Dance Olivia Dance!

My dear sweet Olivia,
Tonight I am having one of those moments.... The ones where you wish that time would just hold still. Time however, waits for no one, and in one short hour you my baby, er, um... I mean big girl will be six years old! Has it really been six years?? That once plump little girl has stretched and thinned and I stare at you sometimes and want to say STOP right now, don't change anymore!!!

I have gone through pictures tonight, 6 years worth, and my mind has been flooded with memories and emotions. I was so afraid as a new mommy. I wanted to do everything right. To tell you the truth I am still afraid. I am afraid that you won't know just how much I love you. That maybe I don't tell you enough just how proud I am of you... That I am too hard on you..... That maybe I even don't let you be who you really are...

Olivia you are such a wonderful little woman! Your heart is so tender and so loving. You give so willingly, and so fully. I am so blessed to be your Mommy!! So my dear Princess I made you just a little something for your birthday. A look back from the moment you made this world a better place.

ALL my love!

Mommy

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Spring 'Fever'

A bad virus has made it's way into our house. Olivia brought it home from school, and thankfully she is not that all bothered by it. Just a runny nose and cough for her, but Paige has also gotten it and it has been a rough couple of days. Continual fevers and congestion so bad she has a slight wheeze. My poor girl, she looked so miserable I just couldn't resist snapping a few shots of her. I was making lunch on Saturday and she just cozied up on the floor so she could be close to me.


Later her fever hit a high of 103.8, her breathing was fast and she seemed so uncomfortable that I felt I would feel a whole lot better if she was looked at by a doctor. Todd gave me the your over-reacting look, but knew I needed the peace of mind. So off we went. Paige cried the entire exam but everything was fine and I was happy to go return home to hear a loving "I told you so." Paige has been sleeping it off, and thankfully today is doing better.

Snip, snip!!

It was time. Past time really. We had been told one too many times what a darling little girl we have. I don't disagree, we actually have 3 darling little girls, but when they are talking about our only boy, then something has to be done! So Friday we took Aaron in for his first hair cut. Here is a before shot.Here he is getting ready to go.

He did so well holding very still. I had even brought a sucker (just in case), which he held onto but never needed. The ladies loved him!!

Ta-Da!!

I think he feels better about it too! Look at all that self-confidence oozing out of him(along with a little drool)... Dino-mite!!!

Where's the sunshine?

The one thing I absolutely can't stand in winter is a nasty inversion. We are what, a week plus into this one? I see on the news the pictures from Bogus and it is sunny and 45 and just looks beautiful!!! Let me tell you it's killing me!!!! So today as a nice Sabbath family outing, after loading up on a wonderful meal, we headed up the hill. Just in case your unfamiliar with inversions here is just a shot from the car on the way up. Just nasty no color grey! It was about 34 degrees here in the valley and as we traveled into the clouds it was 25!!! BURRRRR Everything was covered in thick frost.

See. It does make everyting look a little prettier though doesn't it? Right about 5,000 feet we broke out of the clouds and Oh the Sunshine!!! It was so beautiful!

The temperature began to creep up and the sun warmed the car and ooooh it felt SO good! The girls had fun throwing snow and exploring. I could have just stood there and let the sun soak through me the whole time!! Time goes quickly when you are having fun....

It was a great day, however all good things must come to an end, sigh.

S-T-I-RRRRR-I-K-E!!!!!

With all this cold weather, we have been a lot more home bound than we like. So a couple weeks ago Todd had a great idea, Let's go Bowling!!! Well it sounds like fun I thought but what about Aaron he goes to bed at 7, and will Paige and Claire even be able to do it?, What about the smoke? See I always try to plan out any difficulties that we 'may' encounter, and avoid them at all costs. It's the mom of 4 coming out of me, something I am going to work on in 2009. Sure it's good to think ahead, but I can't let it keep me from doing things all the time. We decided what the heck let's just go and have fun. The Bowling Ally we went to was smoke free!! We set up the pack and play right there next to us, Aaron hung out while we all had a ball! It took us quite a LONG time to play one game. The girls would get up there and roll that ball and it would take 3-5 minutes (no joke) to make it all the way down the ally! After the clerk had to come and fetch a few balls that didn't make it, he brought over a slide. The girls loved it!!! Paige got 2 strikes and 2 spares to win the game with 139! I don't know that I have EVER scored that high. Despite the loss it was a great night and well worth it! Here are a few more shots from our night out...

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....