Ham and Turkey and 20 pounds later

I can't even think of where to begin. This was Joel's first Christmas without his parents ever, Morgan went to his first in theatre movie, I had a seat for everyone at the table for once, and my house is still standing. It was a stressful day but I think by the end of the day when the meal was over (Turkey, ham, bread pudding, sweet potater soufle, baked mashed taters, green bean casserole, pasta salad, apple streudle pie, uh I just gained more weight listing it all out!) everyone was at peace and settled. Either that or we were all just too dang tired and full to stress about anything!!

So, yes it was an interesting day of emotions the boys also made a gingerbread house there were a few pouts and shouts about who got certain candies to decorate it but they survived. After dinner we all went out to the movies and saw Bolt. It was Morgan's first and he did really well sitting still. I never even knew they made booster seats for movie theatres!! Noah kept asking for a dog that looked like Bolt and I said I would just paint a lightning bolt stripe onto our dog, Kirby for him and he said, OK mommy!! HA HA~ Joel would hurt me if I did!

After the movie we just wound down for the night afterall I had to get up and hit Kohls at 4am for the super deal on Kitchen Aid stand mixers! Oh but I was able to snap a family shot and even caught my sister smiling!

They're Here!

Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle Aaron all arrived yesterday and I can't believe that tommorrow night is Uncle Aarons last night here! So in an update. I have a little photojournaling. Hopefully I will be more ontop of my camera usage in the next few days that they are here. It is so busy!!

This is Uncle Aaron he always takes my camera from me and has to leave his mark in it!!

The pictures below are my father, Morgan on his first day of potty training in Hot Wheels Underroos!! He was so proud!! Noah wearing his Indian feather (construction paper of course) hate he made a preschool for their ThanksGiving feast, the family sitting around the table eating Tiramisu Cheesecake! YUM! and I made peanut butter banana caterpillars for breakfast this morning that Joel topped off with some pancakes and eggs! After breakfast the girls went shopping, Jen finally got some new clothes and for the third day in her life got some make up and even said she would wear it more now!! YEAH!! Tommorrow the boys are off to school for the day I have a few papers to get done for my classes and we may head up to the zoo in the early afternoon. More pictures to come!

My Christmas Wish List - I thought this was cute!

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:

I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.

I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.
If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music, a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is calling and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold.
Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,
MOM...

P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.

Need I say more?

7 States in 5 days

Last Friday Joel and I set out for a nice little adventure. We were destined to Williamsburg, Virginia for a small get away. Although our experiences did not exactly turn out as we expected them to. We ended up leaving a day earlier and headed north to Union, New Jersey to see our niece and Joel's sister and "BIL". So up through Maryland, Past D.C., into Delaware, then onto the NJ Pike we headed. We met up with our family and headed out to dinner that night. It was a great to see them and I did not realize how much I missed seeing them until it was time to leave the next evening. That part later.

Joel and I headed out to NYC the next morning and went into times square on the bus, New Jersey Transit Authority style. It was actually the best way to get into the city becuase it was direct and the Port Authority was right there by Times Square. So we walked around a little bit and played in the Toys R Us store found a few small things for the boys and just headed back to his sisters house early afternoon. We then decided that there was an IKEA only a few miles away so we spent the rest of our afternoon there "looking" around. We ended up leaving the store spending less than $75 and that was awesome for me! Joel just can't wait to put everything up for me now!! HA HA!

Then it was time to say goodbye and we took them out to a really nice Mexican restaurant I liked it because it was a fresh style of cooking to Mexican. Ash was a doll the entire time and I can not wait until I see them again around Christmas time! I really do miss seeing them!

Joel and I headed back home after dinner around 9pm and drove straight home getting in at about 6am. I fell asleep but he said it was a good thing since it was so slick outside and there were so many accidents that I would have been a nervous wreck for him. We spent the morning sleeping until 10 and headed out to do some errands. We had to hit the hobby store to get our Christmas big present together for the kids. We are putting in a train that goes around their room! I can't wait to see their faces! They are getting it a bit early because we just are anxious people but it will be a great surprise for them! (and us)

My parents are heading in on Saturday and staying through black Friday morning. I am in the midst of debating if I want to hit some of the sales this year but I think I will debate a bit longer on this because some of the pre ads I have seen do not look so spectacular.

OH! and the other states we hit were West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Overall we had a great trip and we were able to get to know each other all over again so it was good for our relationship as well.

The Toy Department

Joel and I left the boys this weekend with their "uma" and "umpa" so we could get away for a little mommy and daddy time. So far Joel and I have been haveing a great time!!! No clock in the hotel to worry about time, mild rain that seems to have gone away now, we have acutally had a conversation with each other for more than 5 minutes without having to be interupted and we only stopped twice in our eight hour drive down to Virginia.

When we told the boys that uma and umpa were going to be watching them this weekend the first thought that came from Noah's mind was "OOOOO Toys!!! Uma take me to get toys!!!" I tried to reply with, "No hunny everytime uma comes it does not mean you can buy toys anymore." and of course he responds with the one question every other four year old knows best, "Why?" Now trying to explain money and the value of it to a four year old is almost as easy as trying to get a lid off a jar with wet hands. Its impossible with making little progress.

So we dropped the boys off at their daycare and preschool and met with uma and umpa to cover the necessities they may need while we are gone, contacts, medical, routines, and some rules to hopefully stick to and we were on our way. By the time Joel and I hit the Tarmack in West Virginia we called them to see how they were doing. The first thing out of Noah's mouth was, "we are buying toys!!!" ugh!! I tried to talk uma and umpa into not buying them any toys because we already have a basement full. I guess it is just one of those things where they are going to do what they will and it puts a smile on their grandkids face and that makes them feel happy as well. I guess if everyone is happy in some sense I can do away with my objections from time to time to let them savor their time with them. Grandparents.

Let the holidays begin

Well I think my life is going to be a blur for the rest of the year starting yesterday. I went shopping with my grandmother-in-law, Eileen and man that lady can shop!!! This is the third year that I have gone with her and I think she tires me out more than she tires herself out!! Whew!! I am about done with Christmas for everyone though and thank goodness because I really want to take the time to enjoy it this year.

I am making yard decorations this year around the gingerbread theme. I have painted and cut out candy canes, gingerbread men, and a gingerbread house to prop up in the yard this year. It is just a project to get my mind off of work and school and put some of my creative juices forward. The boys are looking forward to Christmas more than ever. Noah has been talking about Santa Clause since September and everytime I say no to buying a toy in the store he says, "Maybe Santa Clause will buy it for me!" I just have to chuckle to myself of the things he says. he is hoping for some Indiana Jones and Monster Jam items. I have successfully talked him out of Transformers and Power Rangers.

Morgan is into anything trains right now. I gave in and used my bonus this month to buy a train that goes around the Christmas tree, it plays holiday tunes and has a radio control on it. It is something that I had always wanted around our tree but I think my parents just never wanted to bother with it and just asked, "how is Santa going to put the presents under the tree?" I quickly conceeded. Christmas is always fun but for some reason this year is going to be special I am holding back on the presents for the kids to give them a better rounded perspective of what Christmas is all about. So we are going to a live nativity, seeing a train lego display, going to see Santa Clause, bake cookies, decorate the tree in hot wheels cars (our theme this year), and just enjoy family time together.

Bumperific Birthday!!

Saturday, November 8th was my 28th birthday and we celebrated the day cleaning the house, arranging furniture in preparation of the holidays, finsishing up unfinished projects in the house, doing a little shopping for those unfinished projects that are by the way.. . . yet to be finished! But best of all we celebrated my birthday with family and friends by going bumper bowling!

It was so much fun to take the kids out to their first bowling experience. Growing up my grandfather would always take my sister, brother and I bowling to fill the time up during the day. "Now, Nicole, watch your feet just aim for the center arrow and roll the ball straight," he would always say. He must have known a little about something in bowling becuase it has always worked for me. If I would lose the slightest focus and not stare down that center arrow long enough as I was casting the ball out it would always end up in the gutter. But if focus was maintained you would be it would always lead to a strike or even a spare to complete the round!

I miss those days I miss grandpa. What I wanted to write about was my kids!! Even though it took five minutes for Noah's ball to creep down the lane he always had the best reward in watching one or two pins fall down to their sides. Little Morgan, smaller than his brother, kicked Noahs rear in scoring!!! But he would always be sure to say "I did it!" when he was done throwing the ball even before he knew the result of his balls projection! Marshall, their cousin was also present he was just into bowling! A very polite young man that used his manners and showed very little anguish over the younger ones trying to overtake the ball return or the lane that they were sharing. He bowled for Noah, Morgan, his mom, and scored pretty darn well for each of them. At one point he wanted his ball back so bad the lane reset itself the bar came down just as the ball was rolling down the lane. Ball bounces off of the bar and came rolling back to him. The one time we did not have the video camera rolling and I just lost out on $10,000 from Americans Funniest Home Videos! ARG!

We had some of Joel's long time friends there as well, Chad, Jessica, Jeff, Lena, and their adorably wonderful helpful kids (I dont know what I would have done without them!) Andrew and Sammy, our neighbors Sean, Amanda, and their two daughters Jenna and Rayne. Then a long time friend of mine Bryan who I also work with was there. The object of my day was to have fun. I didnt want presents or gifts, drama or stress. Just pure fun to let loose because our lives are just filled with chaos on a daily basis. I hope that was acheived that day I know that I had fun. Especially when I whooped everyone in a game of scrabble at our "after party" with our neighbors!! =-)!

Slowing down in life to Breathe

I copied this from one of the forums I regularly read and it provides a little more insight to the reasons we should slow down and breathe once in a while in life.

Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from theirroutine. I got to thinking one day about all those women on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible. How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word 'refrigeration' mean nothing to you? How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched 'Jeopardy' on television?I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, 'How about going to lunch in a half hour?' She would gas up and stammer, 'I can't. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, It looks like rain.' And my personal favorite: 'It's Monday.' She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together. Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect! We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get S teve toilet-trained. We'll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet... We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of 'I'm going to,' 'I plan on,' and 'Someday, when things are settled down a bit.' When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Roller blades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord.. My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digesti ve process The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-Decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy. Now...go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to......not something on your SHOULD DO list. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting? Make sure you read this to the end; you will understand why I sent this to you. Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butter fly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night? Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask ' How are you?' Do you hear the reply? When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? Ever told your child, 'We'll do it tomorrow.' And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say 'Hi? When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift....Thrown away..... Life is not a race Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.

1am and I witnessed history

Change. That is what I witnessed. At least the hope there of that change will happen. That was the risk that 51% of Americans chose to take when voting for the first African American President in history EVER! Joel took the boys to the voting precint and voted with them together in the booth, even allowing Morgan to press the Vote button to cast his ballot. The change I see in this nation is the hope that this nation will come together and establish a cooperative effort into reforming this country to be on track with where the American dream needs to be continued. It does not matter if I voted for one or the other. I knew that either way both candidates have great character and respect for the country that they are both proud of that either way it would be an end to an era of headache and turmoil amongst mass confusion and frustration that either candidate would bring them change. For the better will have to be re-examined in four years.

Noah Preschool Adjustments

Since Noah started preschool he has held behavioral issues to a certain extent. Randomly hitting children, not listening to teachers, not taking naps and playing around instead, constantly talking, and just not being able to make friends due to his hyperactive aggressiveness in school. We have noticed a number of things occurring at home along the same extent but have managed to correct his behavior. So after 6 weeks of discussions and behavior modifications it seems as if something has snapped in his attitude at school.

Miss Julie, Miss Stacy, and Miss Diane all of his preschool teachers have commended Noah on his attitude adjustments for the better. In addition they have stated that they have been giving him more work to do in school so that it could keep his mind busy. Miss Julie told me this morning that she has been especially pleased with his progress and called his intelligence "scary smart".

After all of the parenting adjustments I for the first time felt like I was actually doing something right as a parent. That one comment of assurance from a preschool teacher helped me reconcile four and half years of feeling like a poor mother becuase my child has always been different from the other kids his age. I hope that we can continue as his parents and teachers help him grow into his maturity and intelligence.

Welcome to the White Family Blog

So I am going to begin every attempt to keep this blog updates for family and friends to visit when they need to see what we have been up to in life. I feel it is probably the best way I can keep journalized record of the changes in life that we are facing as a family. So harvest from it your thoughts and comments as all are welcome to leave comments on feedback as you join us in our journey through our family growth.