Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Catching Up is Hard to Do (Part 1)

I'm doin' pretty well! I have managed to make at least one post a week. Sometimes that's even a challenge! Now that school's back in and I have my routine during the day, after school activities, volunteer obligations, and sheer exhaustion at night; it's hard to squeeze time in for a post. It may take me a few posts to catch me up to speed, but I'm gonna try my best!

Rewind to summer...

Even though we had a rough start to summer, it ended up being really nice. Our days were packed with camps for the boys, afternoons at the pool, a few beach trips, and weekends at the lake. We feasted on BLT's, tomato pies, the most perfect peaches and even made them into peach ice cream, "bawled" peanuts, Beaufort stew, and other seasonal faves ...A pretty typical southern summer!

Sam had his first OVERNIGHT camping experience. He was there with his BFF, Will, and Whit, an old friend from church and preschool who moved away. I was nervous at first but once I logged into the camp photo website and saw him laughing, playing, swimming, making new friends, reconnecting with old friends, and painted orange, I new he was just fine and that I was missing him waaaaaaay more than he was missing me! That may be a stand-alone-post...

Fulton attempted roller-skating for the first time. We got a great laugh out of it. He was so serious and determined! He did great and looked so grown up!

Oliver grew SO much over the summer. He just gets cuter and funnier by the second. He loves the pool and any body of water for that matter. He had a blast in the sand at the beach. I have a fondness for a sandy, sunscreen-slathered baby! It's a reminder to slow down, take it all in, and enjoy the simple things.

Shannon had knee surgery AGAIN! That threw a kink in things for a week or so. I'm not sure who had the worse recovery...him or me, as we had very limited help with the boys. Entertaining 3 wild Indians and nursing an immobile hubby back to health made for some long tiring days. He's actually a great patient and was very understanding when I would  have my hands full and he had to wait. We managed to get through it together and forge ahead with our summer.

As for me, Nothing too noteworthy except that I lost 16 pounds! Yay me!! I have about 25 more to go, but HEY it's a start! I have done it with a combo of diet and exercise. I lost the bulk of it in May and the rest has come off slowly. I haven't been trying hard recently in the food department, but have managed to keep it off with exercise. I'm waiting on the motivation truck to hit me again!!!!!

Hmmm...what else?
Any who! Here's part 1 recap in pictures Memorial Day through July 4th

Memorial Day Weekend at the lake with our dear friends, The Gibsons


Maritime snooze
Parker-Puff and Special K{atie}
T-R-O-U-B-L-E on the water!


Beach with Shan's Family
Beach Bum Bakers

On Papa's Golf Cart


If you've ever been to Garden City beach, then you know where we are! Sam's Corner of course!!!





The Peter Pan pose

The boys called this "Mommy's Ocean Cafe"
Fishing at the pier

Cousins in the Starfish cake
BEST BEACH PIC EVER!
When asked, Sam and Kirstin said they were digging to China
Fulton and Madeline were staying close to home...they were digging to Alabama!
My BIGGEST blessings!!!!

The Baker Clan




Here in Gamecock Country we celebrated a victorious homecoming!
USC Baseball Team National Champs 2 years in a row!!!






July 4th weekend
Cookout with my mom's side of the fam, lake with friends and family at Shan's parents' house

Mom and me with her sisters and their daughters at a cookout welcoming our newest addition, Baby Peyton! We were so glad to finally meet her and so happy that they could make the trip from Midland, Texas!
Fun and Fireworks with cousins at the lake





The Hopkinses joined in the fun

Cap'n Kangaroo



Sign of a good time had by all!
The boat police must have been bored, if all they had to do was tow my husband back in to the dock. He'll do anything to save a buck or 2...which is how much the float cost that he swam after!

Shannon, one of my dearest old friends!!!!
A fresh and clean Sam and Morgie in their Rocker PJ's, settling down for the night.
So cute!!!

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Weekend Warrior

We spent our Labor Day Weekend at the lake with our fabu friends and all of our children (more highlights to follow). Six adults, eight children.

There was lots of hoopla and good times being had and very little sleeping going on. Which is how it's supposed to be, right?

The youngest of us all was a TROOPER to say the least; a real weekend warrior!

By Monday afternoon he had hung up his trousers and party shoes and swapped them out for his big bro's cleats and found a comfy place to crash...

He called it a weekend.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone...cuz dats how I roll, yo!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Scrub-a-dub-dub

Scrub-a-dub-dub THREE men in a tub...

Bath, Book, and Bed time in a house with 3 boys can be quite crazy! It's often the most hectic and chaotic time of day.

Sometimes I get so overwhelmed by the amount of noise in the bathroom, the tons of water on the floor, and all the water-logged toys I have to pick up afterward. I try very hard to remember to be thankful that they are happy, healthy, and active little people. And that they are capable of having a good time together and love each other very much. One day they will bathe themselves and get dressed on their own and I'm sure I'll miss these times. Sam's already very close to being completely independent. I only have to follow-up with him now to make sure he's done everything thoroughly. So, I am realizing how short this phase is in the grand scheme!

In the meantime, to organize the chaos as much as possible, we usually bathe Ollie solo and stagger showers for Sambo and Fu. BUT sometimes we get really brave and throw all three in at once! And occasionally we'll put them in as little boys and they come out as old men with white beards!!!













- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone...cuz dats how I roll, yo!