Monster, Ella Superhero, Katrina Skeleton, and Kasidy Grim)


Miles and Cameron- beat up soccer player and the blind ref at the Atkinson home before take off

...some of the boys in Miles Crew...there were lots of them!
 
More of Miles group at our door...
 

Pumpkin Boggs handed out a lot of candy!

 

Life Cycle of a Butterfly

The wings! So good!

Anna in Boston!

Lucy in NC

Sadie in NC

Lucy- Lots of candy!

Sadie and her friends!
 
Audrey is too old to trick o treat but she was a cute Wiggles that stayed home and studied!
 

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Our Home!

Dave and I have had a lot of family and friends visit our home in Oregon but for those of you who have not been here in a while or have not been at all yet, these pictures are for you! Lots of random pictures taken at random times- enjoy.
 
Here is most of our house in Pictures.
 
The Baker Residence

 
 
 
 


 
Entry Way
 
 
Living Room/ Dining Room/ Kitchen- All Open

 


Kitchen
 
Kitchen Table area off Kitchen
 
 
 

 
Computer Room and Den

 
Dining Room

 
Dave and I Room
 
the other side of Dave and I's room
 
 Katrina's Room


Miles Room

 
 
 
Movie Room and Art Room



Laundry Room/Boggs Area
 

Back Yard