Love

I just wanted to take a little time to express my love for Lori in a public way. I feel like at times I do not express it enough and I just want the world to know that I love her. She is my best friend and I love being around her. I love you Lori! -Jared

I Survived

Well I did it. I survived the winter months on the 6th floor at the children's hospital called Cardon Children's. My position was a temporary one. The floor is still currently open because the census is still up. We are short on staff because the travel nurses have left to explore other opportunities and others have been hired somewhere within banner as a full time employee. As for myself I am still plugging along on the 6th floor, applying for any pediatric aid position that comes available and interviewing away with the hopes that I am able to get on full time. The benefits would be fabulous to have, the pay is decent, the hours I can handle (7p - 7a). It still allows me to be apart of my kids extracurricular activities and help out at the insurance office and dabble in real estate here and there. And alas I finally got the call or should I say email (I know what a odd way to go about it) offering me a full time position. I will be staying on in the pediatric unit after all. Working with the kids has been at times a highlight and at others brought a little sadness. There are many sicknesses and sorrows in this world that cause people to do things you would never imagine. But thankfully there are more joys with this position than sorrows. So I live to work another day with these delightful children and teens. I hope that it continues to be a learning experience and a place that I enjoy spending my time.

Holy Shmoly

It has been way to long since I have sat down and told you of the going ons at our house. We have been to the beach and back since my last post. The kids and I took a road trip to Idaho and Utah. Tre' started school at Newell Barney Junior High. He has really enjoyed being there and being a part of their sports program. He played on the 8th grade basketball team, 8th grade baseball team and is currently playing volleyball. He has made many new friends. Tucker and Tatum started school this year at Benjamin Franklin Charter school. It has been challenging for them but good. They aslo have made many friends. Tatum loves her teacher and Tucker has had two teachers this year. His first teacher is now on maternity leave because she had a baby. A funny thing, when Tucker found out who his teacher was going to be (her name is Mrs. Curtin) he said "I am going to have a curtin for a teacher, interesting"). He definitely is our comedian. He now has Mr. Baker and all of the kids asked the teacher if they were related to Tucker whom he had not yet met. He told them not that he knew of but he must be a cool kid if his last name was Baker. The school really has tested them. Tatum has struggled but has come so far as well. As for Jared and I, well if any one sees him tell him I said hello. We have been extremly busy, working, coaching, and church callings. I am currently working at Cardon Childrens hospital which I have enjoyed. I have really loved learning and being around the kids. What an eye opener it has been. My position is temporary and I am hoping I can get on full time. Only a few more weeks left of school for the kids. Then they will be home telling me they are bored. Our summer is a little busy for some of us. Our stake is doing a pioneer trek this year. They asked Jared and I to be a Ma and Pa. Tre is old enought to go as well. I am excited and aprehensive at the same time. I have been on one before and what a great experience it was. I hope that it can be the same. I was a big sister last time so not as much responsibilty as being a Ma. We also have our trip to the beach planned. woo hoo. It is a good thing because I need a little R & R.

The Count Down

The count down has started. Well it started about a year ago but since time is coming up on us fast we are marking our calender. The Bakers are headed to the beach for a week. We went last year and oh what fun we had so we decided to go again this year. We purchased a pop up (borrowed one last year and got spoiled), making a list and checking it twice. Kids have a few more days left of school, then the packing begins. We leave the 20th and will be on the sunny beaches of Cali for a week. Oh how we are getting anxious. Vacations seem to take so long to get here ( why can't we vaction everyday?), oh because we have bills to pay. Oh well at least for one week we will bask in the sun and sand along with some good friends. Come on sunny beaches of Cali.

Tatum's Day

My baby turned 8 on the 12th of April. I don't think she is a baby anymore. She was so excited because turning 8 meant that she would get baptized and get a set of scriptures. For her birthday I made cupcakes for her class and took them and spent a few hours with her at school. It was great being able to enjoy some time with her and join in on her birthday celebration at school. Her teacher does a great job making them feel special on that day. The get to sit at his desk all day, and sit in what they call the "hot seat" in front of the class so the class can sing happy birthday to them. He has a great version of a birthday song, it is very upbeat and the kids get to clap and tap on their desks to the beat as they sing. After they are done everyone in the class says what they like about the birthday person. After she got home from school we asked her what she wanted for her birthday dinner and for some odd reason she picked McDonald's. Of all the places to eat on your birthday and she picked Mickey D's. She did not get to get baptized on her birthday because our ward has the 4th Saturday of the month for baptisms at noon and how lucky we were that she was the only one in our ward getting baptized this month. On April 24th she was baptized and what a great day. We had many family members and friends attend. Grandma and Grandpa Bigler, Grandma and Grandpa Baker, Jessica, Nic, Taya and Camden, Kati, Boston and Kaitlyn, Cara, Justin, Ryken and Cy, Bo, Nicole, Chloe, Cordd, and Cashlyn, Deak, Emily and Kaed, Shane, Teresa, Austin, Cassidy, and Connor, the Harmon family, Sis. Rose and Brother Schneider were all in attendance. Her Grandma Bigler and Grandma Baker gave talks and did a fabulous job as usual. My good friend Teresa took pictures of Tatum later that day in her baptism dress. What a great support system we have. Thank you all for making Tatum's day a special one.

The Season has begun

Well spring training games offically start today. Baseball plays a big role at our house as you probably can guess by the background change. Jared began his 4th year coaching Queen Creek High School's JV baseball team. Tre' and Tucker were signed up for Little League have had tryouts and been selected for teams. Jared received a phone call the day of drafts for Tre's age group after drafts had already been completed and they did not have a coach for his team (Tre). They asked if Jared would be able to do it. We really are not sure how we are going to squeeze in two baseball teams at the same time but wanted to make sure that Tre's team had a coach so after a few phone calls and alot of contemplation Jared accepted. It is going to be crazy at our house for a few months. But if you know us well, when is it not crazy. Hopefully we will all be able to keep our sanity and still like to be around each other when all of this is done. Let's play ball!

He's growin up

I should have posted this sooner. My first born Tre' turned 13 this month. Wow how time just seems to fly. He seems more grown up everyday. He has recently started babysitting for some couples in the ward. He seems to be enjoying it. It has given him a chance to earn some money. Right now I think he is saving up to purchase an Itouch. He had an Ipod but seemed to have lost it at his dad's baseball practice. He has sprouted quite a bit this year. He now towers over me. But I remind him that I put him in this world and I can take him out. He just giggles. Tre' has such a great easy go lucky personality. It is so nice having a son that does not care about needing to look trendy. If it is cheap and it fits it works for him. We have definitely been blessed with this one. He is a great kid and for the most part does not give us a hard time except for the occasional smart elec teenager remarks. But I suppose that comes with the territory. Happy late birthday bud. Thanks for being a great kid.