What a Night!!

We had such a fun night last night at Mark's concert! His country group did an AMAZING job last night! I couldn't be any more proud of them. They practiced so much and it showed! Great job for your first performance SLADE!!

There were so many supporters there. A lot of my family came and we danced along. And Mark had a lot of family come too! Thanks to everyone for being there for Mark's big night!

Now for those who decided they couldn't go missed out not only on SLADE, but they missed out watching the amazing LADY ANTEBELLUM. They were so entertaining and I loved almost every song they sang. I could have watched them all night.....seriously, I'm not just saying that! After the concert, they signed autographs and took pictures with people.

What a nice counrty group they are. They have a greay album out and I am very excited for them to come out with another one!

SLADE has a single out right now that was recorded in Nashville. You can get it by leaving a comment and I'll get it to you! They sell for only $3.00 or 2 / $5.00

Come on... you know you want one! These guys already have more concerts lined up. You can check them out by clicking here.

Just a video of the song "We Build A Home"

written by Aaron Ballard

QUESTION.....

Why is that almost every time I am in a public restroom, people go straight from the stall and then out the door? Did they really forget to wash their hands? I mean, come on. Here I am at the sink scrubbing my hands and probably one of my kids, they walk out of the stall, sometimes even make an effort to walk to the mirror (by a sink) to check themselves out, we make eye contact, they smile and then walk right out the door! Did they think I really didn't notice? They rubbed their stinky dirty hands all over the door handle for people to touch after they just washed their hands. My kids KNOW not to open the bathroom door with out the towel they used to dry their hands with. I even make sure my paper towel is ready to go so I don't have to use my clean hands to get it out. I can't believe people do this. Sometimes I go to the restroom just to wash my hands. I am so disgusted by this. This actually happened to me today... I was so angry because it was the 3rd time that the person who touched the door handle right before me was a nasty woman who decides not to wash their hands.

Maybe after reading this next paragraph, people would think twice about not washing their after using the restroom. How many times have we heard doctors say that to help prevent sickness is to wash your hands A LOT! It's common sense.

Handwash Disease Away
The US Centers for Disease Control says proper and frequent handwashing is “the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection.” But, researchers in a study for the American Society for Microbiology found when it comes to public restrooms, only 77% of people wash their hands after using the restroom. And if you’re a guy, watch out, one-third of the men spied on didn’t bother to lather up, compared to only 12% of women. Some studies show there are, on average, 229,000 germs per square inch on faucet handles that see frequent use, and about 1,500 on a square centimeter of a person’s hand. The easiest ways for germs to get into your body is through your eyes, mouth and nose; the average person touches these areas with their hand about 200 times per day.

To help those out, I have even posted some easy steps on how to do this. Technically you should wash you hands for 2 minutes, but even 30 seconds is good. SOMETHING TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER!!

Those who know me know that I am somewhat of a germaphobe. I say "somewhat" only because my lovely sister and sister-in-law are WAY more germaphobes than me. And they will agree with me and back me up on this matter. I am pretty easygoing on most things, but I get completely offended by this.

JUST WASH YOU HANDS!!

Where did the kids go?

Mark has a rule where there are no kids allowed in his studio without mom or dad. There are too many things Mark doesn't want broken. Well, he was in Nashville for a couple days and I forgot to keep the door locked while he was gone. All of a sudden I hear a guitar. I didn't think anything at first, but then I realized Braeden and Elli were in his studio playing guitars. So I go in there and Elli is strumming this little armadillo guitar (Mark got it on his mission) and singing a Cinderella song. No it's not a song we all have heard, it's her own version of a Cinderella song. Braeden was in a corner playing one of Mark's song with his electric guitar. It was too cute. I couldn't get mad at them. I had to get my camera.

Elli is a Preschool Girl!

Our 2nd child is getting too big. She is a preschooler and definitely had no problem saying bye to me. She gets out of the car, waved and said bye, then ran to the door, waved bye again and ran inside. It makes it so easy for me to take my kids to school, nursery/primary, friends houses, etc. when they absolutely love it. They are outgoing kids and enjoy being around other people. Hope she is having a great day. I miss her right now. Wait, it's very quiet right now. No one is bugging Caleb while he is swinging, no one asking for a drink or food. Yeah, this is nice!! I can handle this 2 days a week for 3 hours!!

It FINALLY happened!

Braeden has had a loose tooth for about 5 weeks now.  And the only reason I remember how long it has been because he was hoping to have it fall out on his birthday.  I remember thinking his birthday was 2 weeks away and it would probably fall out before then.  But no, it took a little longer than I thought.  I told Braeden that my dad would take his pliers and yank out my teeth when I was young.  Well, he believed me and before he went to school that day, he told me he wanted Grandpa to use his pliers to get it out.  So as soon as he came home, Mark told him he needed to wiggle it A LOT with his tongue.  I don't think he was wiggling it enough.  Mark kind of made it looser (is that a word?) and then my dad tugged (is that a word too?) on it and it started bleeding.  I told Mark to help Braeden with it since I was feeding Caleb.  Next thing I know, his tooth was gone.  He has been waiting for this day for a while now.  Well, the tooth fairy came.  Braeden actually asked me if I was the one who put the money under his pillow.  But hopefully I gave him a convincing no.  So he has another one loose right next to that one, so we'll probably be calling the tooth fairy again real soon!

FIGHT ON!!!

It is officially football season AGAIN!!!  Since I married into a family with USC fanactics, I have no choice but to be a TROJAN fan.  Before I met the Bakers, I didn't really care for ASU, but since I lived in AZ, I thought I would be an ASU fan.  Now, I won't even go to a USC game at ASU.  If you aren't wearing ASU clothes, some of the college kids are just mean and very annoying.  Probably because they haven't won a game against USC for a while.  But anyway, even though I give Mark a hard time about football season, I really do enjoy it.  Football has always been my favorite sport to watch.  And who wouldn't love a team who has had some amazing players and had some fun championship years.  And this year won't be any different I hear. 

I know I have made some enemies by declaring our love for USC football, but FIGHT ON!!

I've Been Tagged

Thanks Megan for tagging me.  OK...here's what I am supposed to do: List 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 obsessions/collections, 3 surprising facts and then tag five other people. Leave a comment for the people you tag so they know they have been tagged.

Joys

1.  Even through the craziness, I really enjoy my kids.  I love their enthusiasm for life and personalities.  They are cute fun kids!

2.  I love date night!!!  I love getting babysitters because my kids love having them.  And then just leaving with my guy to do whatever it we have planned.

3.  The Christmas season is the best part of the year.  Even though it is hectic and stressful getting prepared for Christmas Day, I love it.  The weather is perfect and I love the Christmas music. 


Fears

1.  Losing ANYONE close to me.

2.  Doing everything I should be doing as a mom / wife.

3.  Teaching my kids to be strong in the church but one of them going astray and leaving the church.

Obsessions

1.  Kisses from my husband and kids!

2.  Brushing my teeth as soon as I wake up.  I hate that morning breath.  And then brushing my teeth after dinner.  It's my way of not eating dessert or munching because I don't want to brush them again.

3.  I don't really know if this is an obsession, but I love home cooked food.  Like REAL homemade food.  With REAL ingredients.  None of those fast frozen meals you can buy.  I don't like foods with MSG, high fructose corn syrup, enriched flour, hormones, dyes,  etc.   I try really hard to buy foods without those ingredients, but I hate that they are in EVERYTHING in the stores.  That's why I shop at Sprouts.  



Facts

1.  Mark and I have been skydiving and would do it again in a heartbeat if we didn't have little kids.  My brothers and sisters took my Dad skydiving for his 52nd b-day and it was a BLAST!!

2.  I am not a hard candy kind of person.  I don't like wasting my calories on suckers, or hard candy.  Give me some chocolate and I am set!  Preferably something chocolate with peanut butter or mint!!

3.  I drink water all day.  I'll have an occasional milk or juice, but I drink mainly water.

I tag:

Melissa Harper

Lisa Miller

Jennifer Clarkson

Emily Slade

Traci Fernandez

Braeden's B-day!

Ryan and Melissa were so sweet to let us come over and swim for Braeden's b-day.  We had so much fun!  Braeden thought this birthday was the best so far.

Kids enjoying the yummy cake!

This is Ryan's BIG boy Drake.  He is 3 months younger than Braeden and he is a tank.  Well, for the pinata, we went from youngest to oldest like most people do.  Except for Drake.  Ryan told us to let him go last since he always breaks the pinatas.  So Drake gets up to bat and only swings 2 or 3 times and WHACK, all the candy comes out.  He was right.  But the cutest thing was when Drake said, "I hit the snot out of it."  It was so cute, I had to get video of him saying it.  He was so proud of himself.

(My favorite part of this picture is Lisa's boy, Crew.  He is the littlest boy in this picture with the blue spandex and green lifejacket.  He looked so adorable in that thing.  Nice job Paul for picking out such an attractive lifejacket.)

NACHOOOOO!

For those of you who like Nacho Libre, this one is for you.  Our family loves that movie.  Braeden really understands the humor and being the little "actor" he is, he reenacted the part where Nacho is in his fancy blue pants against the wall after a fight with his bum sticking out and his arm on the wall.  His friend comes over with his "fancy" corn on a stick and Nacho says, "Get that corn out of my face."  And then slaps the corn out of his friend's hand.  It makes Braeden laugh everytime.  

So this is another picture of where Caleb got his hair!  Aren't they adorable?  Thanks Grandpa Harper for the curly hair.  I have always wanted a curly hair child!

Where did this girl come from??

So all these pictures took place in one day.  Elli kept showing me some pretty funny things.  This is one of those neck pillows.  I keep them in the car for the kids when they are tired.  But she tells me to turn around to look at her and this is what I see.

Then Elli found a wig that is actually a "mullet" wig.  She puts it on and tells me, "Hey mom, I'm Hannah Hontanna."  No, I didn't spell it wrong, that is how she says it.  I couldn't stop laughing.  I am kind of annoyed though.  My kids have NEVER watched that show, but they still know about her.  My 3 year old knows about Hannah Montanna.  What is the deal with her?  Why is she so big?  I don't understand it.

Now, this is classic.  I don't know where she came up with one.  This is a rubber band around her mouth.  Can anyone guess what she is trying to be?  Anyone.....Anyone?  She is a CAREBEAR!!!  You guessed it.  She must get her humor from me!!  :)

KINDERGARTEN

Braeden "gets" to repeat Kindergarten this year.  He was so ready for 1st grade and even complained to me about going to K again, but I really wanted to hold him back for several reasons.  One is that he has a summer birthday and would be youngest in his class and he is also so little.  I mean, get a load of his backpack.  That actually was the smaller one at the store.  But he has forgotten about repeating and doesn't complain anymore.  He started school last Monday (the 11th) and came home today with a sticker on his shirt.  I asked him why he got that sticker and he told me he was STAR OF THE DAY for being a good student.  Sure beats his attitude last year in K.  He had a hard time listening to his teacher and staying on task at the beginning of the year.  But he loves school and LOVES riding the bus.  It is so cute watching him wait for the bus.  He seems so little to be doing this already, but it is so fun for him.

(I couldn't get a picture of just Braeden, Elli had to be in it!!)

On the first day of school, I let him ride the bus and then I drove to his school to surprise him and get pictures.  He was so cute.  He was so excited being there.

I told Elli to get some shoes on so we could go to Braeden's school and she chose to wear her Princess shoes.  Which by the way are really hard to walk in.  So me being in a hurry to get to his playground to take pictures was difficult since she couldn't walk very fast.  Well, the shoes ended up coming off and she left them on the ground.  Not surprising.

Just enjoying a little after school snack.  How cute it is when they actually can get along and share something... even a chair!!

My little pro photographer

Braeden got ahold of my camera.... again ..... and got some cute pictures.  He actually got some fun videos of Caleb cooing and laughing.  So I guess it is OK sometimes when my kids take my camera.  Hey, we got this adorable picture of Caleb!

Also, Braeden thinks he is big enough to have an ipod, so he takes mine and listens to music on it.  Braeden also thinks he needs a cell phone.  I try to convince him he doesn't.  This kid doesn't even like talking on a regular phone.  But anyway, I found him trying to show Caleb the joys of technology.  Looks like Caleb could careless about it, but he was smiling while listening to it!  I love how when Braeden enjoys something, he tries to share it with everyone else.

A Little Confession...

This might be a little embarrassing for some people to admit, but I'm not afraid.  Mark and I have an old palm pilot in our bathroom for the only purpose of the solitare game on it.  We use it for nothing else but that game.  While we are.... well, you know, we play that game to make it not so boring.  Well, I guess you can say our kids watch our every move (yep, even our bathroom breaks) and Elli brought her own little game to the bathroom.  I caught her in there playing this when I couldn't find her.  Yes, it is pretty sad, but look at that cute girl!!

My BIG 6 Year Old!!

I never thought I would be old enough to have a 6 year old. My cute little Braeden is getting way too big. He has been waiting to be 6 since he turned 5. Now he says he can't wait to be 7. (I guess that will change in years to come.) But he always wants to go eat at IHOP everytime we pass by one. So we took to breakfast this morning to get his Happy Face Pancakes. He told me last night that today was his Big Day and he already thinks this day is the best day so far.

I am not on my computer so I can't post any cute pictures of Braeden, I just wanted to let him know how proud I am of him and how he keeps me on my toes ALL the time!! He is such a smart little boy and we are so glad we have him in our life. Thanks Braeden for being a STUD!!

On Sept. 11th....

My husband is in the country band, SLADE. They have been asked to open for Lady Antebellum on Sept 11th at the Queen Creek Performing Arts Center! We are so excited for this. Lady Antebellum won an Academy Award for TOP NEW VOCAL GROUP so this is a HUGE opportunity!

We need help advertising so if you could spread the word and maybe post this on your blog about this! Mark's band is VERY talented and have written some amazing new songs for it.

If you go to http://qcpac.com/ and click on the KMLE Country Link, you can buy tickets there!! It will be a great concert!

That's Whack

People who know me well know that I loved (and still love) "FRIENDS." If you have watched it, you will remember when Joey tries to convince his friends that he can play the part of an 18 year old. He says "That's whack" a lot in that episode. Well, I love that saying and these pictures remind me of Joey!

Our ward is having their own "Creekside Ward's Got Talent" show. So Braeden decided he wants to do his famous dancing for it. He has already figured out what he wants to wear for it. He ran to his room and got these clothes on. He made sure I noticed his backwards hat. He thought that was important. He also told me he would be a "cooler" dancer if his skin was brown. He has been watching a little too much "So You Think You Can Dance."



And of course, Elli noticed what Braeden was doing and changed her clothes into Braeden's. She took Mark's hat off his head and turned it backwards. She's got the whole outfit down to the shoes. They make a great team!!

(If you are a big fan of "So You Think You Can Dance", you will understand what Braeden is doing.)

All you Creekside Ward-ers, be prepared for this act. It's going to be "WHACK"

Professional Photographers!

I posted earlier how my kids took my camera one day and took some funny pictures. Well, last night Braeden, Elli and I were playing with Caleb and making him smile, so Braeden ran to get my camera. We gave it to Mark and he took some pictures of all of us. Then Braeden wanted to take some of us, then Elli wanted a turn. So if either of them isn't in the picture, it's because they are taking the picture. I have to keep my camera hidden now so it doesn't get scratched by these awesome photographers!!

PS, one a side note! The kids had just gotten out the bath (hence Elli's hair isn't combed) I told them to get PJs on and Elli comes out in Braeden's Superman PJs. She keeps putting on Braeden's clothes. I told her I didn't have 3 boys and that I had a little girl too. But she insisted on wearing them.

This Is the Way Life Should Be!

Everyone gets forwards all the time. Sometimes I read them and sometimes I love them. Well, this is one my mom sent me and I loved it. This is the way I dream of living my life. Such good advise is in each of these suggestions. Hope you have a chance to read each one.

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day, and while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate antidepressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. Always pray and make time to exercise.

4. Spend more time with people over the age of 70 And under the age of Six.

5. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less foods that are manufactured in Plants.

6. Drink green tea and plenty of water. . .eat broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

7. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

8. Clear your clutter from your house, car, desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

9. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment.

10. Realize that life is a school and you are here To learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class .......but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

11. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a layman and dinner like a beggar.

12. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

13. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

15. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

16. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

17. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

18. Ladies - Go on and burn those 'special' scented candles, use the 600 thread count sheets, the good china and wear fancy clothes now. Stop waiting for a special occasion. Every day is special.

19. No one is incharge of your happiness except you.

20. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

21. Forgive everyone for everything.

22. What other people think of you is none of Your business.

23. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time!

24. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

25. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch with them.

26. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

27. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all You need. God provides, remember?!

28. The best is yet to come.

29. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

30. Do the right thing!

31. Call your family often.

32. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: 'I am thankful for __________.'Today I accomplished _________.

33. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

34. Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a 'fast pass'. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

Might be easier said than done, but wouldn't life be that much better if we all took these words and put them into actions??!!