Twas the night before Christmas....

...and all through the house, all the Bakers were gathered together at last. The cooking was finished and all the presents were wrapped. The children were bright eyed and ready for cheer in hopes that opening presents soon would be near.

Paige and Uncle Rob admiring the tree

Todd and his brother Brian deep in conversation

Olivia and Jessie playing with new toys

Michael on the move

Later that evening at home we tucked the kiddies in and then Todd and I went to play in the snow. We had so much fun making a snowman.

Then we got busy making our house ready for Christmas morning.


Merry Christmas!

Let it snow!

We sure have been enjoying all the snow that has been falling! Nothing says Christmas like snow! I don't mind driving in it and I say if it is going to be cold we may as well have snow! Everything becomes quiet and beautiful. Our faces have been pressed against the windows as we watch excitedly. I felt like a little girl again. I was watching the snow fall and as it fell harder and fatter flakes I ran from room to room telling everyone "look now, now look, doesn't it look pretty, don't you love it!!" We have been busy making snow angels, sledding and trying to make this powdery snow form a ball!! Here are a few photo's from the fun....

Early Christmas

My Dad Kirt arranged a family lunch yesterday. All the local family gathered together after church to have a Christmas meal. He said this was the only time that he could give my mom her Christmas gift and he wanted us all present. He was making a pretty big deal about this gift. Saying things like "Sandra(my aunt) you are going to cry" , "it's time all the Medrano's got together". Even my Auntie Elva came! (which is a big deal) Well Friday night I was trying to figure out this surprise. I was sure that I had. It had to be that he had flown my Grandma in!!! I was so certain. When we arrived at my mom's Kirt told all of us "no one goes up stairs till I say so" I smiled, so sure my grandma was up there...

I was wrong. While I wish that it had been my Grandma I am so excited about the gift that my mom did receive. Weighing all of 1 lb. or so and covered in hair, here she is....

She had a big first day in our family. I am not sure her feet touched the ground for more than 30 minutes. When we took her outside in the freezing cold she would sit and lift her back legs off of the cement and shiver till you took her back inside! She is just precious, and my mom is thrilled. Her name is Sophie.

Glow

I have always wanted to go to the Botanical Garden-a-glow! The first time we tried was 6 years ago on our Anniversary, they were closed. I am not even sure what happened all the other years in between then and now. It doesn't really matter anyway. Tonight though we were treated to the beautiful twinkling lights, a Christmas choir, hot chocolate, cider and cookies. Thank-you Mom and Dad for the wonderful night. The kids loved it, and were asleep about 5 minutes into the car ride home. Nothing like a night like this to put you in the Christmas spirit! Now all we need is snow which I understand is coming! Now if only I was done with all my shopping. Merry Christmas everybody!!!

And he's off!!!!!

I think we can mark it down as official! This morning my precious baby demonstrated his skills on all fours! After much hard work of sliding, scootching, and rolling He has traded it in for crawling!! I am so proud and a bit terrified too. Here are a couple shots of him in action.

They grow too fast....

Oh boy

The other man in my life....



Shhhh......



Don't tell Todd... :)

Because I'm a princess....

From the moment Claire opens her eyes in the morning, she has one thing on her mind. Where is my princess dress? Or the Baker dress as she calls it, because in our house 'B' is for Baker not Barbi! She runs to the toy basket pulls it out and it's on over the pj's. Secure the crown in place and quick the mermaid shoes! Which I might add make the LOUDEST noise on the wood floor. It could give anyone a headache. She knows that if she is not careful mom will take the shoes away. She will be running through the house but as soon as she hits that wood floor it's up on tiptoes till she clears it!!! I just have to laugh every time I hear this. Paige is not quite as fanatical as Claire when it comes to the dresses. This only means that sometimes she plays the roll of the King and Kings don't wear dresses silly. I have found that they love these dresses so much that they will do whatever I ask(70.3% of the time) rather than run the risk of losing the dress for the rest of the day. The day I discovered this I felt I had made it to the winners circle. Victory is so sweet! Thank-you Auntie Laura for the best presents 2 three year olds could have asked for and for the power over nap time that a mom never thought she'd have!

By the way that's Claire in the pink glasses, in case you didn't guess it!