Schools Out for Summer

Poof! Like a magician had waved his magic wand and moved us 10 months into the final days of school. Pre-School ended before Crew or I, for that matter, was ready to let it go for 2 short months of summer. We have been so grateful to the teachers, speech therapist, aides (not the disease people...just the teacher's assistants that help maintain the chaos of little children in a school environment!), and ALL the help they have been to help our little Mr. JCrew to #1-sit still...even IF it is only for 2 minutes...its a HUGE success #2-teaching him to "turtle talk"...thank you...know its not all gibberish & #3-for the love, patience, and time they took to focus on our little guy. Crew was so proud when he got home from school on Thursday with his little treat bag and his certificate in his hand. So I just had to take a pic of his "The Last Day of School" excitement.

Now any ideas for me to keep this kid entertained for the summer!?!

Red is my Favorite Color.

Red. The choice of color that Crew is adamant about being his favorite. From sitting on the red spot at circles time at school, to the choice of his bedroom wall color that is argued with mom to be painted blue (mom's fave), to the sweet little mothers day key chain he made that he insisted to the teacher for ALL the beads to be the color red! From Popsicles, to juice, and even down to his favorite red t-shirt....I am beginning to think this kid bleeds red like his dad (Big J's fave color too)!!! So I thought to myself what do colors say about us? And I found this on the color red and couldn't argue some of the little glimpse' of what it says about my boys.

Red: The color of strength, health, and vitality, Red is often the color chosen by someone outgoing, aggressive, vigorous and impulsive—or someone who would like to be! It goes with an ambitious nature but those who choose it can be abrupt at times, determined to get all they can out of life, quick to judge people and take sides. Red people are usually optimistic and can’t stand monotony; they are rather restless and not at all introspective, so they may be unaware of their own shortcomings. They find it hard to be objective and may blame others for any mishaps. Quiet people with a preference for red may feel the need for the warmth, strength and life-giving qualities of the color, or they blanket their true feelings under a sober exterior. Red is usually chosen by people with open and uncomplicated natures, with a zest for life

Are you my Mother?

Saturday evening was our typical finishing up random work around the house day, entertaining our little monsters, and thinking about what to make for dinner. That usually consists of our typical evening in the Whiting home that is until I heard a faint cry coming from somewhere nearby in the backyard. I put it off and continued to assist Jason in hanging up the clothes line but the distress signal still was ringing and my motherly instinct new I had to find what seemed to be lost. The search was on...maybe more like Marco-Polo but it wasn't long before I found what had wandered away from its mother......inside our shed in the very back corner was 2 little kittens!!! I think Big J thought I was pulling his leg...trying to get out of being his assistant...and was making it all up BUT to his surprise I walked out of that shed with 2 little fur balls. The boys were ecstatic. It was so much fun (and work) watching our boys with these little babies BUT new we couldn't keep them 1- Honestly don't care too much for cats 2- Our dog was going Ape *you know what* and would have eatin them in one bite 3- and wouldn't you know it...they were both male kittens (I think we have enough testosterone in the Whiting household!) So yet again another search was on...to find the owners of the Mama cat or (IF they had been abandoned) finding them a home. A few phone calls later we found the kittens Mama & the kittens found a new home. They were old enough to be given away and we did both our neighbors a favor!!! It was fun while it lasted....but admit ably I was a little sad to see them go. maybe I am a cat person.....no, I think I will just blame it on my motherly instincts!!!

Mother's Day

Check out this video: Mothers Day

*pause the music at the bottom of my blog to enjoy this video*

Added Residents of 811 S. 3rd Street

Welcome home Davis family. Or at least Dallas (with Jaymi and the kids her and there on the weekends until their abode in Globe is taken off the market). This past week Dallas & Jaymi pulled their camp trailer up from Globe and parked it at their new residents of 811 S. 3rd St. (our driveway) and became our new addition to our home, family, and neighborhood! We couldn't be more excited to have them so close. And better yet to be looking for a place to settle in Snowflake/Taylor. Yeah! So welcome home Davis Family (even IF it is just temporarily) We love having you as a part of our chaos!

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!"