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Who has the coolest mom? Maggie, of course!

In our desperate attempts to spoil our poor pitiful injured daughter I have proven my supreme coolness.

Maggie is disappointed that while in a cast (for insurance reasons) she cannot work out with the hotshots group at her gym. This very reasonable ban from the gym is in effect until May 30 (when the term ends). Her coach did a really good job working with me to create a workout that she can do at home. It just isn't the same. There must be something in the chalk that creates intense longing to punish your body. She has been a season ticket holder for UK Gymnastics since the 2004 season. She loves the "UK Gymnastic girls." During her first week in the cast she was particularly dejected, so on a lark I e-mailed the Coach of the UK Gymnastics team. I asked if the team could sign Maggie's cast.

This is Emilie Rymer (well, the back of her head) Maggie was able to watch her work on her floor routine while we were at the practice facility.

This is my favorite UK gymnast, Kristen O'Shields. She spoke with Maggie for about 10 minutes. How many college students do you know that prolong conversations with 6 yr olds?

Heather Hite, one of Maggie's top fav's from the team, made sure to find out what Maggie's favorite event was. Maggie asked her why she stopped using the Pirate's of the Caribbean theme music for her floor routine.

Hillary Ferguson, the most dynamic on floor I've seen since Michelle Gales competed for the Cats, seems really shy. It was surprising because how sassy she is during competition.

This is Coach Mo Mitchell. I am thankful he let us interrupt their workout to make my girl happy. The team had the last regular season meet to get ready for. YOU ROCK MO!!!!!!

Recovering

Maggie is back home from the hospital. She had surgery this morning and is now resting comfortably. She has a new movie to watch that her mother bought for her, and as you can see it made her very happy.

She'll be fine in a couple of months and will be able to resume gymnastics, but she's obviously feeling a little down about having to take a couple of months off. Any well wishes for her a greatly appreciated and can be left either in the comments section or they can be e-mailed to me at tom@tombakerguitar.com. I'll pass them on to her.

Sleep well, princess.

I didn't mean that literally...

This just in from the "Spring Break" irony department...

Maggie broke her arm sledding today. This "break" thing is getting a little out of hand.

Spring? Give Me a Break!

Shannon and I have both gone back to college this semester, which may help to explain why my postings have been even more sporadic than usual of late (read: nonexistent). Anyway, this week is our Spring Break. We still have to work, so we're not going to go off to the beach and get blitzed like more traditional college students. I think we'll just stay home and PLAY IN THE SNOW! Maybe Spring Break should actually take place in, I don't know, the Spring. That's just a thought. Anyway, enjoy the pictures Maggie and I took this morning.

Maggie's Tree

Maggie decided that Daddy's desk needed a Christmas tree. She took it upon herself to decorate it and I think she did a fantastic job. What do you think?

I'm Dreaming of a White Easter

Josh and Maggie just got back from going to the beach with their grandparents to quite a surprise. Although we didn't get snow for Christmas, it appears a "White Easter" isn't out of the question. It's colder right now in April than it was all December, and as you can see in the photos below, we got some snow yesterday for Good Friday.

Also, I realized something this week while I only had Caleb to care for. While it seemed like life got a little more complicated with each birth, I think that was just because we had a new baby to deal with. When they get bigger, having only one is a whole lot more difficult. Shannon and I were all that Caleb had, so I became his new best friend. That was cool for a while, but there was no let up. Whenever he was bored, hungry, or needed anything, he came to me. No matter what I was doing I had to deal with his request or the consequences of not dealing with it. There was none of that "go ask your brother to help you" stuff that I'm used to being able to do. There was no sub-letting of my parental responsibilities to a sibling all week. I'm exhausted! Well, without further ado, I present you with our wonderful Easter(ish) snow:

Brief update - More to come

I know it's been a while. I'm sorry. I have been shirking my duties as purveyor of Baker Monkey knowledge. I'm sorry. I've been very busy and just haven't made the time to update in a while. If it makes you feel better I've been neglecting my music site as well.

Maggie went to UK's last home gymnastics meet yesterday. Princess Pinky wrote all about it in this post, complete with a picture of my girl with two of her favorite gymnasts. From what I hear Maggie is really coming out of her shell and actually talked with these girls at length about gymnastics without the usual fidgeting and hiding. I wish I could have been there to see it.

Josh turns seven today. We're having a family party today and then a friends party tomorrow at Kids' Place. I'll do a whole new post on that soon, complete with pictures and everything. Josh's basketball team (which I have been helping coach) is doing very well. They're learning a lot and improving with each practice and game. It's been a lot of fun for me to watch these kids develop.

Caleb has been helping me coach. I think it's mostly because he's been very needy lately, particularly wanting to be around whoever is least available at the time. If his mother is cooking dinner or cleaning the kitchen, or even updating her blog with way more regularity than I have been, then he wants her. If I'm across the gym trying to teach nine other kids how to rebound, then he wants me. That said, he's having fun being around the bigger kids. Plus he got to dunk on Wednesday (with some help), so he's having a lot of fun.

Like I said, I'm sorry I've been neglecting you. I'd make some sort of empty promise to do better in the future, but I'm not sure that either of us would believe it.

Well, I will promise something. I'll post about Josh's birthday parties soon.

Tom

Mud Monster Maggie!

I came home from work a few days ago to find my Maggie who love princesses, dresses, ballet, gymnastics, and only knows the colors pink and purple, she who is a girl's girl, she to whom the only store worth shopping in is Club Libby Lu, she to whom Barbie is the best possible role modle and the figure of perfection personified, my little Princess Margaret Ann the Girly-Whirl had been replace by this Mud Monster!























































By the way, the boys had been playing in the mud, too. They, however, ran as fast as their little legs could carry them to avoid having this sad fact documented. Maggie was the only one who seemed proud of what she was doing. That's my girl!