Brownie Girl Scout Nyla Savoy

NYLA IS NOW OFFICIALLY A GIRL SCOUT BROWNIE! I have had the honor of being her troop leader since 2009 when she started as a Daisy Girl Scout... now with 2nd grade comes the honor of Bridging up to Brownies. The ceremony was in our backyard and I commissioned the building of this bridge for the ceremony. My 17 girls decorated it and engraved nameplates of each of their names adorn the columns. It was just a fantastic day!

Karate Girl Nyla

Well our little princess has fallen in love with the art of karate. She is now a yellow belt and has earned her first set of stripes which she is very pleased about.

Nyla has also gotten past the fact that she is still the only girl in her class, when she does seem to hold back I call out to her from the parent corner "come on baby girl, use your GIRL POWER" and then she starts punching hard, kicking hard and flipping boys on their backs! Love her!!!

Girl Scout Camp 2011 Just Nyla & Mommy

Well, we are back home - we made it out of the mountains/woods alive! Nyla and I went to Camp Menzies aka Girl Scout Camp and spent 4 days and 3 nights truly in the outdoors. It was the first time we have been camping. I am all about creating funand new experiences for our children, and particularly great MOM & DAUGHTER memories. Yesss we slept in a tent outdoors, no cabin for the Baker Ladies (Nyla's choice). Canoeing, hiking, horsebackriding, sing alongs and campfires were activities that we enjoyed, some for the very first time.

It was truly a busy, dirty, exhausting but also fun, inspiring and a greatly appreciated time with my baby girl!

Sassing around with my FFE

Today my FFE (aka Friend ForEver) Jenn and I went to the mall to find her an outfit to wear to her brother's wedding in a few weeks. Of course as nutty as we are, had to let ourselves get sidetracked by the display of all MANGO ORANGE accessories in the store... hair accessories got us and so on they went and out came the camera.

I just love hanging with Jenn... we have so much more in common that just having MS and always have a great time together, look out for and encourage one another... she is such a blessing in my life.. I am grateful for MS just because it gave us our friendship!

Bike To School

Well finally we are .. the last week of school. the end of 1st grade for Nyla and 4th grade for Azul. Azul did however correct me this morning and said "there is not one more week of school, only 4 day", he is sooooo literal! Hahahaha

As promised I am letting the kids ride their bikes to school. Now we live wayyyyy to far away for them to actually ride all the way to school, so I removed a car seat in the van and put their bikes into the back. Drove 3/4 of the way then let them ride the 1/4 but not after parking, getting them safely to a crosswalk and going over for the 100th time all the rules of the road and cyclists. I drove behind them off to the side of the road at some points and since they were doing well with safety rules, drove a little ahead of them and watched as they caught up. Made it safe and sound and with BIG SMILES on their faces. They loved using their new bike locks (found cool ones at Target that use a word code vs numerals). I showed them how to set it once and so of course they have each changed their passwords multiple times and are planning to change them again today! Nutty!!!

Mill thought I was crazy, but I am a stickler for keeping my word to my children at all costs -never want them to feel they cannot depend on me to do what I say now or in the future so despite any circumstances (time, money, illness, etc) if I tell them something I am going to see it through. Besides I LOVE BEING THEIR MOM and SEEING THEM SMILE!

Backyard Bliss

Sometimes it is just nice to sit and enjoy the family with no schedule, no rushing, awww wish there were more days like this. Really do. My babies are growing up too fast and I am not ready to let them go at all, want to enjoying being MOM and MOMMY as much as possible. Something as simple as making Smore's just made us all feel so happy this night.

Meeting the Horses

Yesterday was the end of the at home pioneer experience I created for Azul in lieu of the trip his class took to the mountains. He was shocked at the experience I chose... meeting horses for the first time. His 2 favorites were a male horse named Pippin who is dubbed "Escape Artist" by his caretakers that kept trying to eat Azul's ate and a sweetie named "Morgan" who was quite taken with Azul and kept following him from place to place.

It was a great learning about the horses for both of us. Did you know that horses only sleep 4 to 5 hours a day and DO NOT sleep standing up rather only nap standing but sleep laying down in beds of hay. Also horses have such varied personalities from playful, to curious, to snotty, to hyper too! LOL They feel so smooth and love being rubbed and tickled. Az left smiling big. To make the day even more memorable guess what???? I locked my keys in the car and we had to wait for AAA to help us out. Neither of us were upset - we just played around and enjoyed the Mom and Son time together! Love my Zulie Bear.

Karate Girl

Okay I wanted some type exercising cardio fun for Nyla this Spring and Summer and youth karate classes at the Park and Rec fit the bill. She just started this week and tonight is her second session. Hoping it proves to be a great fit and she gets alot of out it physically and mentally. It is supposed to help shape self confidence and mental stamina. She is the ONLY girl in her class of 10. WOW! In these photos she was just caught doing her crawling moves.. wonder what tonight will entail.

Pioneer Days at Home

Azul's 4th grade class took a trip to the mountains in Nevada City this week but we decided it was best for him not to go due to weather and chaperone issues so kept him out of school this week and have been doing a pioneer experience at home. Started yesterday with a trip to Sutters Fort and Old Sacramento Schoolhouse, both of which are based on the 1850s timeframe the class trip was about. I made it a cousin brother day by taking him cousins Xav and Max and baby brother Emil along too. It was great! They learned so much on all the interactive and informative tours we went on. For food, Az and I made biscuits from scratch and scrambled eggs in cast iron pots, last night for supper (not called dinner in pioneer times) made up a vegetable soup from scratch with cornbread to serve he family then closed out the night making smores over the outdoor fire pit and watching the stars come out - it was so peaceful and amazing to connect with God's world in this way as a family. Today it was all about building things... a mini log cabin and a bird feeder - it took us forever to get the bird feeder done but we were giving one another high 5s and smiling when it was finished. Great feelings of accomplishment. I also showed him how to hand wash clothes in a bucket and hang the items in the sun to dry because there were no washers and dryers in pioneer times of course! For tomorrow as a surprise I am taking him to a horse equestrian stable center to meet horses and tour stables. He has never seen a horse in person, let alone touched one - hoping he will love it.

Baker 3 Clubhouse

Okay I have been begging for a clubhouse for the kids for years! Mill finally consented and had our friend Scott who is a contractor build one just this past week. It is a definite hit. All that is left to do is add the colored stain and finish all the inside decoration details. It is looking so nice I think it might have to be MOMMY's clubhouse instead.

And to think I wanted to just get one from Costco to have him assemble. This is going to be here for years to come and our babies are going to make some great memories playing in here! I am so happy for them.

Just the Two of Us

Well, it only took 11 years but Mill and I finally had more than a couple of hours of US time since marrying and starting our family together.

We were gifted with a 3 day, 2 night stay at the same bed and breakfast we spent our weeklong honeymoon in November 1999 and could not have been more blessed to have the time to reconnect one on one.

Being awaken to the sound of the ocean crashing against the rocks RIGHT OUTSIDE OUR ROOM WINDOW was amazing. Pacific Grove is such a peaceful town, everyone says hello and good morning to you on the streets as if you were a friend. No one was in a rush to go anywhere but rather enjoying the time to do things like walking, running, walking their dogs, chatting with friends and family or bystanders. Most of the beaches and attractions were in walking distance so we spent time on foot vs in a car and it was WONDERFUL. I so did not want to leave (other than to see our babies again). If I could have zapped them there for a few hours and then back to my parents to be babysat.. would have done so (hahaha). I cannot wait to go back, just cannot wait.

Girl Scout World Thinking Day

I am a GS Leader because I love my baby girl Nyla so much and it gives her and I a great way to connect as mom and daughter. For annual World Thinking Day which is celebrateD internationally by GS, I hosted a get together for my troop. Only 5 of 17 came but it was a great day. The 2011 Theme of WTD is Empowering Girls will Change Our World, so I went with a dress for success theme and asked the girls to dress and tell about what career goals they have for their futures. Also invited local police officers (female of course) to speak to the girls about working in law enforcement, a career usually associated with men. The girls did Lego building, made puzzles and ate lots of great, healthy food. It was fantastic! We were also featured in the Carmichael Patch online newspaper... check out the link for more details about the day and photos! http://carmichael.patch.com/articles/let-the-girls-scout-cookies-sales-begin

Mom and Son Trip

Azul and I had some one on one mom and son bonding time when we traveled to Oceanside, California in February to tour the California mission he was assigned for his 4th grade project. It was a great experience and I am so glad we had the time. It was his first airplane flight since the tender age of 8 months and my first time on a place since the 9/11 terrorist attacks so truly it was a brand new experience for the both of us!

Dean One Year Later

Today is a sad day for me. It marks the 1 year anniversary of my cousin Dean's passing. Getting to leave and head to his gravesite in a few moments, it is located about 3 miles from my house, makes driving by and getting on the freeway hard sometimes, because I have no choice but to look to the right and see his burial site.

He was such a wonderful, fun cousin to have. He always made me feel like such a beautiful, important person, all my life. He was super funny too.. always had some joke or sarcastic comment about something to say whether the timing was appropriate or not, you could not stop his sense of humor from taking center stage.

He also was the first person to introduce me to secular music... The DeBarge Family and Michael Jackson! Hahahaha I will never forget him putting those LP records on the turntable in the hallway of his parents house and educating me about the artists or turning on Soul Train really quietly in the front room so my uncle and aunt would not hear it. Ohh Dean.. sweet, crazy Dean... I so miss him.

Christmas 2010 was just not the same without his unannounced but totally expected entry into the room to greet us all with lots of hugs, kisses and that handsome smile of his!

Chores and More Chores for Azul

Azul is growing up! He will turn 10 in July our first baby to enter the double digits! Soooo what have Mill and I done, extended his household chores to help encourage work ethic and show him he is capable of alot more. He already has trash detail and putting away his and Emil's laundry, vacuuming his and Nyla's bedrooms. Tonight he learned how to clean the kids' bathroom (he volunteered to do the toilets) Nyla opted for the tub and counters.. they did great! Now Azul is learning as I type under the watchful eye and instruction of his father how to properly wash dishes and load them in the dishwasher (to be sanitized). Mill I have to say is the dishwashing master - I hate doing dishes so it works out well that he takes great pride in doing them and he hates the way I load the dishwasher.

Azul is learning well, doing a great job and is really excited about it. I love that he is relishing responsibility.. wonder how long it will take for the joy to wear off.. age 11, 13 or 1 maybe?? HAHAHAHA

Azul Sings

Azul joined the 4th grade choir at his school and really enjoys it. They have had some great performances and field trips so far this year, one of which was performing at the State Capitol during Christmas. They will be going to perform for a Sacramento Kings game next month. WOW the tickets are so expensive to attend but required. It might have to be a one parent show because I am NOT trying to pay for Nyla and Emil to attend. They are singing the National Anthem, I so want to be there but it will probably have to be Az and Mill. Bummer!! :0(

MLK DAY 2011

Took the kids on a Regional Transit Bus ride to commemorate the 1965 Montgomery Boycott led by Dr. MLK Jr. It was a great experience for them.

Nyla loves her playdates with her Daisy Girl Scout Sisters. The theme of this playdate was "dress up"

Seriously deep in my heart, just don't feel I deserve as great of a man as I have but at the same time am very thankful to the LORD for bringing us together. No one is perfect, but we are perfect for one another and know of no one else we would rather go through this life with.

What's in Store for 2011

WOW this is going to be a memorable year for the Baker 5. Both Mill and I will turn 40 me in July and Mill in December. He keeps telling people he is married to an older woman because we are 5 months apart! LOL Azul will turn 10 in July, becoming our first baby in double digits.. not sure how I feel about that. It seems like yesterday I was pregnant with him. Trying to think of something special we can do to commemorate the significant decade marks the 3 of us are reaching this year.

Emil will more than likely be potty trained. He is already holding his little bladder longer and likes going on the potty, now if we could just get him to talk more than he screams I am sure it will make potty training that much easier!

Nyla is moving up the ranks in Girl Scouts and becoming a BROWNIE! You may not realize it but this is a tremendous deal to a 6 1/2 year old 1st grader! LOL

Emil Jaye

Here is our baby boy Emil Jaye! He is true 100% active, aggressive, into everything boy but we love him. For some reason he is really into sticking his tongue out all the time.. believe that is the athlete in him. LOL

Basketball Diva

Nyla has started her first year as a basketball diva. She plays through a local park and rec program on Saturdays. This Saturday will be her first scrimmage, they have been learning drills and form techniques for the past 2 weeks. The season goes until February 19th. I try to keep her really active, she does not have to be a basketball player long term but she will be able to tell anyone.. "yes I tried that before" about something good, something positive. I believe giving her lots of hands on learning experiences and physical activity will help to give her a strong sense of self esteem and capability in life. Go NyNy!

Nyla is a Girl Scout

Nyla is now 6 years old and in her 2nd year of Girl Scouting as a Daisy. She will become a BROWNIE in May and is so excited about it. I am so happy to be her troop leader and take the job to heart... I have 17 girls and I love each and everyone of them.

It is COOKIE SALE TIME! So if you want to place an order just comment on this link and I will list it for you. Cookies are delivered in February and Nyla and I do delivers in person - so her supporters get to see her in uniform, in action! She loves, so loves being a Girl Scout.