Friday, April 29, 2011

Easter With the Kids, Grandkids and Mom Stout

After spending last Easter in the hospital, what a joy it was to worship in church Easter morning with our whole family. From Emery, our youngest, to my Mom, our oldest, we are so thankful we were all able to be together for the first time since Emery was born. And we all celebrated the reason for Easter:  "He is not here, for He has risen, as He said." (Matthew 28:6) Alleluia!

My how our family has grown!

Do we really have five grandchildren already?

Can't forget to capture Gigi in a picture too!

Emery needed a nap after all the picture taking!

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Easter Morning Breakfast and Traditional Cross Cakes

Ernie, Nick, Mom and I had a quiet breakfast before church...just the four of us. I love setting the table and getting everything ready the night before so we can eat and then enjoy our worship service at church. We were all still in our pjs, so no group shots this time!




Our Best Bites Overnight Egg and Sausage Casserole
It's a family tradition to bake and decorate a cross cake for Easter. Every once in a while Easter falls on Nick's birthday and the Easter cake also becomes Nick's birthday cake (like in the picture below).

Tara and Leah's handiwork...we still laugh about this one!
2008 
Risen Savior
 2009
We ran out of time...frosting and sprinkles!
2011

It was fun looking back at the past couple of years to see what we had done with the different cakes. You might have noticed that 2010 is missing...Ernie and I spent that Easter at Rex Hospital. So thankful the tradition of the cross cake continued this year and that we were home to enjoy it!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Nick's Peruvian Adventure - Part II - It's a Jungle Out There!

Atalaya Reserve in the jungle - common room and kitchen

Nick's luxurious accomodations complete with mosquito net

More dorms

A semi-private room at another reserve...Nick's bed on the right

Nick woke up with Chico the reserve's pet monkey IN HIS BED!

Chico and Paula at the foot of Nick's bed...every morning!

"Driveway" to the reserve...only way across

Friday, April 22, 2011

Happy 88th Birthday to EZ's Dad...affectionately known as Pop-Pop!

Today marks a very special day as we celebrate the birth of Lewin Thompson Baker, Ernie's Dad. As was often the case back in the 1920's, he was born in the large front bedroom of his grandparents' home in Port Allegany, Pennsylvania. Here is an early picture of "Pop-Pop" as a child with some of their hunting dogs and later as he served in the U.S. Army:



We were so happy to be able to head over to Black Mountain last weekend in order to enjoy a few days in the beautiful North Carolina mountains, celebrating Dad's 88th birthday (a bit early). We decided to make it a birthday party for two as Ernie's mom, Erna Dysart Baker, will be 87 in June. Here is a picture of her back in the day:


What a blessing it is to have these two, married almost 65 years, enjoying life together and celebrating another birthday! We fixed one of their favorite meals...ham with a few sides:





Nick insisted on breaking out the party hats for the occasion, so everyone happily complied:




Ernie's father, at 88, bought his first laptop computer! What a joy it was to have Nick helping his grandfather get everything configured so he would be good to go by the time we had to head home. You are never too old to be computer savy!



Alas, it was time to head home, but not before snapping some traditional pictures on the front porch:



Happy Birthday Mom and Dad Baker! We love you and wish you a year full of happy times!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Thankful Thursday - EZ Once Again Dancing with his Mom!

One thing that Ernie has always loved to do is dance with his Mom in her kitchen. He just walks on over, makes her stop whatever she is doing, and says, "It's time to dance with my Mom". Well, needless to say, she just glows, holds on tight, and savors every minute. No worrying about her son and how he's doing or if he's going to be okay...just dancing. I love it!


Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Nick's Peruvian Adventure in Pictures - Cusco

Christo Blanco

Plaza de Armas

Plaza de Armas - Crossroads of the Incan Empire

Bustling Cusco from Viva el Peru
Peruvians dying textiles

Market at Pisac

Chef Nick at his Volunteer House