Score One for the City Kid

I grew up in the heart of yuppie suburban Denver (home, sweet home!). As a result, my childhood education lacked a bit in a few areas. I was never well versed in guns, bows, cattle branding, calf roping, horseback riding, bunny clubbing, birthing and milking cows, rodeos, driving tractors, etc. I have some cousins that grew up on a ranch in the absolute middle of nowhere, and whenever we would visit them, these knowledge gaps quickly became obvious. My cousins loved to tease us city kids for our naivety, and although I always knew there were advantages to growing up in both places, I could never quite think up any good comebacks to their taunts.

Until yesterday. Yesterday, THIS city kid leveled the playing field. Oh, yes. I shot a gun for the first time ever yesterday, a 12-gauge shotgun. My three brothers-in-law, my husband, my country cousin Nicole and I all shot clay pigeons after my one practice shot. I didn't think I'd shoot anything, especially since they were moving targets, but I hit quite a several clays and even dusted a few of them. I am especially proud to say that I outshot Nicole - the same cousin that has been taunting me for years. Vindication at long last! Score one for the city kid...

A Little Flair

My sisters would both be very proud to know that yesterday I got my first pedicure ever. I need more flair in my life...

Baby Blessing for Noah

We blessed Noah today in our student ward. He was so cute and so good - he didn't utter a peep! Aaron gave a beautiful blessing; the circle was huge. After looking at the pictures, you can see why. Both of us come from huge families.



Some of the Sissons - David, Grandma, Mom, Aunt Karen, Dad, and McKenzie. McKenzie is not a Sisson, but we let her in the picture anyway.

"You missed a spot shaving, Dad."

Noah and Uncle David. Don't worry Noah - just because Uncle David is a marine doesn't mean he's going to eat you.

"Why hello, Aunt Karen! Fancy meeting you here..."

Don't mind us. We're just the parents.

A house full of Sissons. Where is my family in all this?

Four generations.

From left to right and top to bottom: Phil, Karen, Aaron, Noah, Me, Aunt Vicki, Uncle Charlie, Grandma, Dad, and Mom

Grandmother B's Book Club

This one's for all you Bakers out there. I have recently taken to reading during the times I get up during the night to feed Noah. I've finished reading Grandma Baker's mission journal (as compiled by Grandpa) and I'm almost finished with Grandma and Grandpa's personal histories. Reading these has reminded me of my love for Grandma and how much I miss her. I knew she was a wonderful grandma and a great person, but I didn't realize how amazing she really was until I read her journal. Even through the darkest hours of her cancer treatment she was so optimistic and cheerful. She truly wore out her life helping others.

As a tribute to Grandmother B (and in an attempt to supply myself with good books to read while I nurse Noah in the wee hours of the morning) I am starting a book club - Grandmother B's Book Club. All you Bakers and Baker relatives are especially invited to join, though all are welcome. Once I get a goodly number of people who are interested, I'll make a separate blog and we can post comments on books that way. I'm guessing we'll do somewhere in the neighborhood of a book per month or per quarter, depending on the length of the book.

If you would like to join Grandmother B's Book Club, leave a comment on this post or send me an email and I'll keep you updated when I make the blog. Grandma's passing left the world in short supply of good book recommendations, so please include in your comment any and all book recommendations that Grandma B made to you. Nicole and I have started a short list:

Wizard of Oz series
Catherine Called Birdie
I Capture the Castle
Where the Red Fern Grows
Harry Potter series
Mr. Popper's Penguins
Mary Poppins series

Family Pics

Starting tomorrow, literally dozens of our family members will be coming to town. We're taking this opportunity to take family pictures. I haven't done family pictures in a while, and considering that I just deflated from a size umpteen, I think I might take the liberty of purchasing some new clothes for the occasion. Has anyone seen some cute, trendy-but-classic, not-too-expensive outfits lately that they'd care to recommend?

Two Little Hands

"I have two little hands folded snuggly and tight..."

"...They both fit in my mouth if I hold them just right..."

"...so they'll entertain me 'til daylight is through..."

"...'cause munching on hands is just so fun to do!"

B Batteries

Have you ever noticed that we have AA batteries, AAA batteries, C batteries, and D batteries, but no B batteries? We don't seem to have any just plain A batteries either. Can anyone shed any light on this? Or is it the same reason we drive on a parkway and park on a driveway?

More Flourishes

I had fun making these this morning. Noah napped long enough for me to make two and a half of them.

Do you like being a mom?

Ah, yes. Everyone's favorite question for me these days. It's an okay one, I suppose, though not entirely fair. If you were to ask me, "Do you like having a son that's the most adorable little boy in the whole world?", then the answer to that question would be an easy one. Of course I love my little Squeaker.

But do I love getting up three times a night to feed and change my little bundle of joy? Not so much. I could also do without the projectile gastronomical productions and the unpredictability of living with a person who has little concept of a 24-hour day and only communicates in grunts, cries, wails, and head bobs.

But when I catch little moments like these, somehow it makes all the chaos worth it and I am convinced that things will get easier. Someday...

Inklings...

Here is a forecast (hopefully) of things to come in Aaron's near future. We got a picture of this buck off of his trail camera this week, and a few others of more bucks and elk as well. We switched the camera from low resolution to high, so hopefully next weeks pictures will be better.

I must admit that I'm excited to have both elk and venison in my freezer this year...