so much to be thankful for

Oh Thanksgiving, you were sure good to me. I got to celebrate my brother's birthday with him a little early since I couldn't be there yesterday. I was fortunate enough to sit around a big beautiful table with way more incredible food than one family could possibly finish. And most of all, I was surrounded by the people I love most in this world. This list could go on and on but these are just a few things I am thankful for every.single.day.

Now who's ready for Christmas?!!

p.s. past Thanksgivings and things I'm thankful for here, here, and here.

a silly little birthday message

Look out world, my little brother turned 21 today! Not so little anymore. 

Happy Birthday Bren, we sure love you!!

a happy thanksgiving break indeed

 

It has been about two weeks since I've had the time to sit down and write a post which is a crying shame because I like this little blog of mine. These last couple weeks have been, well lets just say not the most pleasant. A lot of school stress and an ongoing sore throat was no picnic.

Anyway, this is how my Thanksgiving break is shaping up to look. Big fuzzy socks and a book in hand... a happy Thanksgiving break indeed. We are packing our most comfy pair of sweatpants {ya know, the kind that stretch nicely for an ever expanding stomach of food} and heading to Boise to spend the holiday with my family. I couldn't be more excited!

Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours! xo

voted

Four years ago, I rushed to an indoor stadium on my college campus where a long line of polling booths were set up. This is where I voted for my very first time. It had been a really long day of classes but I made sure that I made time for this because it was important to me. I had just graduated from high school a few short months before where I took an American Government class and really learned about the political system for the first time. Now, I'm not a person who likes to discuss politics or really even hear about them for that matter, but it had sparked my interest in seeking my own personal views. I know that it is no mistake that seniors in high school take this class right before they turn 18 and I'm grateful for the opportunity it gave me to learn. With that in mind, it was the reason why I had the desire to vote on that day. I got there sometime in the evening, registered, and was handed a ballad. I remember feeling a little rushed as I noticed people taking down the long line of polling booths beside me. It was then that I learned that the election was over and it made me question if my vote really even mattered.

Four years went by and I hadn't really had to consider that question since. Until these last couple weeks as today crept up on me. I knew in my heart where I stood. I also knew that as a future educator in Idaho, it was so important that my voice be heard. This specific election will determine a lot about my future career. So again that spark was ignited and it became important to me that I vote. So, at 11:00 this morning I did just that. I waited in a long line to have my voice heard and not matter happens, I'm so glad I did.

I'm grateful to the women who fought for equality so that I could have the right to vote in this country. And if that isn't reason enough to be rejoice, praise the Lord that the Facebook bashing and campaign adds end today! :)

the messy bakers

My idea of a fun Halloween is a little less on the scary side. Okay, A LOT less. Make me watch a horror movie and I'm freaked out for weeks!! So even though we got asked a million and one times if we were dressed up as zombie bakers with blood on our aprons, that is in fact chocolate. Messy bakers we were which, if you could see my kitchen after any kind of cookie or bread baking, messy is pretty realistic! haha

The night before Halloween we went to a trunk or treat. I wish I could have gotten pictures but it was too dark by the time it started. So many cute little kiddies dressed up as fairies, farm animals, and super heroes. I loved every minute of it as they scooped a little reeces peanut butter cup from our muffin tin. Something tells me Halloween is just going to be THAT much more fun when we have cute littles to dress up!

We spent Halloween night at my mother-in-law's after learning last year that 1 trick-or-treater is pretty much our max in these neck of the woods so we helped her hand out candy instead. She has two basset hounds who spent the evening as a hippie bus and hula girl. That bikini is in even padded haha I died. If there is anyone I dissappoint with my lack of scary loving Halloween traditions, it is my MIL. I've never seen more real life looking spiders and bats in my life at her house {the source of my frequent squeals}! ha

And for the fun stuff...  










And if that wasn't the most perfect moon for Halloween night I don't know what is. Hope you all had a happy and safe one! :)

p.s. past Halloween posts here and here!

Happy Halloween!

Love,

Mr. and Mrs. Baker Man

a favorite fall festivity {say that 10 times fast}

I love this time of year, Fall I mean. It doesn't last long around these parts, in fact, it snowed for the first time yesterday, but I cherish it while it's here. Saturday night we had a double date with some of our favorite friends, the Bradleys. The boys spent an hour at Winco trying to pick out pumpkins {apparently it isn't as easy as it looks folks} haha, while us girls attempted to watch the ultimate Halloween classic, Hocus Pocus, but instead stared at that cute little one the whole time. She is getting quite the personality. Add on that toothless grin and I was pretty much in heaven!

We made homemade pizza and those prepared sugar cookies that come in a roll with the ghost in the center. I hadn't had those in years! The husbands did most of the butchering carving while the wives provided parental supervision over the potential loss of a hand or two. Drills, sledgehammers, graters and all! Not to mention their lovely idea of lighting the stump on fire which involved a whole bottle of hairspray, rubbing alcohol, and a lighter. See what I mean about the supervision. Who knew pumpkin carving went to such heights. While the process was a bit unnerving at times, the pumpkins really did turn out great! Ours was the minion from Despicable Me. If you haven't seen it, shame on you. Beau and Mindy's was the disco ball. The picture does not do it justice for how cool it looked lit up! Besides the eating and the carving, there was a whole lot of laughter which was the best part in my book.