Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Because we didn't have enough to do....

Because we had some spare time on our hands, Christmas morning Reid surprised the family with a puppy. She's a yellow lab. We named her Tanna, after the island Quinn is on. She's adorable and playful and messy. She pees a lot and barks a lot and whines a lot. But she is hard to resist. We were never too good at potty training, apparently you can't teach an old dog new tricks, we are still not very good. Anybody have any good ideas?





It was a fun christmas. Jordan got a new shotgun. Safety first, right? Kenzie got some new kicks and a karoke game for XBOX 360 call 'Lips'. I highly recommend it. Good job, SANTA! Easton got snowboarding gear and a pass to Mission Ridge.





Unfortunately this is a picture of Easton the day after Christmas....4 runs down the mountain, one seperated shoulder....so much for the pass. It was fun while it lasted.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

'Twas the night before Christmas......

'Twas the night before Christmas and all thru the house
Every creature was stirring, yes even the spouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that our friends and family soon would be there....



The children were definetly not snuggled in their beds,
But visions of feasting was swirling in their heads.
And me in my apron and pa in his cap
Were dreaming of settling down for a long winter's nap....












Sunday, December 28, 2008

Good Friends + Good Food = Good Day

Lots of snow meant it was time for sledding....we tried pulling tubes behind the truck and tractor---scary! We tried hiking up the sand dunes---exhausting! So our good friends The Lawsons came to the rescue with their snowmobiles. We celebrated Vicki's '29th' birthday with some good food and a fun game of bowling after....


Caitlynn and Kenzie


Caleb (aka Spiderman)


Caitlynn, Jordan and Kenzie


Easton


Reid and I
Billy brought the hat back from Russia-MINK!



Me in Quinn's LeBron coat-a good fit right?


Vicki with Caitlynn and Kenzie
Just for the record---I beat Mackenzie and Vickie beat Caitlynn. Feels good at our age.



Kenzie's score wasn't too high---but she definetly had the most creative form....


The whole group!


Thanks for a fun time Lawsons....and Thanks for the friendship!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

I'll be home for christmas, if only in my dreams...



Christmas 1990

My Dad's been gone 12 Christmas', and I still miss him so much. Mom and him always dressed in red and green, now just mom. It's pretty adorable and just makes the holiday. If its a BYU game, she's in Cougar Blue...and if it's christmas, she's in red and green.


Cousins on Christmas Eve 1993


Angels in the Nativity Pageant 1990



Wait....is that facial hair? I spent all day begging Jordan to shave. Like father like son.

Christmas Eve 1988 at Grandpa and Grandma Jewkes


It's Christmas Eve day and I'm thinking of years past. We are missing Quinn (2nd year in Fiji) and Danielle (1st year with Andre's). We have lots of snow and I've spent the last two days baking. The kids are out on on deliveries and every once in a while there is a knock on the door with a delivery for us. (Still expecting one more present for kenzie...). The family will be here tonight for the Baker tradition of Clam Chowder and reenacting the Nativity. (No one really knows why we have clam chowder, but Ardath used to make it for Christmas Eve and so the christmas tradition goes....) We will have rolls and stuffed mushrooms and cheese ball and lots of treats. Tonight we have invited the missionaries hoping that in Tanna someone is feeding Quinn. Tomorrow we will get to talk to him, but it will be after Christmas for him, so we made a quick call today at noon (7:00 a.m. Tanna time) to sing 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas", I think we surprised him. It's hard to be away from the ones you love at Christmas so I just wanted Danielle (Tyler) and Quinn to know you are with us in spirit. We will be thinking of you and you will be in every prayer. Enjoy your Christmas and know that you are loved.


Matching CLOTHES----Us moms do it, because we CAN!





Do they get any cuter than this?

Monday, December 22, 2008

Let It Snow, let it snow, let it snow...

The weather outside is frightful, but the mall is so delightful,
So if you'll let me shop all day, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.




That was the plan. Thursday, Peggy and I headed to Spokane to go shopping. She had to pick up her exchange student at the airport in the afternoon and we both were WAY BEHIND on our christmas shopping. WE drove david's car (rear wheel drive---he said we'd be fine....) and headed to the city. It started to snow about Ritzville, the snow was coming down and the roads were packed with snow and ice. It took us over 3 hours to get there. (Should have been our first clue). Second clue-all the semi's pulled over on the side of the road, chaining up. First stop was 'Toys R Us'....but there was a hill and lots of snow and the car began to spin and slip. Two nice gentlemen stopped to give us a push.....20 minutes later they pushed us into a gas station. They asked us where we were going and firmly told us we should stop for some wine, wait out the storm and that we would NEVER get to the airport. So we changed our direction and headed down to the freeway (the nice men thought) but really to the Valley Mall. The car got stuck again (clue number 3) and the men pushed us through the intersection through the light. We drove down the hill to the mall. We decided we would park, go in the mall, try to get chains at Sears, do our shopping and hope the storm would lift. (We decided to forego the wine, even in an emergency). As we headed into the mall we noticed the gates down on many stores....turns out the mall was closing in 10 minutes because of the storm, so was the theatre and the restaurants. What are the chances of being stuck in a mall? Nowhere to go? But its closed!

Out to the car we went (no gloves, no snow boots, or hats--I had a coat, Peggy did not). Sears was closed, no chains, we got in the car and got stuck again as we pulled out of the parking lot. I tried pushing.... A news van came by and was filming the snow and cars and asked if he could give us a push. He and I (okay, mostly him) pushed the car back into a parking space. We asked for a ride to the closest hotel. They gave us one and then an interview and we checked into one of the last rooms at the hotel. They offered us a toothbrush and thank heavens some light appetizers in the evening. We WATCHED lots of TV and two movies, and laughed and talked. I had come prepared with a bag of mint m & m's. We slept in our clothes and and hairdo's and our make-up.... The hotel shuttle gave us a ride back to the mall in the morning when it opened. Reid and James came up and took David's car's home and we shopped all day and drove my suburban home. It was an adventure and I was so glad to be with such a good friend. People at the mall were recognizing us from the news story the day before---"Was it the same clothes? or the bad hairdo's? Who knows....?'

And to all my Molahiettes that have been praying all week for a snow day....just remember that Heavenly Father answers prayers in ways we never expect...Friday, no practice, an answer to a simple prayer.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

A christmas tradition


Christmas 1982-Christmas pajamas from my mom and dad

One of our christmas traditions is new pajamas opened on christmas eve. It started years ago, too many to say, when I was little and we opened christmas pajamas. I have added the tradition of giving the kids an ornament with their pajamas. The funny thing about this was it took the kids about 5-6 years to realize that the one present they got to open on christmas eve was going to be pajamas. It's now changed into somewhat of a race to see how quick they can open the pajamas and change into them. Everyone use to run and scramble and come back with their pajamas on, but the boy's have gotten much less modest with time and so they quickly yell out, 'Don't look!' and strip wherever they opened their present. Needless to say, they always win. We then rehang our stockings and set a plate of cookies and a glass of milk next to the fireplace for Santa.

A couple more pictures from our very first christmas together...


Saturday, December 20, 2008

Merry Christmas from the Bakers...




Our cards are out and in the mail....and here is the interesting fact filled letter that should have been mailed. My goal was to send the world's shortest christmas letter this year so here goes:

Reid:
Husband, Father, Soon-to-be Grandfather
Stake President
Potato Farmer
Sports Coach and Enthusiast

Lori:
Wife, Mother, Soon-to-be Grandmother
Coach (2 National Championships last year)
Ward Chorister
Studio Director and Costume Coordinater, Bedazzler

Jordan:
Available
Potato Farmer
Concrete Cutter
Returning Student (Thank Heavens...)
Did I mention he's AVAILABLE?

Tyler and Danielle:
Soon-to-be Parents (Baby girl due February 13th)
Almost College Graduates (Danielle in Dec.-Tyler in April)
Hopeful Medical Student (Tyler)
Dance Teacher and Choreographer (Danielle)
Financially Challenged

Mackenzie:
Licensed Driver
Co- Captain of Drill Team
Competitive Dancer
Running Start Student
Hilarious

Easton:
BRACELESS
Football and Basketball Starter (grown about 6" this year)
Avid Snowboarder
Sensitive (and SHY)

We are all happy and healthy and busy. There's a lot less people in the house, but somehow we seem just as busy, and I know we are just as blessed. WE hope for many more years of togetherness and friendship and hope you'll all come and see us this year.

Greetings from Elder Baker in Tanna Vanuatu!
Christmas Poem(written by Quinn)

Yo Nulkan, Nakilea, Mi Save
Yu Talen tru o yu stap giaman pleiplei?
Mi Suve se Jos in I tru
Be Mi Wantem Save Sapos Yu Save tu?
Mo Wokia I blogn karem man I kamaot long tudar!
Misinari Wok I wan wok blong yumi evriwan
Sapos yumi no mekem laef blong yumiidun.
Mi wantem askem yufala blong serum gospelia wetem wawa fren
Mo Mi askem longnem blong jisas kraes, amen.

I know, I know, I know
Do you really know and does it show?
I know this church is true
But I want to know if you know it too?
I like Malekula and Tanna exactly the same
The gospel is true and this work isn’t a game.
Missionary work is for All of us
And if we don’t do it, in who do we trust?
I want all of you to share the gospel with One friend
And I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Christmas season is a time to share the ‘glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.’ (Luke 2:10) I love you all and I want all to know I know Christ lives!

Elder Baika

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Three More Wishes

I wish I had a better memory. So I was completely amiss on my time frame, (wrong month, wrong day). Kathy Perrins let me know Reid and President Perrins and President Poth were sustained on January 26th. The only thing I had to rely on was my brain---and memory. Thank heavens for friends. (Okay so it seems like its been a year....)

I wish I could be with all my family on christmas. This year Danielle and Tyler are celebrating with Tyler's family. I know it's their turn, but I hate sharing! I will miss Quinn in Vanuatu. I sent a small box with mostly souveniers for him to give to the people he has met. He sent a letter and said he needed some socks. I sent those off yesterday. It cost $22 to send 6 pairs of socks. I wish I would have stuck in something FUN. Oh well, there's nothing like a new, clean pair of socks. (Especially when there's nothing else in the package.) I miss my extended family. Don't get me wrong I love Reid's side of the family and all my friends in Moses Lake, but it has been almost 20 years since I spent a Christmas in Utah with all my family. The very best part of this blogging thing is I can tell my adorable nieces and nephews and their adorable families what is going on in our life and catch up on theirs. Congratulations to Troy and Cherlynn on their new baby boy, Michael. (Get feeling better!) Best Wishes to Jeni who is down in bed at this holiday season with a blood clot. WE all love you!

And last but not least Happy Birthday Katelynn Reed!! Katelynn is another one of my 'Molahiettes'! It's starting to sound repetitive...but really she is an AMAZING girl. Katelynn is beautiful, talented, smart, spiritual, trustworthy, reliable and hard working. She ALWAYS has a smile on her face. She is a good friend to all the girls and I have loved getting to know her and watched her improve yearly. Katelynn truly is an inspiration to those around her and girls like her make coaching EASY! ( Now if getting up at 5:00 a.m. every morning was only easier.)



Oh and I wish for WORLD PEACE!!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Time flies when your having a good time....

A year ago today Reid was put in as the Moses Lake Stake President. My how time flies. Sometimes it seems like yesterday, some times it seems much longer. Reid was blessed by Elder Rasband with many wonderful things but the thing that stood out in my mind was the capacity to double his time so he would have time for his family, his work and his calling. He has. It has been a year of learning, humility, patience, sacrifice and blessings. We have used the power of prayer to sustain us and we have appreciated all the prayers in our behalf. I have thought many times this year that the Lord never gives us anything we cannot handle. He apparently knows us much better than we know ourselves and with his help we will continue to serve him diligently.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Blast from the past....

I've been trying to get my christmas cards out....we took a picture in the Sacred Grove on our family trip. I sent them to Costco to print a card. A kind dance mom picked them up for me. Another friend picked up envelopes (forgot them the first time around...) I usually send a very informative, interesting letter about my family and the wonderful things my kids have been accomplishing although not too prideful or braggy (haha). Last year a picture got sent....no letter. It didn't mean we didn't have any news to share, it only meant we were too busy to compose it in to a meaningful short summary of how wonderful our year was. It's looking the same this year. I will soon be posting our christmas picture and a few short notes of our year and also Quinn's christmas picture with his own thoughts he wanted me to send out. But for today I have enjoyed walking down memory lane and seeing my kids grow before my eyes. Here our a few of our christmas pictures from the past.

Christmas 1988 (Proof that Quinn was not adopted at the age of 3...inside family joke)


Christmas 1989 (Our first year in Moses Lake)



Christmas 1992


Christmas 1995


Christmas 1998


Christmas 2006