A Christmas Present from Crew

A Christmas gift from our little preschooler pulls at my heart strings every time. The last day of school before the holiday break Mr. JCrew runs through the front door, as I am waiting there to great him, with his hands full of shredded wrapping paper (because he just couldn't wait) and a "special" present hidden behind his back just for his mom & dad. There was no waiting till Christmas for his present, it was to grace it presence on our Christmas Tree immediately...front & center. His little school made gifts, projects, and paintings fill my heart with an abounding love for our little rebel...thank you Crew...we love you.

The Whiting GingerBread Creation

The Whiting's 1st Gingerbread Creation was set for a night full of laughs, hot chocolate, 'mellows, and getting our hands dirty creating a happy little "edible holiday house." The "rebels" were more than eager to help out (and to taste test the frosting, gum drops, & candies) while Big J and I attempted to coat our cookie house with frosting and keep Trip from biting a chunk out of the gingerbread roof!!! We finished the night off with sipping hot chocolate, eating 'mellows, & admiring (and keeping the kids from picking at ALL the candies our little abode) at our "Creation."

My 2 BIG Boys (Mr. JCrew & Big J) enjoying some nice hot Cocoa.

A Birthday Cake for Jesus

The Conversation between mother and son re: Birthdays (that are just around the corner...Trip (27Th) Crew (30Th) & Big J (Jan.5Th)) and yet another very important birthday and its meaning on Christmas day. Here in the chaos of the Whiting Household we have been trying to emphasise the importance of Jesus' birth and teach the rebels that its not all about Mr. Clause and his "magic bag" full of endless toys, but of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So in explanation of all the exciting birthdays and party requests Crew asks, "Mom, what kind of cake are you going to make for Jesus' birthday!?!" (and with out any pause from his lips) "Oh, I know....I think he would really like a Transformer cake...do you think you can make a Transformer cake for Jesus!?!"..."You can make Trip a football cake, me a Mickey cake, and Jesus wants a Transformer cake!" I laughed so hard I cried!!! Then I got to thinking and decided yes, I will make a cake for Jesus too! And we will celebrate his birthday with our little fellas on Christmas day and remember His importance in our lives. A new tradition and another "birthday" will be celebrated this season...hey, as far as I see it...what's one more cake to bake for a birthday this month!?!

BIG Lights, Little City

Christmas Lights Parade checklist:

Tailgate...check.

Warm pizza & drinks...check.

Friends & Family...check.

Freezing cold weather...check.

Lots of Lights...check.

Santa making a parade appearance...check.

One Happy family bundled tight together...check.

Christmas Tree Lighting & Meeting Santa

Santa made his ritual appearance to Snowflake on Dec 1st, riding in style on "The Old Town Fire Truck" decked out in lights, getting wish lists from children, and the BIG countdown to light the town tree. We bundled our family up, met up with friends, stood in line for 45 min. to make sure Mr. Clause got in the Whiting Bros. gift requests "because even naughty boys should get presents too!" The night was fun, festive, and a good kick off for this Holiday Season.

The Whiting Fam. awaiting (semi-patiently) to see the

"Jolly ole Chap"

Mom's Don't Get Sick Days

Today equals a Mothers worst nightmare...I'm sick (I know, poor me), .I remember when I was younger and even up until I had children that I didn't hate being sick. Because for most people, being sick really means you get a break. For me however, now that I have little rebels of my own that I care for 24-7--being sick is a living hell. I promise that no one gets the full meaning of the cliche "Mom's don't get sick days" until they have been a sick mom. But who is going to fill in for me when I get sick? No one. Being sick means that I have to do everything I normally do while feeling like crap. I must wake up when my kids wake up, I must put food in their bellies, I must amuse them and clothe them, and get them on the bus in time for school. I still am expected to change smelly diapers even though my gag reflex is enhanced times 10... and do the dusting, the dishes,the laundry, the vacuuming, and somewhere in the mix attempting to get in a shower... and if I decide not to do them while I am sick, guess who still has to do them later? That would be Me. The mom. Only by then, the piles of housework have become mountains from avioding them earlier. And unless I want to have my title of "MOTHER" stripped from me and have my kids forcibly removed from my house and placed in foster care, I cannot neglect that aspect of my job. Not ever.Being sick no longer means that I get to take a break from the things I dread doing. So I guess what I am getting at is the fact that mothers have the ultimate sick wild card to play that trumps anyone else's sick card. Particularly those mothers who have kids at home--and the younger they are, the worse off the mother is. Which basically boils down to the fact that I absolutely HATE being sick. Looks like its time for this mom to invade the medicine cabinet.

Let it Snow

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!! Last night Snowflake got the 1st snow of the winter season. First it was rain...then sleet...then it turned into snow and covered the ground. Crew & I had been at Grandma Smithies and the grand kids where all squeals with excitement as the cold flakes fell. I can't believe it is already that time of year...what happened to Fall!?!?!

BIG Helpers

What good little helpers I have. Crew & Trip were helping unload the dryer when Trip decided to go the extra mile and climb his way into the machine to hand us the laundry piece by piece. These little rebels can be so sweet sometimes.

Trick OR Treat Update

Trick Or Treat..Smell My Feet!!! What a relief Halloween is over for another 365 days. Don't get me wrong we love Halloween BUT when you celebrate it 1-at your kids school one day 2-at the ward Trunk Or Treat the next day 3-and then when the 31st rolls around and you really celebrate by knocking door to door PLUS attend the Halloween Carnival (and not to mention my boys where "snot stricken" with cold & coughs) we where pooped and happy that this unholy holiday filled with candy that sticks to our hips, butts, and thighs is over!!! The misfits had a good time...what kid wouldn't when he gets to dress up ALL week like a superhero!?!? Crew went off to school as Batman and received the 1st of his Halloween sugar high...then came home and shared some of that high with little brother Trip who got to dress up all week too like a monkey. Then Monkey & Batman got to attend the Ward Party....sugar high #2. And of course the topper Halloween night where their sugar high peaked and Big J & I thought we would never get them to bed!!! Good Times, Good Candies....and now its time to diet!!!

Kenady, Crew, & Sydney...minus the angry little monkey Trip!!!

This is Halloween

Shrek Stinks

Crew: "Mom, ummm...I thinks Shrek stinks....he's pretty smelly."

Mom: "Why? Can you smell him???"


Crew: (sniffing the air and shaking his head yes continues on...) "because he is dirty and needs to take a bath and the dirties are making him green."


Mom: Oh, OK.


Crew: "Yeah, he needs a bath to wash the green dirties off and get human again, I thinks that will make him feel better."


Mom: (laughter)

2A.M. Play-Date

12:00A.M. - Jason & Shanda roll into bed

12:01A.M. - Jason snoring

1:00A.M. - Shanda tossing and turning

1:30A.M. - Crew running through the room to go potty just making it in time.

1:50A.M. - Shanda finally doses off

2:00 Freakin' A.M. - Trip learns a new trick and climbs out of his crib stands in the doorway of my room and says "Hi, Mom!" and takes off running through the house.

2:30A.M. - Trip back in bed...Shanda thinks to self, "and so it begins..."

3:00A.M. - Crew walks in hauling everything but the bed frame itself into the room and complains, "Trip is being naughty...can I sleep with you?"

3:30A.M. - Crew is snoring in sync w/ Big J while Shanda & "The Midnight Misfit" go head to head.

4:30A.M. - Dosing off for the 2ND time sighing a breath of air into the pillow when....a little angry fist hit the bedroom door wanting "Mama!"

4:31A.M. - Jason waking up for the first time last night, puts the "misfit with a cool new trick" back to bed and FINALLY Shanda gets the blessed sleep she needs (well at least a few hours or so)....until we had to get up and get Crew to school. I am so looking forward to nap time today!

Handbag Give-away

Check it out!

New website.. { handbagplanet.com }

Giving away pretty, pretty bags!

What girl doesn't need, want, lust after a new handbag!?!

I may just be the new hangbag whore!!! Gotta have one!!!

Love Them!!!

Come One - Come All...

I am having a Scentsy Party this Thursday, October 16th at 7 pm at my house (come & go) and I want to invite everyone who might glance at my blog. I realize I am posting this a little late to really give anyone notice but better late than never, right! My friend sells these and I wanted to have an excuse to get together with the girls so I decided to have a party . . . and these are the cutest things ever! Here is a little blurb from the catalog:"Scentsy is the safest and hottest new thing in candles. The beautiful ceramic warmer houses a 25 watt light bulb that slowly melts the soft, fragrant Scentsy bar and fills your home or office full of one of more than 80 great, long-lastin scents!"You guys should check out the website!www.scentsy.com They really are way cute and fun! Hope to see you there!Oh! And if you want to come email me at shandawhiting@hotmail.com and I will give you directions!

Harvest Festival

50 mph gusts of wind, dirt in our faces, chicken attacks, tractor rides, Willis Farm, & pumpkin pickin'...this was Snowflake Harvest Festival 2008. First, the wind was ridiculous...cold, blowing dirt all around us, and lets not even mention what it did to my hair. Chicken attacks...while we were waiting for our tractor ride to the farm there was a little chicken coop the boys where checkin' out when dun dun dun...Crew's little fingers looked more like tasty worms to the Big Rooster when he snapped at them....which turned into a dramatic scene of tears. Tractor ride made out to be the most exciting ride ever for our little rebels. The farm & pumpkin pickin' was a hit (besides being pasted in gusts of dirt) and 4-picks of perfect pumpkins we were out of there and home safe from the cold wind and glad that we where finally done fighting the elements at Harvest Fest.

Locked Out

What do you do when your 2 year old locks himself in the bedroom, cant get out....and the room key is inside that room? Well you break into your own house from the outside and call on your 4 year old to climb through the bedroom room window to save the day! So a little panic set in the other day when I came down the hall after cleaning up the kitchen and realized that Trip had locked himself in my room...and the room key was no where to be found (because it was on top of the armoire in MY ROOM!) I knocked, called his name, pounded on the door, yelled his name, considered kicking the door down on try #3 when I screamed his name and he wouldn't respond!!! Yes, hysteria was setting in and every awful unimaginable thing ran through my mind in the 5 minutes it took me to figure out how to get into that room. A light bulb went off in my head when I remembered I had left my bedroom window cracked open and I could send Crew on a Rescue Mission and boost him through and he could save the day! So we did just that...and Trip thought is was great...he laughed and laughed when he saw Crew climbing through the window...the little booger was just fine...he was entertained with his bottle, snuggled into the pillows and blankets on the bed, and kickin' back watching cartoons. Should have known...one can't get in front of a little man and his 'toons!

Why Semi's Should Really Avoid U-Turns

Big J's story of the day: Why semi's should really avoid u-turns even IF on a country road. On my way into work this morning I got caught for about 20 minutes at a stop light. The line moved slowly forward and I could not see why it was taking so long. Well my frustration increased as I rounded the bend and noticed a semi parked across the road. My first thought was what the ---- is this guy doing, hurry up. Then as I got closer my frustration turned to application. This guy was at a total stop and was not going any where any time soon. Apparently the driver had a high dose of intestinal fortitude and tried a U turn. That was not happening today or any day for that matter. One word came to mind as I drove past the trailer.... Classic!

Flower Power

Sisters, mothers, granddaughters, & nieces....flowers, hot glue, clips, & beads....these are a few of my favorite things. Hot Glue is a wonderful thing... except all those wispy thread things that get everywhere! I went crazy (along with my mom, sis, & nieces) this weekend with some fake flowers and hair clips and barrettes! We all had a great time acting like we were crafty women for the night. Looks like we found a new hobby!!!

Lake Tahoe, California 2008

One week at Lake Tahoe translates into: 13 hours drive time - Whiting family of 4 jam packed into "The Sardine Can" - potty pit stops in every town along the way - Staying at the "Hancock Rest Stop" in Vegas (thanks Dawn & Wyatt...with out our pit stops, both coming and going, at your fabulous su casa, Big J and I would have most likely lost ALL sanity with one another and with the little rebels) - Dawn & I waiting 45 min. in the drive though at Fat Burger while Fat Burger employees had to go out back and kill the cow - Arriving a beautiful Lake Tahoe and meeting the Ortiz Family - Climbing, dragging, and sweating our way up our 4 flights (60+ steps) of stairs to our room - Taking in the tourist scene at Inspiration Point - Daily beach visits - Swimming, goofy golfing, sand castle making, bird feeding, and snorkeling - 2mile hike to the Lake Tahoe Castle - Late nights with Morgan & Elizabeth reminiscing about Jason and his missionary days with them - Riding the Gondola at Heavenly Ski Resort up 9,000 ft - souvenir shopping - discovering my new favorite pizza place "Blue Dog Pizza" yum - running away from bees & getting stung - many many laughs, jokes about peanuts, & fireworks shopping - and unforgettable memories. Can't wait for Family trip #2 with the Ortiz Family...a great combo.

"Pioneer Facials" (achievement days)

HOMEMADE FACIALS: We made home-made facials with our "Achievement Days Pose" from recipes I googled. The girls paired up and smeared each others faces. While we were letting the facials set, we painted our nails, talked about the importance of good grooming, & jammed out to music. The girls had a blast putting avocados all over each other's faces! Here are a couple of recipe fav's:

*Oatmeal Face Mask
1/2 cup of oatmeal
1 smashed avocado
1/3 cup of honey

In a bowl, mix smashed avocado with the honey, then continuously add oatmeal. When all ingredients are mixed well, apply to face and relax. After 10-15 minutes, wash off with warm water. Do this once a week or when you desire relaxation. You won't believe the difference!

*TIP: To loosen blackheads, combine equal parts baking soda and water in your hand and rub gently on your skin for 2 to 3 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

*Breakfast Mask
1/2 cup rice krispies
1/4 cup of strawberries or strawberry juice (like Welches)
1/4 milk
2 Tbsp. cornstarch

Mix and let sit out for 10 minutes to get soggy (it'll stick better!). Put on face for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water to open the pores and splash with cool water to close them!

Sweet Corn Festival 2008

A little sweet corn anyone? Labor Day weekend we stuck around town for the Sweet Corn Festivities. The parade, craft show, games, horseless rodeo, cook off, bounce castles, and of course to pick up some of that delicious sweet corn to take home with us. Good times, Good Corn, Good Memories together.

Park City Retreat for 2

Park City, Utah retreat for 2 = Big J & I, no little rebels, jet setting away, a 5 star resort, peace & quiet, all expenses paid, room service & blessed sleep, site seeing, and new friends. Last weekend, I was fortunate enough to accompany Big J on a business trip to Park City. This is the first time I have been on a company trip (besides tagging along w/ our business man to the Valley) and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't mind on going on a few more just like this....thanks to whomever made the decision to bring along the wives of The Mahoney Group fellas. And a HUGE THANK YOU to those who helped out with our little rebels while we played for the weekend.

Trip VS. The Family Dog

Clash of the Titans...at least in our home. Trip VS. Rosco, the family dog. Two little pups in the battle of the summer. The "BIG TEASE PHASE" has officially introduced itself to the Whiting Brothers. Our little rebels spent the day causing trouble, wrestling, helping mom w/ yard work....and Trip antagonizing the family dog. And so the "BIG TEASE" begins....Round #1 - Mom intervenes and catches the quarrel before it gets too heated between Trip & Rosco. Round #2 - Crew alerts Mom (annoyed at his little brother because we are "trying to get some work done around here") big brother Crew informs me, "Mom, he is really doing it again....he is pulling Rosco's tail." Mom grabs the little tease and moves him to the opposite side of the yard. Round #3 - a little growl, snap, and cry...Rosco won. And now you know my dear son Trip, that's what you get when you decide to go head to head with the family dog and pull his tail.

"Big Tease" Battle Wounds * Trip VS. Rosco

(the after math = a little nip to the forehead & a lesson well learned):

Simiply Put...This is Why we must BLOG...

"To you women of today, who are old or young, may I suggest to you that you write, that you keep journals, that you express your thoughts on paper. Writing is a great discipline. It is a tremendous education effort. It will assist you in various ways, and you will bless the lives of many--now and in the years to come, as you put on paper some of your experiences and some of your musings." --President Gordon B. Hinckley

Back to School..."Is it school time yet?"

"Is it school time yet?" A question that we heard all to often through out our summer of 2008. Crew has been more than excited for pre-school to start up again. We are so glad he qualified for another year in his speech program (developmental class), otherwise my sanity just may have well been on the doorway out with all the bumps, bruises, and boys will be boys attitude that rules our roost here in our home. Besides, I don't know what we would do to keep this kid occupied for 1 more year before he starts the Big Kindergarten class! So finally the day came when we could tell him, "Yes, today is a "school time" day!" He has been so much fun with all the school preparations...school shopping, picking out an "awesome" new backpack, shoes that make him "run faster", and loading his pack with little treasures for "show & tell days." His first day back to pre-school went something like this (in his own words), "We did paper-works times, circles times, play-times, and go home on the bus times." These bittersweet days are coming all too fast for Jason & I. It is so fun to watch them grow into "little people" & at the same time realize that they won't stay little for long. BUT while they do we will cherish them!

"Enjoy the little things for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."

- Robert Brault

Midnight Lullabies

Midnight lullabies, our definition: sweet soothing songs with which to lull a child to sleep amidst the dark hours of the night. One of my favorite things and one of the reasons my heart grows fonder for my husband is his ability to sooth our boys with primary songs mid-night when they wake from a bad dream, are not feeling well, or are scared when we stay in a new place. Although his pitch may be off, Big J may not be able to hit the right notes, and he may not get a golden ticket from Simon Cowell, it is his voice, his sway, his arms, that comfort is found for his family. It is another love of mine when he tells me to "just go back to sleep, I'll take care of the boys," but instead I listen for his sweet sound that omits our home with safety and slumbers our children back to the world of dreams. He has the "Golden Touch" of a fathers lullaby. Thank you for singing us to sleep. Love, Us.

Win, Win...

A little "Valley" trip for shopping, DBacks game, celeb. spotting, and more shopping. A win-win weekend for the Whiting Family. Saturday our little pose was here, there, and everywhere in what turned out to be the most successful shopping experience to date, working together to get our list accomplished. Saturday = School shopping- with limited melt downs from our rebels, shopping- with limited melt downs between husband & wife, & everyone pleased w/ all our bargains. That evening we had a babysitter for the boys and tickets to the DBacks game. Plus #1- awesome seats right on the 3rd baseline behind the DBacks dug out. Plus#2 - adding Johnny & Jamie Hammond to our fun. Plus #3- getting there early to get our free t-shirts on "t-shirt day." Plus#4- celeb spotting Amari Stoudemire (he threw the 1st pitch of the game) and who sat just rows in front of us - celeb spotting #2 Anqaun Bouldin from the AZ Cardinals, again just rows in front of us - and of course the celebs' on the DBacks team!!! & Plus #5 - spending quality time with the person I love the most!!! Good Times, Good Entertainment, Good Friends, Good Kids, this is the "Good Life."