The Red Coats Are Coming!

One last glance at Boston...til next time.

Shopping on Newbury Street

Out to Dinner

A scary yet historic graveyard, near Bunker Hill.

Cute girls just strolling the streets of "Old Boston"

Mikes famous pastry shop in the North End, Yum!

Boston Creme Pie...originated from our Hotel's Pastry shop
An Irish band on St. Patty's Day.

Trinity Church
The Play at "The Opera House"

Yep..."Where Everybody Knows your name," Cheers!
Jogging and Hanging out with George Washington in Boston Common Park.
A Little door for some little girls in Boston (They Are both just over 5 Feet)
Paul Revere's Home

Outside of Faneuil Hall

A Sweet Old Irish Man playing Irish Tunes in Quincy Market
The 2 pics above are of the of the Old State House. Just outside of these steps is where the Boston Massacre occurred.
A toast to "Thee Ben Franklin"

Well out of all the cities back east that I have visited so far, I think Boston is my favorite. This past week Tiff and I, along with our friends Debra and Tara Kavanagh (Tara is one of Tiffs best friends since high school) had a wonderful girls week. The people were so warm and friendly. We stayed at the Parker House Hotel right in the center of Boston. We did the "Freedom Trail" where we got to see all of the wonderful historical landmarks that the Birth of our great nation began. I love history and so enjoyed it. We went to museums; my favorite was the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum where there was the most beautiful garden and courtyard that was so peaceful. Then off to a play at the Opera House. We ate plenty of great seafood and too many pastries for sure. Shopping at Quincy Market and Newbury Street was a girl’s delight (even on a budget). It was refreshing to get up early and jog around Boston Common Park and up to Beacon Hill. What a charming neighborhood that is! I told Tiff if I was young and single and carefree I would go there for a Spring/Summer rent a cute place in Beacon Hill and find a job or internship. Oh yeah...One more thing. We got there on St. Patrick’s Day and got to see a live Irish Band play, very festive huh.

An Untraditional V-Day...But still full of Love!

At Dinner

At the Hotel
Hotel Park City...A beautiful Hotel
A lovely rustic place!
Meanwhile...back in Mammoth Greg, being Greg
Kirk and his "mini-me" Austin

Due to the fact that Valentines Day fell on a 4 day Presidents day weekend, we did something different....Kirk and I celebrated V-Day on Feb 11th. Then Kirk went to Mammoth skiing with the little boys. Why?... He wanted to try and take the RV (as in "Meet the Parents II" RV) to Mammoth and stay in it and go skiing. I prefer the cabin accommodations like we usually do, I am not an RV girl especially in the winter! I thought "Hmm...NOT, BUT honey, you and the boys knock yourself out!" And they loved it! He got to take it right up to Canyon Lodge, and they used to to rest, eat lunch, and warm up anytime they wanted. Meanwhile...What is a girl supposed to do all by herself on a 4 day weekend? Well, Tiff expressed she could use some "Mom" time and invited me up to have 4 day weekend. So at the last minute I was on a plane, we went to Park City, had a spa day at Hotel Park City and enjoyed the peace and serenity of the beautiful winter wonderland. Then we invited Josh up and we had a great Ruth's Chris V-day dinner (since we were all companion-less). We just really enjoyed the down time and each others company. So here's to making more memories!

24 Years and 4 children later.

Before...(The hat is so 80's)

After

Another Milestone. This past month Kirk and I celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary. It has gone by so fast. We got married young and grew up together (actually I think we still need to grow up, yet we just can't get a grip on this aging and maturing thing). Thanks for all of those you have touched our lives along the way!

Week 3 of Winter Break...Then onto Utah

...to ski Park City, visit with my Mom and my niece Breana, and get Tiff and Josh back to school; and the fun comes to an end. Everyone gets back to school, work and a structured schedules. Structure is good, ya know?

Kirk and Austin...crashing
Breana and Austin sledding

Me and Kirk on the lift


All of Us

Tiff and Spence a.k.a "Tall and Small"

My Three handsome sons

Week 2 of Christmas Break...The Guys go to the Sand Dunes

Josh and Kirk

Greg
Josh

Kirk

...and the girls (Tiff and I) Shopped in Santa Monica, had facials, massages,and mani/pedi's; And went to the movies. Then we cleaned closets (I know that may not sound fun...but in a weird way we both like to organize. Tiff went through all her high school keepsakes and de-junked). We had a slumber party and slept in my big bed and enjoyed the fireplace while we read (she got me hooked on the "teenage twilight series" so not me...but it I admit, I secretly enjoyed it). We had girl talk late into the night. Tiff and I thoroughly enjoyed the peace and the quiet girl bonding, especially after the Christmas crush. And the guys, well they just loved the guy bonding time, boys and their toys...even Austin had fun on his little quad!

Christmas Time!

Christmas week was full of wonderful moments. Gingerbread Houses, Puzzles (we do a few every Christmas Vacation. Kirk likes to call it "puzzle talk" instead of "coffee talk" because of all the good convos and bonding that go on with the kids. Turkey dinner and visits from extended family(Thanks Matt, Brynn and Makenna for making Christmas eve so fun!). Then there was Christmas morning and seeing the awe in Austin's eyes from Santa's Visit. This is the most joyous time of year, when we all try a little harder to live Christ's message of peace, hope and good will towards men. And Making Memories...those are the only thing that last.

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas

OK, OK Linda, it is time to update...Thanksgiving was a fun filled week with visits from Tiff, Josh, My Mom... Jo Dorough, and my niece Breana. My Mom surprised us with tickets to go see the play "Wicked" down in Hollywood. We had Thanksgiving with my side of the family, where we all got to smoother my precious new niece Makenna Dorough. Her proud parents are my brother Matt and Brynn Dorough. She was born October 30th. Isn't she beautiful! Then right after that the Baker's were hit with the stomach flu. I had 13 people at my home and 8 of us (me included) were stricken. But hey I lost 5 very unneeded pounds (there is always an up side). It took 10 days to work its way through my family. So I lost some very crucial Christmas prep days. But I my Christmas game face on and it is all coming together. Hope you all have a Very Merry Christmas! We all hope you make wonder memories with your families and enjoy the true meaning of Christmas. Love you all!