Happy Birthday Caitlyn!

I can't believe it is here! Caitlyn's twelfth birthday! I have a 12-year-old! It doesn't seem that long ago that we brought her home from the hospital! Caitlyn came into the world, screaming and she hasn't stopped! Caitlyn was born weighing in at a hefty 10 pounds 3 ounces and 21 inches long! You would never know it to look at her now! I tenderly called her my sumo baby. I remember getting ready to leave the hospital thinking, they are just going to let me leave with her? And then, two weeks later thinking, this is the longest babysitting job ever! When are her parents coming home! She wasn't your typical smiley baby, which was sometimes difficult on me, she was a studious baby. She loved to watch people and try to figure them out. We got lots of comments that she didn't like whomever it was we were with, but it wasn't that she didn't like them, she was just trying to figure them out. Caitlyn has always been content, no matter the situation. She has always loved to watch others, but when it is her turn to be on, she loves the spotlight! She has developed quite the sense on humor and has got her mom's quick whit and sarcasm (not sure yet if that is a good thing or not). Caitlyn has become a beautiful dancer, through much work and dedication! We love to watch her perform, it brings tears to my eyes, everytime! While I can't say I have enjoyed every minute of being her mom, I have loved every minute! She is beautiful inside and out! I have loved getting to know here for the last 12 years and look forward to the next 12!

Sumo Baby . . . 10 pounds 3 ounces!

Our first Family photo . . . Caitlyn was one month old.

Is she not the most beautiful baby you have ever seen?

Caitlyn, 3 months old . . . she had all this black curly hair! I loved it!

My absolute favorite picture of Caitlyn! She was nine months old! Beautiful girl and she still is!

One year old! Do you think Brevin looks like her? I do!

Can you say Goofball!

Beautiful Girl!

She is a very attentive big sister! She was thrilled to have a little brother!

Loves Adventure! Never lose that!

Loves her friends and is a wonderful friend to have!

Loves her sisters! (as long as they are not touching her stuff!)

Quite the dancer!

Can't wait for the temper tantrums to be over with! She is not a fan of her chores!

Loves to have fun and make others laugh!

Can you say, I'm in trouble!

She likes me! Maybe . . . Can you feel the love?

Busy Boy

Brevin is our crazy, busy boy. Some days I just don't know what to do with him. He really is a lot of fun, but he is just a different animal from my girls! I am not saying it is a bad thing, just different. He really is a lot of fun and he never seems to have time to stop, not even to eat! He is always making us laugh and he is always laughing!

My big boy, thinking he will take off on a bike any day now!

Over Memorial Day weekend we potty-trained Brevin! I found this Three-Day Method on the internet. After having two out of the three girls being simply awful to potty-train, I was not excited let alone interested. I did have some incentive, because Brevin is starting preschool this Fall and I had to have him diaper free! I can't believe it worked! He did wonderful! By day three, he was done! Today he actually went to the bathroom all by himself without getting me or John to come and help! He has only had 2 accidents since that weekend and one was when he was outside playing. Smart little boy!

Yep, he is eating sugar directly out of the sugar bowl! I blame this on John mainly, because I don't have a sweet tooth. I have teased John for years that he could eat sugar directly and say it wasn't sweet enough.
We love having a little boy in the house, there is definitely never a dull moment! A few weeks ago, on a Sunday, I was at work and John has taken the kids to church. I got a phone call, Brevin has swallowed the little plastic cup the pass the sacrament water in. Needless to say, I wasn't very happy. John called the doctor and they said we needed to take him to Primary Children's Hospital just to be safe. I left work after hearing that. We spent several hours in the Emergency Room. They took a few x-rays, then let him drink a little and then finally had him eat, just to make sure nothing was stuck and he didn't start throwing up. It is always exciting when you can provide the medical personnel with something they have not yet experienced! Luckily everything was fine, and I didn't have to be too mad with John!

Boating!

Have I mentioned what wonderful neighbors we have? Well, we have the best neighbors! Always there when we need help, are great travelling companions. Willing to watch the kids when we have to run one of the up to Primary Children's Hospital (that is another story for another day). Well, last weekend they took John and the kids boating, while I had to work, of course. They had such a fun day! Tiffany and Tom have taken the girls several times, but this time they took all of us, minus me. Thank you Christenson's!

Haidyn and Olivia plus others on the raft . . . I love this picture!

Does Dilyn look like she is having fun? Didn't think so!

Caitlyn, Maddie and Maddie's Friend . . . I have been told that Caitlyn can come any time because she does not get scared being pulled on the raft . . . she loves it! That's my girl!

Dilyn and Brevin . . . I am told Brevin loved it . . . the reason I say that is because he ended up like this . . .

ASLEEP!

Good Night, sweet prince!

Nationals!

Nationals this year was at Skyline High. It was such a long day! With a slightly disappointing ending, but we had lots of fun during the day! We got there at 8:30 (a late start for us) and Caitlyn and I didn't get home until after 1:00 the next morning!

Caitlyn in Indiana Jones . . . isn't she a lovely Egyptian?

Haidyn in Indiana Jones . . . lovely Village Person!

At the end of their Natives Dance Haidyn gets to cary Kylie off with the help of Taite.

The girls have so much fun goofing around together!

Caitlyn has come in to her own so much this year at dance! I am so proud of her! She makes me tear up! And I don't consider myself one to cry. She had really pushed herself and she has truly impressed me!

Nationals Results:

Caitlyn's Dances:

• The Way I Am: 3rd
• Big Spender: 1st
• Can't Touch This: 2nd
• Rock the Casbah: 3rd

Haidyn's Dances:

• Music Box: 1st
• Stray Cat Strut: 4th

Indiana Jones: 2nd

Champion Dance had a few issues, there sound system kept going out, and by about 2:00 in the afternoon, we were an hour behind schedule . . . then their computer supposedly went down. When givng out awards for highpoint at the end of the evening they were giving awards to dances that our team had placed higher against them. Tiffany kept intrrupting the awards to try to figure out what the heck was going on! Our girls should have received awards that went to other tems. It was very frustrating. Caitlyn was a little bummed that some of her dances didn't place better, but I am so proud of her and Haidyn! All the TDC girs did such a good job and have a great sportmanship that so many of the other teams don't have! I want my girls to have fun and to have a good attitude, and luckily they do!! Congratulations TDC! You girls kick butt, what?!

Taylorsville Dance Competition

Our third Dance competition of the season was held at Taylorsville High School, another long, but very fun day! We had to be there at 7:00 AM, which is one hour before our first dance went on at 8:00. Caitlyn and Haidyn are such troopers, they never complain about it, they just love it and enjoy it so much! (If they didn't there is no way I would be there!) For this competition, Uncle Steven, John's brother, and Aunt Michelle came for the whole day! Steven taped all of the girls dances for me! THANKS STEVEN! I hope to get a few up on here for your perusal!

Caitlyn's Dances:

Way I Am: 1st

Can't Touch This: 2nd

Big Spender: 3rd

Rock the Casbah: 1st

Haidyn's Dances:

Music Box: 2nd

Stray Cat Strut: 3rd

The highlight of the day was Indiana Jones, not only did it win FIRST PLACE, it won the HIGH POINT AWARD!

Congratulations TDC!!!

Midnight Visitor

For the last several months, or so, we have been exchanging "gifts" with our next door neighbors, the Christensons. The "gift" is this big stuffed German Shepard. Olivia apparently purchased the dog at a garage sale. Olivia's mom, Tiffany (great name if you ask me), was attempting to de-junkher house and decided to toss the lovely animal, but on her way out to the garbage, decided to place the dog in our trailer. Later that day, I was leaving the house and caught a glimpse of the dog in the trailer and it scared me, I thought it was a real dog (there is a story of a german shepard chasing me to schol when I was a child, but that is a different story for a different day). Dilyn decided to adopt the dog for a time. Then one day, I got tired of it being around my house and decided that the garbege was truly the place where this animal belonged. On my way out to the garbage, I noticed that the Christenson's garage was opened, and knowing the day and time and that Tiffany would be leaving shortly for dance, I decided to place the dog in her garage right in front of the door for her to stumble upon as she left her house. It is my understanding that she screamed, just a little! Thus began the back and forth giving of "gifts". You never know when or where he will show up!

One night we found an early Christmas gift out in John's car.

We got a late night visitor at our hotel in Clearfield the night before a dance competition.

Clearfield Competition

So, I have not been very good at keeping my blog updated, (I have been playing a little too much on Facebook). So, I am going to do some backtracking. April 18th the girls had their second dance competition of the season. It was up in Clearfield and since we had to be there early Saturday morning, John and I decided to make a little mini vacation out of it. We went up Friday night and stayed in a hotel and went swimming with the kids all evening. That was the best part of the night, because John and I didn't get much sleep that night. The hotel had a club on the main floor, which was where our room was located and there was some sort of party going on there. Some of the party-goers were in the room next door to ours. They were SOOO loud! Finally, John complained at around 2 AM. Needless to say, we were exhausted, but luckily the kids slept through it all!
Saturday's Competition went reallly well for the girls. They had so much fun! They did really well!

Caitlyn's Dances placed:

The Way I Am: 1st

Can't Touch This: 1st

Big Spender: 2nd

Rock the Casbah: 2nd

Haidyn's Dances placed:

Music Box: 1st

Stray Cat Strut: 3rd

And their production number Indiana Jones placed 2nd.

While I had the girls at the competition, doing the dance mom thing, John took Dilyn and Brevin to Hill Air Force Base, to the Airplane Museum with neighbors, Tom, Canyon and "Boy"Hayden. John has been wanting to go there for some time and he finally got his wish.

Apparently Brevin took it upon himself to run under the ropes to climb in this little airplane. John, of course, being the responsible parent, had to snap a photo before pulling Brevin back to the appropriate side of said ropes.

Brevin, Dilyn and Canyon had lots of fun!

Although it is not in focus, I love this picture of Brevin and Haidyn . . . this was on our way home after a long day!

DUKE!!

Our "backdoor" neighbors got a new puppy, his name is Duke. Brevin LOVES him. He takes it upon himself to wander out on to the deck and call for him. It makes me laugh every time! I'll be in the bedroom or office and hear him yelling "DUUUUUUUKE!" over and over again. When Duke is outside he travel down to the fence and pet him under the fence and coax him under. Not a small feat, if you consider that Duke is a Saint Bernard. We have had to walk Duke back home more than a few times, and I always feel bad, because it is my kids that get him to crawl under, but at his growth rate, I doubt it will continue for much longer!

"DUUUUUUUKE!!" Can you see those cute lips all puckered up calling his friend?

This is a very unhappy boy, when Duke is not outside to play!

Preschool Graduation

I can't believe my baby girl graduated from Preschool today! Dilyn will be starting Kindergarten in just a few short months! Does this mean that I am getting older, or just my kids! Dilyn is such a sweet little girl. She is SO shy, but not my shyest child. (I still don't understand how I can have such shy little ones, except for Brevin, of course.) I am so proud of her! She has gone from sitting in my lap whenever her class had a performance to standing there and singing all of her songs, but as you will note by the photographic proof, she is NOT comfortable standing there! Dilyn is ready and VERY excited to start her Kindergarten career! She has been begging to go to her sisters school for a LONG time!!

We love Miss Teresa at our house! She taught Haidyn for a year, has had Dilyn for 2 years and Brevin will get her next year! Thank you Miss Teresa for all your hard work!!

Can you tell she doesn't want anyone to see her? She does NOT like the spotlight!

I love this picture of her with her big green eyes sticking out beneath her graduation cap!

The Weight Continues . . . .

So, John and I are 5 weeks in to our weight loss challenge. Any guesses as to who is ahead? . . . . . You guessed it! Me! Much to John discontentment. Ha ha! As of this morning, I am 10 pounds lighter. John is not doing too badly, although I know he wishes it was more. John is down 5 pounds. We still have 7 weeks to go . . . so you never know what will happen. Although if you ask me, I can tell you exactly what will happen . . . I'm going to win! Skydiving adventure for Tiffany!!

Happy Easter!

Everyone loves Easter! And it is no different at the Baker house! Since I had to work on Easter Sunday, we had our own Easter dinner Saturday night. Sunday the kids woke up with surprises from the Easter Bunny. Then we had much fun decorating Eggs.

Brevin was having so much fun! He was the cutest little painter!

Do you think she is proud of her egg? Silly Dilly!

Caitlyn is just getting too old! Fun, exciting . . . scarey!

Haidyn showing off her creativity!

After church, John took the kids over to his parents house for dinner. They got to have an Easter Egg Hunt.

Brevin . . . Looking so cool in his shades with the Spiderman egg!

Caitlyn . . . She is either bored or just plain grumpy!

Dilyn . . . Hunting those eggs with her shades.

Haidyn Leigh . . . will not give up the hunt!

St. George Dance Competition

Dance competition season is well under way! April 4th we had our first competition in St. George. We made it into a mini-vacation for our family. We went down Thursday night and got there late. (Oh yeah, Brevin threw-up before we ever reached I-15 . . . I was a little worried our trip wasn't going to be much fun). Friday morning after we all got ready we went to this little restaurant in St. George call the Bear Claw, the have delicious breakfasts!

John, Brevin and Dilyn . . . trying to decide what to eat.

Caitlyn and Haidyn . . . enjoying some yummy grub!

Mommie, Dilyn and Brevin.

After breakfast, we did a little shopping and met most of the Christenson family to see the movie Monsters and Aliens. Very FUNNY. I laughed the whole way through! I highly recommend it!

After the movie, we went back to the hotel and John took the kids swimming and I decided to take a nap (yes, I know, I am not much fun). After swimming we went to eat dinner and then went to the high school where the dance competition was being held to support a couple of our girls who were competing in the Solo portion. And I feel really bad, but I really don't know how the solos placed . . . Tiffany, want to help me out here?

Saturday was the big day. The girls had there first comptition! I hope I am not too much of a dance mom! We have so much fun and I just really want my girls to enjoy themselves! I can honestly say they bring me to tears!

Caitlyn's lyrical . . . The Way I Am. Won First Place!

Caitlyn's Hip Hop (This is her first year in Hip Hop, I'm pretty sure she likes it) MC Hammer's Can't Touch This. I'm lovin the parachute pants! They won first place and Grand Champions in their age group! WOO HOO!

Haidyn's Stray Cat Strut. She is not a fan of the "hat" portion of her costume . . . It's really hot, Mom! They took second!

Caitlyn . . . Hey Big Spender. Very cute dance! They took Second!

Caitlyn's Rock the Casbah. I love this dance they perform it so well! It took first place. Madison twisted her ankle during this performance and landed hard on her bum, but she kept going and was a real trooper!

Haidyn's ballet, Music Box. This is Haidyn's first year in ballet. She is really loving it! They took second.

I didn't post any pictures from the production number, which is Indiana Jones. It is amazing! We were sitting on the wrong side for pictures of our girls . . . so I will post some of them later. All of the girls from TDC did such a good job! My favorite comment/quote that I heard thus far this year was from Tiffany . . . after the awards were all given and because all of Tiffany's Hip Hop dances won first place she said "Not too bad for a couple of white girls!"

Saturday night we went to visit one of my cousins that lives in Hurricane. I hadn't seen her since Haidyn was a little baby. The kids all had much fun playing with their cousins and Jenn and I had lots of fun reminescing back to days gone by!

Sunday morning we got up and did some more swimming and were on the road by noon. We had so much fun! We have been told that next year we might skip St. George and perform in Disneyland . . . We will see what happens!

We'll weight and see . . .

No, I didn't spell weight incorrectly. John and I are having another weight-loss contest. We had one about a year and a half ago before we went on our cruise. I, of course, won. I lost 15 pounds than and have kept most of it off (I think I put 5 back on). John, of course, lost nothing! So, we have decided that it is time to improve our health and lose a few more pounds. John set the stakes this time. If I win, I get to go skydiving and if John wins he gets to do the Nascar experience. We both are wanting to lose around 25 pounds. We started last week and we have until the end of June. So, the race is on . . . We will keep you posted! I can't "weight" to see who wins!