Bake Shop

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2009-06-27T22:42:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kiersten's getting big enough to sit in the seat almost by herself.

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2009-06-27T22:41:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

My boy

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2009-06-27T22:40:00.003-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kai hanging

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2009-06-27T22:40:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

My girl has some hops

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2009-06-27T22:39:00.003-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Done swimming and time to eat some John Deere fruit snacks

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2009-06-27T22:39:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kai getting brave enough to get in the lake

Jumping

2009-06-27T22:38:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kiersten has gotten brave enough to jump off the swim platform

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2009-06-22T22:23:00.003-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Once the grass grows in I can call my steps complete

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2009-06-22T22:23:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kiersten's last day of Kindergarten

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2009-06-22T22:21:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kiersten giving a big wave as she drives the mower. (yes the mower deck was off)

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2009-06-22T22:20:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kai checking out the puppies at the neighbors of Gpa and Gma's

Hot

2009-06-22T22:18:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kai and I after mowing the lawn on Monday night

Mowing

2009-06-22T22:17:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kai driving the mower (with the deck off) at Gpa's

Taco Ride

2009-04-25T21:29:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by Dirty Moines

Taco ride last Wednesday. Stole this pic courtesy of Mr Bruce

Kai

2009-04-16T10:31:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kai 2

Kai

2009-04-16T10:30:00.003-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kai 1

Kai

2009-04-16T10:30:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kai in the yard

Egg hunting

2009-04-16T10:29:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kiersten hunting eggs

Easter

2009-04-16T09:46:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kiersten was all business

Egg basket

2009-04-16T09:45:00.003-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kai showing off his egg basket

Easter

2009-04-16T09:45:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Egg hunting

Easter

2009-04-16T09:44:00.003-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kai

Found one

2009-04-16T09:44:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kai checking out his egg his found

Easter

2009-04-16T09:43:00.003-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Easter at the farm

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2009-04-16T09:43:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Easter group pic

Night shot

2009-03-19T13:41:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

I went out last night and tried to snag a pic of the space station. Didn't work so I messed around with shutter speed.

two teeth gone

2009-03-19T13:40:00.003-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kiersten has now lost both her front teeth.

Balloon

2009-03-19T13:40:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Saw a hot air balloon going over the house last Sunday

Swimming

2009-03-19T13:39:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Me and the kids at Honey Creek resort

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2009-03-06T14:03:00.001-06:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kiersten enjoying the beautiful weather at school.

Tooth Fairy

2009-02-24T21:09:00.001-06:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Tooth Fairy time again. Kiersten lost another tooth on Sunday. It was literally just dangling there and I got a hold of it and didn't let go as she yanked her head back and the tooth remained between my fingers. The look on her face was priceless. One of those Daddy moments you don't forget. The one beside it is already loose too and the permanent tooth was already coming in on this one. I have a bad feeling she's going to get to know the dentist too well.

Lean

2009-02-24T21:07:00.001-06:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Really leaning in to it

Sweeping

2009-02-24T21:06:00.003-06:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Still helping

Sweeping

2009-02-24T21:06:00.001-06:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Helping Dad sweep

Flickr

2009-02-24T21:05:00.001-06:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

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2009-02-11T15:31:00.003-06:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Stacie and Kiersten having a blast

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2009-02-11T15:31:00.001-06:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

need....bigger....4....wheeler

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2009-02-11T15:30:00.003-06:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

They don't make these sleds big enough

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2009-02-11T15:30:00.001-06:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

bball

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2009-02-11T15:29:00.003-06:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

She missed this one but made three for the day. Even one on the hoop behind the mini hoop.

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2009-02-11T15:29:00.001-06:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

bball

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2009-02-11T15:28:00.003-06:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Can the Y ref in the background look any less happy?

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2009-02-11T15:28:00.001-06:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

bball

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2009-02-11T15:27:00.001-06:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Bball

Tree is up

2008-12-09T21:27:00.001-06:00

This is what happens when you try to take a nice picture in this house.

Zoo

2008-10-29T22:27:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kiersten and Kai at the zoo

Statue

2008-10-29T22:26:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kiersten posing on the gorilla statue

Zoo

2008-10-29T22:25:00.003-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

The gorilla came right up to say hi

Goofy Smile

2008-10-29T22:25:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Me and my goofy smile

Stacie

2008-10-29T22:24:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Even Stacie got in to the carving this year.

Tops

2008-10-29T22:23:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Which top goes where?

Pop the Top

2008-10-29T22:22:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kai playing with the pumpkins before I put them outside.

Me and my pumpkins

2008-10-29T22:21:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

All done

Swiped

2008-10-02T14:48:00.001-05:00

Swiped 3

Swiped

2008-10-02T14:31:00.001-05:00

Swiped picture #2

Camera swiper

2008-10-02T14:26:00.001-05:00

Kiersten swiped my phone and starting snapping some pictures of her brother.

Lake pics

2008-09-01T22:02:00.003-05:00

Photo catchup...had a bunch of pick on Flickr I needed to get up.

State Fair

2008-09-01T21:51:00.002-05:00

State Fair time. The kids discovered the squirting fountains when Gpa Bruce took them for a walk. They both had grins from ear to ear afterwards.

All wrapped up

2008-07-13T22:17:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Warming back up

2008-07-13T22:16:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Fireworks

2008-07-09T21:36:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

We got brave this year and stayed out late to see the fireworks on the water. The kids really enjoyed the show.

Lake time

2008-06-26T21:53:00.002-05:00

Kai managed to find a way to fall in even though we were trying to keep the kids out until the conditions improved. That's my boy!

Cashed out as usual.

Chester Cheetah

2008-06-02T22:21:00.001-05:00

I only left him alone with the bag for 15 secs. He was so proud of himself too.

Recent Happenings

2008-05-28T22:07:00.002-05:00

What's been up in the Baker house...

The kids helped Stacie plant some flowers up front.

Kai's newest favorite place to hang out is in the Tahoe. He'll just play with every button and switch he can find.

We took Kiersten fishing down at Scott's pond behind his house. Kiersten managed to catch a bass and I only managed to reel in a crappie.

I couldn't get Kiersten to hold the fish she caught.

I pretended I caught the fish but alas Kiersten has caught a bass by age 5 and I still haven't caught one myself in 32 years.

Kai had a blast running around in the jeep.

Here's the latest household project(mess) I've started. We raided the father in laws rock pile at the farm so we're calling our project a "green" project for using recycled materials. We did have a good time sorting thru the rocks and finding the more interesting rocks. I like to kid Bruce that a couple of them have gold speckles in em and I'm going to sell them and make my fortune.

I still have a lot of work to do but this was after I dry fitted all the rocks to see how I was coming along. It could look like this for quite a while if the weather gets nice and we boat every weekend.

Getting along

2008-05-22T21:53:00.001-05:00

I was shocked and had to take a pic. Kiersten and Kai were playing so well together with the Hot Wheels.

Human parainfluenza virus type 1

2008-05-10T22:48:00.002-05:00

Uggh...I did not make a order for this to stop by our house. What an end to the week. I thought we had it wrapped up with Kai getting over his croup but then he took a turn for the worse again on Friday. Add to that Kiersten got her 5 yr vaccinations and followed that up with her share of the flu virus infection from Kai. So we had Kai up all night puking and crying with a high temp. Then Kiersten was running a high temp and shaking from it. That'll freak any parent out.

After a trip to the Dr in the morning Kai and Kiersten seemed to be doing better by bedtime. And by better their temps were only 100 and not 103 like before.

Happy Birthday Princess

2008-05-06T21:50:00.002-05:00

My little princess turned 5 today. Another year has flown by and the changes have been many. She is now reading the books to us at night and becoming more and more independent. For her birthday we held it at Backyard Adventures in Urbandale. Everything worked out pretty darn good. Kids were able to yell, scream and run like crazy for 2 hrs. I think every kid there had a sweaty head of hair from playing so hard.

Yup, Dad got this one done right. I was unsure what size to get but it looks like skipping the 16" size and getting her a 20" was the right choice. She loved her new bike and is excited to try without the training wheels.

Keep ur head up honey!

I gotta figure out what to do for little man this summer. He needs something to ride and is none too happy with Sis getting all the attention and toys. Might need to find him a kicking three wheeler for tear up the neighborhood.

Water Park

2008-04-13T22:16:00.003-05:00

We ventured up to Owatonna the other weekend to let the kids enjoy some pool time. The kids had a blast. I went up the stairs for the water slide about 3 gazillion times on Saturday and got a good workout.

On a side note my apologies for the lack and sometimes presence of a theme on my blog. I tried using the new template setup and am not having the best luck.

Wristband

2008-04-13T22:15:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Little Man

2008-04-13T22:14:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kai enjoyed the pool too.

Enjoying the water.

2008-04-13T22:13:00.003-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Water Slide

2008-04-13T22:13:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kiersten took the big step of going down a water slide all by herself.

2008-02-17T21:07:00.002-06:00

Took Kiersten and Kai outside on Sunday to enjoy the snow for the umpteenth time this winter. You know it's been a long winter when even the kids are jonesing for warmer weather.

Kiersten and I made a snowman. I thought it'd be fitting to put a hat on it with a Mexico vacation logo.

Cousin Olivia's Birthday

2008-02-17T21:04:00.003-06:00

We went to Story City on Sunday to celebrate cousin Olivia's birthday. It was a good time and of course as usual Kai didn't leave his Grandpa's side all day.

Grandpa thought it'd be funny to show him how to haul cake in his truck.

Messing with wooden shoes

2008-02-17T20:58:00.002-06:00

Kai checking out a bit of his dutch heritage. Funny thing is the shoes actually fit pretty good. Weird timing.

Back off the mat

2008-01-30T13:07:00.000-06:00

I'm back off the mat and landing a hay maker to unemployment. Dang it feels good to be back in the game.

Snow time

2008-01-29T21:49:00.000-06:00

Perfect day for some time outside with the kids on Saturday. We got all bundled up and played with the trucks in the driveway then took a sledding run on our little hill.

Little man turns 2

2008-01-24T20:44:00.000-06:00

My little man turned two on Monday. We had some family over for a small get together on Sat evening and he tore in to the cupcakes. When we all started singing to him he very sternly and loudly told us to stop it. Of course I didn't have the camcorder going yet so I missed getting it on film. There goes my shot at 10,000 from America's Funniest Home Videos.

Riding Time

2008-01-14T20:40:00.000-06:00

Not having been on two wheels for a bit I finally got back out. The usual crew hit up the Center trails for a couple hours on Sunday. After that we buzzed down Ingersoll and hit Caribou for some joe.

Mmmm...just a little snow on the dirt.

Christmas 2007

2008-01-02T14:41:00.001-06:00

Christmas morning the Baker house. Kiersten got a bunch of horse and Barbie stuff. Kai cleaned up with lots of trucks and tractors.

Job wise....still in search mode. This is definately the wrong time of year to be working on getting a job. All things considered it's going as good as one could hope.

Fresh snow

2008-01-02T13:51:00.000-06:00

The kids enjoyed one of the many fresh snows we've been getting. Kai needs to learn to keep his gloves on. Kiersten just loves making footprints and Kai just wants to help me scoop.

Reading Material

2007-12-11T22:11:00.000-06:00

In light of recent events I may be picking up some reading material.

I'm not in panic mode yet. I got several other opportunities already in the hopper. So the worst part of the whole deal is that it's too snowy to bike and it's the wrong time of year to be on the boat.

Attempt

2007-11-26T12:39:00.001-06:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Another futile attempt to get a picture of the kids together.

Tree

2007-11-26T12:38:00.001-06:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kiersten really enjoyed posing in front of the huge tree.

Close up

2007-11-26T12:37:00.003-06:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

The usual Kiersten goof ball pose.

Jordan Creek

2007-11-26T12:37:00.001-06:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

We hit Jordan Creek one evening to watch the lighting of the Christmas tree and the fireworks. The kids loved the fireworks. They had two different areas going so they kept busy with looking back and forth with each bang.

Sad

2007-11-26T12:36:00.001-06:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Not it's prettiest picture but there she sits for the duration of winter. I should start a side bar count down to April.

2007-11-13T22:37:00.000-06:00

Riding night. Headed out to Sycamore to Lebeda and Jacob on Monday night.

Beer glows at night.

Boys

Feeling cold and thinking we need to get moving again.

Pulling hot laps at the hobo camp.

Leftover Spooky Woods decor still going

Not even a broken bottle would keep us from our Fat Tire

After the ride is was back to my casa to drink a few cold one. Then I made fun of Leb and Jacob since they had to head back out and I got to crawl in my warm bed.

Blue Sky Creamery

2007-11-06T21:45:00.000-06:00

Kai asked for some i-ceam. Who am I to say no.

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2007-10-31T22:39:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kai riding the Ford tractor at the pumpkin patch.

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2007-10-31T22:38:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Here Mr Monster, you can bite my hand.

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2007-10-31T22:37:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Kai saying hello to the nice vampire.

Pretty much sums up our start

2007-10-30T21:34:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

Halloween took a downward turn on the way to Gpa and Gma's. About 2 mins away Kai starting hurling all over his lion costume. So luckily Kiersten and I were able to make it around the neighborhood to get some candy. You'll just have to take my word that Kai looked pretty cute in his lion costume.

What the??

2007-10-21T20:47:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by mikebaker1975

You'd think I could blame Kai for his one but nope.

Sunday Ride

2007-10-11T21:58:00.001-05:00

Made it out Sunday for a ride before the rain hit. Good thing too, starting at 2 I was at work until 8:30. Uggh, I'm no fan of being in the office on the weekend.

Ran into Squirrel doing some trail maintenance. Some trail buggers were moving logs off the trail so he was out putting em back together.

Stole this from Squirrel's blog.

Aggh....I despise snakes. I think I was happier Squirrel got him off the trail before we came thru.

I was ready to get back in to the racing at the Quarter Rage on Wednesday but we got a stomach bug rolling thru the Baker house. So my evening consisted of using carpet cleaner to try and get the gunk out of Kiersten's carpet.

Night ride

2007-09-19T21:30:00.000-05:00

With riding time in short supply you get creative on when you go out. With Fat Tires loaded up....

Doh...wait a minute...something's not right in this pic.

Partway thru our way Jacob finds a little something something in his pack.

Leb smiles about the find.

You'd think I'd be smiling ear to ear but Jacob caught my sober deer in headlights look.

Speaking of deer in headlights. Those glow eyes belong to a huge buck that was just chilling alongside the trail. He didn't even move and was there when we came back on lap 2.

Soccer

2007-09-19T21:28:00.001-05:00

Go figure...the one sport I know absolutely nothing about is the one she loves the most.

She had her first practice last week and she loves it.

Black label for Fat Tire

2007-09-13T20:57:00.000-05:00

It was Kai's turn to ham it up.

Wednesday I hooked up with Jacob for a late evening jaunt around the metro. First stop was "The Tap" south of town for a few cold ones and then doing some intervals...at least intervals as we know em back downtown to El Bait Shop. Feeling the urge for newly arrived to Demwah New Belgium Fat Tire Ale.

Pitch black night cut only by the lights.

Whoa! In my haste to get out I actually grabbed the skinny tire.

And back to the deck for our 12:30 supper. Fat Tire and a bowl of Chex Mix. Kudos to Carrie for some sweet grub. Well can't say she actually knew we were eating it cause I'm sure she had fast asleep for hours by now.

Don't blink

2007-08-27T20:59:00.001-05:00

You know they tell you not to blink and you swear you listened and tried to cherish every moment. But then you find yourself standing there and wondering how you got from there to here so fast.

Vacation time

2007-08-26T22:47:00.000-05:00

Little bit of flooding around the cabin during the vacation.

Guess I won't be using the rest of the firewood.

Kai attacking the computer at Happy Joe's.

Kiersten hamming it up.

Kai still hanging tight to the ladder.

Kiersten lounging drinking a cold one.

More buttons to intrique Kai.

Go fast, go slow, go really fast, go slower. Just never know what'll make her happy.

Kai finally getting brave and letting go of the ladder.

She's got better balance than me.

Sun going down on another fun day.