Where Does the Time Go?

Stewart "Trip" Whiting

12/27/06 * 8lbs.5oz. * 21in. long

Where does the time go? It seems like yesterday that I was sitting in my hospital room sweating bullets while nurses prepped me for C-Section #2. 9 months of Hell was but a small sacrifice, for me to pay, to at the end be given something so precious and sweet. I am so grateful for Trip and his little spirit and for him coming into our home. Where have the past 12 months gone!?! Those months were filled with his firsts - first cry, laugh, bath. From scooting, to crawling, to walking.....the first year is one of my favorites!!! Happy Birthday Trip!!! and to many more good times & memories.

Moms 60th Birthday Getaway!

Mom (Sheila) turned the BIG 6-0 December 14th (and you still look as beautiful as you did when you were 21!). We stole her away to Tucson for a GIRLS weekend at Felisa's house. Mom had never had a pedi/mani so we thought what a better time than Moms 60th for a weekend getaway with the kids! We had a GREAT time having our feet and hands pampered, lunch out @ Macaroni Grill, and doing some Christmas shopping!!! Note to "Smith Girls" - GIRL GATHERINGS IS A MUST AT LEAST 2-4 TIMES A YEAR!

TAG!....I'm it!!!

Thanks to Rayna I got tagged. So here we go with a few things you may or may not have known about me!

1: I love this time of year. Not only this time, meaning Christmas, but the entire fall/winter season. When tempertures begin to drop, leaves begin to turn into beautiful displays of art, and the nights are cool enough for sweaters and jackets. When Halloween begins to creep upon us and the kids get excited to carve pumpkins and get dressed up. The smells of ThanksGiving coming along....the pies, turkeys, and the sense of service that seems mute until this time of year. When in December the Christmas tree & lights outside go up, warm fires are necessary, and snow flurries are about. This is the time of year that I feel draws so many of us together. It is truly the "warmest" time of year to me!

2: I am so grateful for the "boys" in my life! Crew is so full of love, always giving hugs and kisses, screaming "I love yous" throughout every random minute in the day, and Wrestling mom down to the ground cause she is one of the "guys" too! Trip for his little smile that seems to be planted on his face permenatly, for his little laugh, and the way he just idolizes Crew and his dad! And for Jason. Words cannot and will not ever be enough to express my love and appreciation for the man he is in my life. Lets face it, you know he is a good guy when he has to put up with me!!! I love you boys!!!

3: I secretly have O.C.D. I clean my house EVERY day. We are talking sweep, mop, vacumm, dust, clean the pee off the toilets (you'll understand IF you have boys OR husbands), dishes, etc. etc. etc. I think it is engraved in my DNA (thanks mom). Not only that BUT at night I think I check the locks on the doors 2 or 3 times before I go onto the next check point to make sure the boys are nice and warm, tucked in, and okay. This too is engraved into my DNA (thanks Dad). The list can go on BUT I don't want want to be put in a straight jakcet and locked in a padded room! HAHAHA!

4: I love the feeling of accomplishment. Whether it is dreadfully training every morning for the 1/2 marathon (which is less than a month away and I am no way near ready) and stepping off the treadmil smothered in sweat, or accomplishing the daily tasks of motherhood, helping Trip to walk, having dinnner on the table for Big J when he walks through the door, helping Crew with his pre-school work, getting ALL the laundry washed & folded (which is the most dreadful chore for me to do), surviving to the grocery store w/ both boys. In all these small efforts I feel a certain degree of accomplishment at the end of my day.

Francoise de Motteville:
The true way to render ourselves happy is to love our work and find in it our pleasure.

5: I love to get 'invovled' in a good book. Taking a little time here and there when the little monsters are napping or the husband is busy watching the game on TV or even staying up late after everyone has fallen alseep just read one more chapter. I love finding GREAT books that I can fall in love with and read over & over. Getting caught up in a book is my secret escape from the daily duties of motherhood!

6: When people ask Jason & I how we met we always tell them, "He got my brother a job, my brother got him a wife!" Jason and I became friends when I was introduced to a group of St. Johns boys at a missionary farewell with my brother Steven. At the time Jason and I didn't have much to do w/ eachother, after all I was one of those 'snotty Snowflake girls', right J!?! I dated one of his best friends and was always trying to set him up with my roomates to go out on double dates w/ us (he was always the life of the party and kept us laughing). Time went on as we both moved in and out of realtionships. It wasn't until I had left the Valley and moved home when 2 little match makers decided for us that we would get married. Steven and Amy must have been inspired, bored, or just needed some entertainment. So it was set, our first date!!! We went to the IMPROV, dinner, back to his place for a movie and a kiss (AHHH) and the rest is history!!! Thanks Steven & Amy!

Thanks Rayna for the TAG!!! Now its my turn!!! I Tag the following: The Smith Girls (this means you: Mom, Celia, Felisa, Becca, Traci, & Amy)

Just write down a few fun facts we may or may have not known about you!!! Have fun, you have officially been TAGGED!!!

The Whiting Family gets ELFED!

Okay, so I just couldn't resist doing this! I saw this on my sis-in-law, Julies, blog and laughed so hard!!! So I did one for the Whiting Family. Just trying to spread a little holiday laughter and spirit to all.


Hey, I just made a total elf of myself. Check it out by clicking the link below.
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1195776255

A Very Merry Christmas Fiesta.

Trip * Mr. C. * & Crew

Last night we had our ward Christmas Fiesta!!! Good times. Every year they have a fiesta for Christmas (because they figure everyone is probably so sick of eating turkey and ham by now, and we are, that Mexican Food is a nice change of taste before we delve into the Traditional turkey and ham for Christmas.) And as always a SPECIAL visitor payed a visit to check up on the primary children! We didn't know how our boys were going to take Santa this year. Crew was terrified of the Jolly Man last year and even in the mall he didn't want to sit on Santa's lap...and this being Trip's 1st Christmas we weren't too sure on how he would take to being held by this strange Red Man. BUT, to our surprise Crew ran right up to get in line to make sure he got his order in to Mr. C. It was too cute! I think he told him 5 times that he wanted Transformers for Christmas then continued by telling Santa ALL the Transformers names!!! And Trip was a pro!!! A little hesitant at first BUT he took a liking to Santa and his big white beard!!! Jason and I are looking forward to seeing our boys faces light up when they come in the family room on Christmas morning. Seeing the boys GLOW melts my heart!

Merry Christmas!

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ThanksGiving

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!

Love - The Whiting Family

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Mini Vaca. filled full of fun!

Crew & Kedzie

Yet another weekend we paid a visit to the Valley! As much as we are there (for J's work/meetings w/ clients, visiting family, shopping, & going out with friends) you'd think we live there! Oh well, only in MY dreams, BUT we do love getting to go and visit everyone! We had an AWESOME time! The Agenda: left Snowflake (before the sun was up) Friday morning - Jason dropped me and the kiddos off @ The Wilhelm's - Big J went to his meetings - Kristen & I took the kids to the Scottsdale train park w/ some of the gals in her ward - J took care of business @ the dealership w/ our truck (long story short : I got pulled over and TICKETED because my windows tint was too dark!!! So J called up the dealership, gave them what for, for selling us an "illegal" truck and thank our lucky stars they took care of it all = new tint & paying the ticket!) anywho, back to the weekends agenda: Kristen & I put together princess wands (for Kedzies party) kids took a nap :) - Went out to eat w/ Davis' and Smith families - Dropped boys off with Steven & Amy (thanks so much for watching the boys for us!!!) - Went to Ammon's BIG "hooray cancer gone party bash", played some mean games of musical chairs & mellow fights :) - picked up our monsters from Steven & Amy - on to day 2 - went to little Steven's t-ball game - Amy took Crew w/ after the game (thanks again Amy) - Big J & I went shopping for Christmas & grabbed lunch - picked up Crew - went to Kedzies "Princesses & Knights" B-Day party - ate some yummy cake - cleaned up - and said our thank yous & goodbyes and headed up the mountain home :) Its always a fun time for Mom & the boyz to get away and have a good time! Our little mini Vaca's to the Valley hold some of our favorite memories in them :)

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Trick or Treat

Happy Halloween!

Treats, treats, and more treats! Crew is stocked for the rest of the year AND the next and so on and so forth! We had such a fun Halloween! First it was off to school for Crew (dressed as SpiderMan) taking along his cupcakes to share w/ his class (he was convinced it was his b-day). After he got his sugar fix at school he came home to even more Halloween treats.....my visiting teachers paid me a visit and brought us yummy yummy cookies (thanx girls). My monsters were literally bouncing off the walls of our home! FINALLY there was a lull in Crew's sugar high and I took advantage! He was out for the count along with the other little monster that reeks havoc in our home AND I went to work! ( I guess I was Cinderella for Halloween after all the cleaning I did! ) Then it was party time! We transformed our boys into SpiderMan (Crew) and The Bug (Trip) and we were off to Grandma's house! Knock Knock...trick or treat.....BOO! Grandma was a WITCH! Then off to the church we went (ward dinner & trunk or treat party). Crew loaded up!!! And as if that wasn't enough treating we went to the Halloween Carnival that the Chamber of Commerce put on at the school! (BIG J is the Chamber Pres. so we are an on the go "show" family to nearly EVERY function). Good Times! Good Memories! Glad its over with! Now who wants some candy!?!

What Curse?

Boston Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell is lifted into the air by coach Luis Alicea Gafter the Red Sox won the baseball World Series with a 4-3 Game 4 win over the Colorado Rockies Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007, at Coors Field in Denver. Lowell was named the series MVP. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

What Curse? Congrats to our fav. team the Boston Red Sox for winning the 2007 World Series!

Happy Happy Birthday Sydney

Make a Wish...and BLOW!

Happy birthday Sydney! Sydney just turned the BIG #3! Saturday we loaded up the kids and ran away to Globe for the day to celebrate cousin Sydney's 3rd birthday ( and to see the Davis' new pad). We had such a fun time watching the kiddos play, eat some yummy food (thanx Jaymi), & visit w/ the fam. Crew was so sad when it was time to go. He wanted to stay and smash the pumpkin (even though the pinata was hangin on its last strand). Good times. We just love cousin Sydney and her spunky attitude! She's a sweetie! Here's to you Sydney....Happy Birthday!

Jason VS The Skunk!

Friday night was just an ordinary night in the Whiting home, playing w/ our little monsters - making a yummy treat - watching a movie - putting the monsters to sleep - & Mom and Dad getting some quality time together, that is until dun...dun...dun...just before going to bed our dog starts going ape in the back yard! J jumped up, grabbed the baseball bat and we both ran outside to take care of business. No one was in the back yard, that is until we heard something behind the shed! We had a skunk intruder! The skunk had to go. 1- We didn't want the dog to get sprayed & 2- We didn't want our dog waking up everyone in the 'hood! So J went to work. He couldn't shoot it (gun shots in the middle of the night...not such a good idea), we couldn't let the dog loose on it (that would really stink!), so we got out Crew's trusty sling-shot (and prayed it wouldn't get the best of Big J)! Crew woke up during our little skunk escapade and joined me on the "jump-o-line" to watch dad, hold onto the dog, & keep a look out for the skunk to come out from the shed! It was quite the spectacle watching J do the dirty work against the skunk! Crew & I got a good laugh out of it! Luckily Big J won & got rid of our little midnight pest. ...its a good thing too, otherwise, he'd be sleepin' w/ the dog if he would have lost!

F.H.E. at the Pumpkin Patch

Monday night we took the two little monsters that insist on living in our house with us to the Willis Farm to harvest a few pumpkins! You would have thought it was Christmas when we pulled into the farm and Crew saw ALL the pumpkins. We gave him one rule, any pumpkin he wanted as long as he could carry it out himself, and off he went searching for the perfect one. We stayed until dark in the patch letting Crew gander over the pumpkins (and taking pictures of all the "Christmas Morning" excitement). I'm sure this won't be the last trip we take to the Willis Farm to check out pumpkins.....we still have to go through corn maze! Guess we know what we will be doing next Monday for F.H.E. Good times in the "Patch."

Redskins Class of 1997 Reunion

Shaun, Ammon, Big J, & Jordan

My old man that I'm married to (BIG J) had his 10year class reunion over HomeComing weekend in St.Johns. They kicked it off HomeComing Day inviting all alumni to the "HomeComing" activities (parade, assembly, football game, etc......). Not a BIG spectacle by any means. All of 4 maybe 5 floats in the parade & the football team just smothered the poor little rez team they played let alone it was freezing cold AND all of a dozen (maybe more???) people showed up to the game!!! Saturday the crowd was a little bigger. They had a family pic-nic at the park and later that night had a casual dinner. J had a good time catchin' up w/ friends AND I had a good time hangin' out with their wives!!! (Good times Alli & Betsy! We need to get together more often!!!) I'll have to con Jason into doing the little "high-school" questionnaire and posting his memories from good ole St.Johns High!

The Three Amigos

Connor, Olivia, & Crew

The Three Amigos! Last weekend J had more meetings in Phoenix (woo-hoo! another mini vaca for me & the boys) so the kiddos and I traveled along with! We stayed with Becca & Steve and let the kids loose! Always a good time w/ the Kobrigers! Friday Becca and I took the kids to the park to get their sillies out AND they had the water on in the little fountain area. I knew once Crew saw it, there would be no resisting getting wet! So we let the kids do their damage and strip down to undies and have at it! They had a BLAST! We had such an awesome weekend playing at the park (and getting wet!), Jumping in the blow up castle, going out to eat, taking the kiddos to Dippin' Dots, Becca & I stealing away to the mall while the fellas watched the kids, and late nights laughing & talking! Good Times! I can't wait for Big J to have another meeting(s) in the Valley again! I love & miss it very much! (and yes, even the HEAT!)

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The things "Crew" says.

The things that come out this this kids mouth lately have cracked us up! Since going to Pre-school and learning to talk & communicate better he manages to sputter out some of the funniest things! New things he tells us:
“You gotta be kidding me, Mom!”
“That’s ENOUGH!”
When he wants to get our attention when we are in the middle of something:
“Mom/Dad….I talking to YOU!”
When he wants our attention when we are talking to each other:
“Dad…..no more talk to Mom!”
“You’re the best!”
“That’s SWEEEET!”
AND last but surely not least one of my fav’s!!!.......
“I a ladies man!”

Hotties by the Pool-Side.

Last week J had meetings in the Valley so Crew played hooky from school and we tagged along. It was a busy couple of days filled with: shopping, going out to eat, playing w/ cousins, swimming, hanging out at the Bass Pro Shop (one of Crew’s favorite places), watching the airplanes coming and going, AND……dun dun dun…..the kiddos pickin up a nasty bug that gave them the WORST poops EVER!!!
Luckily the bug only lasted a few days! Poor little guys!!! Crew wasn’t happy about wearing “diapers” (pull-ups). BUT he survived, and luckily so did we through the STINK (literally)!

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Snowflake High.

Fill this out about your years in high school! The longer ago it was,the more fun the answers will be!!

1. Who were your best friends? Shawna, Dawn, & TaShawna. These are the girls I hung out with the most. BUT I had a few other close girlfriends as well.

2. What sports did you play? I attempted them all (except soccer).

3. What kind of car did you drive? 1970 Ford Truck. Who could forget "Old Blue?" IF that truck could talk well, you could only imagine the stories (and secrets) it would tell!

4. On a Friday nights what were you doing? Hanging out with my friends.

5. Were you a party animal? High School was a PARTY!

6. Were you considered a flirt? Maybe. Kissing boys was my favorite subject!

7. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? None of the above.

8. Were you a nerd? People probably thought I was. I didn't consider myself one

9. Did you get suspended/expelled? No

10. Can you still sing the fight song? Of course I can!

11. Who was your favorite teacher? Mr. Coltrin. He was the best!

12. Where did you sit during lunch? I went off campus a lot. Usually to my house w/ Shawna & TaShawna.

13. Name the school full name? Snowflake High School

14. School mascot? Lobos

15. School Colors? Blue and White.

16. Rival high school? ShowLow & BlueRidge High.

17. Did you go to Prom? Yes.

18. If you could go back and do it again, would you? No, I loved college. There were even BIGGER fish in college.

19. What do you remember most about graduation? The fact that I actually got a diploma & crying (I'm such a boob).

20. Where did you go senior skip day? Senior skip day? What senior skip day? Must have missed that one!

21. Favorite memory? Too many to choose from!

22. Were you in any clubs? Negative.

23. Where did you go most often for lunch? My House.

24. Have you gained some weight since then? This is a stupid question. Uhhh yeah...I've had two kids what do you think?

25. Who was your Senior prom date? Jeremy Nelson.

26. Are you planning on going to your 10-year reunion? I have a few more years to think about this one BUT I will probably be there!!!

27. Who was your home room teacher? I don't recall having a home room teacher.

28. Who will re-post this after you? Hopefully somebody.

29. Who was your high school sweetheart? I didn't have a "sweetheart."
30. Do you still talk to people from high school? Of course.

31.Did you win prom queen or king? HA HA HA.

32. Where did you work in high school? Mostly summers at Trapper's Cafe.

33. What were your grades? I think they were around C average.

34. What was your dress style? Preppy.

35. What year did you graduate? 2001

...A few of My Favorite Things.....

Okay, so I am usually not a big reader, in fact, not at all BUT I thought I should try and get more into reading since it is very good for you and helps stimulate your brain. I need this because sometimes I feel so forgetful and a little out of touch w/ the adult world (since my days are filled with Transformers, Diego, and well you get the picture.) Julie (Jason's little sis) told me about the LDS author who lives here in Arizona. Her book is called Twilight and she has 2 other books that come after this one and is working on the 4th. So, with a little (maybe more than a little) encouragement from her, I thought I should read it. It was so good that I could not put it down. I finished it in just a couple of days and borrowed the 2nd book from my sister-in-law. (thanks Julie) She has already read the 1st and 2nd books and I'm sure probably finished with #3 by now. I on the other hand have just finished #2 New Moon and am picking up Eclipse tomorrow! Anyways if you are looking for a good book to read I highly recommend this one. It's not a scary book. It captures you in and you just have to know what is happening at all times. A few times I just wanted to jump to the back of the book to find out what happens but I realized quickly that I have kids crying and a hungry husband! So coming from a person who is not a huge reader....doesn't read nearly at all........ you should really read this one. Looks like a found a new hobby!

Thanks Julie!!! I will never doubt you again :)

Places to go....things to get into!

And..... he's off to the races! Trip is crawling! Well actually, he's been scooting around (more like ARMY crawling) for a little over a month now. BUT in the last few days he has really taken off! I guess he finally decided it was time to try to keep up with Big Brother Crew!!! I will try and enjoy these few short months, weeks, maybe even days before he is totally mobile. When the real trouble begins and "THEY" my two little monsters (Crew & Trip) team up to reek havoc in the Whiting household!!! HAHA! But, really, who am I kidding??? I love my little trouble makers! They make me smile!

Yo! Gabba Gabba

My boys, Crew and Trip, absolutely love Yo Gabba Gabba. They have both been exposed to watching many different children's shows (the ones mom's look for to HOPEFULLY captivate their children so they can get something done kind of shows!) but has never reacted to anything like they have to this. From the moment they hear the intro theme song Crew begins to sing and dance like crazy. They love the music, the characters and the skits. ...we watch it over and over. YO GABBA GABBA!

Fish Update.

Well, looks like the fish is going to make it. It's been a little over a week now from the "fishy like milk too!" incedent that happened when Crew (in his all too common mischeif state of being a boy) had come home from pre-school and "gived Fishy a dink!" BUT looks like the little fella is going to pull through being smothered in milk!!! Who knows, maybe fish really can swim in milk!

Fish don't swim in MILK!!!

Okay, so this was too funny not to post. Crew had just got home from school and asked for his milk....well I told him it was in the fridge and he was a BIG boy and could go get it and then he could pick a snack from the snack box and go watch cartoons until Trip woke up from his nap. So off he went rummaging through the cupboards and fridge unsupervised while I was in the office paying bills and blog surfing my friends blogs when I heard Crew crying "Oh Fishy! Oh No! Where did Fishy go! Mom, Fishy gone!" I flew out of the room and into the kitchen to address the fish situation. And thats when I saw it!!! The fish bowl was spilling over w/ MILK!!! Crew still sitting next to the bowl along with a near empty milk carton whimpering (while I frantically was trying to save the near lifeless fish, get the story, & try not to laugh) tried to tell me what had happened. His story: Apparently, while searching through the fridge to find his cup of milk he saw the "BIG milk" sitting there and he decided that "Fishy like milk too!" So he "gived Fishy a dink" and then "Oh no! Fishy gone!" Needless to say, we saved our fish (unless he crokes in the next day or two from milk inhilation). Crew appologized to his fish and got a quick lesson from mom (and a swift kick to the BUTT) that ......"Fish don't swim in MILK!"

Poor Fishy! I'll keep you updated on how the fish is holdin up :)

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Back To School

"....I got my lunch packed up, my shoes tied tight, I hope I don't get in a fight! Oh, back to school....." Thanks to Adam Sandler I can't help but have "The Back To School Song" ring through my head this time of year. For those of you who didn't know this is Crew's 1st year of Pre-School. He still has 2 years before kindergarten BUT we had him tested into the 'Sunbeam' program and he was accepted. (The Sunbeam program is there to help kids that 1-need the social interaction w/ their peers 2- w/ hearing disabilities, speech, ADHD, eye impairments, etc, etc.) The first day we sat and waited for the bus to come to the house (yes, the bus comes to your front door:)). My heart was racing, my throat choked up, and the flood gates were ready to flow.....and then it happened.....it was time for school and.....the bus didn't come! Apparently they had forgot him! So we rushed him to school. He was beaming ear to ear as the school came into view (I thought it might stretch off his face when he walked into the class room!) All in all, Crew's first day was a success!!! And I only let myself cry a little :)

What Personality Type are You?

The Nurturer You have a strong need to belong, and you very loyal. A good listener, you excel at helping others in practical ways. In your spare time, you enjoy engaging your senses through art, cooking, and music. You find it easy to be devoted to one person, who you do special things for. In love, you express your emotions through actions. Taking care of someone is how you love them. And you do it well! At work, you do well in a structured environment. You complete tasks well and on time. You would make a good interior designer, chef, or child psychologist. How you see yourself: Competent, dependable, and detail oriented When other people don't get you, they see you as: Boring, dominant, and stuck in a rut

What's Your Personality Type?

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Check out my Slide Show!

I Hope They Call Me on a Mission...

Thursday night was a BIG night for the Whitings (especially Cord). Everyone was in on the betting game to were he would be called.....most of us convinced he would be sent to a foreign country BUT we were wrong! He has been called to serve to good people in the South.......Nashville, Tennessee! We are so excited for him and his decision to serve a mission! We love you & congrats Cord!

Thoughts on love.....

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."-Terri age 4. Touching words from the mouth of babes. What does Love mean? A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. As I read through the answers I couldn't help but feel touched by their sweet little thoughts on love. How right they were in so many ways. I was so touched when I read the quote above. My thoughts seemed to overflow with the love I have for my boys and Jason. Crew's sweet loving spirit when he gives me hugs, kisses, and screams I love you through out the day, Trip's happy smiling face when he wakes up from naps, and Jason's support and loving will to do little things to serve me everyday (even when I'm grumpy!). These little things are what makes my love grow more and more for my family AND "help me smile when I'm tired!" I love you boys!

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy - age 4

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." Tommy - age 6

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross." Mark - age 6

Happy Half-Year Trip

Trip is six months already.....I can't believe it! He is on his way fast to crawling, walking, talking, and joining up with his partner in crime (big bro. Crew). I can only imagine the fun times those two are going to have & not to mention all the trouble they will get into as well, I'm sure. But that's what makes it all fun. We are so thankful for our boys and our love for them grows more and more everyday. Happy Half-Year Trip! 12-27-06

Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment, because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived. -?????