Batter Up...

The "Man" had his very first ever T-Ball game. Let me just say, I think us parents are into this game just as much (if not more) than our rebels that storm the field. What’s most important to me at this moment is his enjoyment (he's only 5, I can't expect him to be hitting dingers out of the park yet)…but he’s bound to get pretty good at it IF he gets a taste for it. I know he is the kind of kid, who once, hooked will not stop til he’s mastered it. Whatever it is. The entire point of him playing is so he can learn if he likes it or not. Now truthfully, I probably talked it up a bit to him…you know something along the lines of “Mommy likes to play softball …don’tcha wanna play ball like Mommy?” Because I would much rather him play something I know a little about rather than be involved in something I can’t help him with…Like Chess or Basket Weaving. However, if after the season is over he doesn’t want to play again, I won’t force him (but encourage him to try try again)...but I am sure we won't have a problem with that...the game was a success! Way to go get 'em #9.

Baseball's "Opening Day"

I don't know who is more excited Mr.Crew or Big J & I. It was "Opening Day" here in Snowflake to welcome out the eager little leagers to America's favorite past time. Teams met coaches, sported out their new jerseys & hats, and got the chance to run out into the infield as their names were announced over the PA system. Crew was so excited to be a part of all the action. His little teammates practiced their team hand shake, gave eachother chest bumps, and chanted their team name. Ball park food was served, little bellies filled, & smiles were found as everyone braced themselves for the upcoming season. "Lets Go Bees!"

Egg Hunting

* EGG HUNTING 2009 *

Easter Sunday at Papa & Nana Smith's House = food, family, and the annual "Golden Egg Challenge." Dinner is eaten, desert devoured, eggs are hidden, and eager giggles bound as the flood gates open to the hunt. Eggs hidden in & over, on top & under every surface of Papa's backyard. Grand kids ran with smiles plastered on their faces fighting for the chance to claim the title of "Winner of the Hunt" BUT this year there was a twist in the egg hunting game. There was not just one golden egg to be sought after but 2 golden eggs AND a bonus silver egg. Competition was fierce, drive was high, and a little help from Grandpa with the rebels led to Trip with loads of eggs & Mr. JCrew to digging up (literally digging the egg out of the ground...we take our egg hunt seriously) the valued "Silver Egg". Thanks for the fun hunting Grandma & Grandpa Smith!

Easter thought

I can’t believe I am posting something on a blog but I guess I can take comfort in the fact I am not creating my own blog just posting a thought and saying thank you on my wife’s blog. This Easter season I want to say thank you to each of you for being a friend and supporting me and my family. I want to thank my family members for being a strong support system and pulling together and becoming closer each day. I want to thank my wife for being all I have ever needed her to be and standing by my side through the good and the bad. I want to thank my savior for understanding what no one else ever could but him. For lifting me up on days I struggle and for filling me with hope and a desire to do better.
Times are tough for most of us right now, financially, mentally, and sometimes spiritually. “WHY” I have a hard time with this word, it demands so much and yet warrants little thought or action on behalf of the person asking the question. Trust me I get that it would be nice to know exactly why something had to happen the way it did. I still ask “why” most days and I wish the desire to know “why” would go away. Ultimately I am learning that “why” does not matter. It is not the answer to why but rather the question “How” that matters. How can I pick myself up and change for the better, financially, mentally, and spiritually?
I miss my mother no doubt. I find my self often wanting to pick up the phone and call her for advice or direction. I find that I start to look forward to a holiday like Easter as I think about the great traditions my mom and dad taught me and that we cherish at holidays. Picnics at the park or in the woods, Easter egg hunts, and small but meaningful present’s mom would put together for us on Easter morning, time together laughing and having a good time together with each other. Church on Easter Sunday in our new church clothes and a lesson or conversation about the meaning of Easter. This year will be different for sure and I have been dreading Easter a little as mom won’t be physically here with us. I found that I have been too caught up in asking that dang word “why.” How sad right…. No not that I miss my mom but that I have been missing “it” and “it” was right in front of me. This holiday we celebrate the fact that Christ lives. He broke the chains of death and lives and loves us and that because of this “why” does not really matter. Making good choices and asking my self “how” each day and working to become a better man, friend, worker, dad, husband, and son of God will allow me to focus on “how” rather than “why.”
Mom I miss you, I love you, and I think about you each and every day. Often I wish you where here and sometimes I know you are. I want you to be proud of your son and the man I am trying to become. I want to do all I can to prepare to see you again. I want to thank you and dad for sharing the gospel with me. For being the missionaries who worked so hard with the lord to convert me. I pray I do the same for my kids and family. I am so grateful for my savior Jesus Christ and his eternal sacrifice. I am thankful for his individual concern for me and my family and know he works with my family as we come to him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit because that is what he requires of each of us. Thank you for all I have and thank you for teaching me the importance of “how” rather than “why”

Check out this great clip put together on Easter. Well worth you time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpFhS0dAduc

Baby Shower

Hey Everyone! Here is the Shower invite for Jaymi Davis...sorry IF you didn't get an invitation (we didn't have every ones addresses, etc.-) BUT we want everyone to know so spread the word!!! Thanks

A giggle, a coo, a sweet little smile.

A baby boy will be here in just a short while.

It's a Baby Shower in Honor of...

Jaymi Davis

Thurs. 19th March 2009

Shanda Whiting's Home

(for directions please send me an email @ shandawhiting@hotmail.com )
6-8pm (come & go)

Given by:

Shanda Whiting & Julie Nielsen

(PLEASE contact us @ shandawhiting@hotmail.com or julienielsen55@frontiernet.net )

Hope to see you all there!!!

Go. Going. Gone.

There are 3 ways a man wears his hair

- parted - unparted - or departed.

Go. Going. Gone. Sunday morning the boys in the house where in desperate need of a hair-cuts and so our story begins...Crew-snip, snip, snip, done. Trip-snip, snip, snip, done. Big J, snip, snip, snip...thought I was done...then the question was asked, "how big is the bald spot on top of my head?" The next thing we know the clippers are going and...buzz, buzz, buzz...we buzz his head...then out came the razor and shave, shave, shave...our end result = Big J with a sexy, round, bald head! Bald is Better...we love it.

Keep Moving Forward...

Despite all grief, sadness, & mourning we come to one realization: life moves on. The world does not stop its rotation. The hands on the clock tick on. We pick ourseleves up and keep moving forward. So in the gap of time that has passed this is has been our life:

Saying Goodbye-

We just want you all to know how much we love and appreciate you, your kind actions, your thoughts, and your prayers. It means so much to our family. You all impacted our lives and made it easier to have so many people we love there to support us in this difficult time. She was such an amazing woman and will be dearly missed. She will be watching over us...there isn't a better gaurdian angel out there.

Sending the "Elders" back to their missions to fullfill their work-

Jason & I at: The Lion King-

Taking a little getaway vaca. w/ the Davis Family to Disney Land (SuperBowl weekend...we didn't think that one through...thank goodness for TiVo) -

“Around here we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things.” – Walt Disney

She Will be Missed...

On January 19, 2009, Nanette Stradling Whiting was welcomed home to live with her Father in Heaven.
She was born to Larry and Peggy Stradling on April 20, 1954, in St. Johns, Arizona, and was the second of four children, Virginia Butler , Larry Von Stradling, and Tanya Clines.

On November 12, 1977, she married the love of her life, Edwin Marion Whiting. They started their life in Salt Lake City then moved back to their hometown of St. Johns where they raised five children, Jason, Jaymi, Julie, Tyson, and Cord Whiting. She loved life and loved being a mother. She spent much time in teaching her children to work, play, to enjoy family, respect others, to be Christ-like, but most importantly she taught them to love and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Nanette loved her Savior and family. Her life was dedicated to serving those around her, and above all, her family. More than anything in this world she loved her husband, her kids and especially her grand kids. She was a talented woman who loved life and excelled at whatever she did.

She was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served unconditionally in all her callings as well as in her community. She touched many peoples’ lives through her example, her love, and her generosity. She will be sorely missed by her husband Edwin Marion Whiting, her five children Jason (Shanda) Whiting, Jaymi (Dallas)Davis, Julie (Butch) Nielsen, James Tyson Whiting, and Joseph Cord Whiting ; her Father, Larry Stradling and Step-mother , Laura Stradling; her brother Larry Von (Rhonda) Stradling and two sisters Virginia (Butch) Butler and Tanya (John) Clines.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Peggy Stradling.

Nanette was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter and friend. We will always cherish and remember her in our lives.

Funeral services will be held, Saturday the 24Th of January at 11:00 am at the St. Johns Stake Center. There will also be a viewing on Friday, Jan 23rd from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Burnham Mortuary in St. Johns, Arizona.

Cardinals Mania

Finally the Arizona Cardinals got their "cold day in hell" and are going to the Super Bowl. OK, so it was a very exciting weekend here in the Whiting household. The rebels and I have caught the "Bird Fever" that has been radiating from Big J all month long and can't wait for Bowl number XLIII....BUT...dun..dun.dun...this family is trading in the sofa, the big screen, the great commercials, and football party for a road trip to Cali and spending the rest of game day with Mickey Mouse at Disney Land! To my poor husband: Do not worry we can listen to sports radio for the entire trip, and you wont miss a thing because when we get home it will be recorded on our TV thanks to TiVo, we will ALL dress up in "Cardinals Drag" (and even go the distance and paint our faces IF you would like), we will bring our Cardinals towells and wave them around in the car, we will hoot & hauler when Fitzgerald scores a touchdown, and don't forget Disney Land has the ESPN Zone that we can celebrate and catch glimpses' of the game. Get ready America its time for the Revenge of the Arizona "Birds"!!!

The Standoff = Jason VS. Trip

The "Standoff" began at 11:00pm last night when Jason and I where flabbergasted when a little 2 year old marched his way right into our room threw his bottle on the bed and gave his demand for another "BA BA!" Jason turned stern then yelled at him to, "go to bed now!!!!" He just decided to plug his ears and stand his ground at the foot of our bed and repeated his demand. Stubborn kid I wonder where he gets that from?