How tall is tall?

We have a thing about height--a short phobia maybe. We talk about it alot. We measure the boys. We mark it on the kitchen pantry wall. Everyone in our house is tall. Danielle is considered a shrimp at 5'7' but all of a sudden Jordan and Tyler (6'4'and 6'3") seem very SHORT!!! It's all about perspective isn't it?

A taste of IT....

Thanks for making IT happen....

We had our first drill team competition on January 17th at Sunnyside High School in Yakima, Washington. I'm always especially nervous at the first competition of the year. It's the first time someone judges your numbers and I always question whether or not the routines will be well liked, and how they will score. I spend most of the previous year thinking about the idea for the next year. We got the hip hop routine and the military number finished. We took a football pom number because we are still working on our competition pom number. The girls ALWAYS exceed my expectations. The energy and performance was great. We got two first place trophies with hip hop and military and 2nd place in Pom. Congratulations Molahiettes!!

Birthday Girl

Dear Kendall,

I just wanted to wish you Happy 15th Birthday YESTERDAY! Kendall is a freshman on my team and one of my very best friends daughters. It is not easy being the 5th girl in a VERY talented, beautiful family but Kendall does just fine. She's smart and talkative and funny and creative and very talented. She can sing and act and dance and READ!!! (although she's not so good at SCREEN IT....) Watch out Kylie, Courtney, Kristy and Kacey, Kendall is right behind you!

Love, Lori

Worst Date Ever

My niece Jackie posted a very funny story about her WORST date ever. This Saturday I am teaching a class at the Laurel's Conference on dating and so I have given the subject a thought or two in the past couple of weeks. I think I would be more helpful if I taught a class on 'What not to do on a date?' and mostly I want to be speaking to the boys---(they need the help). Yes, I am volunteering to speak the the BOYS if anyone is listening, but I thought I would share my WORST date ever.

My junior year in high school a very nerdy nice boy in my English class started calling and asking me out on the weekend. His name was Daman Dorias. He had a LOT of dark hair, a unibrow, and very THICK glasses. He would call every weekend and ask me if I wanted to go on a date. I would politely give him an excuse. I did not hear from him that summer. I was sure I had worn him down. But my senior year started and he ended up in one of my classes again. The phone calls resumed....(We did not have caller ID, call waiting, cell phones or text messages). You were forced to answer the phone. He called again every weekend my senior year and finally about MARCH my dad insisted that I say yes, just once. (What could it hurt....?) I did. He picked me up Saturday morning about 10:00 a.m. I thought to myself PERFECT....I'll be home in time to do something with my friends (or watch Love Boat). He was very polite and said he had a great day planned---(DAY?) We went up the canyon and went on a hike, then he had a picnic prepared. We came down the canyon and went to play some minature golf, then on to the bowling alley, then dinner and a movie.... Apparently he had been saving all the ideas of a perfect day and lumped them together thinking that if she enjoys an hour or two or me with me, she's gonna love TWELVE hours. Thankfully he made lots of boring small talk and had enough money to pay for the activities. He did open the doors for me and walk me to the door. There was no good night kiss attempt so that was a blessing.... But we had nothing in common and I have to say that TWELVE hours felt like a year of dates.
Is that what he had in mind?

'Why I do it?"

For the last 14 years I have been involved in dance. At first I just helped in Danielle's class, and then I helped in others, and many years ago, (too many too count) myself and two very good friends started a dance studio. It has it days and anyone who works with mothers (and fathers) and children know 'You can't please everyone....". I am not in it for the money (obviously) and believe it or not I am not in it for the trophies (although we have won our share).



My husband asks me all the time, "Why do you do it?" I never really have a good answer but it hit me the other night. Our 'Firecracker's' (ages K-2) had their first performance at the basketball game....I do it for the smiles. The smiles on the little girl's faces, the smiles on the faces of the proud parents. To be honest I'm not sure who smiles more, the parents watching or the daughter performing.... But I know now, that's why I do it!







All the Firecrackers 1-4 and their wonderful teachers



The Firecracker 5-6's

Adios Amigos

Tomorrow Reid and I our headed to Cabo San Lucas with our good friends the Earls. We are staying at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica. I think we may have gotten the deal of the century. It will be a much needed break, and as long as I can keep David from only deciding almost everything we do and eat it will be wonderful. I have never been to Cabo.

I've been to Matzalan three times and really enjoyed it. The first time was in 1984. Reid had just graduated from BYU and was selling Apple computers in Salt Lake City. The had an contest over Christmas time to see who could sell the most of a certain type of computer and Reid won. (We have never won anything before or since....) It was an all expense 10 day trip to Matzalan. We talked my parents into going with us (so they could buy the food) and my sister-in-law and brother offered to babysit Jordan, He was 6 months old. He did great except my cute niece Amy (I think about 11 years old) decided to give his eyelashes a trim. She said they were too long and getting in his way.



We went with a whole group of friends in 2000. ( I think....). I had an interesting wreck on the moped and found out its best not to dart out in traffic when learning to ride a modped. (I know what your thinking---are these pictures from Mexico or the bad hair post?) We snorkled, parasailed and played a lot of beach volleyball and pool volleyball. We stayed up late and played a lot of cards and of course the men golfed while the women went downtown to the market. I loved the bargains, I did not love the smell.




I have to say this time I am looking forward to sleeping in and sitting by the pool. I may do a little snorkeling but gone are the days of beach or pool volleyball. I was always terrible anyways and the only reason I ever got to play is because everyone wanted Reid on their team and we came as a pair. Adios Amigos.

SPT-A Rare Good Hair Day

This is my very first self portrait....I have never liked pictures of myself and I like them even less when you can only get the camera as far away as the length of your arm.

I have always had bad hair. I wish I had time to scan some of my pictures as a kid. One year my mom gave me a very short 'pixie' cut. You can call it the name of a fairy but it was one very short, ugly boy's hair cut. What did I do to deserve that. My hair has just enough girl to be frizzy but not enough to be curly like my girls, or straight without trouble. Give me a day with wind, or fog or humidity and I am in trouble. It's fine and thin, but I recently had it cut and colored by Jacque at Salon Goddess and I have really been liking it. Thanks Jacque. Here our a few pictures from the past of some very bad hair days....

Shortly after meeting Reid 1982 (And he still asked me to marry him...)


My all-time personal favorite-The mullet/Bay City Roller look....(Was this a mug shot?)




The mullet/Bay City Roller with a perm (lots of tears were shed after this haircut....)
I'm still laughing at this one. ( I had terrible hair but at least I had great fashion sense....notice Reid and I match.)


I have to say when I hear other people complain about their hair I am not too sympathetic. I definetly envy other people's hair and dream of a day I can just pull it back in a pony tail....but that day is not today, so I am going to go hop in the shower and do my hair.

It's Not As Easy as It Looks.....

We have been working hard getting our numbers ready for competition. I think when someone does something well they make it look easy. Recently I watched the swimmers. I was amazed how easy some of them made it look. We hope you watch our numbers thinking that looks easy....I could do that. This Saturday is our first competition in Sunnyside. We are ALMOST ready. WE have three numbers we are taking. POM--the competition number is not quite ready so we are taking one of our football pom numbers. The goal is to receive a qualifying score. We have two attend two competitions and receive qualifying scores for district. Then we have to attend districts and receive a qualifying score for State.

The second number is Hip Hop. This is my most challenging number. I know you'll be suprised but hip hop dance is somewhat out of my element. Two years ago the girl's won State and last year they won Nationals....(no expectations). I came up with the idea. Danielle started the choreography. It was tweaked by Peggy, Kacey and Courtney, and me again. Friday night we performed it at the girl's basketball game to a completely full gym. They did a great job.







Our third number is Drill/Military. The girls love this style and their very good at it. My son Jordan found the first song and I put it with 'Sweet Dreams'. It's always a collective effort. The captain and co-captains did alot of the choreography. And then I tweaked and changed it. The second headstand in the number is NOT easy.... I am keeping my fingers crossed for Saturday. We will be performing Weds. night at Big Bend as a dress rehearsal.









Wish us Luck....

Again?

So the story starts in May when our garage was broken into and my purse was stolen. The police were not helpful and I lost everything. I replaced all my credit cards and ID and temple recommend and had to close my bank account and all the dance accounts and lost my gift cards and cash, and those all important punch cards. It was so frustrating!!!!

Then Christmas Eve the credit card company called and noticed there was fraudulent activity on our credit card. Someone had stolen our numbers because Reid and I both had the cards in our wallets and was having a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS on the Bakers.....we cancelled the cards and started over. Still frustrating because we have to fill out a fraud report, and a police report and fight not paying all those charges. The new cards came in the mail about 5 days ago.

Yesterday....I had my purse stolen again. Yes, it was my fault. I parked illegally and ran into a late night practice at the studio because I was late. I did not lock my car. In my defense, my car is a pain to lock since May because my keys were stolen then and my little gadget that locks the doors automatically...but still I should have learned my lesson. So instead of doing the hundreds of things I needed to do today....I have spent the day looking for my purse, calling about my purse, crying over my purse and now cancelling everything in the purse. Again? Seriously....

Dirty Little Secret

I love reality TV. It all started years ago with 'Survivor'. Any one remember the first season? Richard?




I was hooked and have watched most of 17 seasons. Then came American Idol, and Amazing Race. Then The Bachelor and the Bachelorette. The new season of The Bachelor just started with Jason, a single father from Seattle. He was dumped last season by Deanna and I may have been one of the only viewers that wanted Jesse instead of him.... Looks like it didn't work out to well for Jesse either. Good Luck Jason--the odds are not in your favor, but hey, you never know.




And then as if that wasn't enough they put together reality TV and dancing. 'So You Think You Can Dance' is my favorite but if it involves dance and reality I'll watch anything. (I take that back....do not waste your time on 'Superstars of Dance'. Who knew Michael Flaughtery was so uninteresting?)




And I know there not reality but so close....haha. Lost and 24 start this week as well. When am I going to find the time to watch them? We watched the season premiere of '24' Sunday night. Why do they bothering shooting at Jack? Of course he's not dying. Don't waste the ammunition.

Unexpected Joys of Motherhood....

8 and half months pregnant with Jordan


7 months with Quinn


Danielle 8 months pregnant....




My daughter Danielle has 5 weeks to go before being a mother and I was just thinking of some of the benefits I bet they haven't even thought of:

AutoRock: You know the obligatory parental sway you begin the second you have a baby in your arms, rocking side to side to keep them asleep or still or quiet...the problem is you do it even when your not holding them. I think it can be considered exercise right?

Extra Sensory Hearing: In a large group of people you will be able to distinguish your babies cry from all the other noises. And you will know why they are crying, their wet, their hungry, their teething. Don't all the cries sound alike? Not to their mother.

Strong Stomach: After changing a million diapers, wiping a zillion runny noses and cleaning up lots of baby spit up and vomit a mom gets tough. Little things no longer bug you at all.

Acceptance of all bodily functions: You begin to appreciate burps, and farts and talk about gas and bowel movements all the time. Look at it this way, you will never run out of things to talk about...

Magical kisses: Only mothers have the power to take the sting out of physical and emotional bruises with a simple kiss. (Sorry dads...)

Awakens Instantly: You will no longer sleep soundly for long periods of time. Even if your baby sleeps for several hours you will awaken and wonder why are they not awake yet? Good news is all the bathroom trips in the middle of the night while pregnant have somewhat prepared you for this.

Larger love capacity: A mom never runs out of love. She has plenty for everyone and EACH child is her favorite in some way. You never think you'll love another as much, but you do EACH time.

Seriously motherhood has been the best thing in my entire life, and I can't wait for Danielle to be a mother. She is going to be a wonderful one.....

Please Mr. Postman....

Another letter from Quinn and another memory card full of images. We got to talk to Quinn on Christmas. It was 7:00 a.m. the next day for him and Christmas had come and gone. Quinn is not one to show a lot of emotion and we are not sure whether or not he was too excited to talk to us but I sure loved hearing his voice. Christmas Eve had been spent with the Canadian doctor and his large family. They had reanacted the nativity and had lots of delicious food. Christmas day was suppose to be 'white' and they had 2 baptisms planned, but lots of rain had come and the dirt roads had been washed away and so the baptism's will happen when they can reach the people. The work is going well on Tanna and Quinn is 'enjoying' his new companion. (The real story to be told when he has returned home). He describes his companionship like a ValaRee Roylance and Kim Brandt friendship. So much talking no one can get a word in....(that's only funny if you know Quinn and ValaRee and Kim, but I loved his power of description for me.)

One of their churches on Tanna




Quinn in Port Vila for Zone Conference
Quinn's companion is on the far right...


The whole gang after church



A feast





Quinn's bedroom



Quinn's kitchen-what more could you ask for?


Clothing optional?


Some troubles with the heavy rain....




Basketball anyone?