Nine Blissfully Insane Beautifully Crazy Years....

Today is our 9th anniversary, and boy it really has gone fast. Not to say that it was easy or forgetful, it just went by fast...I wanted to share a glimpse of how it all began....

Boy asks girl out on date. They date.

Girl makes boy go to high school dances even though he is graduated (what losers go to dances after they graduate? jk I forced him) because she had to go because it was part of her grade for being an officer.

Girl and boy walk down aisle.....

at her sister, and his brother's wedding.

Boy saves money buys fancy sports car.

Girl graduates from highschool.

Boy sells fancy sports car, and buys ring. Asks Girl to marry him.

Boy and Girl get married at 12...no kidding I was 18, and he was 21.

Boy and Girl buy jeep, go four wheeling, spend every dime on eating out, playing and having what seems to be fun.

Boy gets girl pregnant. They have their first kid.

2 years 9 months later they do it again.

9 years, 2 kids, 5 moves, 7 jobs, 1 degree (you decide who got it), 7 cars, 4,025 fights, 975 hugs, 2500 kisses (we aren't pda people) later. We are still together....


If you have time to spare and want to read this little story my Dad wrote it is very dear to my heart.

Jason...This year in pictures....

So, Jason turned 30 on Wednesday of last week. When we met he set a whole bunch of goals that he would reach by the time he was 30 such as: being a millionaire, owning a ferrari, being his own boss, traveling all around the world, being involved in politics....Needless to say he failed. Miserably. The only million he sees is the millions in other peoples accounts, the ferrari is not a ferrari but a very cool Black Acura 3.5RL, he is as far from being his own boss as you could possibly imagine (like he has to ask to go to the bathroom), and although he has gone many places since we've married: China, Mexico, Boston..... I wouldn't really call him a world traveler. Last but not least...He isn't a politician, but.....


So here's to Jason for almost hitting all of his goals by 30! We love you....You have accomplished so many things so far. So here is to 30 more years...
*a special thanks to Landon for photographing all these amazing events....

My Sister...

Dani, did a post on a poem that I made her when I was younger. I pretty much worshipped her, and she usually threw everything away I ever gave her. So she wanted me to see that she had saved it. Well do I have a surprise for you...She is just as talented of a poem writer, and she knows I save everything so here goes...(So maybe that is where Livy gets it from: I call her pack rat because she wants to keep everything)

Jason's BIG 30th....

My Heroes....

In these crazy times of war, economic collapse, sickness, heartache, deceit, and anything else that might be going on in mine and your lives. I wanted to make this post for all of you who inspire me everyday, and influence my life in a wonderful way. So this is for:
1. The woman in my life who gets down on her hands and knees to be a mom, plays pretend, and anything else her kids and their friends might want her to do...
2. The man in my life who is excited to be home and play with his kids everyday...
3. The woman in my life who over thinks every scenario so she won't hurt feelings....
4. The woman in my life who I can spout off to, and she never seems to judge me (if you know who you are and you do judge me at least I don't know you do :) ), who reminds me that being yourself is awesome and you don't need to change who you are for anyone...
5. The woman and man in my life who would do anything for my family. Are always thinking and doing things that help me in more ways than they will ever know......
6. The boy in my life who reminds me every time I am around him that it is okay to have confidence, and know that you are great....
7. The woman in my life who serves constantly, and is always thanking me for insignificant things that I do....
8. The man in my life who went to the very bottom and didn't give up, but persevered and is steadily climbing his way back up....
9. The woman in my life who is fighting for everything I take for granted, but yet is so positive, and even laughs about it....
10. The man in my life who even though he is brash and blunt, calls to make sure I know he still loves me and my family....
My point is I know I have so much abundance in my life, and through all the doom and gloom I keeping joking about, I am so happy to have you in my life. You might not know how or when you are influencing and even that you helped lift me a little higher, but you did. I could have kept going on and on...You are my heroes. Thank you.

The Fun Run...

Olivia's school did a fun run to raise money for the school this year. Which I prefer, over the lame selling of over-priced candy and wrapping paper. My "good buddy" Liz volunteered me to do the slide show so I didn't run with Olivia, but I ended up with over 1000 pictures of all the kids at the fun run, and after going through them I ended up with 2 of Liv's. Which are pretty cute so I forgive you Liz. jk Thanks to Angie for letting Liv's run with your family. I heard Liv's took 1st place in her age, and they are looking at her for the olympics....

SEW FUN...

I am sew clever. jk....Livy's best friend's mom, Somer, is a very talented woman. She has decided to take me on as a sewing student. (Please don't tell her I am hopeless) Our first project were these cute little portrait nightgowns. The kids look sew cute (there that pun is again) in their new pj's. Thanks Somer for your guidance and patience and for not laughing when I screwed up even the easy parts.

Friendships....

"I would rather you hate me for who I am, than love me for who I'm not"

Here is a disclaimer for all of you who have considered having me as a "friend" just in case you love me for someone I am not:

#1. I will probably forget your birthday.
#2. I will probably not answer my phone when you call. (I do not like the phone)
#3. I will probably at least once, but most likely more than once, say something so extremely stupid and out of line that you will wonder if it really came out of my mouth.
#4. I will say or maybe even do things that are offensive without even knowing it.
#5. I will forget to show up for your surprise birthday party, then not say happy birthday, and then not bring you your gift, and then remember 6 months later after you have given me a birthday gift, that I still never gave you your gift, and that I didn't go to your surprise birthday party.
#6. I am not a puffer*
* A person who tells you how great you are all the time, and tells you all of your attributes.

After you have read it over, and decided if you still want to be my friend. Please sign a disclaimer stating that you will acknowledge that I warned you. j/k
Thanks too all who put up with me, and still claim me as a "friend".

Old Friends...

It is so good to see old friends. We were lucky to get a visit from some good friends from Manassa, Colorado. They were some of our favorite friends from the "condo days" as we refer to them. Liv's was stoked that not only did she get to see Emma, but that they have the same dress. We love ya, and thanks for the visit. Next time we want to see Shane too.

Livy starts 1st Grade.........

Well if you didn't guess from the slide show, I am sad. My Little Livy is in 1st Grade. Are you serious that I am old enough to have a kid in school all day? I can't believe that for the next 12 grades she will not be home the majority of the day that we are awake. Don't get me wrong I am not even close to considering home school for several reasons, but the top two being #1. I want her to be smart, and if I am being honest with myself #2. I love having time for just Abigail and all by myself when Abi is taking a nap. She is like a completely different kid one on one. I think it is a hard adjustment, but also a great thing for all parties involved. Her teacher is fabulous, and she loves eating lunch with her friends in the lunch room, and her best friend ended up being in her class. What more could I ask for?

I am going to miss this......

If you are looking for a pick me up....

Have you ever had someone call you unique?  It is a comment I get quite a bit:  "Your wedding ring is very unique", "the way you sell is very unique", "you have a very unique face", "you are very unique".   So, my mom sent me this email that made me realize it is not a compliment.  Thanks mom.  

27 Moments

I recently turned 27 and was thinking about the last 27 years, and thought I should document the top 27 most defining moments of my life so far....
(In no particular order of importance)
#1. Being born, I still remember coming through the birth canal, and how traumatic it was. Not really, but since it is why I am here on this earth I think it counts as a significant event.
#2. Getting my 6th toe cut off. I remember being scared, and I remember bringing my doll with me and we both got casts.
#3. Being Baptized. I can't say I remember the day perfectly, but I do remember it.
#4. Moving to Canyon Cove, and starting a new school, and wanting to play soccer at recess, and 2 girls pulled my hair the first day and said I couldn't play that it was only them and the boys who were allowed to play.
#5. Going to camp that summer and becoming best friends with the girl who pulled my hair, and was now allowed to play soccer the next year. *Lesson learned: people are not always what they seem. (P.S. I was only in 4th grade and the camp was co-ed. Does that still fly these days, or am I just a prude now that I have kids?)
#6. Which brings me to my first "boyfriend" whom I met at camp, and he asked me out. He gave me a yellow walkman, and I pecked him on the cheek at the 7-11 after dodging his kiss and making him feel dumb in front of all his friends. And that was about it (I am pretty sure we stopped talking after he asked me to be his girlfriend because I was too embarrassed)
#7. Standing in line for foursquare and a girl said something really rude, and I took it out on her when we started playing, and then got in trouble because I knocked the wind out of her with the ball (who knew foursquare was so dangerous?)
#8. I would have to say my parents divorce with no disrespect to them, but it was definitely a defining moment in my life. My siblings and I really became close and took care of each other and grew up a lot through this.
#9. Jr. High as a whole would definitely be a big moment. Realizing that you need to make choices and they might not be choices that make you popular, and at that time it seems like the end of the world.
#10. Running for class office in 7th grade and losing to Chad....(he gave out sugar daddies, I couldn't compete)jk But seriously can't believe I still remember that. It obviously bugged me, and gave me a reason to not feel as bad.
#11. (Not one I am proud of, but nonetheless defining) Met a group of girls that I had never laughed so hard in my life with. We hung out all the time, and were truly best friends. We really didn't gossip about each other, but we decided being thieves was a good rush (don't worry we all got caught eventually and paid our penance) Lesson learned: You can't get something for nothing, and my Dad made it very clear that stealing was the lowest of the low, and that I was actually taking food off of other families tables for a little thrill, and stuff I didn't want enough to buy.
#12. Getting asked to "Promotion" and then ditched that night, and went to dinner with my friends who hadn't been asked, and realizing they were happy I was ditched. Lesson learned: Friends sometimes want to see other friends suffer.
Lesson learned for the boy who ditched me: Don't ditch Whittney or she will make you regret it with the worst toilet papering ever (and perhaps it wasn't just toilet paper)
#13. Sophomore year.
#14. Driver's Ed...I am not sure why Katelyn and I passed, we really kind of sucked.
#15. My first real boyfriend, kiss, rumors, and heart break. (or so you thought when you were that age)
#16. Getting a wristband for the U2 concert, and didn't know who they were when I got it, and miraculously got a lot of friends who called a lot.
#17. My first real job: Sierra West Jewelers. Lesson learned: When they think you won't be good if you work harder you can convince them. My manager Trudy thought I was too young, and couldn't believe they hired me. So I had to work extra hard and eventually won her over. (Funny side note one of the owners one night saw me putting stuff away like we did every night, and wasn't too sure about me and asked like 4 people to come and make sure I wasn't stealing
and every single one of them laughed and told me why they were there. I guess he didn't know I had already learned my lesson like 5 defining moments ago)
#18. Turning 16 and meeting Jason like 3 months later.
#19. First date with Jason...Dinner in Park City, Bowling, and talking all night. Couldn't stop looking at him, and was instantly smitten.
#20. Sconecutter Sr. Year....: Let me tell you why this is always something I will remember. I had broken up with Jason to "date", but I didn't really date anyone and was depressed. One night me and some friends went to Sconecutter, and Jason was there with a friend and another group of girls I used to hang out with. Their was one girl hanging on him, and I wasn't jealous because he was looking at me the whole night. When we left my friend Katelyn said: "I know you will marry him." I remember thinking I know it too.
#20. Graduation Day....Couldn't wait to graduate, had big plans, and thought being an adult sounded fun....
#21. Engagement/Wedding....Talk about a life changer. Thought I was old enough to
get married, and said yes. I believe, looking back that is the last date we went on which is significant in itself. (jk)
#22. Honeymoon, and not for the reason you think sicko's. It was the first time I realized that this is the man I chose to spend forever with, and found out he was really quite funny and made me laugh which turned out to be a bonus. (he was pretty serious when we dated)
#23. Pregnancy, is significant not only because something is growing in you, but suddenly you rethink and doubt any decision you have ever made, and hope beyond anything you can help this little person become better, and stronger than you are. (which is hard when you are as great as me, where do you go from here?jk) Not to mention all the sudden I grew an organ that made me worry about things I never thought twice about before having kids.
#24. Olivia: What a life change. What a sweet spirit that was brought into my life. I never knew I could love a child more than I already had. I love her, and still learn from her everyday. She has taught me to enjoy the small things in life, and she truly is grateful for everything she gets, and treasures any time we spend with her. (that is when I am not napping)
#25. Abigail: Another big moment and life change. One is a lot, but two that is a whole new world. I think the big man thought it would be a riot to give me Olivia first, and then throw the firecracker at me just when I thought Olivia was the way she was because of our parenting. Abi has a mind of her own since she was in the womb. I couldn't have asked for a more devoted sidekick. She always wants me, but still will go to others. Lately she talks a lot, and is so much fun. She truly is someone who makes me smile.
#26. Quitting my job to be an at home mom. When I go other places I don't have to be one just at home. What a year. I have never felt more fulfilled, frustrated, happy, content, maid like, satisfied, sad, depressed, and yet extremely lucky. I know it may sound like I am bipolar, and I might be. That could explain a lot, but I can honestly say I have felt all of these things, and yet still know I want to watch my kids grow up, and I want to be home for them, and am trying to cast spells on them that make them grow up a little slower. I know I can't have these years back, and hope I remember to be where today is, and not look for tomorrow.
#27. Turning 27, and looking back thinking what did I do the last 27 years? Finally getting comfortable in my own skin, and knowing who I am, and who these last 27 years made me. Looking forward to hopefully at least another 27, and hoping I will be a better/semi-smarter person than I am today. If you took the time to read all 27 thank you, but you probably need a life. jk...Love ya all Whittney

Feet Look Better Without Toenails....

It all began in January after that terrible experience I had with the St. George Half Marathon. Not only did I gain weight training for it, I got really sick. So I saw a few girls out running the neighborhood, and joined them. They were training for the Ogden Marathon. I thought...Hey I should lose some weight training for a Marathon Right? I've seen the women on the front of the Runner's World they are hot....so I joined the ladies and started training. I have to say that I gained another 10lbs, and never have been more frustrated in my life, however, I can now say that I finished my first Marathon. Most people who knew me just said "Oh it is probably just muscle." Well not to make you feel sorry for me, but it is not. Oh well, I lost two toenails and I am sure that those weighed a few lbs each, so at least I have that. All in all it was a wonderful experience, and I actually want to do it again. Only next time I want to win...jk....I do want to be a little faster, and maybe at least beat Oprah. Next time hopefully I will be ready for mile 23 and it's mean little spirit that whispered in my ear "walking isn't so bad" "You could walk to the finish, no one will think you suck." But thanks to the funny and motivational signs during the last three miles that kept me at least jogging. Thanks to Jason for being so supportive and the girls, for my sister and my Dad and Jeanie for coming and cheering me on at mile 18, and for not making fun of the way I ran or hobbled through the finish line (oh wait you did), and to Jamba Juice for giving me the best tasting thing I could have imagined at the end. Of course I couldn't have done it without all the advice from my training partner, Dominique. Here's to not being able to wear sandals in the summer, and here's to the next one.....

Abi is in Soccer...Kind of....

We have had terrible luck getting our kids involved in sports. They just really don't want to play once we get to the actual game. They cry, we get frustrated, they cry some more, and then we get embarrassed and take them home. When we put Olivia in soccer (which she asked us to do) she cried every game and ended up playing a total of 15 minutes. So by the 3rd game that she was absolutely out of control we pulled her out, and took her to the lake with Jason and made her run around it 2 times. Well it wasn't quite the punishment we hoped for because the next day she asked to go run it again with Jason. Needless to say I haven't signed her up for any more activities, but Abi did say she wanted to. A couple of her friends were signing up so we did it. I don't have to go into too much detail because you can just reread what Olivia did. So we have like two games left and she cries the whole day before the game, and during the game. We have seen a little progress, and do have some pictures from the good times.This is actually (as of the last game) what she does now instead of cry, she sits, eats, and watches her team play...Yeah Progress.....

Dad's Git Mad

For those of you who hate blogs because they only talk about how funny their kid's are now is the time to not read this entry. Or my last 5 for that matter...Sorry, but this is what I've got that is funny to me....So a couple of Sunday's ago I had my sister's kids while she went on her 10 year anniversary trip. We took them to church with us, and I gave each of the kids a paper book with like 10 sheets in it and told them to write a story. I was busy setting up classrooms for primary so Jason had to keep all 5 kids under control before Sacrament. And apparently Olivia felt the need to express what happened in her point of view artistically...So anyway here is Olivia's story she wrote.....This is her with her "Shrinking Machine" that she is going to zap us with.

Her zapping us.
Her bigger than both of us....And the rest of the book she gets bigger and bigger. I thought it was a pretty clever story. Especially since I know she has never seen "Honey I shrunk the kids" or any movie like that. Will she be a world renowned story teller, or book writer? For now we can only wonder.....