Winter, Spring or maybe it is Summer?

I'm not sure if it is winter, spring or summer but we sure have been having some good weather here in Michigan lately. Kirby and I have been taking advantage of the nice weather and getting out for walks and I have been taking my new camera (which was my Christmas present from my nice husband) along on our walks. Which has led to me taking pictures of all the happenings going on in nature. Some of the pictures are from our last late winter walk but most are from the last two weeks of things popping out around the lake. I hope you enjoy the beauty happening just outside our door.

Swimming and Good Old Valentine's Day Fun

My niece Sydney has turned into a fish, not really, but she sure has turned into a good swimmer. This winter we went to see her swim a couple of times and in February she competed in a Regional meet which the whole family went to and watched her swim. She swam like she had fins. Really, she did a great job and her Auntie E and Uncle K are very proud of her.

After Sydney's swim meet we decorated Valentine's Day cupcakes with Sydney and Jack. As you can see from the pictures below fun was had by all. I'm not sure if more frosting was eaten or put on the cupcakes but never the less the cupcakes were good!

It was a day full of family fun!!!

Birthday Fun!!

Back over the second weekend in February Kirby and I went up north to Boyne Highlands to go skiing and celebrate Kirby's 40th Birthday!!! It was only Kirby's second time skiing and he did a GREAT job!!! I know what you are all thinking you took him skiing for his 40th birthday what kind of wife are you?? However it was what he wanted to do. We had a great time! We took in a lot of skiing and did some partying along the way. Here are some fun pictures from our weekend away.

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!