Christmas Traditions

So my family may have been a little crazy at times, but we knew how to do Christmas when I was little.  All of those silly texans would come up (Hi Aunt Debbie!) and it was pretty much the best ever.  All of the kids (except Eric who was a teen and so much cooler than us) would sleep upstairs and I remember hearing the adults laughing as they did the stockings downstairs, yes I knew they were doing stockings, we believed in Santa and did the big santa gift, but I could always tell what stuff came from who in the stocking, especially what came from Aunt Kathy.  We would wake up early on Christmas and our santa gifts and stockings would be there and then the opening of gifts was many hours long, and so much fun!

I am happy to say that we have brought that back on a smaller scale.  We always spend Christmas at Eric's, with some great family and friends.   Christmas Eve we have dinner, usually do something along the lines of what we are thankful for, read the nativity, give Christmas Eve gifts (pjs), then we go home (we sleep at home and go over early in the morning, because well, I love my dogs, and they shouldn't have to sleep alone on Christmas Eve). We get up early, go back over where Santa left the stockings and Santa gift (I'm pretty tight with the jolly man, he knows where to leave the stuff, this year, I have it on good authority he is getting Harper a Little People Fairy Tree House) We are so excited to have little kids around for Christmas and to feel the excitement and joy and magic all over again!

Yes, my kids will believe in Santa, (at least till some evil 1st grade substitute tells them otherwise, yeah, I'm talking to you Mrs. O!  And it is Dr. Seuss!  Not Dr. Zeussy... put my name on the board for the first and only time for correcting you without raising my hand, what do you expect, you said the most popular child author's name wrong to a bunch of 6 year olds!)  I don't think there's anything wrong with believing in a man who's life's mission is to give to all the children of the world, as long as they never forget the true meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate this time of year, and why its truly magical.

Any who, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and that you are making your own traditions that your children will remember and cherish for the rest of their lives!

Heather, me and Muttly

Grandma Judy

Preschool Christmas pageant... I was a tree

Harper's First Christmas Picture

Harper decorating the tree this year in

Baby, baby, baby, baby... yeah... that makes FOUR!! Oh my Bakers!

So... Have you ever known that couple that is pretty much just the most amazingest couple ever?  They are always happy and selfless, and willing to do anything for anyone?  Well, let me tell you about the Bakers...

We have been blessed to consider these two as part of our family, we even get to include them in our family Christmas, and we wouldn't want it any other way.  I met Misty and Brian (whom I now refer to as BFF) in an elevator right around January 29th, 1998.  My mom and I were on our way to see my brother and Cherie while she was in labor with my darling niece Kenzie (she is still darling even though she is a teenager... go figure), and there was this young couple... going the same place (enter Bakers).

They re-entered the scene when they moved out here shortly after I did, and I'm sooo glad they did.  Misty was there for me at one of the hardest times, when I was having issues getting pregnant with Harper, I can never tell you how much having her there to understand and lead me through meant to me.

Why was she so helpful?  Well unfortunately, Misty and Brian have been trying for 10 years for a little own of their own, after trying so many things, the readied themselves for another round of IVF... only this time, they had a magic weapon.. a gestational surrogate, their amazing friend Amber.  Well let me tell you how it all ended up... Amber is pregnant with a set of Baker twins... and so is Misty!!  WHAT!?!  For you with math issues... that makes 4 babies!!

Oh my goodness!  I can not even take how excited we are for these two, its going to be a crazy... well 18+ years, but there will never be more loved babies than those four... who are due in June!!! Go ahead... read the whole story... you know you want to.

http://www.brianandmistybaker.com/

The Wonderful Blessed Bakers!

Oh the fun girl times

Look at them... getting practice with little B

What's in a name...?

"Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet?"  I get the sentiment old Bill was going for, but I disagree.  I mean, would you want to be sniffin something named fungal-regurgitated-fecies? Umm... no, also, I hope that's not a thing, because that would be nasty.  Ryan and I have always had this weird obsession with names, and we could not choose a name for baby girl #2, I would like to blame the Beckhams.  See, we had Harper Willow chosen long before we even knew that we were having a girl the first time.  At the time, it was not popular, but then, I'm just assuming this conversation happened...

"Hallo Davey, Blimey! We need to choose a name for our girl, and it has to be ace, since we are obviously stylish and cool"

"Well Vics, I do recall a jolly couple in Seattle, who by golly named their overly beautiful daughter Harper, and I do think that name is just bloody smashing"

"Buggers and Blast! I fancy that name!"

"Cheerio! Pip to! We shall be like the Kings and name our darling daughter Harper... Harper Beckham"

Darn you Beckhams for making our name so gosh darn popular, I do not blame Neil Patrick Harris... because I like him, oh Doogie.

Anywho, after much deliberation, we have decided upon a name for our second daughter.

Drum role please....

Sawyer Belle (coming March 2012)