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