My New Year's Resolution

I want to take credit for this, but I can't.

I know I'm a month late, but that's okay.

Today, I'm starting my New Year's Resolution.

Thank you, John Kralik

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/excerpt-365-yous-john-kralik/story?id=12402610

Today, my first thank-you note will be written.  I will try to write

365 - 30

thank-you notes this year.

Hopefully God will help me pay for the stamps.

Here we go...

Dates Complete:


January 30th
31
February = Completed
March
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

I miss my dad.

This blog has taken a couple days of thought.

I want to use the right words. 

I don't want to cry when I type it.

Too late.  I eyes are already swelling with tears.

I miss my dad.

Yes, my dad is still a big part of my life.

Yes, he is still alive.

But, I haven't seen him in a while, and he's never met

Sawyer. 

It's not his fault.

It's not mine.

He just lives too far away, and time has not allowed either one of us the opportunity to see each other. 

He was supposed to meet Sawyer in December, but unforeseen circumstances didn't allow it. 

So we never got to celebrate Christmas together.

However...

When my grandparents came from St. Louis to Oklahoma to witness Sawyer's baptism, they brought a carload of presents from Poppie (my dad), Grandma Suzie (my stepmother), Taylor (my stepsister), and Garrett (my stepbrother).  Before my dad, stepmother, and step-siblings moved to Washington, they left the Christmas presents with my grandparents in Missouri. 

So, we decided to do Christmas the "new-fashioned" way.  We unwrapped presents on Skype.  That way, Dad and Suzanne got to watch Diesel open up all his presents.

And they got to meet Sawyer.... on the computer.



Yep, that's them on the computer screen!

The boys love their gifts. 

Even David. 

He can't wait to try out the fishing vest.

Diesel won't put his Fisherprice iXL down.

I love mine too.

I love my Vera Bradley backpack.

But most of all, I loved getting to spend Christmas (finally) with my dad. 

He won't get to open our presents until June. 

Hopefully they don't break during the flight.

Hopefully he'll get to hold Sawyer.

Cowman

Diesel and Mommy had a long discussion on the way home from school today. 

This was day #2 of getting in trouble at school.

Yesterday, Diesel was put back in the two-year-old room (from the three-year-old room) because he was spitting.

You see, the three-year-old room is a privilege. 

One that is taken away for being a goofus (they use the words goofus and gallant to explain behavior choices).

Diesel is in the process of moving up in classrooms.

Well, today Diesel, once again, was put back in the two-year-old room.  Today, he decided to yell at his friends. 

He claims he doesn't remember doing this. 

Daddy told Diesel this morning that if he was a good boy, he would help Diesel put together his basketball goal.  Grammie and Papa Baker bought Diesel a basketball goal for Christmas.  It's still in the box, and Diesel has been patiently waiting for nice weather. 

Well, Diesel was a goofus.

The basketball goal will not be put together tonight.

Diesel cried a few "tears" when I reminded him of the consequence to his behavior.  Then, he said, "That's ok.  I'll just play Cowman tonight."  I said, "You mean, cowBOY?"  He simply replied, "No, I don't want to be a boy.  I want to be a man.  A cowman."

I couldn't help but laugh.

He said Daddy would buy him the horse so he could be a real cowman.  I said, using appropriate language, that there's no way in hell Dad's buying you a horse.

We got home, and since the weather was nice, and Diesel's been asking for a while, I decided to take out his carseat to wash.   I set the seat up on the porch and asked him to push it inside.  He looked at me and said, "I'm not big enough yet.  I will go inside and eat a lot of food.  I will get bigger then.  I will help you later."

I took the carseat in myself. 

I love being a Mommy.  My boys always make me smile.  Even if they are being a

goofus. 

Sawyer's Baptism

We are very blessed.

Sawyer Paule Baker

was baptised on January 23, 2011.

His Godfather is Chris Swift.

His Godmother is Carrie Baker.

Sawyer's Great-Grandparents drove from St. Louis to El Reno for the baptism.  The last time they were able to make this long journey was for Diesel's baptism three years ago.  My sister and her husband also made the long trip.  I am so thankful that they made the baptism a priority.

This was not only a special day for Sawyer.

Autym Riley Baker

was also baptised. 

Her Godfather is Trevor Ellis.

Her Grandmother is Theresa Balan.

Not only is Ross a brother and brother-in-law.

Not only is Trisha a sister-in-law.

They are our best friends.

We were blessed to have two beautiful, perfect babies.

We are blessed to be able to share a baptism birthday.

We are blessed to be so close to our family members.

We pray that our children will grow up loving each other in the same way we, adults, love each other. 

 The cake....

Oh, the drama.

How hard is is to get a circular, white cake with a cross?

I guess it's very, very hard.

I was not able to find one for less than $60.

And with two kids who need childcare, a $60 cake was not possible. 

So, we got this cake, and people ate it.

It worked for the purpose.

After the baptism, my wonderful mother-in-law provided lunch for everyone at her home.  The following pictures were either taken at her house or the church. 

Diesel's New Best Friend

Diesel has a new best friend.  He is called Fisherprice iXL.  I'm giving this gaming system 2 thumbs up!  Very educational and child friendly.  My favorite part is the different games.  You load them onto the "mommy" computer and then connect the gaming system to it.  You don't have to worry about the child losing the games.  He takes it everywhere.  His favorite is the Toy Story read aloud book.  It even highlights the words as they are read.  I hope it lasts for a while! 

Boogers or Scabs?

 I cannot tell whether they're boogers or scabs.  You be the judge.  They hurt when I pick at them. 

The Gnat Problem

If you are drinking something at my house, please look at the beverage before you drink.  90% of the time there's extra protein floating at the top.  Why?  Because my husband fertilizes his indoor lime tree (that's never produced a lime in 5 years) with used coffee grinds.  Apparently gnats are attracted/addicted to the caffeine.  I always wondered where all these gnats came from.  I thought (many times during the past couple months) that they would go away after the first big frost.  They didn't.  I was steam mopping my floor about a month ago and relocated the lime tree (it's about 7 ft tall) to mop under it.  When I moved it, hundreds of gnats flew out.  My husband has been experimenting with the coffee fertilizer for a couple months now.  So I've been treating the tree with bug killer (which I'm sure is super safe for my kids) weekly.  A gnats life cycle is obviously more than a week. 

Goat Painting

I found this painting at a store in El Ghetto.  I'm thinking about getting it for David, but I don't know whether it would look appropriate in our house.  I can't decide whether I want to look at it for the rest of my life.  It SCREAMS "DAVID" though!

a new blog

Everyone would agree- the Oklahoma Bakers are in desperate need for a blog... or at least their family members are in need of an Oklahoma Baker Blog.

Here's to ashley's newest New Year's Tradition.... keeping up a blog! Thank Aimee. :)