Whipple Family Blog

Wow, the time has flown. Okay, a few updates, very quickly: Raegan turned 18 months! - Nursery, here we come! Yes, Brian is so excited. I am excited in a way and sad in a way. I still can't believe she is so old. I feel she is still my little baby. These are some fun things she does: * says hi and waves to just about anyone * yells mommy at the top her lungs until we give her what she wants. * jabbers and jabbers, and we have no idea what she is saying most of the time. * Loves puppies! * Loves a good walk and will just keep going... * Favorite foods: string cheese (yes, she still loves it), apples, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese. Pretty much anything dairy. * Gives awesome hugs. * Oh how we love her, she has brings so much joy to our family! Brian's Birthday- Brian turned the big 33 last Sunday. I tried to take him Go Karting the day before, but I couldn't find it, so we went and got his favorite food instead (Ribs). On Sunday we had a little family b-day party, and I TO...

Okay.... Twilight. Well, I went ahead and went to the midnight showing with a bunch of friends (with a little prodding from my cute husband whom I really don't think wanted me to drag him to it the next day). Yes, I'm glad I did. It was very fun hanging out with crazy people, (hee hee), eating Nibs, and listening to all the gasps and laughs throughout the movie. You just don't get that at a 7:00 showing on Saturday night! I felt just like a teenager again. It was great. As far as the movie goes.... it wasn't my favorite. Actually, I was very disappointed. I knew in my mind that nothing would compare to the book, but did it have to be so cheesy? I felt like they slapped it together as fast as they could, not realizing that if they put a little more into it, it could be a great movie! The characters weren't built up half as much as they should have been, and the music wasn't anything great (the music can make or break a movie). I guess I had too great of expectati...

Saturday was the long awaited Nutcracker performance for my Ashtyn and her friend Marielle. Ashtyn started ballet a couple of months ago and has loved it! She begged me for ages to put her in, and I'm so glad I finally did because it has been what she looks forward to all week. It helps that she has her good friend in there with her. So, every Fall the ballet studio does a performance, the Nutcracker. The girls were so excited to do it and so I couldn't resist, but the down side is that they have to practice on every Friday night for about two months! It's so, so over crowded in the small room with all the families and they only practice for twenty minutes, but it takes so much of your Friday night. The long awaited recital came on Saturday. Okay, these were the main events: Ashtyn stepped in doggie doo doo right before the Suttons picked her up. As we tried to clean up, she broke out in hysterics and wouldn't calm down. Ashtyn waited in the back with friends for their ...

Yesterday was the first time I have ever sat and watched my children during our ward's sacrament meeting program in the congregation. For the past six years I have been in a primary calling so I haven't gotten to just sit back and take it in. Well, not only was it great to be sitting next to my husband during the program (yes, usually we are about five feet apart with four kids in the middle of us), but I just couldn't help the emotions come out when all of those sweet kids were singing their hearts out. Wow, the spirit was so strong as all of those kids bore their testimonies. Yes, my kids did all their parts just great, and that was awesome, but the best part about it is that they loved it. They practiced for days the songs as we would drive in the car (with no prodding from me) and as I watched them sing yesterday, I knew that they were bearing their testimonies. I knew that they felt the spirit and that they love the Savior. What is more important than that? So, today I...

Okay, it's about time that I write about Halloween since I am starting to hear Christmas music. So here you go... Tera was a tiger, Shay a witch, Ashtyn a fairy princess (just like last year), and Raegan a purple dragon (I used this for Ashty a few years ago). So, as the Halloween years have passed I notice that I stress less and less about what my kids are going to be. This year I was thrilled when Ashtyn said she wanted to be what she was last year. I was also so excited to find that Raegy fit into our little dragon costume that we had. Shay wanted to be a witch, so I went to Salvation Army, found a black shirt and skirt, did a a little cutting and there you have it! Tera wanted to be a tiger, so I did buy hers. Yes, it kills me to spend a ton of money on costumes and because I'm not quite the sewer that my mom would like me to be (love you mom!) I decided I better start thinking about next year now. I am pretty darn good with a hot glue gun and I'm excellent at finding s...

Monday was our annual carve pumpkins FHE. I just have to say I was quite proud of myself. I didn't once tell my kids how the pumpkins should look, but we actually let them carve them by themselves!! Yes, it was a little hard for me when I realized Ashtyn was going to carve a tiny teeny face on a huge pumpkin (so I guess I did give a little advice). Anyway, they pretty much did them by themselves and I didn't look until the end, so I wouldn't give my two scents. It was great. The girls were so proud, so there you go! It's quite hard to have a slow shutter speed with wiggly girls! Two nights ago we went to Lariland farm to pick apples. I have been promising my kids for ages that we would go, and low and behold this is the last week! So we packed up all the coats and hats (did I have to pick the coldest day we have had yet?) and headed on out. It was quick (we were there for less than an hour), but the rain was coming and we had more apples than I can think to do with, so ...

I'm sure most of you have heard of Fly Lady before. Yes, I have too, many years ago (thanks to my good friend Joni who was crazed about it!). I guess I didn't really understand it in the past. I went on the Fly Lady website and signed up for a few weekly emails, but got really annoyed with them and tried to forget her in my life. Until two weeks ago when she came back... My sister left her Sink Reflections book at my house (on accident, mind you) and I picked it up and can't put it down!! I am finally understanding Fly Lady and her massive organized life. It's really not that massive, but it seems like it if you haven't read the book. I am kind of a throw a way freak. Yes, I LOVE to throw things away. My kids and my husband just know that if they have something missing, it's probably because I threw it away. But even with my throwing away habit, I didn't realize I have so much clutter still! After reading this, it makes me want to throw away everything. Well...

Last weekend my oldest sister came to visit. She lives in Emmett Idaho and has six kids and yes, she left them all. She came on Saturday night so we rented a movie and ate banana splits while all my kiddos were sleeping. This has been a family tradition in my family when all the guys go to the priesthood session of general conference, we have a girls night. We pile on the ice cream over bananas and of course get all the toppings. Then we watch the best chick flick we can find. I Love this time! This has been one of the hardest things for me to miss being away from my sisters and my mom. So, it was so much fun to do it with Ang. And no, I haven't caved in and let my girls in on the fun yet. I haven't even told them yet of my indulgence. I even do it by myself most times. I finally decided this time though, that I will make it a rule that they have to be eight years old to join. So, I guess next conference it will be me and my eight year old. Too bad I didn't get a picture of...

Teralyn was baptized on Saturday as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Wow, I can't believe we have a daughter that is eight years old! Anyway, it was a great day. Tera's grandpa and grandma Whipple flew in from Utah a couple of days before the baptism to attend. She also got to share it with her good friend Hailey from our ward. We were so thankful for our friends and family who shared this special day with us. The day and the week leading up to the baptism were a little stressful. I'm not sure why I stressed myself out so much to make it perfect, I mean, the ordinance is the most important part right? The baptism itself though was wonderful. Not everything we had planned came through, but it didn't matter in the long run and everything that was important happened. The two girls (Tera and Hailey) sang a sweet song together "I'm Trying to be Like Jesus" and the spirit was so strong. Tera's grandma gave a talk on baptism and H...

I am finally getting around to writing about school. Yes, it has been two weeks since they have started, but better late than never right? So, it's been off to a good start. Shaylee got the best teacher in the 1st grade, Mrs. Scruggs (formerly Ms. McHargue). Tera had her for math and we love her! We were so excited. Teralyn's teacher in third grade is Ms. Pietryka. She has only taught for about two years, but she is young and excited, and I think she'll be great. The first day turned out just fine. I was a little nervous because things were going so well in the morning and then about half hour before we left, Shay started to get a little sick (the nerves hit in). Last year was a huge dilemma and we barely made it to kindergarten. I thought for sure she was over that, but apparently not. Anyway, at least we didn't have crying this year, just a little upset stomach and when we started walking, it went away (there is something about that walking I tell you!). They both cam...

Warning: This Is Long! Just skip to the pictures if you like (: Wow, where has my summer gone. Man, it's been a whirl wind. Well, I won't kill anyone (or myself) by explaining every detail, but hopefully I can summarize a lot of it without overwhelming. It was a rough start to summer for our family. I couple days into it, I was running and had a huge biff on some gravel and sprained my ankle. It looked like a tennis ball and was so painful. I was pretty bummed out since I know how long sprains take to heal, and I had some fun summer plans ahead. Argh! I have sprained my ankle before many times, but I don't remembering going through something like this before. Could it be that I am just getting older? Hmm... I don't know, but my leg ached (especially at night for weeks.) After about six weeks it finally stopped making my leg ache, and now after nine weeks, I feel much much better, although it's still a little sore. Well, then we had our water pipe break. Luckily, we ...