Hippity Hop, The Big Bunny Made A Stop...

So, once again that Big Bunny stopped off at the Whitmer house, much to the kids delight! There were lots of eggs (112 to be exact, 28 for each kid and they were surprisingly good about only picking up 28 each! The big kids even left the easy ones for the littler kids!! I guess they really do have their loving moments... :P ), Lego Cars for the boys and Baby Dolls for the girls, Reese's Peanut Butter Bunny's and Nerds Ropes in the buckets, and 3 dozen hard boiled eggs to be dyed. It was a fun day! Well, until I to clean it all up that is! :D

Jayden enjoying his sugar rush --


Jensen and her Littlest Pet Shop --


Easter and the Aftermath --


Egg Dyeing is Serious Business!! --








And this is what the kids WOULD have looked like if they had gone to church with me instead of ditching to stay home and play with Dad and all their Easter goodies --




Hope you're day was as fun as ours! :D

A LONG Walk At The Zoo...

So, Friday I took the 3 little kids and we went to the Phoenix Zoo. My sweet friend Laura gave us some free passes so off we went! And since we had two extra tickets, I called my friend Melissa and she and her daughter Bethany met us there. Little did I know the adventure would begin before we even got into the zoo! Apparently I was not the only person with the thought that the zoo would be a fun place to spend the day... After driving around for about 40 minutes, and getting completely lost, we lucked into a parking space that ended up being worth the wait! :) We walked around for about an hour and a half before Bethany hit her limit, poor little thing! She's only 3 and was sure trying her hardest to keep up with the big kids. After they went home we spent another couple of hours there and saw lots of animals. The kids got to play in the Treehouse Playground and Jayden got his Cotton Candy that he had been waiting for all day. We even got to see the Arizona Trail that has all the animals native to Arizona. It was a fun day but we were all worn out by the time we got home.

Thanks for the tickets Laura!! And thanks for hanging out with us Melissa!! Maybe next time Laura and her kiddies will get to go with us! And maybe I will be a little smarter about what day we go so that we aren't there with half the free world! :o

Here are the kids trying to see what it's like to live in a tree...


Jensen eating the long awaited Cotton Candy...


Jayden and his bag of Cotton Candy...


Jillen and a javelina, which she has to do a report on for school this week...


The cute baby orangutan that the kids loved...


Our awesome parking spot... And if you've ever parked in a parking lot in the valley during the "hot" season, you know how amazing a tree is!! We had shade and everything!!! :D




I can't believe I almost forgot one of the best parts! We went to see the Mexican Wolf, or Lobo as we call it, and waited for a few minutes and saw nothing more than a bit of it's back as it walked around the rear of it's enclosure (the area is designed for privacy to promote breeding, meaning you see NOTHING unless the thing comes right up to the front fence). So we were just about to leave when all of the sudden one of the Lobo's comes walking right up to where we were standing and just stops and looks at us! Then a second one came up too!! We were so excited!! The sign said that there are only 200 of them left in the world and that they usually live in family packs of 5 or 6. I jokingly told the kids that they had come up to see us because they sensed that there was another Lobo (me) nearby and they wanted to see me. Afterall, I did graduate from Snowflake High School, Home of the Lobos! And I was a Loboette... It makes sense!! :D The kids said that since there were 4 of us and 2 of them, we could make up a pack. :P The only thing that could have made it better was if it would have howled, but I think the kids howled at it enough that it was probably thinking why waste it's time! The two of them stayed by the fence for a few minutes and then walked back into the enclosure. It was really cool!!


It sure was a fun day!! And I even got a little sunburn on my arms. Aaaahh, finally some color on my pale skin!! :D

Tag!! I'm It...

Okay, Bri got me, but man these things are fun!! :D Enjoy!!! ;)

A - Attached or single: Attached, which is good since I always hated being single!

B - Best friend: I'll have to go with Tim since he's my hubby, but my best girl friends would be Melissa, Laura, and Brooke & Bri.

C - Cake or pie: Pie!! I can hardly wait for my birthday in June and the Strawberry Pie I will be getting!

D - Day of choice: Friday, mostly because I don't have school or homework due on that day, I've just seen the new episode of Lost the night before, and it used to be that Friday Night Lights was on that night.

E - Essential item: Vaseline for my lips, lotion for my hands, and my water bottle in my purse.

F - Favorite color: Green

G - Gummy bears or worms: Worms! It just seems like they are bigger so they last longer.

H - Hometown: Snowflake

I - Indulgence(s): Vanilla Coke and Cherry Pepsi mixed together. Or a Cherry Vanilla Coke from Sonic.

J - January or July: July! I don't like cold!!

K - Kids: What about them??? Oh, yes I have 4!

L - Life is incomplete without: ALIAS, Roswell, Veronica Mars, Friday Night Lights, Lost, you know -- my shows!!

M - Marriage date: October 16, 1993

N - Number of siblings: 5 -- 2 sisters and 3 brothers

O - Oranges or apples: Apples, green ones with caramel sauce.

P - Phobias or fears: Heights, deep water, cockroaches!

Q - Quotes: "But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of Him who knoweth all things." 2 Nephi 2:24

R - Reason to smile: I get to sleep in tomorrow!!!

S - Season of choice: Fall, I love when the air gets cooler, it reminds me of growing up and going to the football games...

T - Tag three friends: Brooke (if the morning sickness will subside for a few minutes), Kelly, and Rachelle.

U - Unknown fact about me: I stack up the carts in grocery store parking lots so that they will all fit into the little stall nice and neat!!

V - Very favorite store: Wal-Mart... I've been there enough, I should own stock by now!

W - Worst habit: You have to ask??? Let's just say I've never been on time to anything!

X - X-ray or ultrasound: How about a blood draw??? Ultrasound brings back bad pregnancy memories of having a full bladder while they push the little wand into your stomach and tell you, "Now don't pee on the table!" :) And x-ray reminds me of the broken arms my kiddies have had... I'd much rather have my blood drawn!!

Y - Your favorite food: Mexican, I could eat it every day!! And sometimes I do! :D

Z - Zodiac sign: Gemini :)

This was fun huh!! You wanna see what I made with my little Photoshop program?!?! I made it for my Word Slinger board that I post on. It's all my favorite couples from my tv shows. I love it!!! :D

And underneath it I have one of my favorite quotes from Veronica Mars -



Logan: I thought our story was epic, you know? You and me...Spanning years and continents. Lives ruined, bloodshed, epic.
Veronica: Come on. Ruined lives, bloodshed? You really think a relationship should be that hard?
Logan: No one writes songs about the ones that come easy.

So cute!! :D

The X-Factor...

** Turn off the music at the bottom of the blog if you want to watch the video **

So, today while we were eating lunch I saw a commercial for the Oprah Show. I don't watch it very often but it caught my interest because Simon Cowell from American Idol was going to be on. I'm not a huge AI fan, but he is my favorite judge. I love how he tells people exactly how it is, and he has the experience to back up what he's saying. Anyhow, the commercial said that he would be bringing 2 of the most talented people in the world with him, and I figured if there is someone that he thinks is talented, then I should watch it! And boy am I glad I did!! He brought the winner of The X-Factor, England's equivalent to American Idol. Her name is Leona Lewis and she is being compared to Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Celine Dion, and rightfully so! She is amazing and as soon as the show was over I was here on the computer finding as many of her songs as I could! :P Her album is being released here in America next month but here is her performance on Oprah. Amazing!!! :D

Watch the YouTube video of it above, or check it out on Oprah.com at --
http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200803/20080317/slide_20080317_350_108.jhtml

Hope you like it!!!

More Test Results...

As a result of a non-exciting Saturday afternoon, I have some new test results to share. Okay, here we go!!


Here's what Simon Cowell would say about me. Good thing I'm not auditioning for American Idol! :)


On Friends I am --



On High School Musical I am --



On Heroes I am --



And on Dancing With the Stars, my perfect partner would be --

Really?? REALLY?!?!? I don't see some of these at all, but I guess it's just for fun!!

We'll have to try some more tomorrow. And Jillen wants to redo the ones that she did this afternoon, but then the computer conked out and erased stuff. :( Oh well, Sunday afternoons aren't the most exciting thing around here!! :D

Happy Birthday to Beau...

So, Beau's birthday was yesterday but I'm a little slow on his birthday wishes. I blame it on the midterm essay I had to write for my History of Women in America class. But if any of you have some suggestions on the topic, To what extent did gender determine and shape women's labor?, then please offer them up and I'll compare them with what I spent the day coming up with. :)

So, here goes!!

Happy Birthday!

Happy, Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Birthday To You!!

HEY!!!

Now for the fun!!

Here we are at Beau's graduation from Surgical Tech school in 2005 or 2006, I can't remember.

My Mom, Brett, Beau, Jensen, My Dad, Me, and Jayden

Beau as a cute, little guy of about 4 or 5 years old.

Beau with Blake and the kids when Brianna got married.

Jayden, Blake, Jorden, Jillen, Beau, and Jensen.

Beau and his Christmas Posse! He always attracts a crowd wherever he goes!! This time it was Christmas 2007 with the Jones family. (Everyone is either a cousin or my brother, unless otherwise specified.)

Back - Brecken, Julene (Aunt), Tyler, Brett, Blake

Front - Jeremy, Beau, Alexa, Megan (Tyler's wife)

As my Aunt Allison said, Beau and Brett are the rock stars in her daughter's life!! :)

And finally, the picture to top all pictures!! And he will probalby kill me when he sees this... :o

This picture is the result of a very boring Sunday afternoon when we were growing up. My mom wouldn't let us play outside or with friends on Sundays, so we were forced to find other things to do inside, with each other. Little Beaulina is the result of that. Lucky for Blake, I'm saving his picture for a future date... ;)

Happy Birthday Beau!!! We Love You!!!!

Grandma's...

We've been thinking a lot about Grandma's in our house this week. On Tuesday afternoon, Tim's Grandma, Ida Smith Church, passed away. She was 91 years old and had been waiting for the last few years to go home and be with Tim's Grandpa and their son, Johnny, who passed away many, many years ago. We are sad about her not being here with us, but we know she is happy to be reunited with her family and friends who have already passed on. She was a wonderful woman and we will miss her! We look forward to having her greet us again someday!!

Ida Smith Church
Ida Smith Church, 91, of Mesa, AZ passed away peacefully at her daughter’s home March 4, 2008.
She was born in Hunt, AZ, May 9,1916 to Asahel Henry and Pauline Udall Smith. She was raised in Snowflake, AZ and graduated with a teaching degree from Arizona Teachers College (now NAU) in Flagstaff where she met her husband, Howard Bailey Church.

Ida was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served faithfully in many church positions. She offered love and service to so many people and enriched their lives as a result of her
remarkable gift of music. She and her sweetheart served a mission in the Seattle Temple in 1980-1981 and enjoyed the wonderful associations they made during that time.

Ida was preceded in death by her young son, John Henry Church, and her beloved husband Howard Bailey Church, having been married for 61 wonderful years. She is survived by a son, Robert Howard Church of Mesa, AZ; daughters Catherine Whitmer of Elfrida, AZ; Emily Mclaws Despain of Sandy, UT; Elaine Carter of Orem, UT; Gloria Baldwin, Norma Hastings, Donna Flaherty all of Gilbert, AZ; Debbie Nuckles of St. George, UT and 52 grandchildren, 107 great-grandchildren and 19 great-great grandchildren.

Here is Tim along with his Grandma, Mom, and Jensen in May 2006 on his Grandma's 90th birthday.

I've also been thinking a lot about my Grandma Jones, who passed away 4 years ago tomorrow. I always go to the cemetary on her birthday, the day she died, and Mother's Day and it is always such a relaxing moment for me. I love the peacefulness that is there, and I also like seeing the different decorations on graves around hers, and how they change. Kind of silly, I know, but I think it's something that she probably would have noticed. Who has what flowers and what kind of trinkets are there??? She loved little figurines so I always try and find something little that I can leave along with the flowers that I bring. She was such a wonderful person, and I am often reminded of funny things she used to say and do. I remember her always wanting someone to "sweep the walks" (sweep the dirt off the outside sidewalks) and fixing cubes of cheese and grapes for my kids when they would come over to play and then telling me how kids always like cheese and grapes. :) Grandma's are so important during childhood and I was blessed to have two of the most wonderful ones on Earth! I am grateful for all the things they have taught me and I look forward to the day I get to see them again!

Here is Jensen and Grandma Jones on Halloween 2002.

And again on Halloween 2003.

How About Some TV Fun...

Okay, so I came across this website the other day and thought that the quizzes were really fun! I figured I would blog about them so that everyone could have some fun, but then I got busy and didn't do it. But I remembered today, so here you go!!!

The site is -- http://www.buddytv.com/closedquiz/personality-quiz.aspx

They have all kinds of tv related quizzes. You can find out what Heroes character you are, what The Office character you are, who you tv boyfriend/girlfriend is, and even what tv heroine you are! There are over 30 different quizzes, so you're surely to find something fun for you!!

I took the Which Veronica Mars Character Are You? and also the Which TV Heroine Are You? and found out that I am Veronica Mars, on both of them! And imagine my joy when I took the Who Is Your Ideal TV Boyfriend? quiz and got Matt Saracen from Friday Night Lights!! Oh, my Little Matty -- I just love him, he's such a cutie!! :D I guess next I need to take the What Is Your Fate On Lost? or the Which Lost Character Are You? quiz... Oh such fun!!! :D

Pass it on!! ;)

Here's some Veronica and Matt pictures to get you ready to take some quizzes!! Oh yeah, and if you haven't watched Friday Night Lights on nbc.com yet, what are you waiting for??? You're missing out!! Basically, if you ever lived in a small town, ever had anything to do with high school football games, or ever were a teenager in high school, you will love this show!! If you watch the first several shows and are not addicted, let me know and I'll have to come wash your dishes or something. That's how sure I am that you will love it!! :D

Kristen Bell as Veronica Mars --


Zach Gilford as Matt Saracen --

Book Tag...

Okay, Bri got me with this! :) Here you go!!

The rules:

1. Pick up a book (at least 123 pages).
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the fifth sentence on your blog.
5. Tag 5 people.

Here's mine: "You've scrubbed these boards so much they're danged near white."

(It's from Filaree, by Marguerite Noble. I just finished reading this book for my "History of Women in America" class. If you ever want to truly appreciate all that women have and are able to do today, read this book!!!)

Now I tag...Stephanie, Kelly, Jennifer, Blake, and Rachelle. :)