Girls Weekend!

A few weeks back my mom, sister, niece and I went into Chicago for a Girls Weekend! We try to do this ever few months or so and the last few years we have tried to go around Christmas time. I guess you could say it is sort of turning into a holiday tradition. We usually do some shopping, look at the Christmas lights and Christmas windows, eat lots of good food and spend time together just the four girls in the family.

This year we did all the things I listed above but we also went to the Field Museum and saw a great exhibit on Whales which was very interesting. We also took in the rest of the Museum as well. If you have never been to the Field Museum you should put it on your list of places to go. It is a great museum with lots of cool things to see. We also went to the Lincoln Park Zoo. At Christmas time they do Zoo lights. They light up the whole zoo with Christmas lights and a good light display. Plus the great part is it is FREE!!! The zoo is free all the time!!! It is a very nice zoo and with it being free on top of it, it makes it that much nicer. Another thing to put on your list if you get to Chicago.

We had a great weekend and it is always great to spend time with these ladies!!!

Thanksgiving, Tree Hunt, Bowling, Christmas Decorations

We had a very busy Thanksgiving weekend at The Baker Bungalow. We spent Thanksgiving Day with Kirby's family eating too much but we had a lovely time and enjoyed our time spent with family.

The day after Thanksgiving we went on our annual Christmas tree hunt with the Melchi and Bird families. This tradition has been going on as long as I can remember. We go out to the Christmas tree farm and the owner lets my Dad drive the tractor which is hooked up to the wagon. So Dad drives the tractor, the adults and kids pile onto the wagon and the young kids take turn riding on my Dad's lap in the warm cab of the tractor. We drive through the field singing Christmas carols then when we get to an area of trees we want to check out and everyone gets out and the "Hunt" is on for the perfect tree. Once everyone finds their perfect tree the men in the group cut them down and put them on the wagon. Then we go back to riding around the field signing and having a good time. Kirby and I broke out of our normal Christmas tree tradition of just going on the tree hunt then putting up an artificial tree and got a real tree this year. I so love the smell of a real tree!!!

Later in the afternoon after the Christmas tree hunt. The Melchi and Bird families got together for some fun family bowling at The Sturgis Bowling Center. Everyone bowled even Jack (the two year old). We had three teams and Kirby's Team won (which I was part of long with Wil, Quinn and my mother). After bowling we got together for pizza at the Bird's.

The rest of the weekend was spent put up the Christmas tree and getting it all decorated. We decorated our Christmas tree with ornaments that we have received over the years from our family, friends and each other. Some of them are 37 years old. We also got out the rest of the holiday decorations for the rest of the house. You could say the holiday season has arrived at The Baker Bungalow!!!

It was a busy holiday weekend but it was filled with fun times with our families and friends.

Labor Day and A Wedding

I know this post is a little late but better late then never. We had a fun filled Labor Day weekend even though it was a little cool and wet. We went to the wedding reception of Ashley Riley and Ryan Miller. The bride looked smashing, the groom was handsom and Klinger Lake Country Club where the reception was held looked lovely. On Sunday we had our families out to the lake for the end of the summer fun on the lake. However it was alittle too cold to be in the lake so instead we built a fire. Even though it was cool we had a nice time. Here are some pictures from the weekend! Enjoy!

Trip to Boston to see the Taylor's

At the end of July, Kirby and I went to Boston to see a good friend of mine Monica Taylor and her family. We had a fun filled three days with them. We went swimming in their pool as it was hot, one morning we played with Play-Doh until the weather cleared another morning we went into Boston to do some sightseeing. It was a great weekend and we can't to see them again, hopefully soon!

4th of July

I know this one is a little late but better late than never!!! For the 4th of July we had our families out to our house for some fun in the water, a cook out, fireworks (both small and large) and then a showing of Indepedence Day at the Baker Backyard Theater. It was a fun filled day at Klinger Lake!!!

Weekend surprises and dinner fun!

This weekend started off with a surprise by Erin for me, a cake made by Candice Swanwick! You see, Candice was supposed to make our wedding cake last summer, however she had a prior engagement that caused her to not be able to make it (having twins!!). Erin was so sneaky to surprise me with the cake Friday, little did she know that I had a surprise in store for her as well! Doug Bates, owner of Designs By Vogt's, and I were emailing back and forth Friday to get a flower arrangement designed using a flower that Erin really liked! So on Saturday morning, while we were running errands, I suggested we stop by Doug's place to see if he had a nice arrangement we could buy. Luckily, he had it all done, and Erin was totally surprised!

Later that day, we had Aaron and Rachel Smith over for dinner. They showed up with some very nice and tasty appetizers!!! First time I have ever had caviar! And it wasn't too bad! After the apps, and after the storms passed, we grilled up some juicy filets and lobster tails for dinner, and had some of the awesome cake for dessert!

A fun weekend, with lots of surprises and good times with friends! Enjoy the photos!

One Year and Still going STRONG

Well it has been a year since Kirby and I got married, where that year went I'm not sure. All I can say is it was a fun filled first year of marriage and we did not kill each other which is the most important part :). Seeing we could not go back to Hawaii for our anniversary we decided to do the first ever "Movie Night at the Baker Backyard Theatre". We had spent a few weeks ahead of time planning and building the large outside screen and getting all our movie snacks together. When the big day came we had decided to show Wedding Crashers The Uncut Version (it was an adult only event not to worry) and had lots of fun movie snacks.

We had a great time and a fun group of people showed up for the movie. Even though it was not as good as going back to Hawaii we enjoyed it never the less. Heres hoping the next 50 plus years go as well as the firt one did. Enjoy the photos from the movie night!!