Ladies Man

The sweetest thing happened yesterday. As if I couldn't imagine my little man to be any more butch, Mr. JCrew learned a way to a woman's heart. I was at my wits end trying to maintain the quietness of our home while Trip was taking his afternoon nap BUT two boys (the infamous Crew and best bud Tanner) insisted on fighting, wrestling, karate chopping/kicking, and screaming out an occasional warrior cry. On the brink of losing my insanity and saying "SHHHH" "Be quite" and countless bargaining chips and threats, my discipline failed me. So I ordered them outside to regain what sanity I had left in me. I sat on the couch holding my breath for the moment they would come barrelling through the back door. 10 minuets of peace went by and then it happened...the back door flung open and Crew was yelling "Mom". My silence was broken. Just as I was jumping up from my seat my little man came running around the corner with a handful of dandelions.

Crew: Look mom! I picks them! I picks them for you!

Shanda: You picked them for me!?!

Crew: Yeah, I get you flowers.....just like dad.

Shanda: Oh they are perfect. I love them!

On the brink of tears I sucked that boy up in my arms and thanked heaven that he has picked up at least one gentlemen like habit from his dad. And it doesn't end with just one bundle of flowers....every time he see's a dandelion out in our yard while playing he has brought it in for me. Who knew I was raising a little ladies man!?!

Bowling, Ball-Games, & More....

The "Valley". That's where we go shopping, that's were Steven's house is, and that's where we get to go to Chuckie Cheeses. That is what the "Valley" of the sun means to our little Crew. To Mom (that rarely steps out of her cubicle) the "valley" takes on a whole new meaning.....it is her release from the norm, a break from the 4 walls that contain all my insanity (even though I load some of it up into little car seats). We spent last weekend making memories. Jason had meetings Friday so that left me with our two precious little trouble makers to do some shopping on our own. 1st stop Old Navy....we were done within 5 minutes of hitting the store ( I will spare you ALL the details BUT it involves 2 little boys, a stack of t-shirts nicely folded and a mannequin). Stop #2, Target. I took a little breath from our first incident of the day and said a little prayer pleading the remainder of the day wouldn't be spent cleaning up after little 'spills' my boys could conjure up and marched my way on into the store. Success....2hrs later (with everything I was looking for plus two happy little monsters that managed to still have smiles on their faces) we were out of there in perfect timing to pick up Big J and catch a bite to eat. Dinner may have not been as successful as our Target experience BUT at least I had the 'law' with me this time around to tame our wild beasts. Little Mr. JCrew, our little Wii champ, proclaimed he had finished his food and was ready to go play "rolling ball". Even though it was late we couldn't resist his pleas of wanting to go bowling. Crew's 1st bowling experience was endearing. Jason & I were on our toes all night....making sure he wouldn't throw it down another lane, throw it behind him, and keep him from running down the lane to make his ball go faster....while in the mean time passing Trip back in forth to one another taking shifts handling our bowling addict. Needless to say we all slept well that night and slept in the next morning. Day 2 we did our usual shopping run...Sam's Club, Costco, mall shopping. Somewhat uneventful besides the little temper tantrums that boys pull when they don't want to look at the "girl shopping stuff". Later that afternoon we did another Whiting first. We took our little monsters to the D-Backs game. Needless to say it was interesting. Crew was in ahhh of everything around him (for about the first 10 minutes) and Trip loved clapping along with the crowd when the D-Backs made a good play. All interest in the game was lost when Crew realized his neighbor next to him had a HUGE ice-cream cone and he had to have one. So we bargained a deal with Crew that IF he would sit still until the teams changed sides we would take him for a walk around the park! Teams changed sides and we were out of there. I think he had a better time walking around looking at all the vender's than watching the game. We went into the team shop to look for a hat (souvenir from the game) and showed Crew a D-Backs hat. He tells us "But mom, I got a hat see!?! I don't need a 'D' hat! My 'B' (Boston) hat is cooler, its like dads." And it was cooler so we left it at that. Two rambunctious little boys were ready to get out of there and ready for bed! It was nice going back to Aunt Claudia's, always so welcoming and comfortable, not to mention our boys love being there. Jason and I got our guys to bed and plopped down on the couch when Aunt Claudia & Jason's Dad (who was in the Valley for the weekend too) struck up a deal w/ us. She needed potatoes for Sunday, Ed needed a sugar fix, and we got an evening out to ourselves (minus a little grocery & dessert run). Thank you, thank you, thank you....we needed that. The next morning was busy, getting up, getting ready, packing our suitcase, double checking to make sure we got everything, and cleaning up our messes so we are welcome back when we come again. My least favorite part of getting away...coming back to my cubicle of insanity. Thank goodness for a husband who works here, there, and everywhere...and likes the company of his chaotic little family while traveling.

The Biggest Loser 2008

Truly inspiring. Those are the words that come to mind EVERY season while I sit (and then feel guilty while I am eating ice cream or some other ungodly junk food item that I am fattening my body up with so when it is over the guilt ridden me attempts to sweat my extra humps off on the elliptical for an hour!) and watch the contestants of "The Biggest Loser." While my attempts of joining the next season have become a bust I have been so touched and motivated by the comments of this seasons winner Ali. A home town girl and the first female biggest loser. She has become a role model for women and certainly one of mine. I can relate to her comments before the show during casting when she said, [I]“literally got fat five pounds at a time.” And that's me....I catch a whiff of something tasty and that's it...there is 5+ more lbs added somewhere unflattering to my body. Her undaunting determination has inspired me to become that person that I have lost. Mind, Body, & Soul. “I was like, ‘Nobody can take this away from me,’ ” she recalled. “I’m going to do it. I’m going to go back there and I’m going to stand on that stage, even if it’s with the at-home people, and I am going to be the Biggest Loser.” With Big J behind me and long for the ride we are "going to do it, nobody can take this away from [us]."

BEFORE:

234lbs

AFTER:
112lbs

“I’m going to continue to go for what I want,” she said. “My physical being is a direct representation of what I feel inside, which is strong and confident and beautiful.”

-Ali Vincent-

Viva Las Vegas

On March 21st Big J & I tucked year number 5 under our belt. Where has the time gone...I think I have an idea...its rushed away with losing loved ones & bringing new bundles into the world, its filled with meaningless arguments & sweet little glimpse's of why we love each other, unforgettable memories, laughter, 'pillow talk', winks from across the room, Jason's endless determination to never let a 'girl' (named Shanda) beat him in any game (or its a re-due, malfunction, or some other foul play), finally perfecting 'the kiss', and so much more. 5 years came and went in a blink of an eye. We celebrated our union by having honeymoon #2 back in the place where it all started. LasVegas. Big J planned a little recreation of our 1st honeymoon. Everything kept the same except the entertainment. Day 1, 1st show - The Price is Right. Every small town girls dream to have her name called to "Come on down!" BUT unfortunately luck wasn't with us Thursday afternoon. A little disappointed and spirits dampened we moved on to the next priority.....going out with one of my favorite girls (and letting the boys tag a long behind us). Dawn & Wyatt came to pick us up and away we went to fill our bellies with The Cheesecake Factory. Its always a good time when you don't get to see friend (but only a couple of times a year) and you know that the two of you can always pick up where you left off like you never skipped a beat. That's why your the best Dawn. Good times, good laughs, and Dawns cutest prego belly, ended our night of day 1. Day #2, actually getting a chance to sleep in without 2 little boys coming in to tell you to Rise & Shine. Although, kind of missed (and a phone call later to check on the normally rascally boys) we were off to the top of the Stratosphere tower to check out the view and 'think' about whether or not "the BIG shot" was the ride for us. 10 min. later and a little weak kneed after seeing the rides (and thinking that you would have to be ridiculously out of your mind to go on them) we headed out to the "strip" to take in the scene. Fast forward to night and out and about the town we headed to the Venetian for show #2, the Blue Man Group, all to find out when arriving to pick up our tickets that our show wasn't until Saturday night. With no time to make it back to our hotel room to grab the tickets for the show that we were supposed to be at, at another venue (The Ultimate Variety Show) Big J asked what the chances where to get Phantom tickets for the night. Thinking we didn't have a chance the little box office man said I have 2 tickets for the Phantom of the Opera tonight. A swipe of the card and 2 tickets later we where seated in the Opera house ready for the show. The night was ended with tears on my face and a grin that could stretch for miles. Day 3, another wake less morning and having no time restrictions we decided to hit the top of the tower for one more look of the city.....and to be one of those ridiculously silly persons and ride "The BIG Shot." A little green in the face, and wobbly kneed we made our way back down from the ride. Glad we can say we did it, not likely to do it again. A little over exuberated from the ride we took a little afternoon nap to fade any, if not all, the green faced Jason & Shanda to our regular being. Hours later. Primped and poised we headed out for our final show....The Blue Man Group. So excited for the show I stole a few snap-shots of Jason & I in our seats before the show....an usher approached us and before he could get a word out I began babbling that I am sorry, I am putting my camera away BLAH BLAH BLAH.... making an idiot of myself I realized that the camera is not why he came to talk to us!!! He wanted Jason to be a part of the show!!! He handed Big J a HUGE candy bar and told us that one of the "Blue Men" was going to climb up the latter over the balcony and come find the candy bar!!! The close encounter with the BLUE MAN was so much fun....IF only I could have taken a picture!!! Such a fun show!!! We headed back to the Stratosphere to catch a few winks of the eye before we set out on the next endeavor....driving to St. Johns at 2:00 in the morning to make it back to spend Easter with the boys and for Tyson's farewell. I think we were both relieved that night to get our rowdy little monsters to sleep and hit the sack ourselves. Its good to be home, even better 5 years, and this time around we didn't come home with an unexpected 'bun in the oven'!

Early Easter Activities

Rewind to last Monday....F.H.E. we decided (since it was St. Patties day and that coming weekend was Easter & our anniversary & the fact that 3 months ago we didn't know our anniversary would fall on Easter weekend so we blindly booked a little getaway for 2 to Vegas...) that Big J & I had better create a little Easter/Clover Day fun with our rowdy little boys to redeem ourselves for our lack of better planning. So in our defeat to make us feel somewhat less guilty for not spending the 'holiday' with our 'guys' we (Jason) had the BIG idea to make green eggs & pancakes (in honor of the Irish holiday) And I had the duty of coloring Easter Eggs with 2 boys that have ants in their pants. 2 egg dye spills later and 4 full bellies of GREEN pancakes made up our night of fun...BUT we still felt bad that we wouldn't get to share in the little squeals of "the Easter Bunny came!"

Happy St. Pat's Day

Happy St. Pat's Day!

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light & may good luck pursue you each morning and night.

My "MAN" Tag

1- What is his name? Jason Edwin Whiting

2- How long have you been married? Almost 5 years (on March 21st). Where does the time go!?!

3- How long did you date? Hmmm...date 2months....engaged 3...and then come marriage and the baby in the baby carriage.

4- Who eats more sweets? I definitely have the sweet tooth in the Family.

5- Who said I love you first? He might want to argue w/ me on this one BUT pretty sure he said the three magical words first.

6- Who is taller? Big J by a foot.

7- Who can sing better? Its a tie. I think we both could screech out some pretty sweet notes.

8- Who is smarter? He is, but I'm always right!

9- Who does the laundry? Unfortunately I get the privilege to do the dreaded chore.

10- Who pays the bills? I do, but he checks up on me and keeps me on task.

11- Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do.

12- Who mows the lawn? He hates it when I do the lawn (makes him feel less manly) BUT only try to steal the chore away from him because 1- its a good little work out to push that things around & 2- ( I usually try and do during the week while he is at work) I would rather get to spend my Saturdays with him then working ALL day.

13- Who cooks dinner? I do BUT would love to hand that chore over to Big J ANY time he wants to give it a shot.

14- Who drives more? Jason definitely does.

15- Who is more stubborn? I think I have to chalk up my board on this one. Just call me Little Ms. Stubborn.

16- Who kissed who first? He would say I was all over the 1st kiss BUT it was a mutual kiss.

17- Who asked who out first? He would say I did and I would say he did BUT truth be told it was a blind date.

18- Who proposed? He did.

19- Who has more siblings? I do. 6 kids to 5 kids.

Thanks for the "Man" Tag Lyndsay. Tags are always fun! Now I tag Tatum, Dawn, & how about....Shawna. Have fun girls!

Check out my Slide Show!

Disneyland 2008

And we're back to reality. Last week we took the little monsters that insist on living with us to Disneyland & to the California Adventure Theme Parks. Saturday we said goodbye to Snowflake, made a quick dash to Phoenix, and flew out from SkyHarbor early Sunday morning. When we landed in California they were in the middle of a down pour and we thought our chances of spending the day remainder of the day at "Mickey's Clubhouse" was shot. Luckily, just a couple of hours later when Steven and Amy arrived (they must have brought some of that good ole Arizona wheather with em) the rain had stopped!!! So we packed the kiddos up and set off to "the happiest place on earth." Day one was non-stop rides, laughs, and for us moms & dads....acting like kids again. I think we went on EVERY ride along with our quatro of little men!!! Day two - Crew woke up and said : "I don't want to go to Disneyland!" You gotta be kidding me, what kid doesn't want to go to Disneyland!?! A kid that says, "I sick!" Then begins to spill vomit all over you and the rest of the hotel room. Crew told us later that he wanted to see Mickey, to our better judgement, we took the boys to Disneyland that day. The extent of our stay at "the happeist place on earth (when your not sick)" was one ride down Splash Mtn, a wet Shanda, & a sick and sopping wet Crew. We went back to the Hotel and let the poor boy sleep the rest of the day. Luckily, the next morning Crew woke up and started naming all the characters he wanted to see, the rides he didn't want to go on (because they were scary), and wanting to ride on Buzz Lightyear this many times (as he held up his fingers). The following days where magical....not only for the little monsters but for Big J & I as well. It was everything we could have hoped for (minus the sick day). To see our boys eyes light up, to make little dreams a reality, and making memories that will last a lifetime. We can't wait to go again!!!

So This is Love

This is love.

This is what we do, this is how we love.

Happy Valentine's Day Jason

Noah: Well that's what we do. We fight. You tell me when I'm being an arrogant son of a b**** and I tell you when you are being a pain in the a**. Which you are 99% of the time. I'm not afraid to hurt your feelings. You have like a two second rebound rate and yoru back do doing the next pain in the a** thing.

Allie: So what.

Noah: So it's not going to be easy. It's going to be really hard. And we're going to have to work at this every day. But I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, every day.