Hello New Year!

Sometimes I am amazed at how crazy busy life can be. But mostly amazed at the difference time can make. This last year has found the Bake family moving and shaking. I am finally feeling like I have found my place in this part of the world. The boys are enjoying school and finding good friends. Dave is loving and thriving in his new job. The girls are changing and growing and are becoming better besties every day. Me, well I am loving it all. I have found one of those sweet places in life where the movement of it is delicious and exciting. Where I am in love with all that is ahead for my little brood. Where I have found my sea legs and am finally not just walking on this crazy ship of life but often doing the cha cha. I have made some great friends here, fallen in love with our ward and started to feel like I am home. I feel God's ever-present hand in my life. I am blessed beyond words.
Still a super klutz, a tad too chubby, a mega procrastinator, and somewhat ridiculous but completely out of the depression that started when we moved. Free as a bird, people(envision my arms spread wide ready to take off)
So I thought I would post some pics of what has been going on as of late......

October brought a lot of bonding and hanging out. Rainy days made for a lot of time indoors together. We did the ward trunk or treat and revisited an oldy but goody.
The chicken costume. Of course Eleanor hated it and everyone else loved it. The rest of us channeled various characters. Max a mountain man, Henry a missionary, Millie a princess and me Einstein.

November gave us a chance to reflect on all the goodness of our lives. We were able to spend Thanksgiving day doing service. No pie and turkey but lots of time together helping others. Megan came and stayed for almost two weeks. We redid my bedroom, crafted, shopped, laughed, talked and just enjoyed being together. I am so lucky she is my sister. She is what I want to be when I grow up. She is lovely.We played the taste test game with Millie and Henry(Max opted out) We did some sleeping and eating. Had our first snow day with a day off from school. Millie was out first thing and spent several hours eating snow, making snow balls and tromping around. Ella wasn't sure how she felt about it. The boys spent the day playing the Wii and lounging about. Henry turned 11 which made me weepy and reflective for several days. He is still my go to person for help with his sibs and just amazes me daily at the young man he is becoming. Lucky me to raise this unique, witty, odd, kind, smart, creative, goofy, fast, conscientious boy.December happened so fast, our first Christmas season away from family. Very interesting. Mostly just watched as my kiddos changed and grew a little every day. Love them.Th

Christmas: very mellow and beautiful affair. Had some friends over for Christmas Eve dinner then spent Christmas day lounging and playing, suprisingly one of our best yet.The day after Christmas the kids and I left for Utah. Henry got a horrid rash the first night of the trip. The verdict is still out about what exactly it was. But in true Henry fashioned he barely complained. We completely suprised my mom and it was great. We spent 5 days hanging out, playing games, going to movies, eating yummy food, playing in the massive amounts of snow, and enjoying grandma, grandpa, Megs, Mark, Matt and Mo. Because of the short trip I didn't get a chance to see everyone I wanted to, but the time spent with my sibs and parents was absolutely necessary to my survival. I have to say it again My family is the best. Only got a few pics. Had a quiet New Year and then did the LONG trek home. SO WORTH IT.
So here is to a great new year. I think 2011 and my family are going to get along just swell.
And here's to hoping I keep the memories of my peeps alive on this silly blog that I call my own.