It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas...

The Christmas hustle and bustle is underway in our house! We traveled to Virginia to visit Brian's family for Thanksgiving and returned home on Sunday. Before we even unloaded the car, I insisted that Brian make a trip up into the attic and retrieve all the storage totes full of Christmas Decorations. I just couldn't wait!! Brian and the boys pitched in and helped me transform our house into a Christmas scene. There is something so magical about this special season of the year.

I would like to introduce you to Bill.

Bill is Santa's small helper that has chosen our house as his assignment! Bill is a sneaky little fellow. This week he has been found hiding in our Christmas Tree and hanging from the light fixtures. Wonder where he will turn up next? The boys are thrilled that Bill has chosen us as his family! Jacob was so excited the first time he found his little elf friend. Jack, on the other hand, was so quick to point out that his face is plastic and his eyes don't blink. Leave it to Jack! The Elf on the Shelf is sure to become a family tradition in the Baker house!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Forever on Thanksgiving Day, The heart will find the pathway home.~Wilbur D. Nesbit

I want you to meet this sweet, sweet girl. Her name is Aubrey and she surely has a Servant's heart! She has worked all summer selling vegetables from her family's vegetable garden to raise money for the Good Shepherd Children's Home in Murfreesboro, TN. Her goal is to have enough money raised to buy mulch for the playground at the Children's Home in the spring. Since the cooler weather has arrived and the vegetables are no more, she has decided, with help from her dad, Rusty, to build Blue Bird Houses to sell. You can read more about Aubrey's mission here http://rutledges-rutledgereview.blogspot.com/2008/11/bluebird-houses.html . These surely would make great Christmas gifts!!! Take a look at her mom's blog and let her know you would love to order one!

Kristen

Yesterday Brian and Jacob spent the evening here.

Watching these guys.

While Jack and I watched this.

I am so ashamed to admit that I rarely get one-on-one time with each of my boys. Jack and I had so much fun on our "Mom Date" last night. We caught the 5:00 showing of HSM3, shopped for new shirts and jammies at Kohl's and shared spaghetti at Carrabba's. All of Jack's favorites!

He was feeling a bit left out....or as he put it, "I got the shaft".....when dad and Jacob went to the football game. The weather was really not appropriate for Jack, so his consolation prize was a date with mom. So, I ignored the mounding laundry and the dust that is beginning to recieve its mail at our house, and I headed out with Jack.

We had so much fun! I know he had fun because it was all about Jack. I had fun just listening to his wisdom. I really can learn alot from a 5 year old. The conversation was such fun. Being able to get down on his level, I realize just how much he looks up to his dad. I could not ask for a better role model for my children than their dad!

Brian had just as much fun with Jacob and I did with Jack. My goal for the coming months is to spend more one-on-one time with the boys. Each day I realize just how quickly the time passes.

Kristen

Autumn Days

This weekend we did this

And this

The boys enjoyed a few days out of school for "Fall Break" last week. Brian took the day off and spent with us. He treated Jacob and Jack to an afternoon of golf. Jacob was eager to learn the sport and staying focused on the game. Jack was eager to practice the art of Jousting with his golf clubs. While all my boys were on the golf course, I took some "me time" and hit the One Day Sale at Macy's. It feels great to get a jump start on Christmas shopping!!

On Saturday, we had a great time at Gentry's Farm picking out pumpkins. The boys had such fun picking out their pumpkins.

We ended our morning at the farm with a total of 22 (yes, I said 22) pumpkins of all shapes, sizes and variety. We gifted 2 of the pumpkins to our Aunt and Uncle who live nearby and now the other 20 pumpkins have found a spot at our house! Would you believe that even though we piled all the pumpkins together in the car, each of my kiddos knew exactly which ones they picked! They all look the same to me!!

We're getting excited about Halloween too! The boys each chose their costume this weekend. Jack will be dressing as a Scarecrow and Jacob chose his first "scary" costume.....a Swamp Creature.

Fall is in the air! Hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful weather!!

Love,

Kristen

End of Summer

I have always considered Labor Day Weekend to be the "official" end to our summer. I always hate to see the summer pass, but I LOVE fall! What's not to love about the season of all seasons? The cool air, the faint smell of a wood burning fire outside, gorgeous leaves falling from the trees, pumpkins, fall flowers, jeans and sweaters!! We are off to Chattanooga for a little farewell to summer fun w/ the kids. The boys are excited about visiting the Tennessee Aquarium and the Children's Discovery Museum. I think everyone is most excited to visit Cheeburger Cheeburger. If you have never heard of this little hamburger haven, you should know it's worth the short drive to Chattanooga for a taste!!!

We are excited about our Labor Day plans! Wonder what everyone else has planned for this long weekend???

Kristen

We Did It!

I stress the "We" part. It was a group effort. Today was Jack's first day of Kindergarten. A day I have dreaded for quite some time now. He was up at the crack of dawn and ready to head to school! He wore the outfit he had been saving in his closet for six months, for this very purpose. Brian accompanied us to school. I was so relieved, because I knew I was headed for a melt-down. Any typical mom would have been more than proud of the way my son walked into his class and made himself at home. I, on the other hand, am not your typical mom. I saw this sweet, independent five year old who didn't need his mom. He didn't need me to help him with his backpack, he didn't need me to help him make friends, he didn't need me to make sure he ate his lunch. I just stood there in a classroom of children and parents and cried. Jack kept glancing at Dad as if to say, "Can you do something about her, please?". I managed to pull it together and leave the school only to pick him up a little later just as excited as he was when I left.

The highlight of his day was seeing big brother Jacob in the cafeteria! Jacob is such a great big brother. He and his buddies made Jack feel so welcome today! Of course, Jack loved it that the big boys were calling out his name!

Kristen

The First Day.....

Well, there are alot of "firsts" spiraling around our house these days! This is my "first" official blog posting. Jacob (our oldest) is experiencing fourth grade for the "first" time. Jack (our youngest) will experience real school (Kindergarten) for the "first" time tomorrow. Brian (the husband) is spending the "first" day in his new office (same company, just new office). Everyone is so very excited about their "firsts". Everyone, that is, except me. Tomorrow will be my "first" day with both children officially in school! Such sweet sorrow. It only seems like hours that we brought that 9lb bundle of pure joy home from the hospital. Hard to believe it has really been 5 years. He is so ready to get to school. Our conversation over breakfast this morning went something like this: "Jack, are you so excited to go to your new school tomorrow?" "Yep, I hope I don't fart." (What mom wouldn't be proud to hear these words spill from her 5 year olds lips??) Trying hard to ignore the statement, I proceeded with "You are just going to love your teacher." His response? "My teacher's hot!" Now, this is the same child that just 3 days ago was adamant that he was not going to have that teacher. She has short hair and he wanted a teacher with long hair. That's Jack for you! We never know what will pop out of his mouth. Jack is our wild card. Every family needs at least one.

I will end this first post by saying, as sad as I feel that my Jack will be growing up tomorrow, I am so excited to begin this journey with him. He is excited to be in the same school as his precious big brother. What fun it will be for the two of them. Something tells me, there will be lots of giggles and whispers in the coming nights long after the bedtime stories are read and the lights are out!

Kristen