trying to fill in the blanks

GO REDS!

2011-04-27T18:02:00.000-07:00

Sure would be nice to see these kids back out on the field.

Play! A Video Game Symphony

2011-04-04T17:46:00.000-07:00

Evan and I had a date. I fancy one. It included McDonald's, Bed Bath Beyond, GameStop, more Mcd's (ice cream cone) and the symphony. I saw this advert on PBS and right away Evan knew the music, so I bought us tickets. $50 front row, lodge level tickets... It was an experience to say the least. I know these boys are all motion, but having a twitchy 6 year old next to you in theater seats was racing through my mind. Right before going in to the Arts Ctr Evan devoured a big ice cream. Then we were told to take the elevator to floor three. E wanted to take the stairs.

His belly hurt.

Then I begged him to take a good picture withe me. This was try number 5. It will do.

We took our seats and there was plenty to look at. HUGE drums and the ceiling stars.

At intermission Evan said he didnt want to go back in, but we hadnt heard Halo yet so we were going back. The conductor was GREAT. The whole first half was appropriately Japanese composers and he would tell us (3 at a time) the history of the game before actually telling the name of the game. He asked the audience to be rowdy, to express their excitement, give up the whoop whoop I guess. And that they did.

Play included Super Mario Bros, Shadow of Colossus, Sonic the Hedgehog, Chrono Trigger/Cross, Castlevania and Legend of Zelda the first set. Second set was Kingdom Hearts, Dragon Age, Guild Wars, HALO, World of Warcraft and One Winged Angel. It was symphony with video, something I had not experienced before and it was fab. The video animations on screens went well the music and it made me like characters even though the story lines were still vague. Gamers CHEERED at the weirdest times...

As we left (we snuck out before encore) we stopped at the merchandise table. Evan looked at a poster, book, etc. The only guy about my age at the table asked me how he liked it as he walked away. I told him it was not geared towards his age. He asked what age, I said mine. He thought that was really funny... but seriously there were hard core gamers in there that loved it a whole lot more than us and we were impressed, and I would go back for sure! Duh - It's the symphony, its so peaceful.

Here are all my ok iphone pics. I guess Im a picture snob and no matter what the commercials say, the iphone doesnt cut it :D

Sky Zone

2011-02-23T07:01:00.000-08:00

I might have had the most fun at Sky Zone in Olentangy! Or maybe Jami taking the pictures! Anyway, Im coming back to blog world. I promise. Ive started a party planning blog that isnt really up yet.... Ill be blogging at work and here. You should be able to find online alot in the next few months, but what is new? And geesh I need to get us moved into this house too!
Anyway like my outfit? They made me wear these shoes and I had boots on with my RL guacho pants that I love when the weather is nice.

All 200 photos are on the link below. And some of them are super funny! Thanks to the Kumar's for a fabulous meal, movie and beers. LOVE you guys.

https://picasaweb.google.com/miller.jami/BaumasterVisitFeb2011?feat=comment_notification#

boooo

2010-06-19T05:10:00.001-07:00

Totally annoyed that I can not find my camera battery charger so I cant unload pics from Evan turning 6!

WOW!!! A Baby Girl? Do we believe it?

2010-06-15T07:24:00.000-07:00

This is Emma Kay Baumaster. Born this morning and weighing around 6.5 lbs. We are truly ecstatic about our neice. God Bless her parents!! She looks just like her older brother Carson!

Painting Chinese Letters

2010-05-31T20:06:00.000-07:00

Evan is turning 6 this coming weekend. We are thrilled. We have been blessed with a funny and adorable boy boy boy. The other day after giving it his all at the zoo with nana papa he some how managed to convince papa nana that he could paint himself and levi, all tribal looking, with some paint that drys thick and glossy on porcelain. lol. we just got the last bit off from in their neck lines. It was cute but they were in the pool and the camera wasnt working so no pics =(. Their belly buttons and backs and faces and every one of Evan's finger nails (he watched me paint mine the other night).

Levi is still asking to go home when he gets angry. Which is three times a day, often. He has a tude, a 2 year old one that he is going to grow out of. That is what I keep telling myself. "Dont Talk ta Me"- humph. And still so cute!

So we've purchased a few things for Evan's room (camo) for his bday and we told him that after this weekend we would take him to the toy store so he could pick something out. He has his eye on a nerf gun I think... I got a $20 night light that looks like a gernade. But if you ever find a ARMY night light, buy that and sell it on ebay! There are none! lol.

Evan has grown up so much this year. He is very excited for summer and making friends in the hood and then being a first grader. But we have some time for that! Hopefully next summer Ill be a stay at home mom! LOVE!

FROM TEACHER TO SOLDIER

2010-05-26T08:36:00.000-07:00

FROM ME TO TEACHER:
Hi. Can you give me any insight on Evan's short story yesterday? We couldnt clearly interpret from him whether the story was appropriate or not. He was very proud of it when he read it to me last night and I told him we would have to work on it this summer. He said the end of the story was a second part about alien invasion. BUT I really would like to know what your reaction was because he wasnt clear on it.... Well neither are we!! Thanks muches.

Jenn

FROM TEACHER TO ME:

Jen,

After finishing his assigned work Evan chose to write and illustrate a book on his own. It was a free writing time and when he was done he stood in front of the class and shared it. I understand the concern about the topic, however it seems that right now he is very interested in "Army" as he tells me. He did sensor the word knives and said that it was not appropriate for school. Those were his exact words! :) I was very pleased with his effort and success with it! Not my favorite topic, but that's ok!

This summer I would suggest using writing prompts and then also allow for free time to share his interests as well.

I am so happy that he felt proud of himself!

Lesley

Hard Days Harder Nights and Hardest Mornings

2010-05-14T13:24:00.000-07:00

I think I might be getting out of the slump of chaos. Being late to work (detour bites it), not knowing where things are, and giving in to things like sugar for the kids and movies too late. At least those are the things Im giving into. lol.

Moving In Sloowwly

2010-05-10T07:58:00.000-07:00

Brian and I stayed in the new house last night. Other then not having any food we enjoyed the peace and quiet for a bit.... Tonight I am going to try and get Levi in his big boy bed. Levi is really struggling with going home. He wants to go back to Cherry St. everyday and it is heartbreaking. Hopefully with our bed there and some other familiar stuff to him soon he will start feeling at home on Queensgate.

Here is a view of our wall in the mid morning sunshine as I stopped in on Mother's day. love it.

I told you so....

2010-04-23T06:43:00.000-07:00

I meant it when I said I want to blog more.

Planning for the new house is fun, but I have not really done anything more then buy some kitchen chairs to refurb and pick up a gazillion turquoise paint swatches. The reason behind my laziness? The Praxis II content test. O yes the 120 minute 120 question test on art history, criticism and making. It has become my goal to teach digital media arts. After 6 years of wanting to be in museum education and their not being a market for it, I feel I am better prepared for the goal ahead of me. I found out today that I am fully ready to be licensed to teach this subject at a career vocational school. I will apply for this as soon as we close on the house, and if we are not broke jokes because of it. And of course I think I just need to sharpen up my web and animation skills. Shouldnt be too hard, especially if Im allowed to do that on the job. not this job, the new job when it happens. lol.

Anyway, Ive been working on a gift from one boss married to the other boss. It is a huge canvas. See photo...

oh la la

2010-04-18T19:12:00.000-07:00

Let's see... Evan and Tball are like dancing to a booty shaking song. Not really anybody's thing right? I say that because his first game spent his time in the outfield dancing and smacking his booty. lol.

Im going to start posting some design stuff. Maybe some things that I do on the side and maybe some work related stuff.

To start, I have two shelving units. One is from mom's baby furniture and one is from a basement Brian cleaned out for a bank. They are both dark wood beneath the messes I have to clean up. BUT soon they will resemble something like this....

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/07/before-after-julies-cabinet.html

Click around - these projects are FUN!!!

Spring Fever

2010-04-08T19:29:00.000-07:00

Today was FREEEEZING compared to the 80+ we have seen recently. Living at Mom and Dad's waiting to close on our new house. We are excited. We have lots going on. That is why it has been nearly impossible for me to finish a post. Brian drove by the Cherry St house today and bragged on how pretty it was. We loved the blooming tree and all the perenials we had every year. At the new house we hope to have a vegetable garden. Probably not this year, maybe some peppers and squash. Tonight we are watching the original RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. We practically had to beg Evan to watch it with us. lol. But each change of scenery he tells us what level of the game it is. And who the bad guys are. As many of you know I have struggled with my place of employment over the past year. It is tiring. The drama of young women in a small space for hours and hours on end. Can you imagine? This week I lost one of the coordinators that we hired in September. She went back to lab work to increase her salary by like 75%...sigh. This year I started following coupon blogs and got some great deals. Once I am settled in to the house I hope to be able to catch more of these...but right now they are quite boring, and groceries have never been cheaper then they are eating at mom and dads. Evan is reading and writing everyday after or before school. I wont say that he loves it as much as he loves his toy guns but he has fun with it and that is one of the best gifts I could ask for!

Ive decided to student teach in the next two years. Hopefully entering a classroom as a full time teacher in 2012. That seems to be when Ohio will mandate all day kindergarten so hopefully that is funded and lots of new teachers will be hired! Right now most school discticts are against it because there are no additional funds allotted to support full day schedules.

Evan has started Teeball. I cant say he is as thrilled about it as soccer. But at least we know for the coming seasons that he would rather be kicking then swinging...

Anyway- we REALLY look forward to holidays in our new house. Easter weekend was amazing! Weather Food Family LOVE.... Here is the second half of our weekend. And hopefully we more posts more often!

http://picasaweb.google.com/jennbaumaster/First2010#

Merry Christmas

2009-12-29T18:49:00.000-08:00

Hello Family and Friends...So my ultimate goal is to make thank you notes with Evan tomorrow. That means I need some Christmas crafting supplies... Or recycle the cards on our door tree. Great Idea! Thanks all for the wonderful holiday! Here's to next year and hopefully a more interesting blog with more family readers. I get sad every year following the Kleimeyer Christmas gathering that there is not more of those all year long. Strange. At least in the next coming months there will be some wedding showers and such... Congrats to the cousin!

Kindergarten Pic

2009-11-06T16:32:00.000-08:00

We love it. Yes it was the red background that is pink. Evan noticed it right away. But since going for retakes, I got to pick his photo! Worth the $5 every year!! But next year, not a red background!

New Fall

2009-10-29T20:06:00.000-07:00

Well soccer was good this year! Evan was excited every game! He loved saying GOOD JOB TIGERS in the huddle at the end of every game! I have tried to encourage a winter activity. He says he only wantst to do baseball. I guess that will be what we do in the Spring instead of Y soccer. Towards the end of the summer the boys and I discovered Milo E Beck park. We love it. It has a perfect creek and some short trails along side it. Levi and I were knee deep a few times and Evan- well shoulders. We will be excited to take Brian, even though I dont think he is a huge fan of creekin... when the weather is nice. And maybe Kane.

I really want to be on the Park Board in the city. I will try again if I catch it. Probably another year or so... Happy Halloween!

THANK YOU CARDS

2009-09-21T20:39:00.000-07:00

haha. everyone has looked at me funny that has gotten the thank you card for levi's bday.And there are so many that I havent mailed out... but the people that i hand them to look at me like why do this? funny. I did them when evan was 2 for all, and the same for levi i guess. we will see what the future holds. as for now the future holds Cinci Art Museum Assistant Director of Graphic Design.... OMG - due Friday!! pray and wish me luck, I think those are the two things need more of. This application is one of many this year, and I never hear a thing back. Also keeping me busy is Jami's table cards and 250 wedding programs, yes it is less then two weeks, so they are getting some of my attention too! And going into the portfolio. They are beautiful! Evan is loving school and Levi is loving talking. We are going to love fall for a bit, and then be sad we have so long until summer!

working mom

2009-09-15T05:02:00.001-07:00

I wish I had more time to blog. I might even take a turn from centering the posts on the boys to myself. I have more 'excuses' to type something up quick at work or not put photos up that way... or just bitch about graphic design. Maybe ill be a famous blogger when I tell tales of how I make it through the days of stressed advertising and production work, or submitting countless resumes to art museums to never hear a word back...ya know never giving up on the goal. THE GOAL. Maybe a new blog with that in mind. That would make it three. And I am not even good at it.

But you know what I have been good at lately, Dove Chocolates.

Getting Excited For

2009-08-19T18:00:00.000-07:00

cooler weather, kindergarten, new schedule for the boys, fall soccer, jami's wedding... We went to Michigan two weeks ago. It POURED all day Saturday. Deb made an amazing dinner. Which we ate on their fabulous screened in porch. Sunday we went and did a little shopping and then to see Ice Age 3 will both boys. Deb, Evan, Brian, Jenn, Levi made it through the whole movie. It was awesome. Levi didnt wear his 3D glasses but he sure was good and he giggled too! Great time. Thanks Mom In Law - we love you and we're so happy to spend time there. Evan and Grandpa play TONS of wii, so does Brian of course.... We came back Monday, somehow going back to work that week was still soooo long. :) We went camping this past weekend, in the luxery of a camper, for just one night. This is Kris and Missy's girls. All of us cant wait to go back!! The campground in on Cowen Lake everytime we are there we are amazed that this is a 5hp limit. Seems like such a waste... This coming week Evan starts kindergarten. We met his teacher on Monday, Mrs Phibbs. She said 'what a bright boy' and that she 'is so excited to have him in class'. One of the boys Evan has known (from Jill's daycare) since he was one is in his class. That will be interesting... Levi turns two on Saturday so Im sure Ill have a ton more to say next week! Although his party isnt until the 29th. For now see how these smiling faces keep me going everyday.

The Truth Is....

2009-08-07T21:19:00.000-07:00

I am having a really hard time with Evan starting kindergarten. I feel that it is normal but I am literally shedding tears everyday. I have started to poke around at working from home and getting my masters (prob not gonna happen - way too much $$$$$). I should have pursued teaching after Evan was born, although I dont regret getting out of mom and dads asap then either :)I really want to be home with Levi as much as I can. Or at least be able to spend more summer time with them. This year at work summer has been brutal. It got soooo bad. I cry now thinking about how much heart goes into my job and not into my kids all day. Work is stressful or I am not one to take the stress of a DEMANDING job easily. There is no amount of money that should make things seem backwards like they do while I slave to it all day everyday. One good thing is that I think Brian will be home with the boys each morning until Evan is taken to school. Then Brian and Evan will have naptime until I pick Evan up from kindergarten and come home to my boys. This makes me feel better. That is if he can do it... We dont know until we try. He is in school still so a few days a week they will be with Jill. The decision has been made that my mom will not spoil the boys anymore during the day. haha. No, it was just too much more stress.... Anyway, we are headed to Michigan in the morning. I am soo excited to get some Deb time. And for her to have some boys time.... We are going to back to school shop. Or start to school shop, I think. The list they gave me of things to get has definitely increased by about the value of 30 boxes of tissues per student. Ok, Im off to pack and get some sleep before daring to drive my half asleep family 3 hours in the am. Have a great HOT summer weekend!

Busy End to Summer

2009-07-28T12:40:00.001-07:00

My best friend is getting married in October. Im supa psyched. This weekend is her bridal shower and bachelorette party. I am throwing these parties with her sister in law and mom. You can imagine how much effort I am putting in, becuase I love a good party! Anyway, I wanted to share the logo I did last night for the Tshirts we are doing for the (hu hmm) first event of the bachelorette party. So that is the big weekend coming up and then next weekend we are going to Michigan and then in a golf scramble the following weekend at the Lambert's campground, then off to KY to see the new acreage my sister and Ryan purchased last week. O and that is the weekend of Levi's second birthday. So if you are reading this and dont have plans for the 29th of Aug, I would like to gather as many people as possible to sing Happy Birthday to Levi!! Below is the image of the logo I worked on for many minutes last night.

More later, as you know I would post on here everyday if I found the breathing room!

Today...One Day in a Short Weekend

2009-07-18T07:52:00.000-07:00

I wish I had many photos of balloons to show you and smiling kids to go with them. Too windy for balloons. They promise a bigger show tonight and I really hope we can make it. Today however has been off to a rough start. Brian had a tooth pulled by a DDS, Evan has been to the doctor, Kane wont stop screaming is the best way to put it about we dont know what.... and I was just told I slowed the internet connection of the boys watching sponge bob so im off to give efforts for a better day. So as I was scrubbing the cat box (somebody has to) and flooding the back yard I noticed the leaf after I was done. I had fun trying to catch it with our camera. So it became a moment to myself where I could unleash my efforts for 'happiest family'. I guess I should preface this with Levi. His cant talk time period and temper are stressful to all of us. He demands things we dont understand and Evan doesnt understand that he is not in charge of Levi. We are working on things and everyday we have very wonderful moments with each of them. There are just those hard to communicate stressful moments that weigh down. More later... maybe at nap time....

TBALL IN THE RAIN OWELL

2009-07-02T19:29:00.000-07:00

Evan is playing Tball at the YMCA through July. The games are on weeknights, who knew? We had his first practice and the last 10 minutes got rained out. It was cold... what in July? I am good friends with the coach, and funny thing is (we love the YMCA) they don't even know the rules to the game yet. Do they run bases, run all of the bases? We will see. Evan didnt get a chance to bat because of the rain out but he was rockin third base. Literally... It was entertaining to see all the kids run for the hits and fight after the ball and also to see the coaches nearly get hit by the swings numerous times becuase the kids are so anxious to play. Hope to see you out there!

Olga likes our boys!

2009-06-25T14:25:00.000-07:00

We have a new family member. Presenting.... Olga

She is 12 weeks old, neutered, grey with some stomach patches of white and peach. We are all falling for her. She comes out to play with the boys and goes in to psycho mode if Kane comes near. Understandable, but he was around a kitten - cat his first two years and he could really care less other than for a sniff or two. Not that Olga will allow it. Brian said he heard on the news that the shelters were over packed with cats and they were all going to kitty heaven if we didnt save them. We saved one. I have always thought this house was too small. Ive been reconsidering lately but had kept that to myself. We cut a hole in a bench that we have, placed the liter box in there... brilliant I know! She has even gone in it! Thank goodness or I would not be dealing at all... Then there is the name, she came with it. Olga. Even Levi says it! hehe. So it's a cute name coming from little boys mouths and we are keeping it.

Birthday Pants

2009-06-11T18:48:00.000-07:00

2004 seems like just yesterday. Since Evan's birthday is early in June (love it) I always love to start the year off with his party at mom's pool. This year it was like 50 degrees just 4 days before his party and I thought for sure the sun wouldnt have enough power to heat the pool in time for the party. I was wrong. Five straight years of beautiful birthday party weather! We were joined by Evan's best friends; Hudson Kirby, Max Christensen, Riley Long, Kennedy and Abby Lambert, Grace Young, Andrew Snyder and Clay Rosso. I convinced Evan to do Spongebob as a theme. It was FABULOUS and easy. I highly recommend... even without a pool there are great ideas online. We played two games; the sponge toss and the crabby patty relay race. Evan went second in the relay race and threw a fit because he dropped his hamburger bun off of his spatula while in a oven mit... thank you to the other mom's that kept it going for me while I ran away and was just about to throw candy at the kids and say sorry I failed! haha. Another highlight was the cake. Kroger has two great Spongebob cake designs and Evan went with me to pick it out. It was a very hard decision. All in all it was another awesome birthday! Levi napped most of the party and enjoyed the sun before and after, but has not really adapted to the pool yet. Today we received our second 'ticket' (check) gift, this one from Great Grandma Moser, so Evan had a hefty little wad to spend at Toys R Us. We took the boys tonight and Evan told me he loved transformers more than Playmobil. I was a bit shocked... We left with a dinosaur tent that is bigger than I thought and 2 new transformers, a decepticon and a well another one, the good guy! Both planes. Thank you Great Grandparents for the thoughtful gifts, Evan loved going up and down the aisles. Thanks to all who came out and celebrated. We <3 all our friends!

Below are some photos from the party!

Kids all lined up for the games. Goof off's on the right side! Grace, Abby and Kennedy, Max, Hudson, Clay...

Kennedy, Abby and Hudson laughin it up! Kiki rox the crabby patty run!

Goof off's got some serious buisiness now - presents. Evan recieved his first webkinz from Max! We named him e-t and Evan is learning the online world that e-t lives in a little more each day. That place is hectic. I had a 14 year old babysitter here once and I noticed she went on webkinz.com. I now think I might know why... It's like a facebook for kids or something. Anyway we are ebaum6 if you know how to find us!! Such a sweetie! He will be 2 in August!

HERE COMES JUNE

2009-05-29T12:34:00.000-07:00

Well I am so excited for summer... This month has been quite hectic. May came and went and Im still trying to make June 1 deadlines at work.

We have our home for sale. It is up for close to what we paid for it and we are really really hoping we can sell and move on to bigger and better. Last weekend we decided to refresh all of the paint in the main living areas. During our overhaul Brian was bit by his brothers dog. Yikes. He ended up in the hospital for 24 hours. So all of the plastic is down and the ladder still up and we are getting ready for our open house on Sunday. Today the realtor calls and requests a showing in the morning... tomorrow. Yikes. We can only do the best we can. We are the second most expensive 1 bath home in Springboro. That says a lot.

Evan will be five next week. He is very excited. He starts afternoon kindergarten in August. Today was his last day of pre-school. He loves to play games on my iphone and recently he found the camera. He has taken a hundred pics including this one of Levi and his new haircut (from da) and his favorite toy.

WARREN COUNTY PARKS

2009-05-17T07:33:00.000-07:00

For all of my life I have driven past Aarmco Park and wondered what was behind the fence. Maybe when I was little I went fishing once or to a softball game, but hardly would be able to tell you... So the other day my mom reminded me that it is now open to the public. Nice. We have been there twice to play on the HUGE play set and throw sticks in the lake. We probably threw a hundred sticks, and gathering them was never-ending. These guys came by on a peddle boat that they rented for $5 for a half hour. Evan was ready to pay for it of course. There is no way I can take my boys on a boat. O heck no, so if anyone wants to brave it with me in the days to come. I think the nicer peddle boats can even be attached to each other. So here is to my first family post (lord knows Im being yelled at to do something by someone right now) and I gotta go.

Happy Earth Day

2009-04-22T10:13:00.000-07:00

I am ready for Earth Day.

I do intend to refer to the greenest things I can come up with in Ohio Suburbia....

So to that in the near future.

Happy Earth Day!

Welcome To Us

2009-04-21T19:26:00.000-07:00

I am not ready for blogging. But will I ever be? I landed me in a space where I can search, mom, work, give, design, search, be green, be quaint and be ready. The tools of achievement will be experience and education, as always. Things that are going on: sand volleyball, school levy, crazy schedule and adorable kids. My sisters with soul and long sunny days... Somehow I hope to find greener, golder ways. I hope to share these with you.