25 pictures of Travis

I have found a fast way to create slide shows and embed them in my blog using Picassa. Here are 25 pictures of Travis from the last few months. He is very photogenic. If the angles are a little wild, then his sister Tamila took them. She is doing a great job learning about angles and composition as she experiments taking pictures. I hope you enjoy the pictures and can get an idea of his outgoing, daredevil personality.

Marina v Dana Hills (JV) Slide Show

Here is a slideshow from Austin's latest baseball game against the Dophins of Dana Hills High. It is a great place to watch a baseball game.

Is it Bad?

When I'm at the grocery store minding my own business and I hear a voice I don't want to hear in the next aisle--I shudder. This is the voice that brings the feelings of "Ugh! I don't even want to talk to them today. Why did I have to be here at the same time?" (harsher words flit through my mind, but these are suitable for typing!) Is it bad to put blinders on and dash past the voice infected aisle hoping they don't spot me? After speeding to the checkout I nervously glance around the whole time waiting for the voice to find me and strike up the dreaded conversation. Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this. Please, pretty pretty please? (And please don't tell me I'm the one you run away from!)

--Laurel

No More Tom Green! Just the kids!

I was tired of seeing Tom Green's mug, so here are some pictures of the kids... I am sure they are more enjoyable to look at. (except for you Kristi because I know how much you love Curtis' beard.)

Tom Green and Curtis

About ten years ago, I was an audio assistant on the Tom Green show for three episodes. It was a lot of fun and I found out that in my experience Tom Green was a nice guy. I was watching him last night on "Celebrity Apprentice" and realized he and Curtis were sporting the same type of facial hair. The first half of the show Tom's beard was a lot like Curtis'. Before the board meeting Tom had gotten a haircut and had his beard trimmed.

He survived to fight another day. If you watched the episode, I love that Curtis has as many good creative ideas as Tom Green did on the show. Curtis is just better at making sure his point of view is heard and understood. Anyway, no other comparison for now except for the facial hair.

Billy

Empathy

"Man tries to steal laptop to check Facebook
19-year-old snatches computer from Starbucks patron who denied him use
The Associated Press

BRADENTON, Fla. - Sheriff's officers said a 19-year-old man snatched a Starbucks customer’s laptop after being told he could not use it to check his Facebook account. According to officers, the man then grabbed the customer's laptop and ran out of the coffee shop, located in an outlet mall.
Two people in the parking lot tackled the man and held him there until a mall security guard arrived.
The victim got his laptop back and the man was charged Saturday with robbery by sudden snatching, a felony."

Seriously...I can understand this guys desperation! That's sad, isn't it?

--Laurel

Chef

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new culinary prodigy on our hands. Travis at the tender age of 4 has discovered the power of the kitchen.

Monday morning, while lazying about watching TV, Travis came in and asked me if he could make himself a ketchup sandwich. Groggily, I said yes, not realizing what I had agreed to. Next thing I know, Travis is standing next to me happily munching away on a ketchup filled sandwich: literally two pieces of bread with a filling of ketchup in between. Hmm...this peeked my interest, so I called in the rest of the crew to only discover that yes, indeed, Travis had come up with this idea on his own, executed it, and reaped it's benefits.

Apparently his creation is now his favorite food...guess what he made for snack? Yep. A ketchup sandwich.

Ewww....gag. But I'm not going to complain--I didn't have to make it!

-Laurel

Under the weather

For the past week we've been battling a sweet little stomach virus that Travis lovingly shared with us. We quietly endured his week of fun and thought we were past it. Au Contraire mon frair! To date 5 out of 6 of us have been hit by the bug. Aaron is the last man standing...which makes sense because he is the most consistent germaphobe in our family. He fears germs like no other...and probably for good reason.

So, here to help make the the Baker's days go by faster and help make your day more amusing are the top moments from the past week:

--Envision me laughing at Billy as he dashed to the bathroom on Tuesday night. Envision me making lame jokes and being cruel. I know it's hard to do...but seriously I'm capable. Now envision Billy smirking and knowing that Karma takes care of everything in the end. She did...5 hours later. Who knew Karma and Billy were such good friends?

--Me dragging Travis to work on Monday where he consumed hot chocolate, one crumb donut and a cheesestick...then sending him over to Billy's office to hang out for a while, while I finished up some loose ends. Of course, it was conveniently in time for him to lose the same menu listed above in an 8'x4' streak in the mens bathroom--far away from my office. Did I mention that Karma paid me back the next day?

--Me wandering through a grocery store on Wednesday barely conscious enough to buy gatorade and crackers. The terrified look on the checker's faces as they took my money told me the makeup wasn't hiding the greenish shade of my skin. (My hands were clean and disinfected people...really.) I was the elected one to go to the store because Billy was semi-conscious at home. Man, I wish Austin was old enough to drive the car!

--I was feeling much better this morning and started cleaning up the mess that comes from having two parents down at the same time. Realizing the trash needed to go out and the fact that I was still in my jammies--I looked both ways and verified that the coast was clear to the dumpster. Apparently I didn't see my new neighbor coming out of his gate at the same time. The way he jumped in terror when he saw me at the dumpster will forever be seared onto my mind as another reason why I should make the guys do all the dirty work. Ugh.

That's all for now from the land of the sick...

Laurel

Hmm...

Last week I received a text on my cell phone from a couple who's names I didn't recognize. We'll call them the "Smiths". The text said something along the lines of:

"The "Smiths" want to thank you for being our friends. We'll be thinking of you all while we head to New Zealand for 14 days. We'll see you when we get back. Until then XOXO Freida and George."

I laughed to myself because it was obviously a wrong number and didn't think about it. Yesterday I received another text that said:

"Hey...just wanted you to know we're watching the Super Bowl in NZ."

Hmmm...I thought to myself. Maybe I should text them back and know that they have the wrong number, that would be the courteous thing to do. Being lazy and determined not to lose my spot on the couch--I put it off until later.

This morning at work I was researching Huntington Beach lifeguard history for a project at church. (Mind you this is a project that I've been working on, off and on for the last couple of weeks.) Today I was trying to get more info on lifeguard names and typed "Huntington Beach lifeguard history" into Google and guess what pops up.

"George Smith".

When I saw the name I did a total double take. I couldn't believe my eyes. Hastily I fished my cellphone out of my purse and sure enough ...the names were an exact match. Now doubt about it. (The real spelling and combination of his name is distinctive.) I sat there trying to figure out what this all meant. Was this a cosmic message from God? Or just a seriously strange coincidence? So I did two things: first off, I texted the guy back and told him that he had the wrong number...but I hoped he was having a great time in New Zealand. Second, I went to Amazon and ordered his book.

What makes it even stranger is that I was researching lifeguard names for characters in skits that we're rewriting. I've been stuck on a couple of character's names...but a month ago I had already set the name "George" in stone because I thought it was perfect. Yes..a month ago--before the text messages and finding the book. Wow.

Seriously. I'm still tripping out on this one. Am I living in some strange Lost episode or is God just messing with my mind? Or is he just demonstrating once again that he notices even the small details and has it all under his control? I don't know. I have a feeling that I'll be trying to figure this puzzle out for a while.

--Laurel

Catch Up

It's time for Baker catch up. The time where I give you the highlights of the last two weeks...

During the last two weeks we have:

Had Billy's parents in town for 11 days

Attended a big ol' Mexican wedding where Billy not only sang the solo, fixed the sound, but emceed the 4 hour reception himself. (for the record...he did a great job!)

Driven over 1,000 miles.

Enjoyed a mini family reunion with two of Billy's sisters and their two families.

Been victim to, uh, er...rather...got the privilege to witness an impromptu accordion concert in my living room at 7:45 in the morning. Yes, I said morning!

Fell asleep during a movie at the theater because we were so tired.

Watched Aaron get the Pelican Pride award (student of the month.)

Watched Aaron actually enjoy a baseball practice for the first time ever. (His coach last year was a terror. It was good to see him smile and not be called by the moniker "Rainbow". His nickname from his coach last year. Just an example of why we didn't care for last year's team situation.)

Listened to Tamila whine about various and assorted topics--but persevere through it all in spite of her situations.

Took care of a ralphing Travis for two days. Who, while at the Dr. made me look like a liar because he looked so deceptively healthy. Then I took him home where he lost it 4 more times. I know it would have been messy, but couldn't he have done that for the Doc? I'm convinced that my kids have a pact about making Mom look like a hyperchondriac at the dr's office. ("Okay, just hold your puke until you get home...we don't want the Dr. to know that Mom actually knows what she is talking about.)

There's so much more that I've forgotten, but will remember later.

As for now...I think I'm tired! I'm ready for spring and the hum drum days of the baseball field. Bring them on--I'm ready.

--Laurel

I Shot the Moon

I'm always wishing I had more time to take pictures. My problem is that I like to tweak buttons and mess with exposure and shutter speeds, so it is never a quick project. It doesn't help that a lot of what I do is through trial and error.

A few nights ago we arrived at the house and the moon was gorgeous. The boys and I looked at it through the binoculars and I couldn't believe the detail we could see. I decided to take a picture of it.

The first few shots were overexposed with no detail at all. After a few minutes of messing with settings I took this picture. Without a tripod. I like it.

Billy

The original.













A cropped version.

Repetition

Sometimes I feel like I spend my days repeating myself over and over again. Wait. Strike that. I KNOW I spend my days repeating myself over and over again. For example, answering the basic call of:

"Mom!"
"What?"
"Mom!"
"What?"
"Mom!"
"WHAT?!"

Or the classic:
"Can I have a cookie?"
"No, not until after dinner."
One minute later:
"Can I have a cookie?"
"No, not until after dinner."
30 seconds later:
"Can I have a cookie?"
"NOT UNTIL AFTER DINNER!"

Driven to the point of screaming everyone turns around and gives me the look like I've lost my mind. It's a valid look because I have. It's been drained of all creative independent happy thoughts and replace with the repetitive answers and demands of: "No", "Yes", "Pick up your toys" and "Not until after dinner.". No wonder why old people need things repeated all the time. Its not because they're deaf--its because their kids messed their brains up to never think a linear thought again.

Thanks, I needed to vent. I feel better now.

--Laurel

Literalist

Scene: Billy sitting at the computer checking his email with Travis waiting next to him munching on animal crackers. Billy has promised Travis they will go to the store, but he needs to go to the bathroom first. Travis is getting impatient.

Travis: "Dad,I thought you said you had to go to the bathroom?"

Dad: "I know...I'm going!"

Travis: "In your pants?"

:)

Gotta love Trav...

--Laurel

R.I.P. Perry

We left on vacation for Big Bear last week.

Unfortunately no one thought to feed Perry the fish before we left.

Even worse, no one though to check on him when we got back on Sunday.

Imagine our surprise tonight when we discovered Perry the fish had kicked the bucket. From the looks of him it wasn't just yesterday...ew!

So there you go, our fish saga has ended for now. Poor Fish! Poor Aaron!

--Laurel

Karma

I angered the Karma gods today at Target. It was bad enough that I was there shopping on Christmas Eve, but I figured I was okay because I was shopping for some props for tonight's Christmas Eve service. However,I did the bad shopper thing and stashed an item on a shelf where it didn't belong because I was in a hurry and too lazy to take it back to its proper place.

Bad move.

As I left the parking lot I realized that they had charged me for 3 bedding sets instead of 2. An overcharge of $50! Yikes! I had been in such a hurry that I didn't notice that my bill was wayyyyy bigger than it should've been. Oops. Karma's payback was me having to haul my "too-busy-to-do-the-right-thing-self" immediately back to Target, finding a parking spot, standing in the return line and feeling remorse for not doing the right thing in the first place.

Why does God have such a great sense of humor?

--Laurel