Fruits of Dust

a space to re-live some favorite memories with my favorite people


EVENTS Ramsey Baker EVENTS Ramsey Baker

The Twins Turn 6

The babies of the family turned six and we decided to host all their friends over for a simple summer yard hang. We rented a bounce house from Columbus Castles, who did all the leg work. They arrived on site and set up the bounce house, balloon arch and cute little sign, then when the party as over they came back and cleaned it all up. Talk about a full service. I also reached out and booked Sunny Sips, a little camper smoothie truck who will come to your event location and serve delicious smoothies. It was a big hit with the kiddos. Happy birthday to our baby girls.

<div class='nar-root' data-post-id='1ab24476-da83-41c3-8cb1-9a6b26c48194' style='p {text-align:center;opacity: 0.0;animation: nara 0s ease-in 2s forwards;}@keyframes nara {to {opacity: 1.0;}}' >
    <img style="width:100%;" src="https://fetch.getnarrativeapp.com/static/1ab24476-da83-41c3-8cb1-9a6b26c48194/featured.jpg">
    <noscript><p>Your Narrative blog will appear here, click preview to see it live.<br>For any issues click <a href="https://help.narrative.so/i/j">here</a></p></noscript>
    <script type="text/javascript" src="https://fetch.getnarrativeapp.com/core/embed/r/1ab24476-da83-41c3-8cb1-9a6b26c48194.js"></script>
    </div>
Read More
TRAVEL Ramsey Baker TRAVEL Ramsey Baker

Florida | Treasure Island | May 2022

Headed south for some beach time and a surprise trip to Disney. I found a cute little motel called The Molloy on Treasure Island, Florida. The motel was hidden between a row of towering vacation stays but even being short The Molloy stands out because somehow once in the premise its a cute little white space with private beach access and a pool. It served our needs perfectly although I will warn parking is limited and I can image would be tricky in peak season.

We also did a day trip to Disney which was really special because none of the kids had been before. We went with Magic kingdom and I totally splurged and hired a Florida photographer to spend the day with us and document. This ended up being a great idea, if you find yourself busy on your phone trying to capture everything, or in my case on my camera, and end up loosing out on actually enjoying the moment OR never ended up in photos yourself. I can’t recommend Brittany The Photographer enough for spending a hot May Day with us at Disney.

Read More
Ramsey Baker Ramsey Baker

Halloween Family Photos 21'

Photos by Nicole Leone Miller

Halloween Family Portraits

Miller Manor

Mount Vernon, Ohio

Anyone else have a weird love for everything weird and spooky? Well I do, and I know my girl Nicole does too. Thats why she had to be the one to photograph my little family for a masked halloween photo shoot in her beautiful old (and kind of spooky) manor. One thing I found to be really nice from a parents view, you didn’t have to worry about where they are looking, what faces they are making. In a mask anywhere they look turns out ok, and maybe even spookier than expected. I don’t need much persuasion but I encourage anyone to take the time to do the photo sessions, of all kinds. The formal, the silly and the spooky.

Photographer- Nicole Leoné Miller

Venue- Miller Manor

Masks- Curious Fair

Read More
EVENTS Ramsey Baker EVENTS Ramsey Baker

Knox Turns 2

Our babe Knox turned two and we joined festivities with his cousin Declan who has a birthday a month after his. Both boys are alllll about anything vehicle… Knox calls everything “beep beeps”. So that was an easy theme to use. We rented the Buxton Inn garden room and had the boys closest friends and family to come celebrate them.

Photographer- Judith Madrid Photography

Venue- Buxton Inn

Cupcake Toppers, Custom Signs- POPPYjack Shop

Read More
MOTHERHOOD Ramsey Baker MOTHERHOOD Ramsey Baker

Family Photos with Sara Nicole Photography

Danville, Ohio

Photos by Sara Nicole Photography

There are a few things I had in mind when booking this years family photos. I wanted an amazing family photographer, rolling hills scenery, fingers crossed for a sunset and a late summer/early fall timeframe. And the Gods heard my cry because thats exactly what we got. Sara of Sara Nicole Photography completely blew me away with her ability to delivery an amazing gallery. Not to mention her beautiful editing. We met outside of Danville, Ohio on private property of someone she knew and had the perfect weather, a beautiful sunset and only cranky kids for the last half.

I encourage you as a client thinking about when and where to do photos to consider…

What time of day will it be sunset, is it way past kids bedtime?

What’s the weather like-will you be sweaty in 5 minutes?

Does your wardrobe match the scenery?

Does your photographer help guide you in all those questions?

Photographer- Sara Nicole Photography

Read More
MOTHERHOOD Ramsey Baker MOTHERHOOD Ramsey Baker

Summer inside with my Girls

Photos by Nicole Leoné Miller

Miller Manor

Mount Vernon, Ohio

If you follow along, you may have seen last year I did a photo session with just. my girls. You can see that here- Picnic with my Girls

This year, my girls are 5 and I thought, how fun if we just make some forts out of sheets and play for a while. I always go into photo sessions, and reality for that matter, knowing these girls move and groove. They are not the type to sit with barbies for hours. They are too wired for that kind of intentionality. So I knew they may like the forts or they might have just as much fun destroying them. We went to Nicoles beautiful home for the photos and set up shop. As anticipated they were into for a few minutes but quickly moved on and wanted to explore her house, which in return made for just as beautiful of photos.

I have come to look forward to these annual photo shoots with my girls, always trying to come up with a theme they may enjoy and if nothing else, will have to look back on fondly when grown, with their mother in front of the frame with them.

Photographer- Nicole Leoné Miller

Venue- Miller Manor

Read More
TRAVEL Ramsey Baker TRAVEL Ramsey Baker

Taking on Arizona

Arizona 2021

+Sedona, Grand Canyon, Phoenix

Listen, traveling is not for everyone, but we love it. We have been a little intimidated at taking on a “bigger” trip with three kids but decided to take the plunge. We planned a late summer trip out to Arizona. We choose Arizona because one, we knew there were a variety of things to see like the Grand Canyon and Sedona but also because I have family in Phoenix. It is important to me to make those trips and allow my family a far to meet my kids and have memories with them. The actual vacation was amazing and went way easier than we anticipated. The flight there was the only part I now have advice on.. so buckle up if you need it.

We flew to Arizona and my son who was 20 months did not require a seat so we thought, lap child and save the cost. BIG MISTAKE. He def needed his own room. So much so, that we purchased a one way ticket for the ride home, and the flight was so much better. If you are in this situation, two things that I think may make a difference for someone else. 1. Is your child distracted easily with something like a screen? (Knox was not). 2. What time of day are you traveling? Is it nap time? (the flight to Arizona was around nap time and he did not sleep in my lap as I had hoped and instead was cranky because he was tired. On the flight home, it was early morning and he was much happier in general not being his nap time.

Either way, it was a few hours worth the headache for the experiences and memories and I encourage you to take the plunge too.

Read More
TRAVEL Ramsey Baker TRAVEL Ramsey Baker

Michigan Summer

Summer 21’

Leland, Michigan

We have been to Michigan now many times but never in the summer. Out friends who have a home in Leland that we stay at usually are there the whole summer but this year, they were having a baby and decided to stay in Ohio. SO we got to go and it was truly a treasured time. Michigan has proven to be eventful and beautiful no matter the time of year but since it stay colder than Ohio this was our first experience getting to swim in the lake and not be freezing. I’ve said t before and I’ll say it a again- Northern Michigan is where its at.

Read More
EVENTS Ramsey Baker EVENTS Ramsey Baker

My Babes turn 5

Hattie & Hazel Turn 5

Backyard Birthday Party

Summer 2021

Read More
TRAVEL Ramsey Baker TRAVEL Ramsey Baker

Spring Break 2021- Captiva Island, Florida

Family Spring Break

Captiva Island, Florida

We moved back in with my parents at the end of the year last year after selling our home in Columbus. Ryan starts grad school in May and our income with be split in half. Also we have been warned the program he will be attending is very time demandind and I can count on him not being around often to help, so we also moved in hoping for some extra help with the kids. One of the best parts of moving “back home” was the girls started in a pre-school that is five days a week. They are picked up and dropped off by a school bus and its just all of our favorite adjustment since moving from the city. Since we now were following a school schedule, that meant we had a Spring Break to plan for. We decided to head to Captiva Island in Florida. I have been there years ago with my bestie and her family but really didn’t remember much about it other than the famous restaurant, The Bubble Room. The location is also not far from where my dad lives in Florida so we were also able to meet up with him and spend an afternoon together.

Captiva is honestly a dream. Its beautifully nestled on the gulf side of Florida. We booked an apartment/villa on Airbnb and it was by no means the prettiest place on the island but it served its purpose just fine. IT was a one bedroom- (where me and Ryan slept and set up a pack-n-play for Knox) and the living room couch was a pull out sofa (where the kids slept). We were in walking distance to a Starbucks, a public beach access and one of the many community pools. It just so happened we had friends who overlapped our stay by a couple days so we were able to hang out at the pools, do some photos at the beach and eat at the whimsical Bubble Room. It was the first vacation with all the kids that I thought to myself, “man, I could stay another day or two.” Usually we are all ready to get home and back to our normal routines, but this trip will forever be remembered as the one we could have stayed.

Read More
MOTHERHOOD Ramsey Baker MOTHERHOOD Ramsey Baker

Family Photos Spring 2021

Family Photos

with Grace E Jones

Hoover Reservoir | Westerville, Ohio

Is it possible to have too many family photos? I definitely don’t think so. I had originally signed up for a mini with Grace E Jones, which she almost never does but was spiraling into a realization I really wanted a full session with her, time to really relax and enjoy the process. I actually can’t stress enough to parents who want a a good variety for their family photos, just do the full session. Minis have their place but they almost always have a feeling of stress, pushed and forced to try and get all the photos one might want from a photo session. So lucky for me, Grace was fine with switching to a full session and im so glad we did. I already want more.. like sign me up again.

Read More
TRAVEL Ramsey Baker TRAVEL Ramsey Baker

Boho Box with the Family

Boho Box For A Night

Hocking Hills, Ohio

BOHO BOX-FALL2020-48.jpg

Last minute the Boho Box down in Hocking Hills had a cancellation and this is a big deal because its booked out for a year and half. I checked our calendars and quickly made the arrangements when I realized it worked out for our schedules. Ryan and myself stayed here back in February and had taken Knox with us, which was pretty easy to accommodate. This time we brought all the kids and wondered if we would regret it. There is one king size bed in the upstairs container and enough of a landing to set up a pack & play for the baby to sleep… the other option for sleeping is a sofa bed on the first floor hidden inside the banquet seating. We weren’t sure how the girls would do but honestly it was perfect. We all started out on the sofa bed winding down watching some TV, after enjoying the hot tub. The next morning everyone was up at their usual early time so I was able to take the twins outside to try and grab some sunrise photos of the boho container and let the girls play in the woods and try out the hammock right off the back porch.

Read More
EVENTS Ramsey Baker EVENTS Ramsey Baker

Halloween 2020 | Red Carpet Edition

Halloween 2020 | Red Carpet Edition

Halloween Party-2.jpg

This year for halloween, we decided to break in The Britts new home with a general theme of red carpet edition. There was mini Oscar skull head awards for the “best of” and candy necklaces- ya know since Tiffanys wasn’t an option. I can’t remember who won anything but all I do remember was it was a fun filled evening time spent with friends.

Read More
MOTHERHOOD Ramsey Baker MOTHERHOOD Ramsey Baker

Picnic With Just My Girls

late summer night, picnic with just my girls

Photos by Riley Elizabeth Photography

ramseyfinals (12 of 286).jpg

Ive decided I want to take moments to intentionally be on the other side of the camera with my husband and with my kids. I dreamt up this vision of spending an afternoon with my girls, having a picnic and just hanging out doing whatever their little wondering minds wanted to do. We went down to Hoover Reservoir, set up “camp” and naturally the girls immediately went to the water and spent most of our time playin in it. Riley of Riley Elizabeth Photography joined us and captured the time so honestly and in return beautifully. I hope to make time to do this every year and have boxes of pictures for my children of time spent together to look back on someday.


Read More
TRAVEL Ramsey Baker TRAVEL Ramsey Baker

Northern Michigan | Lake Leelanau | Oct 2020

Northern Michigan | Lake Leelanau | Oct 2020

Michiganders-51.jpg

If you follow along you’ll know we made our way up to northern michigan back in the spring and it was an easy get away during the hype of COVID. We didn’t plan on going back up for a second time but I had an old co-worker friend ask me to photograph her wedding in East Jordan, MI which is about 1.5 hours away from our retreat house on Lake Michigan/Lake Leelanau area. I reached out to the owner of the home and checked if it was open and it was! So we made repeat plans to head north as a family and asked a couple friends and their families to join us this time. We had never come up in the fall and I think we got it at the right time fortunately. It was cool but just enough to need a light jacket or cardigan. One our friends even jumped in the lake.. a few times. The kids were able to enjoy the beach area each day and by the end were always wiped out. I had to use one of our days to go meet the bride and see the venue so I took along all the moms and we made a small day of it. We stopped at The Farm Club for a mid day snack/drink and enjoyed the scene (without kids for a couple hours). We hiked The Dune Climb at Sleeping Bear Dunes for the first time and we stayed up late enjoying whiskey smashes, thanks Noah, played cards, ventured out for a meal at the Hop Lot Brewing Co and used the homes paddle boards for some Lake Michigan time. Michigan has proven to be the best escape and we have big dreams to someday have a getaway up there, only time will tell but for now, we are so grateful for our friends big hearts to share their home and allow us to get away.

Read More
EVENTS Ramsey Baker EVENTS Ramsey Baker

Knox First Birthday Party | Camp Knox

Knox 1st Birthday | Camp Knox

Knox Bday Party-52.jpg

Our baby boy is one. This last year was a blur and somehow stapled in my memory all at once. Knox has been a curve in learning parenthood. He helped slow us all down as a family to stop and enjoy the day to day. He went from being the new member of the family that his sisters preferred to pretend wasn’t around to now their best third wheel. The days are long but the years, man are the years short. Happy first birthday sweet boy. We love you.

Shout-Outs:

Venue- Ashley West Studio | Pataskala, Ohio

Cake/Cupcakes- Pooks Baked Goods

Balloon Art/Flags- LACE

Read More
TRAVEL Ramsey Baker TRAVEL Ramsey Baker

Asheville, North Carolina | 2020

Asheville, North Carolina | 2020

Talk about a trip worth getting away to.. Asheville, NC. Its just far enough you can get to it in a one day trip and still have some time at your destination to relax and unpack. We ventured down with another family that we love and stayed at an airbnb- farm style in the mountains. We didn’t explore a ton of downtown areas, as Ive heard this is maybe not as kid friendly, especially during a pandemic. However just outside of town was the perfect quiet grounds to let the kids run around and parents sit outside and enjoy the change of pace. While we were there we did a day of hiking in the blue ridge mountains and found a fun spot with a waterfall to spend an afternoon. One afternoon we split from our friends and did a tour at the Biltmore estate, I personally love things like this, seeing architectural structures that you don’t see everyday, imagining a time when you needed a smoking room, gun room and separate sleeping dorms from your husband. I appreciate places you can step in and really see how it might have looked if you were there more than a century ago.


Read More
TRAVEL Ramsey Baker TRAVEL Ramsey Baker

White Sulphur Springs, Framily Trip 2020

White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia 2020

west virginia 2020-80.jpg

I think there’s a debate how many years we have been doing this trip. I thought it as five, but maybe its six. Regardless its a favorite. We manage to get away to White Sulphur Spring, West Virginia every summer for a long weekend. We all enjoy doing the same staple things every time, time at the pool up top the mountain, one evening getting all dolled up and heading to the Greenbrier, one nice home cooked meal (thanks Em), put put (too late at night for me) and lots of quality time. This year it was fun to end the trip adding hopefully another tradition to the mix, listening to our friends from the band Lucy play us a few of their songs.

Read More
TRAVEL Ramsey Baker TRAVEL Ramsey Baker

Holden Beach, North Carolina | Extended Family Vaca 2020

Holden Beach, NC 2020

Growing up we always went to Holden Beach every two years with all of my step dads family… like all the aunts, uncles and cousins. As we got older this phased out as the kids grew older. We went a long stretch of not going at all and picked the tradition back up two years ago, which you can see here. Two years ago the twins were 2 years old, we didn’t have a private pool and Knox wasn't even in our thoughts yet. This year, we were happy to have everyones growing families and a house with a pool. Holden Beach is a perfect family friendly private beach where you have rows of homes to rent and a few public access spots, but otherwise you really feel like you have rented your own oceanfront private beach area. Holden Beach is technically an island, so you go over a tall long bridge where you get that first glimpse of the sea and all the quaint colorful houses lined up to go stay and enjoy. This year we upgraded for a pool house and it was totally worth it. The house this year had a longer walk out to the beach, plus the kids and all their various nap schedules worked out really nicely being close to the house for all their needs. We arrived on the 4th of July, so we started the week watching fireworks going off all along the coastline and playing with sparklers and chasing waves in the sunset. The rest of the weeks highlights that I don’t ever want to loose include:

  1. Hattie in love with jumping into the pool (first time going under with goggles she came back up and yelled “IM A FISH”

  1. Hazel deciding she’d rather float around and not get her head wet

  2. Knoxs loudest “witching” hour of baby chatter, when everyone is ready for bed

  3. Playing the card game, Sevens…. everyday (thanks Daltyn)

  4. Amelia & Daltyns fashionably late dinner but oh so worth it, fresh crab legs

  5. “Volleying” high count- 105

  6. Double rainbow

  7. Amelias birthday- silly string attack gone wrong

  8. Two story watermelon caught in the mouth- ESPN replay style

Read More
EVENTS Ramsey Baker EVENTS Ramsey Baker

Hattie & Hazel Turn 4

Hattie & Hazel mermaid 4th birthday party

4thBday-56.jpg

Hattie & Hazel turned 4. This was the first year the girls understood what that meant and were able to express excitement. For a week prior to their party they would wake up asking if its their birthday. They were eager to say they are “4” holding up the correct number of fingers… they were able to say they wanted cake… and they were able to say they wanted friends and presents. This has all been exciting new territory with the girls, verbal communication. Its been so neat to hear their thoughts and learn more about them. If you didn’t know, they both have developmental delays in their speech and over the last school year were in pre-k receiving speech therapy, along with PT and OT. Anyone who knows them would agree, we’ve seen big progress and are all just enjoying this new fun time hearing what they have to say.

For their birthday, we went with a mermaid theme. Personally, “The Little Mermaid” was always a favorite of mine growing up and since their imagination and pretend play has become so evident, I knew it would be a winner to spark their imagination. I ordered over the top sequins mermaid skirts on etsy and had my go to party planner LACE help make most of the party decor. She made a beautiful seahorse piñata inspired from this post, a fun sequin backdrop for photo ops, seashell cupcake toppers and the favors for the girls: starfish wands and seashell crowns. My local favorite home baker, Slice of Heaven, made a delicious CHOCOLATE cake (the girls insisted) and I ordered some fun seagrass candy and a custom seashell cake topper from etsy.

Read More