Yule Lads

Okay, everytime I type or say Yule Lads, it tickles my funny bone, and so, I laugh and snort and all sorts of other unseemly things. Just thought you'd like to know.

But what are Yule Lads? Well, when I was growing up, my siblings and I would put our shoe in the window on the 12 nights before Christmas so that the Santas, Yule Lads, or whatever you'd like to call them, would bring us a treat. And put it in our shoe. :D Awesome, right? It is our Icelandic heritage, and I always loved it. I do it with my kids every other year, because we do American Christmas one year (open prezzies on the 25th, etc.) and the Icelandic Christmas the next year (putting the shoe in the window, and opening prezzies on the 24th). Don't worry, we do Tongan Christmas every year! (Big feast for Christmas. :)

So yeah, back to the Yule Lads. Maliana found this awesome website that explains them a bit. And I love the little cartoon guys. So, if you'd like to learn more, have a look here. It's all fun and good times now, but they weren't so nice originally. ho ho ho.

Oh, and when the kids aren't good, they don't get a treat, they get a potato. Although, that might be a Toutai thing. hahahahahaha. Not sure.

Merry Christmas!

Wise Men

I hope you enjoy this. Because I do. :)

true

So good. I needed this today, and hope it buoys you up too. :)

Do you like to read things? I do.

Here is a random thing to vote on. I get nothing in return for sharing this. Just thought I would. Have a happy day. :)

2011 Goodreads Choice Awards: Favorite Book of 2011 Vote now for your favorite books!

de cluttering the house

So a few weeks back, I realized belatedly that my sister Miriam invited us to New Mexico for Thanksgiving! And all looked well and good to go, so we accepted. We also planned to see Dustin's brother and his wife on the same trip. Happiness ensued, and it was great fun planning for this trip. 

Then our car had troubles. 

First, I needed new tires. They were quite baldy, and the weather was getting winterish. So new tires were bought. And then other things kept needing attention on the car. Bit's were breaking and misbehaving. (By the way, we bought this car, the vee dub, so that we could stop having to fix things all the time. We've already spent way more on fixing the vee dub than we spent TOTAL on the little hot rod. Boo!) And so, we could no longer go on said trip. boo hoo. But Dustin still had the whole week off! 

So so so, what to do?! De clutter, of course! It might sound unfun to you, but it is quite refreshing. I thought it would be a bit sucky, but it's not! Last week I took a whole car load of stuff to the DI. We've cleared out so much stuff we haven't used, or aren't going to use. I always feel bad when we don't do fun stuff when Dustin has time off, but not to worry. We're going shooting on Thanksgiving, and that is always always fun times. Hope your week is going well. :)

He loves me

They other day while Sarah was napping, Miaya and I were doing things around the house and chatting, and I asked her about her best friend, Jared. (Her words, the whole best friend thing.) And she was telling me he didn't like it when she was friends with other people. He sounds a bit possesive if you ask me. hahahahahaa. OH my. But anyway, so she was telling me sorts of fun things they do together at preschool, and then she looks at me and smiles and says "He loves me" all serenely. Ugh. Like it was the most natural thing in the world. It IS the most natural thing in the world to love Miaya. hahahaha. But for him to love her blew me away. And made me chuckle.

Sarah is a very sensitive girl. We are slowly but surely getting lots of opportunities to learn this. The other day she was sitting in my lap while I was on the computer. When I looked at her, she was sucking her thumb. I've never seen her do that, so I asked "What are you doing?" I thought I was using a normal voice, but apparently I wasn't, because her bottom lip poked out, and she got all sad, and teary eyed! I was like "Oh, you're not in trouble or anything, I was just surprised." And she still wouldn't smile. Her tender little feelings were all hurt. It was really sweet and cute. hahahahahahaaha.
She's also very expressive in general. Especially verbally. When she was born, the nurses and doctors commented that she had a set of lungs on her. I was like whatever, she's just crying. hahahahha. They were right. hahahaha. The other day she wandering around the house saying "Why?!" at the top of her lungs. (kind of dramatically hahahha) For no reason at all except that she liked to say it. It was awesome.

Oh what fun to have daughters. hahahahaha. Love them.

This is what our house looked like when we bought it.

It is true. This was our house. I didn't think it was that bad. It was pretty bad. I mean, carpet in the kitchen?

And this carpet is pretty wild too.

And the wall paper?

And a random planter box right by the front door.

Dustin always hated this wallpaper. I loved it. hahahahaha! The hallway stuff, not the other stuff.

And so, at some point I'll show you all the great stuff we've done to this here house. Okay? okay.

the Growing Up girls

Children grow. We all grow. It is all a part of this lovely experience we are having called life. My children, my daughters, are so lovely, it is humbling for me. I love to see their wonder as they experience things for the first time. I love to watch them grow. Even though it seems to go so quickly.

Miaya, who I swear I just gave birth to, is constantly making lists of what she wants to be when she grows up. Today it consists of: a doctor, a librariam (that's how she says it and I love it), a firefighter, a dancer, and just added: an island princess. I hope she gets to be all of those things.

And Sarah, who has grown like a weed before my eyes, is not only walking with confidence, but running! And chattering away, and repeating things we say to her. And singing, and dancing, and didn't we just bring her home from the hospital the other day??

My babies are little girls now, and before I know it they will be young women, and then young wives, and then young mothers. How grateful I am to be able to be a part of it all. I am blessed.

Watermelon!

We try to grow lots of fun things in our garden. I love having a garden. It's fun, and hard work, and delicious.

The fruits of our labors. Yum.

I love these videos.

Don't you love these videos? I do. I love hearing other peoples stories.

A video for you. Not mine, but I'm sharing.

So interesting and awesome. :)

The google reader next button.

Have you heard of it? I only heard of it a week or two ago. I love it. If you follow lots of blogs, and you use google reader, try it out. I think it's great.

Here's a link on how to use it.

That's all. ;)

Happy birthday Dustin

So Thursday is my favorite day of the week. Not entirely sure why, it just is. An even better Thursday is when it's Dustin's birthday! I made this little collage of awesomeness into a big 33. hahaha. I was inspired by a pinterest thing.  He hasn't seen it yet. :) He will, though, when he gets home. This post is for him. :)

So Dustin, you are a unique and wonderful man. How grateful I am that we have been able to spend some wonderful times together. There are so many parts to you, so many things that make you you. You know I love lists, and so here is a birthday list just for you.

The complicated bits and bobs that make up Dustin. (or What makes Dustin Dustin.)

1. Your love of Jeeps.

2. The best sense of humor in the universe.

3. Your love of the gospel.

4. Being an outdoor enthusiast. Example: fishing, hunting, wheeling, hiking, camping, etc.

5. The amazing father you are to our two beautiful young daughters.

6. Putting your whole heart into everything you do whether it's being a young men's leader or mowing the lawn or going to work or loving your family.

7. Your appreciation of snow.

8. Daddy daughter dates.

9. You patience when I ask one million and one questions.

10. Being a hard worker.

11. Diving in and trying before admitting defeat. (I'm not sure defeat has ever happened, though.)

12. Drinking out of the hose. :)

13. Your amazing one armed photo shoots. Of the whole family!

14. Going on drives.

15. Your sense of adventure.

16. Funny faces.

17. Back scratches.

18. Short hair and blue blue eyes.

19. Your amazing barbecue skillz.

20. An oil change for a first date.

21. Helping others out whenever you see someone in need of it.

22. Showing our girls how to fish and hunt and fix the car.

23. Your love of fireworks and fire. (Pyro!)

24. Your varied knowledge in many many many things.

25. Being the best friend any one could hope for.

26. Loving the Bears for 6 million years even though they sucked for 5.9 million of those years.

27. The love we have shared for the last 9 (or so) years.

28. Your love of your family.

29. The natural leader you are.

30. Bringing snickers ice cream and bug juices home, just because.

31. Giggling like a school girl when you find something hilarious.

32. A warm heart to go with your warm hands.

33. Melting when our girls just want to hug their Daddy.

Babe. We love you heaps. Thanks for being who you are.

Our New Ward

Our stake was joined with another stake last Sunday to make one large stake. So now I belong to the Salt Lake Granger Stake and I am in the Granger Ward. We have all of my old ward in our new ward, but we also have sections of two other wards. Today is going to be our first Sunday all together. I am so excited to meet all the new children in our Primary. It is going to be a wild and adventurous day. I'm a bit nervous. I'm still the primary president. We have a program coming up. Wish me luck.


And I came across theses guys when Lete posted a video on facebook. Enjoy.

Back to school

Miaya has started preschool again. She is in her second year. She LOVES it. I love her school. It is such a wonderful place for little ones to thrive. Anyway, this is the only picture Miaya would let me take of her at school. She was too anxious to get in there and for me to go away. Boo hoo. Just kidding. I love her independent spirit! :) I think it would be so much harder if she didn't want to go. So I cried a little while I drove back home from taking her. hahahahaha. I'm allowed.

Because I didn't get more than one shot at school, I took a bunch at home. hahahaha. Enjoy.

Love all that wild and curly hair.

Miaya's 5th

Can you believe this amazing, sweet, precocious, energetic, thoughtful, stubborn, beautiful girl is 5? Me either. But she is. And she had so much fun on her birthday. Dustin (and I) gave her this lei for her birthday. 

Grandma Rhea made her a Candyland cake. Awesome, right?

I made these for her bedroom out of tissue paper! So easy, and so fun, and she adores them.

Check out her left eye in this picture. She learned that from her Dad. ;)

Sarah Pop 

See this is my proof she learned the eye thing from her Dad. 

She got to pick whatever she wanted in the whole world to eat for her birthday, and you know what she wanted? Arctic Circle. Crazy kid. hahahahaha. She loves the play land place there. It's the only one we let her go in, because it's all open and she can't hide or run away when it's time to go. hahahahahahha.

Sarah and Daddy drumming on the slide while Miaya is inside.

Miaya felt like a princess on her birthday. She got to do whatever she wanted (within reason :) and she was very gracious about it. Love you Miaya Pie!

love this song

It's so pretty. So lovely. So soothing.

Blood blood blood

The first time I ever gave blood, I was 18 years old. There was a blood drive in my stake, and so off I went and gave my blood. I was nervous, excited, and a little apprehensive. I was really worried about passing out and such. I didn't. I was completely fine. At that time, one of the people there told me that most people gave blood only once and never did it again. I vowed that I would do it again. It took a long time, but I did. And I did again tonight. I love giving blood. I love doing stuff that is not harmful to me, and I have extra, so why not give it to someone else who might need it. I have also donated my hair a couple of times. It's great. No inconvenience to me + someone else benefits = Why not? Let's do this.

Awesome. Have you ever given blood? Or does the idea make you queasy? Dustin hasn't ever, and probably won't. The idea is very uncomfortable to him. I understand. It's not something everyone can, should, or even wants to do. :)

Hope your day is happy.

No pictures. Again.

I haven't taken pictures in a while. I'm not sure why. But we're having fun. I will take more pictures so you have something fun to look at while you're here. ;)

 So I went to Wal Mart today. I kind of hate Wal Mart. It's not an active hate. I just avoid going as much as possible. The concept of the store is great: one stop shopping. I just have bad experiences pretty much EVERY TIME I GO. Today I had coupons and the lady had already rung everything up and the coupons were left off. (Because I used my debit card, and had already swiped it) She said next time to put the coupons on the little place next to where the card machine is. I did put them there, and told her that. She wasn't too pleased. I felt bad. Not for saying that I did. I was nice about it. I felt bad about the whole transaction, and vowed yet again to avoid Wal Mart as much as possible.

 hahahahahahaha.

 Okay! It's Labor Day weekend, and it's going to be great! Miriam and Daniel will be here in Utah, and we are going to get to meet Jamison for the first time. And the kids get to hang out. And I get to see my sister! wooo hooo. That's fun.

 Dustin is repurposing an old tent trailer. We got it years ago. Seriously. And it's just been sitting in the backyard, being a home to a mouse hoard. Okay, maybe not a hoard but at least 2 mice. They are disgusting creatures. Anyway, it's a bit of a tedious process. Dusting tore it apart in one afternoon, which was a lovely surprise. He's been putting it back together as a flat bed trailer. Very handy. It's lots of trial and error, however. Not such a lovely surprise.

 The weather has been lovely this week here. It was about 100 degrees for a couple of days last week. This week it's been downright pleasant in the 80's. Delicious. I love this time of year. It's still warm in the day time, but lovely cool evenings. OH my. So good. Autumn is on it's way. ::sigh::

 My latest obsession: Pinterest. It is such an awesome thing. A great way to put a bunch of stuff you love online into one place. Like we have a bunch of tomatoes finally ripening in my garden, and I wanted to try making home made tomato soup. I checked out Pinterest, and found this and this and this and this. So that's what we're having for dinner. Yum yum.

Happy Labor Day!

제 이름은 알버트입니다 (My name is Albert) Ég heiti Albert

My talented little sister made this. It makes me happy.

Tokyo - Imagine Dragons

My happy song for today. So fun! :)

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

I read Mere Christianity, or at least parts of it earlier this year, and these were some favorite parts. I obviously didn't read much of it. I found it to be very enjoyable, but I kept falling asleep. I think that says more about me than the book. :)

Favorite bits and bobs of this book

"We might think that God wanted simply obedience to a set of rules: whereas He really wants people of a particular sort."

"As Dr Johnson said, 'People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed." -on morality

It's that time of the year again.

Tomorrow, to be precise. The opening day of the bow hunt for deer here in Utah. I did posts here and here about last year and prep for this year.  Dustin's really excited. He has a whole boyfriends sleep over. It's good times. :)

This years prep has been on going, but now it's the last minute stuff that's getting done. Snacks and water and clothing and sleeping bags, etc. are getting put together. Dustin decided he needed a new camouflage shirt. So we went to 3 different places last night to find one. We ended up back at Sportsmans Warehouse. We'd already been there once. It was quite adventurous. What we thought was going to be a half an hour trip to the store ended up being 3 hours! ugh. It was long. But we found a shirt! woo hoo. Then this morning I was gathering all his stuff together to wash it in this special laundry detergent he has that is unscented. hahahahaha. Turns out he had a BRAND NEW t-shirt in with his other hunting stuff!! hahahahahahahaha. He also had like 2 and 3 of everything (pants, t-shirts, long sleeve t-shirts, hats) hahahahaha. I laughed myself silly.

This morning was spent getting the last minute things, and then he'll be off tonight and home sometime before Sunday. I'm tired. How about you?

I think I'll take a nap. After I do all my chores. ;)

Miaya still naps?!?!

So you guys asked if Miaya still takes naps, and yes, she does. Sometimes. Most of the time we just do quiet time. This is something I learned when I was watching a friends children a few years back. Miaya was little, and she still took regular naps TWICE A DAY. Lucky me. :D These kids, though, were a bit high strung, and nothing at all like my little content baby. Their mom, though, told me that she had them do quiet time each day. What is that? you may ask. Well, just like it sounds. Quiet time. No loudness, running, wildness, etc. Like Mamma said: reading a book, watching a movie, something quiet. It was so great. They would sit down and chill for like an hour, no coaxing necesary. Most of the time.

Now on to the pictures. I love this little sequence of pictures.

In the first two, Sarah was making her way over. And then by the end, she's almost to me again. haha!

Is that all your questions answered? I always think I answer the comments, but they never make it to the blog or facebook.

Oh, and Mamma, yeah, the order in the day thing: My kids totally thrive on a schedule. Or maybe it's me? Either, way, we love a good routine in the Baker household. It's not anything big. Here's our typical day. My kids get up between 7 and 8, then we do breakfast. Then we spend the morning cleaning, or running errands, or playing. Then we do lunch. Then naps. The playing and cleaning and getting dinner ready. Then dinner time at 6, then bath, bedtime at 8pm. Awesome. The only things really concrete are sleep and meal times. Everything else is pretty fluid. So now you know way more than you ever wanted to know about that.
The end.

Blanket Forts

I don't know about you, but one of my favorite things to do as a kid was to make tents and tunnels with blankets and couch cushions and pillows. 

Miaya and Sarah love it too.

Miaya begs me to let her sleep in them for naps.

And sometimes I let her. :)

Brigham City day trip

I mentioned in a post a couple of days ago, or maybe it was yesterday, that Dustin gets to install office furniture in the temples sometimes? Well, he was at the Logan temple also last week, and on his way home from there, he saw the Brigham City temple. I didn't realize it was so far along.

Neat-o, huh? This picture was taken on the south side of the construction site. I stood up in the car and poked myself out of the moon roof (which I am sort of amazed I fit out of! hahahaha) and took the picture while we were on the one way street. hahaha. It was great. We went to Brigham City to check out the temple, and get yummy peaches (they've just started becoming ripe! nom nom.) And we also like to just go on day trips, and this was our day trip on Saturday. We also stopped at Smith and Edwards, which is always fun in an overwhelming way.

delightful.

The Urban Cottage: Design*Sponge- Yay!

I love this day bed. I want to make one. Someday. ;)

The Urban Cottage: Design*Sponge- Yay!:

Not all those who wander are lost. - J. R. R. Tolkien

It is true. They aren't. And it is also true that the title has little, if anything, to do with this post. And so on we go.

Miaya left her cereal bowl on the table one morning after eating her breakfast. She is supposed to put it in the sink, or rinse it and put it into the dish washer. So it's sitting on the table and Sarah comes along and sees it. 

This is what Sarah lives for. Opportunities to make lots of fun messes. :)

And then she likes to eat them. Oh. My.

Miaya loves to play dress up. I love that she loves to play dress up. This is her graduation cap from her preschool graduation and a stick and a feather. I'm not sure what she's dressed up as, but she loves it.

Cute girls.

Don't you love having the park to yourself? I do.

Sarah while she naps.

Miaya eating lollipops.

Sarah eating lollipops.

 So Dustin went to Arizona last week. One of the perks of working for Midwest Commercial Interiors is that they get the temple contracts quite a bit, and so Dustin gets to travel occasionally to go and do the office furniture. Most of the time it's just local, but a few years back he went to Oakland, and last week he went to the Mesa, Arizona temple. He left here at like 8:45 in the morning and got back at about 5 the next afternoon. 

After dropping him off at the airport, the girls and I went to the park. It was great. We were there for like an hour and had the whole place to ourselves. :D

Miaya love love loves the park. She wishes she lived there. It was fun, though.