Update

So I've got lots to catch up on for January but yall will just get this summary for now, mid-February. I'll try and link these to their own posts later since just a sentence won't do it all justice.

One reason I haven't posted as much is just I haven't gotten around to deciding which photo hosting site to use for here.

Now the bigger reasons are we've been fairly busy mainly with house hunting. We are looking for our own house to purchase. I will make another post on this eventually.

Another big saga of late was Shade got very sick and though we believe she may pull through she is no longer with our family. Everything went fairly crazy and we were pretty much about to put her to sleep (being told it was the only choice) then at the last minute were offered a VERY expensive exploratory surgery which could not be offered (since it's that much of a long shot) unless we gave up our rights of ownership. We are not happy how it all was handled by the vets etc. but I will share more detail on that later. What counts is for now she is still alive though we are grieving her not being with us of course :(

And of course last week the kids all got a pretty horrid cold (with fever) which we're still fighting today. I know I am fighting this as well but can't let it keep me from caring for them. Pretty sure the first day I am not woken up by a coughing child I will sleep the day away giving into the exhaustion (guess I better hope it's a weekend).

So anyway Valentine's day with sick kids and worrying about Shade, we decided to reschedule celebrating (which is more for the kids anyway with our anniversaries coming in March). Hubby still surprised me with flowers he'd ordered a week in advance. C and J made their own valentine cards for everyone and we made cookies but no big plans like years past or crafts till the weekend.

And now we're here again, Monday, President's day.

I'm looking forward to hopefully the rest of this month being relaxing and healthy *fingers crossed* and March making up for it the rest of the way.

I will try and be better about posting here, and free photo hosting site recommendations appreciated in the meantime!

Christmas 2012

We had a wonderful Christmas celebration today. We started with the kids opening their Santa gifts, then had Baker Family Traditional Eggs Benedict Breakfast, followed by exchanging family gifts, and finally a huge turkey dinner with all the fixings. We are very blessed. I will add pics and try and catch up more later (as soon as I decide which photo site will be linking to the blog now with Google's new limits).

Hope you and yours had a wonderful holiday as well!

Christmas Eve 2012

Will add pics shortly :)

12-2 Happy Birthday Mommy!

I was completely spoiled and so beyond blessed today! Will photos and more notes later but let's just say hubby went above and beyond and being surrounded by my many blessings, what more could I ask for. Looking forward to the 27th year to come :)

Kids Say......Again

Well it's been awhile since I did one of these so these are just a few cute sayings from the last few days

Tuesday 11/27
J told C "I think Mommy's having a bad day." Funny part is I really thought I was having a good day before that (besides wishing it was warmer and I was still in bed of course). Does he know something I don't know?

Wednesday 11/28
C was on a roll tonight since I had a headache
She said "Mommy you should take a nap, we can take care of ourselves"

And later brought me her water bottle saying "Here Mommy you need this more than I do"

Thursday 11/29
C told me "Mommy I didn't get any sleep last night. Eva didn't want to sleep so I sang her two songs and she went to sleep, but after I finished the two songs it was almost morning"
Mommy- "Well that was very nice of you but those must have been very long songs"
C- "Well I think it was morning, the songs weren't that long though so I may have gotten some sleep after all"

E sees a mug a points "Look Mommy that's coffee!"
I correct her (since neither Daddy or I drink coffee): "No that's a cup"
E: "No that's not a cup it's a cup of coffee"
[I blame her grandparents for this]

And some general E-isms:
Eva can say anything we say on repeat but she still mixes up a few words which are particularly cute. A couple of these are:
pickle=tickle
popsicle=bicycle

So often during dinner we will here "Mommy can I need a tickle pweeze and a bicycle for dessert!" 

I run to the kitchen since the bathroom is off there and hear "Mommy you need to get me milk pweeze" I reply "Well I need to use the bathroom first" E: "Well you need to wash your hands" I come out (after washing my hands) E: "Now I need milk pweeze" Me:"Okay" I give her her milk and also grab some grahm crackers in the box for myself. E: "You need to get me some cookies too" Me: "No you have milk" I sit down with my cookies E comes up to me and looks at the box E: "What's in that box? Oh it's my cookie!" I just laugh at her and hand her the cookie "Thank you Mommy!"

11/30
C: Can I clean up, pretty pretty please?!
J: Can I clean up too, handsome, handsome please?!

Thanksgiving 2012

This year we decided to go to my mom's house/Ami's house in North Georgia since my sister and her family would be there for Thanksgiving. Since Daddy had to work Wednesday we drove down Thursday and had a wonderful traditional meal Thursday on my mom's deck. It was a great meal, beautiful setting, and of course lots of lovely company, though we kept saying how we wished my brother and his family were with us.

This reminded me of a few years when my mom hosted Thanksgiving at our house when I was growing up. I still remember my uncles Sam and Ken leaning against the rails on the deck talking, my grandmother and grandfather relaxing in the living room while everyone ran about to get things ready. They have since passed on and it's been awhile since I've had Thanksgiving at my mom's but I'm so thankful I had those memories and felt that same love they always brought this Thanksgiving.

I hope my children have lovely memories from this Thanksgiving too. I think with all the fun they had with their big cousins, the love showered on them by Ami, the beauty of the North Georgia Mountains and all the many blessings we have to be thankful for this year this will be one of their favorite Thanksgivings looking back.

(will add pics later)

2 fuzzy cellphone pics to sum up the day

It's definitely a rainy Monday, and this is what results in the Baker household when kids go slightly stir crazy. These moments were caught as they were happening (thus the cellphone pics) and no adult aid was given in the process.