Sunday, November 15, 2009

Primary Program Bribery

Well, today was the day! It was the first time our sweet, oh-so hyper son would perform in front of the entire church congregation with all the other children ages 4-12 in the annual Primary Program Presentation. I have to admit I was nervous. We hadn't really practiced the songs with Taylor (mostly just because we are bad parents, but also because we knew he didn't really like to sit still and sing in the first place). Nevertheless, we had practiced his "lines" over and over again just in hopes that MAYBE he would get it right. Then, we resorted to what any good parents would do.....we bribed him!

Just before he walked to the pulpit, I quietly reminded him, "Don't forget son. If you sing loud, I will let you have cake tonight." Boy did I eat my words. Our adorable and well-dressed son was the star of the show. Not only did he sing, but he belted every word (at least the ones he knew) louder than any other kid there. He was completly off tune, but man did the kid sing! We were so proud of him. I truly couldn't stop crying. It was like all my motherly emotions swelled together. There was my posterity! He was so cute in his little suit, yelling "Jesus came to John the Baptist" at the top of his lungs on the front row. It was as if his entire life flashed before me. I knew this was simply the beginning of many miraculous and challenging experiences to come. My sweet, sweet son was starting to build his testimony of Jesus Christ. I couldn't have been more proud. (Until he starting to eat his tie at least)

The whole program was quite a spectacle. I am so thankful to all the leaders who invested time and effort into this opportunity. When my son finally came to the microphone and said "Adam and Eve were the first family on earth", my heart just melted. I have not felt such gratitude since the very day Taylor was born. Despite the lame attempts at bribery, it made me truly grateful to be a parent.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Sunday, October 11, 2009

7 Happy Years!

It is so gratifying to know that we beat the odds! Today we celebrated 7 wonderful, chaotic, romantic, fun and sweet years of marriage! Although our anniversary will always be bitter-sweet, since it is also the same day Brandon's best friend died in Iraq; it is so comforting to know that I am married to my best friend for all eternity! Despite our polar differences, we bring such a sense of completeness to one another. When I am stressed, he is calm. When I am nervous, he is calm. When I am busy, he is calm.....Are we sensing a pattern here?

I love being married to a man who supports me in my personal goals and is always willing to be a part of my interests (traveling to debate competitions, school events, pageant parties, etc.)

I love being married to a loyal spouse who cherishs his relationship with his wife and son- Who never lets a day go bye without saying "I love you" or holding my hand. Who is active, competitive and Christ-oriented all at the same time. More than anything, I am so happy I found a man who believes in me!

Note the following list of 110 reason why I love my husband. This was a Christmas present to him in 2006. I hope he doesn't mind me sharing. :)

Reason Why I love Brandon Baker


1. He is the father of my children
2. He makes me laugh
3. He calls me at least twice a day-no matter what!
4. He lets me have “pageant parties”
5. He comforted me during pregnancy and child birth
6. He holds my hand
7. He helps me remember what’s truly important in life!
8. He looks for monsters in the shower when I’m scared
9. He pulls my hair back when I’m sick
10. He is the “perfect height”
11. He calls me “boob-a-loo” and “gum drops”
12. He lets me sing out loud when I’m with him in public
13. He takes out the trash (usually without even being asked)
14. He drives slow around the curves just to make me feel safe
15. He compliments me even when I am terrible at something (golf, dancing, mowing, etc.)
16. He tells me I’m beautiful
17. He is thankful for my cooking even when it’s corndogs or top ramen
18. He brought me to TEXAS
19. He gives me blessings when I’m sick or sacred
20. He lets me do the budgeting
21. He lets me spend money, even after I complain about not having any
22. He takes care of Taylor in the middle of the night, when I’m tired
23. He tries to help change dirty diapers- even when it makes him throw up
24. He is athletic and enjoys sports (and plays on 2 softball teams, a soccer team and bball)
25. He lets me play in his fantasy basketball and football leagues (and win)
26. He golfs- and once almost won a car in a tournament
27. He watches chick-flicks
28. He makes fun of chick-flicks right in the middle of the most romantic part
29. He tucks me into bed
30. He comes to high school games, competitions, and events without complaining
31. He has chaperoned or judged at over 10 DECA/Debate competitions (including twice on our anniversary)
32. He cares about my family
33. He served a mission in the Philippines
34. He is loyal
35. He is a good listener (when he’s not distracted) J
36. He allows me to be myself
37. He pushes me to grow and follow my goals
38. He cuddles with me
39. He holds me close to him when we’re in the temple
40. He pops my knuckles against my will
41. He makes Taylor giggle and squeal
42. He is strong in body, mind, and spirit
43. He has an impeccable work ethic
44. He likes to watch movies
45. He likes to eat out
46. He helps me clean (even on Saturdays)
47. He lights/buys illegal fireworks
48. He eats dressing every Thanksgiving
49. He tries to keep gifts and presents a secret-even though it never workds
50. He lets me help him with his homework, talks, lessons, or assignments
51. He teases me about being a hypochondriac
52. He likes to brush my hair
53. He doesn't complain when my back rubs only last 30 seconds
54. He likes animals
55. He bought me my first puppy
56. He likes family-oriented Christmas tree ornaments (even though I'd prefer sparkly ones)
57. He drinks Lactaid
58. He always wears his wedding ring
59. He is a “good” man
60. He knows a lot about music
61. He used to work on a farm
62. He hates rollercoaster’s
63. He is an Eagle Scout
64. He was in DECA
65. He dresses up for Halloween
66. He always does something romantic and creative on Valentine’s Day
67. He is compassionate
68. He is sincere and emotionally grounded
69. He bought me a Barbie cake for my birthday
70. He convinces me to buy him gifts I was originally against (Shotgun, X-box, Golf clubs)
71. He knows my “favorites” without having to ask (color, food, book, clothes, etc.)
72. He graduated in Business Management
73. He owns a cowboy hat
74. He dances with me at random moments (He also taught me to two-step)
75. He lets me drive his truck
76. He lets me sleep while he drives on long trips
77. He likes to play 20 Questions
78. He reminds us to say prayers
79. He is a Republican, but lets me persuade him to vote Democratic
80. He is tolerant and open-minded
81. He took hypnobirthing classes
82. He doesn’t complain when I leave the bathroom messy
83. He’s sarcastic and enjoys teasing or “trash talking”
84. He doesn’t mind when I act “cheesy”
85. He wears polo shirts
86. He pretends to read in bed with me, even though he hates reading
87. He won Flora and Muggy for me playing Ski-ball
88. He likes to camp and he likes my tin foil dinners
89. He watches “crime” shows with me (Law and Order/CSI)
90. He plays the piano (at least a little bit)
91. He wrote about basketball in his mission journal
92. He helps me with map quest directions
93. He taught me to like new foods (shrimp, “dressing,” elk, brisket)
94. He’s had a lot of jobs (Great Harvest, Macey’s, Jamba Juice, EE, Finish Line, CMS...)
95. He lets me tease him about having red eyes
96. He likes outdoor sports (snowboarding, hunting, fishing) though he rarely goes
97. He took me to the “Price is Right”
98. He plays with my hair clips and usually breaks them
99. He lets me steal all of the covers and sleep with 5 pillows at night
100. He is much better and grocery shopping and always saves money
101. He fixes and builds things (Sand table, Taylor’s bed, bathroom drawers)
102. He lets me give him hair cuts
103. He cuts and styles Taylor hair
104. He plays hide and go-seek with Taylor
105. He has my “exact” same thought at the “exact” same moment
106. He encourages me to complete my list of 100 things to do before I die
107. He wrote me a poem
108. He is a worthy priesthood holder
109. He is my husband, lover, friend, and companion for all eternity!
110. He gives me romantic kisses RIGHT now!

Kids Say the Darnest Things

Well...I never thought it would happen to me! I never thought that something I said in front of my son would translate into later embarassment when he passed the information on to others.

Example #1: During "transportation week" at school, Taylor's class was discussing safety rules while driving. When the teacher asked if anyone had any safety ideas to share with the class, Taylor eagerly raised his hand and said, "When your mom lets you sit in the front sit on special occassions, and you see a cop; you are suppose to lay down and hide".

Example #2: During soccer practice, Taylor purposefully gave the ball to a kid on the opposing team. When we asked him about it this was his reply: "Mom, he said PLEASE can I have the ball and so I had to give it to him."

Weekly Questions of a 4-Year Old
  • Why does God have so many powers?
  • Why doesn't our goblin come down the fireplace?
  • Why can't I be a zombie-vampire for Halloween?
  • Why does our cat always have poop on her butt?
  • When can I grow-up so I can kiss a girl?
  • Can I drive your car to take my friends to kill the dragon in the hot lava castle?
  • Why are there so many poor people?
  • What is breast cancer and why is it pink?

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Random Thoughts

I'm a terrible blogger. Thus, the only way for me to recap the exciting, and not so exciting, adventures of my life is to list off the ten most random thoughts of the week.

1. Kids say the darnest things. Last week in church when I was trying to cuddle with Taylor, he yelled out loud, "Quit touching me. I am not your husband."

2. I am stuck in an endless battle between being competitive and wanting to enjoy sports simply for the workout and friendships. I am starting to worry I am too emotionally invested into wanting to win all of my soccer games. Is that really so bad? I'm also itching to play softball!

3. I just bought my first order of Schwan's delivery food. What an interesting concept....a nice old man brings Cordon Bleu right to my freezer. Hmmm...what a great world we live in.

4. I've decided I am addicted to movies. (Thanks a lot mom!) Now that I am off for summer break, I want to go all the time. I even experienced going to the theater all alone for the very first time. I feel brave and creepy all at the same time.

5. Why are people so afraid of overxtending their children? We attend two soccer games a week, plus karate lessons, t-ball, swimming lessons, young women's activities, etc. and yet we still sit at home on our butts watching too much TV. I think my child is still normal and we love being active and supportive of each other.

6. I am so thankful! I really am. I have so much to be grateful for. Despite an array of ridiculous and annoying health problems, there are so many things in life that I appreciate. The more I battle minute physical ailments, the more I realize there are hundreds of people experiencing far more tramautic circumstances, than a lame sinus infection. I just need to buck up and get over it. My heart goes out to those struggling with fertility, cancer, loss of a family member, drug addicitions, etc. I am a lucky woman and want God to know how thankful I am for all that I have.

7. I really wish everyone would quit asking when we are going to have another baby. For one, it's none of your business. Secondly, it's so awkward to talk about. Third, why do people in the church automatically assume that if we only have one child (and am working full time), that I must be doing something wrong. Finally, get over it people! I am happy with my life. Whether I have 3 more children, or no more children, I am happy to be a mother to a beautiful 4-year old who teaches me the treasures of life.

8. I really hope I win the million dollar prize in the United Supermarket grocery game. We are SO close. And since I can't gamble, and already failed at the Price is Right, this is my one legal shot at getting lucky. lol. I would even settle for winning the 1 free year of gasoline.

9. Technology is amazing. I can't believe how far I have come in overcoming my fear of gadgets and gismos. Despite the fact I still don't own an I-pod, MP3 player or I-phone, I am pretty darn awesome. I have all the basic luxuries of life....a DV3 recorder(which I personally believe is the key to a successful marriage), a cell phone (where I can finally send a text in less than 5 minutes), a Facebook and Twitter page (to stay connected to extended family, ward members and former students), a new Flip cam to upload videos to youtube and a new set of wireless headphones. Crazy. I feel like I'm living in a completly different world than 10 years ago. For better or worse I am learning to utilize technology in a useful way. Who would have thought that "I" would become a certified online teacher and be anxious to create monthly podcasts for educational purposes. I'm still laughing about it!

10. Family is wonderful! I love my husband and son. I love my mother and siblings. I love my grandparents, cousins, aunts/uncles, etc. I am so happy that the trival fights of yester-year are a thing of the past. Family is the most important part of who I am. I am so happy my sister is married to a great guy. I am eager to watch them overcome the challenges of being newlyweds. I am thankful I will be with my family after this life. It was such a touching experience to watch my in-laws finally be sealed to their parents in the temple, after nearly 60 years. It was so tender and emotional to know we could be together forever. I just don't get how people wouldn't want that. It leaves me deep in thought and dumbfounded.


Well, thanks for sharing in my random thoughts of the week. This was my lame attempt at journaling. Hopefully you won't think I'm crazy, but instead will reflect on your own inner thoughts and be willing to share with the world who you really are!

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Soccer Success





If you haven't already heard, (since I have been bragging about it all week)....we did it! Our team, "Sassified" was the division 3 women's indoor soccer champions. Now, it might not sound like much, but this was a victory for us. We started lasted season with a team of 13 girls. Only 3 of us had ever played before and it had been at least 12 years since I had even kicked a soccer ball. And despite "thinking" we were tough, we soon learned that our bodies and minds did not think alike. We were not as fast as when we were teenagers-nor do our bodies move in the same athletic way anymore.

We did average our first season, but decided to try it again and even moved up to a tougher division. Despite battling a variety of injuries (torn quad muscle and bruised meniscus), I had a blast this time. We played great together! UNDEFEATED. I almost feel bad to say that the other teams hated playing us. We even had two teams quit on us at halftime because we were so far ahead.
I am eager to see what we can do next season. (I am even starting to like playing goalie). However, regardless of the future, I feel a great amount of pride in being able to accomplish a personal goal. I have always wanted to try soccer again and prove to myself that I could still play. My teammates were amazing. We have become great friends and I look forward to many more games and seasons to come.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Counting Our Blessings

Okay...so you all know by now, that I am a terrible "blogger". However, tonight I feel especially compelled to share my thoughts and feelings. I am SO thankful that we have a loving Heavenly Father who watches over and protect us. After learning that my soon to be brother-in-law and nephew escaped a near fatal car accident, I felt such confidence in knowing that God is a God of miracles!

There is great comfort in the understanding that God has a plan for us. That he knows all and that most importantly that he wants us to be happy. The past year has been filled with so many deaths and unexpected challenges, but I feel stronger and more complete. Our family has found great peace in the phrase, "all things happen for a reason." As we continue to strive for greater strength and greater purpose, let us not lose faith in the meaning of our lives. If our journey is filled with truth, faith, service and love; then despite all other circumstances, we will find joy!

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Here She Comes....Miss America!

January 24th was a double party day. After Taylor's super fun birthday, we rushed to clean up the house and prepare for event #2! Nearly 25 woman attended our annual Miss America Pageant Party. However, this year there was twist. Each guest had to pick a specific state to represent. Then, everyone dressed up like their assigned state and prepared a food item from their state.
There were prizes for the best costume, best food and to girls whose states were named to the TOP 15 during the live pageant telecast. Overall, Miss Georgia (Jessica) and Miss New Mexico (Eleah) won the award for best costume and Miss Lousianna (Crystal) took home the award for the best food. Her gumbo and king cake were amazing!

When the live pageant came down to the top 3 contestants, Indiana (ME) and Tennesse (Leslie) stood hand-in-hand in front of the room awaiting the results. I don't think I've ever yelled so hard or jumped so high after winning a pageant. It was a hillarious concidence that the party host happened to pick the actual winnner. (HOORAY-suckers)!

It was a night of great laughs, embarassing moments and lots of comments about starting new diets. Leslie took him the official crown and banner for placing 2nd in the pageant predicitions competition (again, the host can't win her own prize!) and I think everyone had a great time. The best part of the evening was sharing it with my mother who flew in for a surprise visit to share the day with us.

Birthday Boy!



Last week Tayor celebrated his 4th birthday! According to him he is officially a "big boy!" He insisted on a "Hulk" theme. This pretty much consisted of our house being covered in green streamers, balloons, crate paper, and lots of hyper kids.


Having a January birthday usually means no outdoor parties. Thus, we had to think of a way to spice up the indoor party. This led us to looking into clowns and balloon artists. Clowns seemed kind of creepy, so we went with the balloons.


We were pleasantly suprised with what we got. For the most part we expected pretty basic balloon animals: giraffes, dogs, cats, etc. As you can see, it was a little more elaborate. Each of the 15 kids got a balloon hat made up of about 5-10 different balloons. Taylor got a pretty scary dragon hat, while others got Nemo, Superman, aliens, rugrats, and any other shape you could imagine.

After the balloons, Taylor got down to business with cake and presents. He insisted on wearing his Texas Tech jersey and football helmet (Brandon's when he was a kid) to blow out the candles!

Overall the party was in Taylor's words "The best party ever!" The icing on the cake was the suprise visit from Grandmama Utah. We had a great time, and now have a full year to recover and plan the next birthday!
















Friday, February 6, 2009

what's a boy to do without his bike?




Over the New Year holiday, me and my mom and dad went to our awesome friends home in Dallas. I brought some of my new things from Christmas including my new bike. I was showing Susie (the little girl in the picture) how to ride a big boy bike. She was jealous I am sure of that. We had a lot of fun playing the Wii, going to the park, swinging on swings, and riding our bikes...except when we packed up we forgot to pack my bike. Don't worry, I know it is tragic, but we were able to find somebody that was coming back to our house a couple of days later and so they brought my bike back. Crisis averted. Now me and my bike go riding everyday!