Whale Watching

Blogger won't let me upload more than 3 pictures so I chose the ones that I thought are pretty cool. I take this trip every year with my class and I have never had a trip like I did last week. For 3 hours, we drove to different pods of whales- gray whales and a surprise visit from the humpbacks. I could have stayed there all day and watched them play, it was fantastic. As we were heading back to shore we ran into a group of more than 2000 common dolphin. Look close, you can see us surrounded by them. Amazing!

We miss you Uncle Warren

God Bless Uncle Warren, Aunt Claire and his three beautiful girls; Jen, Kathy and Laura.

Happy Birthday Munchkin Baby!

I know I am so lame but at this point I kind of understand that mom thing I always hear. "My baby is getting so old", "Where did the year go". So thats what I've been saying this week. I knew I was a dog lover but I never expected to be in love with our puppy. And while we're looking at pictures- have you ever seen a dog sit so human like on a couch- funny stuff!

two little funnies

so both involve our pup. what can i say- she is a main part of the day. when i got home from work yesterday i took her for a really long walk, when we got home i ran upstairs to grab her loud squeak ball to play a little fetch. Our sweet young neighbor came outside to see Abby and play a little- he's in 5th grade I think. After a few throws, Abby lost interest and she went over to find a rock or two to eat. Now I'm quick to grab whatever she puts in her mouth but I didn't see her chewing, until Alex said " oh no, Jackie she just ate cocaine". I thought "WHAT"!!!!! I ran the few feet and saw indeed Abby was licking some white powdery remains from construction they were doing near our place. I told him it was not cocaine- just so that was clear before he went inside or back to school. He obviously paid attention to that lesson in school. Thad and I both had a chuckle over it.

this morning, Abby starting stirring around 5- thats way too early, an hour too early, for me to take her out or feed her. both of us told her a few times to lay down and took away a few loud toys. After about 20 minutes of quiet of her being in the living room alone I heard a loud thump right under my nose. In a sleep Thad said " that was a shoe" Indeed, she had brought me Thad's sneakers that I wear out in the morning. I thought no way did she just make that connection but she got me... ok Abby I'm up!

A lazy weekend

We had a fantastic lazy weekend... a few good meals, a few good workouts and a few good naps. I'm already thinking about next weekend. hehe.

Oh and one of my best girls, Mary had her baby boy Nolan James on Thursday. So exciting!

Katie had her baby!!!

I'm so excited for her. She was planning on going in for a C section tomorrow but her contractions started last night and when she finally went to the hospital she was 6 cm along. Brendan Joseph Flesche was born at 2:13 this afternoon 8lbs, 2 oz. Mom and baby Brendan are doing great. I just talked to her and she is over the moon. How fun, a baby girl and then a baby boy.

oh... anyone reading this that doesn't know who Katie is- she is my cousin, but more like my sister, She is my rock! She was my maid of honor and I just miss her so much!!!

a good 2008

I woke up today feeling a little nostalgic... 2008 was huge for us, I actually remember being a little nervous this time last year as to what was all going to go down in a matter of months. Of course Thad chuckled at me as I ate my cereal and watched the Today show tell me "how to spruce up my New Years outfit by using old accessories". I just started thinking about the year and the year to come. I think new years resolutions are fun- whether you keep them and do them is one thing but it is smart to acknowledge things you'd like to do more often. For instance on our run this morning, I told Thad that I want to save $1.00 a day. I don't think that's too much to spare and in a month's time you saved about 30 bucks. Thad said he would like to do more 5-10 minute jobs each day so on the weekends they don't seem so overwhelming. We'll see.
The point of my blog was I wanted to quickly jot down some highlights of this year for us. No particular order just what comes to mind. In 2008 we/I.....

-got married!
-traveled to Costa Rica
-Abby came into our lives
-went to see John Mayer
- went to see New Kids on the Block
- was on the Ellen show
-there was a fire at my school
-friends and family came to visit us pre wedding
-jen malone lived with us for a month pre wedding
- traveled to San Fran for Jillian and Adam's wedding
-Uncle Bobby came to visit 2x
-Michael was deployed and returned safely.
-partied at John and richelle's wedding
-Luke broke his wrist
-we moved
-I had 3 (yes 3!!) amazing bridal showers
- Thad hiked half dome on his bachelor party
-went to Speedracer premiere
-got a big t.v!
-watched Jason Lezak win that relay for the U.S on our honeymoon.
-Michael Phelps
-We voted for a new president.
-Barack Obama

There are a few special babies due in the next few weeks, 2 of our friends weddings, Jesse and Mike taking a big trip and many more fun little tidbits. Happy New Year!

Love,
The Bakers :)

-

Merry Christmas

We are having a wonderful Christmas Eve, relaxing just like we wanted it. We are heading out to dinner here in a little bit and then going to Candy Cane Lane, a neighborhood filled with decorated houses. That reminds me to go charge my camera!!! I hope Santa is good to all!

Our first married tree!!!!

And boy do I love it. First of- I have never had a real tree so that was exciting in itself. The three of us went to Home Depot to pick it out, we got this great guy who must of unwrapped about 10 trees for me to compare. He was a trooper and in the end I gave in and we took home Thad's pick. I figured he had a better eye for "the one". After a few days of letting it sit we finally decorated it. We are both such nerds about the placement of different ornaments that it was joint project. So here are the pics...

Happy Birthday Jess!!

I hope you have a wonderful day! We're thinking about you all the time and I am so blessed to have another sister. Happy Birthday to you Jesse!!!! We love you!

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. I'm sad it's almost over. My students performed the annual Turkeys Go On Strike play- went off great other than the rain. Thursday the 3 of us went for a nice turkey dinner at our neighbor's house- it was cut a little short when our dear Abby had an accident in the house and my eye blew up like Rocky due to an allergic reaction to their smoky house- needless to say we all took showers and were in bed pretty early. Friday we went for a nice long run, Thad went to see Bond (eh, he says) and then we pulled out all of the Christmas stuff. I know it seems a little soon but it takes so long to do and you only get a little while to enjoy it so we are the first people on our block to be lit up. Today we got up early- went to the gym, watched Mizzou- Sorry Jess, that was a tough loss. and started Christmas shopping. Now Thad is at the grocery store getting stuff to make baked ziti tonight- yum! and then an Abby walk and then going to see Four Christmases tonight.
Tomorrow we have a play date at the dog park- Then Abby starts her Puppy Kindergarten Level 2 tomorrow.
Monday- Back to work!

tag

Where is your cell phone? bag

Where is your significant other? work

Your hair color? brown

Your mother? eh

Your favorite thing? laughter

Your dream last night? didn't

Your dream/goal? principal

The room you’re in? kitchen

Your hobby? baking

Your fear? jail

Where do you want to be in 6 years? mom

Where were you last night? couch

What you’re not? shy

One of your wish-list items? tiffanys

Where you grew up? NY

The last thing you did? work

What are you wearing? jeans

Your TV? new :)

Your pet? love

Your computer? fancy

Your mood? hungry

Missing someone? friends

Your car? paid

Something you’re not wearing? coat

Favorite store? Target

Your summer? wedding!!!

Love someone? Thaddeus

Your favorite color? plaid

When is the last time you laughed? today

Last time you cried? Oct.

The Kong

The Kong is one of Ab's favorite toys. We stuff it treats, secure them with peanut butter and it's supposed to occupy the dog for a good amount of time. Most dogs we've seen just lay down and dig the treats out with their mouths. Well Abby took a more novel approach. You'll see. Too cute!

Abby has been rocking the blue collar this week for Obama!

Our new toys

Needless to say we are both loving our new house additions. Thank Thank Thank you to the Harmons for your way too generous help towards Thad's tv. However, he is very quick to tell me that this tv is for sports, not Oprah.
And then with some leftover Bed Bath Beyond gift cards, a 20% off coupon, and an additional 15% percent for registering there we finally broke down and got a Dyson. I LOVE IT! It is amazing. I love seeing the dirt and the ridiculous amount of dog hair it picks up. I can speak for both of us when I say money well spent.

Saturdays

I love them. I love Friday nights into Saturdays even more. I love this weekend even more because I have off Monday and Tuesday for Veterans Day. I'll take that. Thad is in San Francisco this weekend playing rugby, I was going to go but I have a few things here that I should get done without dragging the hubby with me. I just got back from a really long run with Abby, we met a black lab and his owner Carrie who ironically worked with Thaddeus on Mr. & Mrs. Smith. We are meeting up again tomorrow at the dog park for a play date. So, now I'm home, eating my sandwich, laundry is in, about to take a shower and head off to Target. I love Saturdays!!!!

I was Jordan's girl...

Hey all- I have so much to blog about but one thing at a time right. So I was very excited to hear that New Kids were making a comeback- I loved them back in the day. I was such a dork, downloading all my old faves and TiVoing everything with their name in it. Thad was so happy for me when my friends from work and I bought our tickets to their concert. I don't think 13th row (side view) is that bad for $86. They played all of their old stuff- the average age was a 29 year old female. Enjoy my Jordan. Who were you????

fall weather in California

We had a beautiful "fall" weekend here in Los Angeles. Thad and I thrive on anything below 70 when we can wear sweatshirts and keep the windows open rather than the air conditioner. Saturday, we (thad) watched some college football on his beautiful new t.v- that will be a post in itself and I took Abby to her puppy kindergarten graduation. Yes, I'm obsessed!
Sunday we all went for a long run (we needed it!) in Santa Monica then came back to run some errands in our neighborhood. It was a perfect day to pick a pumpkin at the pumpkin patch. God Bless California people, they try really hard to make it feel like fall.


So today Monday started like any other day for us. When I turned on the news this morning to check traffic and weather, they were reporting on a large brush fire about 15 miles away from us. Very common this time of year, still warm, no rain, and huge Santa Ana gusts of wind. Every October there is some sort of fire in the area and where I work in Simi Valley is a basic fire trap. So the day is moving nicely, again I'm aware of the fire from this morning but not thinking that we are right in the mist of it. Our principal called into my classroom this morning to say it would be an inside day due to the air quality and like most teachers you sometimes don't even leave your room to go to the bathroom. So... when I went to took my students to music class at 11:30 I saw that Armagedon was coming!





That last picture I took as I was pulling out of the parking lot. I was told to go home at 1:00 because the freeways were closing by the minute and I needed to get on the road. I'm home now, we live far from the fires but the smoke is creeping into our Sherman Oaks blue skies very quickly. I just pray that all the students and their homes in Simi Valley are safe. Crazy!

So fun...

Heading to Costa Rica

Finally.... check back in tomorrow for more pics. These are just us arriving. Sorry, I've kind of been in wedding "did that really happen" mode. I'm slowly starting to sift through pictures and organize a bit! More to come!