Happy Birthday Brianna!!!

Happy Birthday to You!!! (Cha-Cha-Cha!)

Happy Birthday to You!!! (Cha-Cha-Cha!)

Happy Birthday Dear Brianna!!! (Cha-Cha-Cha!)

Happy Birthday to You!!! (Cha-Cha-Cha!)

Today is my sweet baby sister's 25th birthday!! :o Man, where did the time go?!?! I still remember the night she was born... Gee, I'm old. :D I always loved the spunky spirit that she had and her fearlessness. She was always up for anything and usually the first to try something new. She was probably the most outgoing one in our family and everyone always loved her. I remember the little kids and babies always gravitating towards her, and she was always so good with them all. Now I know where Jillen gets it! :P It has been fun for me to watch her grow up and become a mother to her own sweet little boy. And I can't wait to see the next little Brianna Baby! My kids have always enjoyed spending time with Auntie Bri since she was always so much more fun that me! :D We hope that you have a wonderful day and enjoy your birthday!! Now let the photos begin!!

(Just keep in mind, I post because I love... Yeah, that's it! :P I have lots of great pictures, but I can't use them all up this year! I gotta save some for next year...and the next...and the next... Boy that summer time picture sorting has sure paid off!! I love birthdays and look forward to what pictures I can find, and I scored big time with this birthday!! Yippee!!! )

(Oh, and Blake - who's birthday is in about 2 weeks - Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid. :D )

Here is Brianna on her 4th birthday. I just love the look on her face!! She always had the best expressions!!

Here are Brianna and Brooke, another result of a lazy Sunday afternoon with a big sister who liked to dress up things and had grown too old for dolls. :)

Bri and her electric personality... :D

Bri playing dress-up. She was so cute!!

Bri's school picture from 1991. She was 8 years old and in the 3rd grade, I think. :)

Bri and Brooke were apparently a little starved for attention. Let's hope the underwear was new...

Bri and Brooke with our cousin Brittani in 1993. So Cute!!!

Bri being goofy, which she loved to do!! And a little side note -- the little girl with her is the granddaughter of the neighbor's and she is now Miss Navajo County! :D Who knew!!

Bri always had the funnest friends! Here she is with one her lifelong best friends, Cara. Literally, lifelong! We lived across the street from her family when they were both born! Here they are dressing up and showing off. Hot stuff!!!

Here's Bri on her 8th Grade Graduation. I remember we curled her hair with straws. That was something I'd never done before! :D

Bri by the pool in probably about 1998 or so. I do have a bikini shot from the same day, but again, I gotta save something for next year!! :D

Bri and her friends on Bri's birthday. It was a big deal to get your name on the Rent-A-Flik sign that was on Main Street in Snowflake. What a fun bunch of girls!! Gee, I never got my name on the Rent-A-Flik sign... :( Must mean Bri is truly special!! ;)

Bri and Brett, ready for school, maybe her senior year? I'm trying to guess the years by her hair length. :D And showing a little bit of skin... Who let her out of the house with that shirt on?!?! :D

Bri and her friends at their high school graduation. I loved the flower lei's!! So fun!!!

Bri and Brooke heading to Utah after Bri's graduation.

Bri and Justin in 2002 before they got married.

Bri, Justin, and Britt in 2006.

Bri and Britt in 2007, I think. :)

And now the Auntie pictures!!!

Auntie Bri with Jorden in 1995.

Auntie Bri with Jillen in 1998.

Auntie Bri with Jayden in 2002.

Auntie Bri with Jensen in 2003.


Happy Birthday Bri!!!

We Love You and hope that you have a wonderful day!!!

I sure did get lucky when it comes to sisters!! I got the best 2 ever!!!

High School Tag...

I saw this on a blog and thought it was kinda cute. I haven't seen this one before and since there has been no update this week, due to my neglectful blogging ways, I thought I would entertain you all with a trip down memory lane. Ahhh, aren't you excited??? :D

1. Did you date someone from your school? Yep, I did date one boy from my school during my Senior year. It was only for a few months but then the next year, after I had graduated, we got back together and I dated him for the better part of that year through the next summer. It was pretty fun, he was a really nice guy.

2. What kind of car did you drive? I drove my mom's suburban during my Junior year and then her minivan during my Senior year, and I also drove my dad's truck. That one was more fun, but I could pile more friends into my mom's cars. Although we could still fit 4 people in the seat of my dad's truck and it was pretty comfortable. :P I guess you could say we really got to know each other a lot better that way! :D

3. Did you pass your driver's license test on the first try? Nope. I didn't take drivers ed so I had to pass a driving test and since we took my mom's suburban, I didn't do so well... I had to wait until the next day to take it again so that time we took my dad's truck and I passed with no problem.

4. Were you a party animal? Nope. Some of my best friends were but I was never interested in that. Plus they all had smaller cars than I did so if they were drunk or something then I got to drive their cars for them. Unless they were stick shift which I didn't know how to drive at that point.

5. Were you considered a flirt? I don't think so. I guess I'd have to ask my friends for sure. I was pretty shy around boys and very intimidated so I never threw myself at any of them. I don't think...

6. Did you play in band, orchestra, or choir? I sang in the Honor Choir for 3 years and was in the Show Choir for my Senior year. It was really fun!

7. Were you a nerd? No, or at least my grades would say no. :D I was just talking about this with my friend last week. I think our group was probably the B popular group. We weren't the most popular, but everyone knew us and most people liked us. The fact that one of my best friends beat a popular girl for Senior Class President pretty much cemented that fact in my mind.

8. Were you on any varsity teams? Yep, I was a Loboette, or on the Pom Line, for my Junior and Senior years. Plus I lettered in Speech and Debate, and only the varsity teams got that, so I guess it would be considered varsity.

9. Did you get suspended/expelled? Nope, but since I was the Principal's Secretary's aid for one hour a day during my Junior and Senior years I got to babysit a lot of suspended and expelled kids. I think the Principal and Vice Principal knew me well enough that they never would have suspended me, unless it was REALLY bad! :D

10. Can you still sing the fight song? Heck yes!! I can still do the dance that we did as Loboettes!! :D I can even sing the school song and do the dance for that one too!

11. Who were your favorite teachers? I guess I would have to go with Mrs. Squire, who was my English and Speech & Debate teacher. She was the best!! Plus when we went on Speech & Debate trips she would pretty much let me and my friends do whatever we wanted because she knew she could trust us. Like me and Laura almost got our own hotel room one night on an overnight trip because there was an odd number of kids and chaperones. But then we ended up with another chaperone and so she got put in our room. But for a while there we were on our own!! :D Other than Mrs. Squire I guess Mrs. Brimhall who was the Principal's Secretary. She was awesome and I loved her!! My Senior year she always took her lunch hour when I was in the office, which was right after my lunch break, so I pretty much ran things by myself during that time. It was fun! :)

12. Where did you eat lunch? Ed's, the grocery store that was near campus. Once my friends and I were old enough to drive we went to Bashas', another grocery store, only new and a lot farther away. Every so often I would go home and if I had no other option, then I'd get a milk shake and bag of chips from the cafeteria. But that was the last resort!! :P

13. What is your schools full name? Snowflake High School.

14. School mascot and colors? The Lobos and Royal Blue & White.

15. Did you go to Homecoming and who with? Yes, my Senior year I went with a friend of mine, Steve Jackson. It was fun although we didn't really do anything as far as a date because I was cheering and he was on the football team, so we were both busy at the game before the dance. And earlier in the day we had the Homecoming assembly and then a parade and then practices. We did go to watch a movie with a bunch of other couples after the dance and I literally almost fell asleep! I felt so bad, but I had been up since like 4 that morning and I had to work the next morning. Plus the movie was really boring! I remember worrying that he would try to kiss me because even though we were friends and I liked him, I didn't like him in that way and I didn't want to hurt his feelings. But he didn't and he just hugged me when he took me home and that was it. He was a really nice guy and I did have fun with him, although he probably thought I was bored after almost falling asleep! :D

16. If you could go back and do it again, would you? Sure!! I had a lot of fun and I really enjoyed most parts of it. Of course, I would want to go back knowing the things I know now... That way I could change the stupid things I did and maybe even study more! :D

17. What do you remember about your graduation? I think it rained that afternoon, so I worried that we would have to be inside the auditorium. Luckily it cleared up and we were outside. And I remember stopping after getting my diploma to have my picture taken with the school board person. I remember singing during the ceremony and being SO glad that my friend Melissa volunteered to sing a duet with me so that I didn't have to sing a solo, since all of the other Seniors had to sing a solo. :o And I remember seeing my friends on the field afterwards and realizing that I wouldn't see a lot of them again. That was a little sad. Then I remember the all night party that the school did and dancing outside after most other people were tired.

18. Where did you go for senior skip day? I don't think we had a Senior Skip Day. We did a Senior Trip and for that we went to Knott's Berry Farms and Magic Mountain in Southern California. It was fun! We rode on buses to Phoenix and then flew over to LA. I had a really good time!!

19. Were you in any clubs? Not really. I was on the Speech & Debate team, Loboette's, Honor Choir, Madrigals (the show choir), and the school paper for a year, but other than that no actual Clubs.

20. Have you gained some weight since then? Sure, who hasn't!! :D But I figure I got 4 babies out of the deal and who cares as long as I'm happy, you know??? ;)

21. Who was your prom date? I only went to my Senior Prom and for that I went with another friend of mine, Jeremy Owen. We doubled with some other friends - Ryan Foreman and Teresa Bates. It was fun, but also a really crappy day. See the post before this about that...

22. Are you planning on going to your 10 year reunion? I did go, I actually helped with it. It was fun to see people I hadn't seen in quite a while. Sadly, my 20 year reunion is quickly approaching... Where did the time go?!?!

23. Did you have a job while in high school? Yep, my Senior year I worked at Taco Bell in the town about half an hour away. I was the Drive Thru girl on Saturday's. I had worked during the summer but once school started I went to just Saturday's and I worked through November at that.

24. Did you have your first kiss while in high school? Yep. It's a funny story. Enough said.

25. Are you still in contact with any friends from high school? Of course!! I am lucky to see my best friends on a regular basis. And since our town was so small, I usually run into a few more whenever I go home.

Now I tag: Melissa, Nicole, Brooke, Brianna, and Jennifer. :D And anyone else who feels brave enough to do it!! :P

Here's some high school fun!! Pictures of me!! :D Enjoy!!! I tried to pick some pictures that haven't been on here before. So now you get one of me as a blondie from my Junior year and then one of me with brown hair from my Senior year. Gotta love the hole we put in the ozone layer with all that hair spray!! :D Sadly, I didn't even have the biggest hair around!! :o If you can believe that!! :)

Laura Has A Birthday Too!!!

You say it's your birthday -

It's my birthday too --yeah!

They say it's your birthday -

We're gonna have a good time!

I'm glad it's your birthday!!

Happy Birthday to you!!

Today, well Saturday, was the birthday of one of my very best friends!! She and I have been good friends since the 5th grade when we were 10 years old, and best friends since the 7th grade when we were 12. So many of my memories from growing up have her in them. And most of my favorite memories involve her! She was just the coolest person I knew as a teenager, always up for doing anything! She wasn't afraid to talk to boys, yet she couldn't have cared less what they thought of her. She had all of our teachers wrapped around her finger, yet she was always a good student and went out of her way to please them. I remember countless Speech and Debate trips with her, always competing in the same categories, yet helping each other write our speeches just so that we could both advance to the next rounds. I remember playing ditch 'em after we were old enough to drive and seeing just how many people we could loose in one night. I think every wreck I was ALMOST in was with her in her car. I still remember the songs that we would play when we went to Pizza Hut, and which ones had to come first (...I'm That Kind of Girl... :D ). I also remember the morning of our Senior Prom when our friend Gary came to my house to tell me that Laura had been in a car wreck. I was trying on my dress and I actually wore it to go with Gary to see the car. I remember talking to her mom that afternoon and having her tell us that Laura was going to be fine, even though she had been flown to Phoenix with severe head injuries, and that Gary and I should stay in Snowflake and go to the dance with our dates. And then finding out later that, in truth, the doctors didn't expect her to survive the night, but she just didn't want us to have to experience that first hand. I remember going to see her a week later in the hospital and seeing her sleeping with the help of lots of medication, but then taking one last peak before leaving to go home and getting to see her awake. and talking, although she didn't remember anything. I also remember how elated I was to hear her dad point me out to her, as I was standing by the door, and to have her look at me and see the recognition on her face and then wave to me like she knew exactly who I was. And then to hear later that she had picked out my handwriting on a huge card the school had made and sent to her, while not even recognizing anyone else's names, and saying that she just knew it was important...

She has been my best friend for so long that I can't remember her not being there. I always thought of her more as my sister since neither of us had an actual sister close to our age. She is always so kind and giving and I love getting to spend time with her. We were supposed to get together today with a couple of our other best friends and go to lunch, but Laura got sick and couldn't make it. But just like Laura, she told us to go anyway and have fun! Hopefully we will be able to find another time soon when we can get together.

I hope that you had a great birthday, despite the sickness, and that you know how much I Love You!!

Happy Birthday!!!!

Here are me, Nicole (Sheppard) Gardner, and Melissa (Elsey) Vemulapalli at lunch today.

We missed Laura!!!

Here's Laura from our Sophmore year, we were 15.

Here are Laura and I with another friend, Meshanna Bairn, at our 8th grade graduation party, hanging on our friend Greg Brimhall. He was the coolest guy ever to us! And so nice too. We sure were lucky to have such good people as friends.

Here are me and Laura along with our friend Anji Jack one night after a football game. We were getting ready to go to the dance. This is one of my favorite pictures...I just love it!!

And here is Laura with Anji again, towards the end of our Senior year, apparently we were having waffles for lunch in the Biology room with some other friends, though I honestly can't remember why in the world we did. :D Oh, and yesterday (Friday) was Anji's birthday, not that she will ever read this, but I hope that she had a great day too! :)

This is Laura and I with our friends Ryan Forman and Frank Livingston at Ryan's high school graduation in 2002. This is another one of my favorite pictures, we were all just so happy!! And we were looking pretty cute too! :P

This is us at the 1993 high school graduation with Anji and our friend Ginger Willis and Laura's little sister Carrie. In true Snowflake form, the wind was Out. Of. Control. that night. The hair started out looking good... :D

Here we are at me and Tim's wedding, being goofy. Ginger is there again and also Tim's sister Polly.

And here is the two of us.

Laura will probably kill me for this one, but I don't have anything more recent. Here she is with her two little kiddies - Tyler and Katherine - in 2006 when Katherine was born.

I hope you had a wonderful day and that you are feeling better soon!! We missed you and can't wait to see you!!

Happy Birthday!!!!!

Happy Birthday Mom Whitmer!!!

You've had a birthday shout hooray!!
We want to sing to you today!!
One year older and wiser too!!
Happy Birthday -- To You!!


Yesterday - Saturday - was Tim's mom's birthday. We want to wish Grandma Whitmer a very happy birthday!! The kids always enjoy getting to spend time with her. As little toddlers they always loved the fun songs she would sing with them. We appreciate her and the wonderful example she is to us.


We Love You and hope that you had a fabulous day!!!

Here is Jorden and his Grandma Whitmer in 1996.

Here is Jillen and her Grandma Whitmer in 2000.





Here is Jayden wishing his Grandma Whitmer a happy birthday!





Here is Jensen and her Grandma Whitmer in 2006.

Medic Needed...

Today my brother, Beau, had to report to Fort Lewis in Washington, his first assignment since finishing his Combat Medic training. He is pretty excited, but also a little hopeful that he won't be in Washington for too long. The unit he is assigned to deployed to the Middle East not too long ago, so he's hoping to get sent over to them instead of having to hang out and work at the hospital in Washington. But as we've learned from all this Army experience this year, you just never know what to expect! :D He did his training at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. He graduated last week and then got to spend some time in Snowflake seeing family and friends before leaving again today. I hadn't seen him since he left for Basic Training in February, and who knows when we will see him again, so it was nice to spend a little time with him. And silly me, I still didn't get any pictures of his panther tattoo for my Friday the 13th posts! When will I ever remember to do that?!?! Plus now he's got a couple of new ones too, so now I have extra reason to pull out the camera next time he's around! We hope that he will enjoy this new adventure in his life!!! We will miss him!!!

The kids new shirts that show their support for their Uncle Beau!!


Here he is -- Beau the Combat Medic!!


Can you haul everything you own in 3 bags???


Me and my little brother... Yeah, he hasn't been littler than me in a while!! :D


I almost missed the turn off to the parking garage because I saw this car! Look at those antlers!! That must have been one big animal!! I'm guessing it was a Bull Elk, but maybe I better check with my dad first. ;) But like a good daughter, I got a picture!!! :D


And here are the kids, wearing thier new shirts. They were sure excited to have them!!


Hopefully Brooke won't kill me, but I had to post this picture!! It's so cute!! Here is Ellee, my niece, in her patriotic clothes this past summer. Her Daddy is over in Iraq right now and she's all about patriotism. :) What a cute little girl she is!! And we can't wait to see her little sister who should be here in the next few weeks!!!

Happy Birthday Dad Whitmer!!!

Happy Birthday to You!!!

Happy Birthday to You!!!

Happy Birthday Dear Grandpa!!!

Happy Birthday to You!!!

Today is Tim's dad's birthday and we want to wish him a happy day!!! The big kids got to spend a week with their Grandpa and Grandma Whitmer over the summer and they sure did have a great time. We are so glad to have his example for them to see. Thank you for always being such a fun, wonderful grandpa and dad!!

We Love You!!!

Jorden and his Grandpa Whitmer -

Jillen and her Grandpa and Grandma Whitmer -

Jayden and his Grandpa Whitmer -

Jensen wishing her Grandpa Whitmer a Happy Birthday!!!

New Blog...

So, I decided to set up a blog for all of my Photoshop stuff that I love making. I always feel a little bad posting my creations on here because they don't really have anything to do with the family. They are just one of my little obsessions. I shouldn't really subject you to that. :D So if you're interested in seeing what I've made, you can check out the link on the left. It's Beegurl13 Creations. Here's a little taste of what you can expect...

I made these for Jillen's blog, she wanted something on the side that shows she is Team Jacob and also something with one of her favorite Twilight quotes. I like this first one myself, but that's because I'm Team Edward. :D

And here is the Team Jacob one. She really likes this one... :P