The Favorite Toy

A box!

Christmas: Where It All Began

Many years ago... boy met girl. Boy and girl fell in love. Boy and girl got engaged.

It was a chilly day in the city of San Diego. Jason begged me to go over to his house and go with him to pick out a Christmas tree and decorate it. I was down to my last literature final and it was a biggie. It was an essay exam on about 6 novels that we had read and I was cramming. Not wanting to disappoint the love of my life, I relented and took a break to get the tree. The tree we picked was enormous and stood about 10 feet tall. It took all afternoon to get set up! We finally got it all decorated and I told Jason that I had to get back to business. I cleaned up and came back out to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing Christmas melodies, candles lighting the room and Jason with a sly grin on his face. He pulled me over to the tree and asked me to check something out on it. And there it was... a shiny silver bell engraved, "Karin, will you marry me?" Hanging from the bell was my engagement ring. Needless to say, I accepted amongst the tears of pure joy.

We decided then and there that our family tradition would be one that always revolved around our tree. The first ornament up would be our bell. Then, each year we and our children would get a new ornament that represented something from that year. We have stuck to it and I always reminisce as I carefully hang each ornament on our tree. It may be from somewhere we traveled, a picture of an ultrasound celebrating our first addition, a handcrafted ornament by the kids, or even Zeus the cat sporting a Santa hat.

This season has always held magic for me- as a child and an adult alike. It was pure fate that December, 12 years ago, that it was made even more magical and special to me. It was when it all began... this journey with my love, my children, my family, my everything.

Norah's 1st Christmas

Evan's own handiwork with a paintbrush at only 1yr old

(he was helped with the embellishments)

I had never heard of a sock monkey,

so some dear friends made sure I got my very own!

The first year Edgar celebrated Christmas with us

We'll miss you, ol' boy!

Potty Train

Armed with Lighting McQueen underwear, we have boarded the potty training train.

After three accidents, I was wishing that I was on the tracks instead of the train!

Then we had a big success!

We will keep chuggin' along!

What the Baker Kids Think of Santa

Last year we didn't even bother. We thought we'd try this year.

Well, maybe next year...

Halloween?

I am pulling my "better late than never" card on this post. A billion things have kept me from posting Halloween, but I have conquered them and now am showing off my beautiful Cinderella and her dragon.

 

 (**side note: I did their pictures, but Evan decided not to cooperate... I figured I would do it later, but have yet to do it. At least Norah took one for the team and we got a fantastic picture!)

We started off the night with our good friends, the Youngs and the Cox's. We all met up and hit the streets. The kids were so excited that you would have thought that they already had a bag of candy. We were a little hesitant on how Evan would do, but it only takes one house and somehow they just figure it out!

Cinderella and Cowboy Trevor

Our Dragon and everyone's favorite dog (especially Evan's) Liberty

OK, can you hardly stand that little dragon bum? So cute!

Intently waiting for his treat!

Then we headed over to Grandma and Papa's Halloween block party where they were the main attraction. We have gotten to know all of their neighbors and they have watched our kids grow. They got especially spoiled over there! Not just by the granparents, but by the neighbors. They kept putting more candy in their bags and before too long they could barely hold their bags!

All in all it was a great night.

They got to take inventory of their loot. Not too shabby for a couple of little kiddos!

The Commandments Defined

A Conversation in the Bath Tub Between Norah and Evan

Norah: Evan these are the commandments.

Evan: Ooohhh.

Norah: Evan, do you know what commandments are?

(I peek over my magazine thinking I will hear some profound information she may have picked up at church)

Evan: No, Na Na. What commandments?

Norah: Commandments are desserts... (Motions to bowls of suds) and these are all my commandments!

Evan: I wuv commandments!

(So close, so close.)