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| Happy 6th Birthday Maggie!! |
We asked Maggie to hold
up how many fingers old
she is, and now she needs
two hands, so it kind of
threw her for a loop at first.
Daddy had to show her how
to do it....
up how many fingers old
she is, and now she needs
two hands, so it kind of
threw her for a loop at first.
Daddy had to show her how
to do it....
... he showed her a
few options and she
finally opted for the
full hand, one thumb
rendition....
few options and she
finally opted for the
full hand, one thumb
rendition....
Maggie was delighted
with her new REAL
Tae Kwon Do outfit!
with her new REAL
Tae Kwon Do outfit!
In the Sleepover kit Jordan made
Maggie, she gave her some sleep
pants that she had put iron on
letters to spell "Baker".
Maggie, she gave her some sleep
pants that she had put iron on
letters to spell "Baker".
And there's more? Maggie meets her new purple bike.
Could she look any
more like a typical
six year old?
more like a typical
six year old?
Hula hooping with Mr. Homer.
Double hooping!
It's no surprise to see Hannah up in a
tree, but how on earth did the hula
hoop get up there?
tree, but how on earth did the hula
hoop get up there?
| My sweet, lovely girl. We all love you so much! |
01-26-09 Update:
The big event this week was Maggie's sixth birthday!! Yippee!! It turned out to be a lot of fun. Grandma and Grandpa Thomas (my
parents) drove up from Orlando to be here for the party. It is hard to believe Maggie is getting so big. It seems like just yesterday
she was the little baby squishing up her birthday cake after blowing out one candle. And now there are six ! So much has
happened in those five years. It has hard to wrap my mind around it all. There have been so many wonderful things, and then
tragic things as well. This is life. But seeing that big, beautiful smile and those pigtails above that birthday cake certainly is a
highlight. Thank you, God, for giving us the honor of raising this amazing little girl ! !
We did get our snow day, but it was not nearly as sensational as we were hoping. It snowed to the west of us, and the east, and
even south of us, but our area got just a bit more than a dusting. The Baker kids were still very excited and ready to make the most
of it. The winter is not over, and we are not giving up hope for another snow yet this year.
Silas had an MRI today on his spine. He had to be put out for the procedure, so we were gone most of the day for that. Before he
was put to sleep, he was given some medicine and he got so loopy and silly it was absolutely hilarious. He has been home now
for a few hours and is still very groggy. His back surgeon will be using the information to decide further what he wants to do for
Silas's back and when.
And this past week we got a wonderful surprise from our amazing neighbors. Mr. Homer and Mrs. Cindy brought over a big box and
said it was for all of us for all our birthdays all year long. It was a Wii Fit ! We had all played on their game several times over at their
house, and everyone really enjoyed it. So there was a lot of excitement about having one of our own. All the kids have had a blast
playing with it, and one of the funniest things I have ever seen is Eden doing the hula hoop. Almost as funny was seeing Art do it!
Thank you Mr. Homer and Mrs. Cindy!
This week will be Hannah's 18th birthday which is absolutely unbelievable to me. How could this have happened? She is still my
little girl....
We are still getting over sicknesses and colds in our house, mostly me, but yesterday and today I've been doing much better and
am very thankful. I was getting really tired of feeling so lousy.
I like to also keep updating about Art's work situation, and ask for your continued prayers. I always wish there was more to say, but
there is not. We are continuing to wait to hear back about things, and praying like mad that something will develop soon, if even just
a week's worth of work. We have learned many things through this difficult time, and I am hoping at some point to take the time to
write down some of these things. Besides battling the "fear factor", I think one of the hardest things for me is not being able to give
my kids the things I would like to give them. I have always loved to pick up things for them that I know they would like, and be able to
take them places, and let them participate in activities like gymnastics and dance and sports. It kills me to not be able to do this
anymore. This week at Hannah's Tae Kwon Do, they had a "Bring a Friend" week. Hannah does not have to pay for her classes
there anymore because she is an assistant there now and helps teach the children's classes. This was a huge blessing, because
her tuition ran out right after Art was laid off, and she really wanted to continue. So, she has been able to continue, and she also
has been teaching Maggie at home. Maggie has been very diligent and focused about it and really loves it. So this week Hannah
took Maggie to classes with her, and she was just adorable. (Photos on the January 2009 page) She came home each time with
her eyes just shining with excitement. It was so hard to see her enjoy something so much, but know that there was no way we
could afford to send her right now. On the other hand, many people live this way all the time; this is certainly nothing new, and I
shouldn't feel sorry for myself. I am thankful that Hannah can teach her at home, and that she can enjoy it at all, and maybe
someday she will get to go for reals; who knows?
Another difficult learning situation for me, was shopping for Maggie's birthday presents. We had to be very creative, making use of
gift cards we received from Christmas, and money sent from relatives. As I walked around the store, I saw so many things that I
would have gotten her if Art still had a job, things I knew she would just love (or maybe that I would just love to see her get?) As I
wrapped up the few things that night, I'll admit I was feeling pretty sorry for myself. But on her birthday, Maggie opened each thing
and was absolutely delighted. I can't forget her face as she pulled out a pair of pink kids' scissors and squealed, "My OWN
scissors!!!" All the little things I got her were like treasures, and she got some things from her Grandpa and Grandma, and money
from her Granny and Pop, and Canaan and Hannah bought her a real Tae Kwon Do outfit, and Jordan made her a little sleepover kit
to come and have a sleepover with her. She was so happy, and I asked her if she had enough presents and was happy, and she
said oh yes, it was all great. It was quite a lesson for me, because we had gotten her a bike too, and hadn't shown her that yet (she
had really outgrown hers for a while now), and it was amazing to see that the few dollars worth of markers and craft supplies, a little
notepad and a file folder with princesses on it, and her OWN scissors -- had all made her completely happy and satisfied. She
wasn't even looking for more! So the problem was not that my kids were missing out; it was that I thought they were. As in many
things, the problem is me. I am learning. After cake and presents, we all went outside to play. It was a glorious day out, cool but
not too cold, and Maggie had her grandparents, and her whole family, and Mr. Homer and Mrs. Cindy, all to play with. They blew
bubbles and did the hula hoop and threw the ball and she rode her new bike. and it was just about the best birthday ever.
The big event this week was Maggie's sixth birthday!! Yippee!! It turned out to be a lot of fun. Grandma and Grandpa Thomas (my
parents) drove up from Orlando to be here for the party. It is hard to believe Maggie is getting so big. It seems like just yesterday
she was the little baby squishing up her birthday cake after blowing out one candle. And now there are six ! So much has
happened in those five years. It has hard to wrap my mind around it all. There have been so many wonderful things, and then
tragic things as well. This is life. But seeing that big, beautiful smile and those pigtails above that birthday cake certainly is a
highlight. Thank you, God, for giving us the honor of raising this amazing little girl ! !
We did get our snow day, but it was not nearly as sensational as we were hoping. It snowed to the west of us, and the east, and
even south of us, but our area got just a bit more than a dusting. The Baker kids were still very excited and ready to make the most
of it. The winter is not over, and we are not giving up hope for another snow yet this year.
Silas had an MRI today on his spine. He had to be put out for the procedure, so we were gone most of the day for that. Before he
was put to sleep, he was given some medicine and he got so loopy and silly it was absolutely hilarious. He has been home now
for a few hours and is still very groggy. His back surgeon will be using the information to decide further what he wants to do for
Silas's back and when.
And this past week we got a wonderful surprise from our amazing neighbors. Mr. Homer and Mrs. Cindy brought over a big box and
said it was for all of us for all our birthdays all year long. It was a Wii Fit ! We had all played on their game several times over at their
house, and everyone really enjoyed it. So there was a lot of excitement about having one of our own. All the kids have had a blast
playing with it, and one of the funniest things I have ever seen is Eden doing the hula hoop. Almost as funny was seeing Art do it!
Thank you Mr. Homer and Mrs. Cindy!
This week will be Hannah's 18th birthday which is absolutely unbelievable to me. How could this have happened? She is still my
little girl....
We are still getting over sicknesses and colds in our house, mostly me, but yesterday and today I've been doing much better and
am very thankful. I was getting really tired of feeling so lousy.
I like to also keep updating about Art's work situation, and ask for your continued prayers. I always wish there was more to say, but
there is not. We are continuing to wait to hear back about things, and praying like mad that something will develop soon, if even just
a week's worth of work. We have learned many things through this difficult time, and I am hoping at some point to take the time to
write down some of these things. Besides battling the "fear factor", I think one of the hardest things for me is not being able to give
my kids the things I would like to give them. I have always loved to pick up things for them that I know they would like, and be able to
take them places, and let them participate in activities like gymnastics and dance and sports. It kills me to not be able to do this
anymore. This week at Hannah's Tae Kwon Do, they had a "Bring a Friend" week. Hannah does not have to pay for her classes
there anymore because she is an assistant there now and helps teach the children's classes. This was a huge blessing, because
her tuition ran out right after Art was laid off, and she really wanted to continue. So, she has been able to continue, and she also
has been teaching Maggie at home. Maggie has been very diligent and focused about it and really loves it. So this week Hannah
took Maggie to classes with her, and she was just adorable. (Photos on the January 2009 page) She came home each time with
her eyes just shining with excitement. It was so hard to see her enjoy something so much, but know that there was no way we
could afford to send her right now. On the other hand, many people live this way all the time; this is certainly nothing new, and I
shouldn't feel sorry for myself. I am thankful that Hannah can teach her at home, and that she can enjoy it at all, and maybe
someday she will get to go for reals; who knows?
Another difficult learning situation for me, was shopping for Maggie's birthday presents. We had to be very creative, making use of
gift cards we received from Christmas, and money sent from relatives. As I walked around the store, I saw so many things that I
would have gotten her if Art still had a job, things I knew she would just love (or maybe that I would just love to see her get?) As I
wrapped up the few things that night, I'll admit I was feeling pretty sorry for myself. But on her birthday, Maggie opened each thing
and was absolutely delighted. I can't forget her face as she pulled out a pair of pink kids' scissors and squealed, "My OWN
scissors!!!" All the little things I got her were like treasures, and she got some things from her Grandpa and Grandma, and money
from her Granny and Pop, and Canaan and Hannah bought her a real Tae Kwon Do outfit, and Jordan made her a little sleepover kit
to come and have a sleepover with her. She was so happy, and I asked her if she had enough presents and was happy, and she
said oh yes, it was all great. It was quite a lesson for me, because we had gotten her a bike too, and hadn't shown her that yet (she
had really outgrown hers for a while now), and it was amazing to see that the few dollars worth of markers and craft supplies, a little
notepad and a file folder with princesses on it, and her OWN scissors -- had all made her completely happy and satisfied. She
wasn't even looking for more! So the problem was not that my kids were missing out; it was that I thought they were. As in many
things, the problem is me. I am learning. After cake and presents, we all went outside to play. It was a glorious day out, cool but
not too cold, and Maggie had her grandparents, and her whole family, and Mr. Homer and Mrs. Cindy, all to play with. They blew
bubbles and did the hula hoop and threw the ball and she rode her new bike. and it was just about the best birthday ever.
Working on Hannah's
birthday cake.
birthday cake.
The orange Burton birthday cake.
I just love how the little ones get
so excited over birthdays, even
if it isn't their birthday.
so excited over birthdays, even
if it isn't their birthday.
I love this. Hannah blows with one
cheek, just like she did as a little girl.
cheek, just like she did as a little girl.
I love a great reaction!
Was it a present for
Hannah, or a present for
himself? Hmmmm.....
Hannah, or a present for
himself? Hmmmm.....
01-29-09 Update:
Today is Hannah's 18th Birthday!!
She started the day out by not feeling well. She may be getting a cold again. She had asked for homemade cinnamon rolls for
breakfast, so that's what I made, and they were good. Art and I had worked together on her cake. We had made the cake
yesterday and cut out the pieces. We covered it all up on the dining room table before we went to church last night, and even
put pans on top of it and barricaded it. When we got home the dogs had still managed to get into one end of it! We were so
mad at them. Actually, we suspect that Biscuit is the culprit, but we don't know for sure. Anyway, at least the main part of the
cake was still intact so we finished frosting it last night and it looked great. It was a Burton symbol in orange. Burton is a
snowboard company, and Hannah's favorite.
We had her "party" after she and Canaan got home from class this afternoon. She had also requested chocolate covered
strawberries, one of her favorite things, and we had those too. Jordan and Canaan got her Shaun White's game for the Wii
which she really wanted, and I think Canaan really wanted too. We also got her some snowboard socks, snowboard wax, her
favorite trail mix, and her "big" thing was a board to draw on the computer that her Aunt Beth had recommended. She was
quite pleased and excited, and we told her that she'd better get busy making some artwork as she may be supporting us all
with that soon.
We wrapped up the party by showing Hannah a slideshow I made for her. For Jordan's 18th birthday we were in Florida and
doing fine, and I put on a big Napoleon Dynamite themed party for a bunch of her friends. It was a big ordeal, and I didn't know
what to do to make Hannah's big birthday special. I could not throw a big party, but at least I could put together this slideshow
for her. It was very emotional for me to put the it together and go through all the photos of her growing up. Hannah, unlike
Jordan and many other girls, is not real excited about turning 18. Hannah has enjoyed being a child more than any person I've
known. She has thoroughly lived every moment of her growing up to the fullest, and has squeezed joy and fun out of every
minute. She has never wanted to be anywhere but right where she is, and has completely filled every year of her life to the
fullest. She has always been such an inspiration to me. I know it is hard for her to reach this "milestone" in her life, but we
need to remember that these "milestones" are only what the world has decided are milestones, and the fun is not over for her
yet. She has many years left to climb trees and run barefoot and create and collect and learn and just be Hannah. And we all
have many years to see what adventures she will embark on next.
Happy Birthday Hannah. You will always be my baby girl...
Today is Hannah's 18th Birthday!!
She started the day out by not feeling well. She may be getting a cold again. She had asked for homemade cinnamon rolls for
breakfast, so that's what I made, and they were good. Art and I had worked together on her cake. We had made the cake
yesterday and cut out the pieces. We covered it all up on the dining room table before we went to church last night, and even
put pans on top of it and barricaded it. When we got home the dogs had still managed to get into one end of it! We were so
mad at them. Actually, we suspect that Biscuit is the culprit, but we don't know for sure. Anyway, at least the main part of the
cake was still intact so we finished frosting it last night and it looked great. It was a Burton symbol in orange. Burton is a
snowboard company, and Hannah's favorite.
We had her "party" after she and Canaan got home from class this afternoon. She had also requested chocolate covered
strawberries, one of her favorite things, and we had those too. Jordan and Canaan got her Shaun White's game for the Wii
which she really wanted, and I think Canaan really wanted too. We also got her some snowboard socks, snowboard wax, her
favorite trail mix, and her "big" thing was a board to draw on the computer that her Aunt Beth had recommended. She was
quite pleased and excited, and we told her that she'd better get busy making some artwork as she may be supporting us all
with that soon.
We wrapped up the party by showing Hannah a slideshow I made for her. For Jordan's 18th birthday we were in Florida and
doing fine, and I put on a big Napoleon Dynamite themed party for a bunch of her friends. It was a big ordeal, and I didn't know
what to do to make Hannah's big birthday special. I could not throw a big party, but at least I could put together this slideshow
for her. It was very emotional for me to put the it together and go through all the photos of her growing up. Hannah, unlike
Jordan and many other girls, is not real excited about turning 18. Hannah has enjoyed being a child more than any person I've
known. She has thoroughly lived every moment of her growing up to the fullest, and has squeezed joy and fun out of every
minute. She has never wanted to be anywhere but right where she is, and has completely filled every year of her life to the
fullest. She has always been such an inspiration to me. I know it is hard for her to reach this "milestone" in her life, but we
need to remember that these "milestones" are only what the world has decided are milestones, and the fun is not over for her
yet. She has many years left to climb trees and run barefoot and create and collect and learn and just be Hannah. And we all
have many years to see what adventures she will embark on next.
Happy Birthday Hannah. You will always be my baby girl...
