So, my Grandpa Baker died last week. It's such a strange emotion when you lose a grandparent. Part of me wants to cry and the other part wants to rejoice that he is home. That his parents and 2 of his children were there to welcome him. I know that his body has been restored and that he is with his loved one's, but the rest of us, here, feel a little bit lonely.
My mom asked me to think of a memory of Grandpa to share with his Pastor before the funeral. How do you do that? How do you find just one memory? I've been thinking all week and it's just a big old jumble of wonderful memories. Grandpa was larger than life. I remember as a little girl being amazed by his size. He seemed HUGE! Tall and strong, and he had the biggest hands in the whole, wide world.
He was so gruff, and so silly. Grandpa would tell you to get on a horse or swim across a raging river, and you just didn't say no. No matter if you were scared, if Grandpa said jump...you jumped. A lot of the memories that have been blurring through my head are at the river. Be it the Madison River, Warm River, Snake River, Big Hole River, Firehole River...you name it, we spent a lot of time on rivers. We spent so much time fly fishing, or tubing, or camping. Feeding the fish, or throwing rocks. I can't hear the sound of a rushing river without thinking of my Grandpa.
I remember one time when I was maybe 8 years old. We were jumping in the Madison up by the dog kennels and floating down to the big rock. Grandpa was sitting on the rock and that's where we were to stand up and get out. Well, one time I must have jumped a little to far out into the current and I floated right on past the rock. I tried and tried to get my feet under me, but the current was too strong and I was floating away. I remember thinking in my head how long it would take me to float past the bridge when I saw this enormous hand reach down and pull me out of the water. It probably only took Grandpa two strides in the water to reach me and pull me out.
Grandpa bought me my first 10 speed bike. It was the coolest bike in the world. Pink and gray and I had to lean down real far to reach the handles. He also bought me a pink cowboy hat to match. How cool was I?
I was lucky enough when I was 8 years old to go on my first major road trip with Grandpa. I flew to Omaha where he and Grandma Weezie picked me up at the airport and we drove back to Montana. We had the best time. Went to Mt. Rushmore and stayed at the Mt. Rushmore Motel where Grandma and I were terrified of the water slide. So Grandpa went up and jumped on the slide on his belly to show us how easy it was. We spent some time in Cody, WY learning all about Buffalo Bill, and we drove through Yellowstone during the big fires. I remember riding dirt bikes, and shooting guns. Riding horses, riding snowmobiles and learning to drive in the old Dodge truck. I remember hooting and hollering at basketball and football games (even thought I had no idea what was going on) and the rowdy games of Tripoly as Grandpa taught all his grand kids how to gamble. I remember looking at pocket knives in Grandpa's office. I remember that smell. The smell of Grandpa's office. A heady mix of leather, paint thinner and after shave. Tyler and I got to spend a fabulous week on the Big Hole with Grandpa. It rained and rained so much that even Grandpa didn't want to fish. So we piled in the truck and found some crazy, unheard of hot springs and swam and played in the warm water all day. There was a little stream just down the hill from the hot spring and Tyler and I laid in that stream telling Grandpa how warm it was, trying so hard to get him in. Well, 20 minutes later, after having us pose for multiple pictures in the "warm" stream, he tells us that he knows it's not warm and we can quit pretending. And how about those interviews? If you are a grand kid, you know what I'm talking about. Grandpa sits you on a stool with a huge spotlight glaring into your eyes and sets up his video camera and asks you all kinds of questions about yourself. I hated those interviews! And don't forget the trouble you could get in if you didn't eat "Every Carrot and
pee on your plate."
As we got older, I got to watch my "larger than life" Grandpa turn into the most tender hearted GG Pa. He was so proud of his Great Grandchildren.
I'm so happy the my Brooklyn will have a few memories of her GG Pa. Their bike rides through the Warm River Camp Ground are a very special memory.
Anyway, sorry mom, I can't think of just one. How about a wonderful jumble?
In recent days, there has been a monster on the loose on Planet Muir. The damage that this beast has left in his wake is unimaginable. Many deaths have occurred, and several life threatening injuries have ensued. Ross was once an athletic high school student. He may not have much going on upstairs, but the boy could run a football...before the attack. Now, without the use of either of his feet, and also no hands to speak of, the poor boy's football career is over before it had begun.
Ross valiantly sacrificed his limbs in the attempt to spare his long time girlfriend Chloe. Chloe was lucky. She only lost one foot.
Yazmine was out for a leisurely horse back ride when she was stealthily attacked. Her poor horse went down and Yazmine was left with nothing to defend herself. 
"I had just been cast on America's Next Doll Model...and now look at me! I'm a limbless freak!" 
With the damage Yazmine sustained on her calves, her hopes of wearing stilleto's forever, have been dashed. She will have to subject the world to her freakishly large feet for the rest of her limbless life. 
While Ross, Chloe and Yazmine's stories are horrifying, they were lucky. Many have lost their lives completely with nothing left to show but a lone limb. 
"I think that arm belonged to my dear old Grandma." Wept Sasha as she recovered in the hospital after her won attack. 
While the Bratz community has been hit the hardest, there is nothing this beast won't eat. 
He was so gruff, and so silly. Grandpa would tell you to get on a horse or swim across a raging river, and you just didn't say no. No matter if you were scared, if Grandpa said jump...you jumped. A lot of the memories that have been blurring through my head are at the river. Be it the Madison River, Warm River, Snake River, Big Hole River, Firehole River...you name it, we spent a lot of time on rivers. We spent so much time fly fishing, or tubing, or camping. Feeding the fish, or throwing rocks. I can't hear the sound of a rushing river without thinking of my Grandpa.
I remember one time when I was maybe 8 years old. We were jumping in the Madison up by the dog kennels and floating down to the big rock. Grandpa was sitting on the rock and that's where we were to stand up and get out. Well, one time I must have jumped a little to far out into the current and I floated right on past the rock. I tried and tried to get my feet under me, but the current was too strong and I was floating away. I remember thinking in my head how long it would take me to float past the bridge when I saw this enormous hand reach down and pull me out of the water. It probably only took Grandpa two strides in the water to reach me and pull me out. 
Grandpa bought me my first 10 speed bike. It was the coolest bike in the world. Pink and gray and I had to lean down real far to reach the handles. He also bought me a pink cowboy hat to match. How cool was I?
I was lucky enough when I was 8 years old to go on my first major road trip with Grandpa. I flew to Omaha where he and Grandma Weezie picked me up at the airport and we drove back to Montana. We had the best time. Went to Mt. Rushmore and stayed at the Mt. Rushmore Motel where Grandma and I were terrified of the water slide. So Grandpa went up and jumped on the slide on his belly to show us how easy it was. We spent some time in Cody, WY learning all about Buffalo Bill, and we drove through Yellowstone during the big fires. I remember riding dirt bikes, and shooting guns. Riding horses, riding snowmobiles and learning to drive in the old Dodge truck. I remember hooting and hollering at basketball and football games (even thought I had no idea what was going on) and the rowdy games of Tripoly as Grandpa taught all his grand kids how to gamble. I remember looking at pocket knives in Grandpa's office. I remember that smell. The smell of Grandpa's office. A heady mix of leather, paint thinner and after shave. Tyler and I got to spend a fabulous week on the Big Hole with Grandpa. It rained and rained so much that even Grandpa didn't want to fish. So we piled in the truck and found some crazy, unheard of hot springs and swam and played in the warm water all day. There was a little stream just down the hill from the hot spring and Tyler and I laid in that stream telling Grandpa how warm it was, trying so hard to get him in. Well, 20 minutes later, after having us pose for multiple pictures in the "warm" stream, he tells us that he knows it's not warm and we can quit pretending. And how about those interviews? If you are a grand kid, you know what I'm talking about. Grandpa sits you on a stool with a huge spotlight glaring into your eyes and sets up his video camera and asks you all kinds of questions about yourself. I hated those interviews! And don't forget the trouble you could get in if you didn't eat "Every Carrot and pee on your plate."
As we got older, I got to watch my "larger than life" Grandpa turn into the most tender hearted GG Pa. He was so proud of his Great Grandchildren.
I'm so happy the my Brooklyn will have a few memories of her GG Pa. Their bike rides through the Warm River Camp Ground are a very special memory.
Anyway, sorry mom, I can't think of just one. How about a wonderful jumble?
Yesterday Ryan took Rylee ice fishing, so Brooklyn and I decided to go do something we love....SHOPPING! Turns out we weren't the only ones in town in need of some retail therapy.
Anna, Logan, Bailey, Amber, Brooklyn and I all piled in Agatha (my new name for Anna's mini van) and headed to Grand Forks for what we thought was a Sams Club run. Turns out, we hit just about every store in town...and then some. I found some jeans at my favorite store, American Eagle. Anna found a swimsuit (amazing, who looks good in a swim suit in February?) Bailey found plenty of shoes. Amber found some fake glasses and Logan found some Cars cars. Brooklyn spent most of her money on the dog.
Collar, leash, t-shirt and toy. And the greatest find of the day was for Rylee, who wasn't even with us. The kid is crazy about Snuggies. She's wanted one for months. Last week the cast of The Today Show was wearing them and she was going crazy. She wants one so bad! So, when we found one, we had to get it. Here she is, demonstrating it's usefulness.
I had to pry it off her to go to church this morning. Other than that, she hasn't taken it off. I love my small town, but sometimes I just miss wandering in and out of stores, the hustle and bustle of the city (and Grand Forks is no big city), good restaurants, good groceries. Aaahhhh, the convenience of living in town.
Good thing Bailey was there to comfort her, because I wasn't feeling a lot of sympathy. You got up there, find a way down. :)
This is Ashlyn...and she was one of mine. I'd like to say her Toe Touches are amazing because of me...but really, she's just good.
And this is McKayla...an all time favorite of mine. Not only did she dance for me, but she is also our prized babysitter, my assistant teacher to the Kindergarten dance class, and the Great Granddaughter to my favorite lady of Carrington - Florence.
