Projects are fun! Especially new paint!

So, blue is a bit tricky. It looks kind of bright in this photo, but is a little more subdued in real life.

I was very nervous at first, but ended up happy with the end result.

Painting the dining room, also helped tone down the blue, and now they work nicely together.

Love my new plate racks! The blue wall looks crazy in this shot!

Another angle of the dining room.

Fishing with Pumpah

My dad called the other day, and said the fishing was, "hot," at Farmington pond. He asked the kids and Wayne to go. They were so excited, and each caught around fifteen fish! Conrad has not stopped asking to go fishing again. It must run in the genes.

Sophie's singing program

Soph had a singing program on Friday. She was awesome, and was one of the only kids who had fully memorized her lines. She said them with the proper inflection too.
We were so proud of her.

Sophie with neighborhood friends who were also in the singing group.
The program was called "Bugz."

Conrad is an Orange Belt!

Congratulations Conrad on receiving your Orange belt! You are awesome!

Disneyland

Final night in front of the Castle.


Waiting for the Parade on our final night.

Playing in the fountain in California Adventure was great fun.

We love Monster's Inc.

Sophie in the flowers.

Conrad didn't like Jack Sparrow at all. This was the best photo I could get!

The kids LOVED the Peter Pan ride best.

Sophie wanted to meet Fairy God Mother last year, and didn't get to. She was so excited that she got to this time. Fairy God Mother was ever-so-sweet.

The kids both picked a souvenir stuffed animal. They took good care of the the whole trip. Sophie got Minnie, and Conrad picked Pluto. They fed them and slept with them.

This is one we have never seen - The Queen. She was not the most pleasant :0)

Flick and Atta. We waited to meet these ones, and they were very fun and full of energy.

With mom in the tea cups.

Pluto came to meet us before the parade.

Conrad has a strange obsession with mermaids. We went to lunch at Ariel's grotto, and the kids got a crown to decorate. Conrad decorated it for Ariel, and insisted on giving it to her. I think he was disappointed she wasn't in tail. He says what he likes about mermaids is their tails.

Sleeping Beauty drinking fountain.

Strawberry Jam

Conrad helped me make strawberry jam today. I have never done it, and so I bought 3 different styles of pectin. I had no idea how many strawberries to buy. I ended up with 22 cups of strawberries, after they were all mashed! I started to get worried that I had too many, but it all worked out. I bought the regular kind of granulated pectin, low sugar pectin, and gel pectin. I have to say, that the regular stuff works the best. The texture, consistency, and flavor are the best. At least now I know, and will just stick to the way mom did it growing up!

Dino Park

The kids and I went to the Dino park with 9 other girls in the ward, and their kids on Monday, because there was no school. We had a great time, and they both enjoyed climbing the giant turtle. Conrad has decided that he would like a dinosaur of his own. We will just have to see about that! He cried when we left after 3 hours, and begged to come back again the next day. It is a good thing we have an annual pass!

More Easter fun...

The Baker family at Easter Dinner. It was fabulous, and we had way too much food, but it was fun. The kids liked the jello easter eggs best - thanks Bethany!

Sophie was so excited to get to hold baby Evia. What a cutie!

So... I tried my luck with a bunny cake, and this is how it turned out. I like using the royal icing (made with meringue) It is very forgiving, and can be patted on or spread on.

Happy Easter!

After church in our Easter best. Happy Easter!

The Baker side is coming for Easter dinner, and I get to set the table. So, here it is...

Sophie couldn't sleep for two nights in anticipation for the Easter Bunny coming. She got Enchanted DVD, barbie furniture, and mechanical bugs.

Conrad was so excited, and got a rocket, a Diego DVD, some mechanical bugs, and candy.

The kids left all the bunnies in a line for the Easter Bunny to see.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEAR!

Happy Birthday Bear! So.. I don't have any family memories that you are not a part of. I have known you since I can remember, even though I was born first. I know we had a bit of sibling rivalry as kids. I am glad we are friends now. You are the best. I love you, and who you are. I have had fun vacationing with you. It was fun to be at Snow College with you. You are the best. Mr. Cool - that's you. I have to take cues about what's cool from you. Thanks! Thanks for your help with computer stuff, and helping move all our stuff to our new houses! (Even though... apparently, I win for having the most crap - according to you! And you still move it anyway.) We know we can always count on you! Thank you (and Angie) for watching our kids when we have gone out of town. It is nice to know they are in a place we can trust! They always talk about you and Angie. Yes... thank you for marrying Angie! We love her. It has been fun to watch you grow from boy to man. There have been so many times I have been proud of you, and proud that you are my brother. Remember hosting the Ms Snow pageant together? That was fun. You were so handsome. I cherish those memories! We all love you, and hope you have a great day!
Happy Birthday Bear!

Note From Dad

I took the day off work and spent some good time with my boy Conrad! We started the day off by cleaning his room, followed by 2 donuts from Tasty's in Kaysville. (yummy!) We then headed up to the new sports complex in Odgen where we went Bowling! Conrad had a six pound ball, and using the ramp, and bumpers he scored a 93! Not bad at all for his first game! He really enjoyed bowling!

Halfway through our game the lights went out and neon dancing lights came on getting jiggy with it. Conrad danced and strutted his stuff to the loud music! We played skee ball, pretended to play some car driving games and had an awesome day! I love spending time with my "bubby"!

Good Job Conrad!

When I went to pick up Conrad from preschool on Thursday, he had a box of nerds candy in his hand. His teachers told me that when they asked the kids to clean up, Conrad was the only one who did. So, he got to pick a prize, and he chose the nerds. They were so happy that he was a good example and chose the right. I am happy as well. We have been working on that... believe me. It makes a mom proud!

Day at the ZOO!

I got to be a chaperon for Sophie's Kindergarten class at the Zoo on Wed. It was SO much fun! Our group was the first through the gates, and the kids had a great time chasing each other, and looking at the animals. We saw every animal there.

You can't see the animal in this picture, but it was a ferocious bobcat!

The kids loved this baby gorilla, and it seemed to be communicating with them!

They had fun in the Zoo playground, on the spider web.

Me and the kiddos before getting on the bus to leave. I was lucky I got to go. What a fun day!

THE CAKE

Sophie is creative in her themes for her birthday each year. This year, it was monkey's. I had a hard time coming up with what to do for the cake, but think it ended up alright.

The Big Day

Sophie was begging to open presents the minute she woke up this morning!



The kids wanted to sleep in their dad's t-shirt last night for bed. They were still wearing them this morning when Sophie opened presents. Soph got a new pair of roller skates. She was so excited. I bet she will be a pro by the end of the summer.

Wayne and I didn't give Sophie any toys for her b-day... mostly much needed clothes for spring and summer. This is the outfit she chose to wear today. She wanted me to do her hair like Hannah Montana.

Can you say 25 kids??? I don't know what possessed me to invite them all, but it ended up being fun. Big thanks to my sweet girlfriends who helped me. I NEVER could have done it without you: Donnalynn MacArthur, Kristine Peck, and Carrie Larson. I love you girls! Oh... I almost forgot to mention Barry, DL's hubby. Thanks Barry for playing games with the kids. I think they liked your station best! It was fun for all the rest of us to watch you boogie to Chipmunk rap!

Sophie blowing out the candles. She did really well, and they were spread out around the cake. We had a family party tonight. The guest list included... Bear and Angie, Holt and Lindy, Darin, Karen and Evia, Grandma and Grandpa Baker, and Wendy and Corey Orme. I was so glad to see them all, and feel so loved and supported by them all. Thank you! We love you!

Topped a great night off with a sleepover! Haley Peck and Sophie are having Sophie's first non-relative sleepover as I type. They are watching Sophie's new movie... Barbie Mariposa. They have been giggling and darling all night.