The White House

Photo Card

2011-11-22T17:27:00.001-08:00

Initially Snowflake Christmas

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Back at it

2011-11-08T13:06:00.000-08:00

I last posted over 2 years ago...and that wasn't even MY post. How did I get hubby to actually post on my blog? Oh right...we were literally newlyweds, married for only 2 months. No wonder. I've decided to once again make an attempt at keeping friends and family up to date with our happenings. Fingers crossed I can keep up with this blog. Lord knows I can barely keep up with my own family. It may seem that Facebook is the most convenient way to keep up with each other, but I'm looking for a more private venue. Someplace I can tell it like it is. Basically I don't want my kids stocking my every move. Turns out any time I post something cute about my children, I am confronted with "MOM! Why did you say that? Don't post about me. You're so embarrassing. Don't talk about me. Don't....." Whatever dude. I try to explain to those little nuggets that without me, they literally wouldn't exist so I can say whatever I want to say about them. Somehow that doesn't help. The truth is that I adore them, love talking about them, and find much humor in our very nontraditional Brady Bunch of a home we have here. Laughter is what keeps it real around here.
Alyssa and Katelynn are knee deep in competitive cheer. Yes, like the cheer you see on CNN, only cuter. They are LOVING it, and I am totally that cheer mom that is screaming bloody murder in the stands holding posters wearing a homemade tshirt with fabric paint spelling out my girls names.
Sweet Camryn remains sweet at easy (yes, I said it, easy). Girl is happy with a paint brush or a book in her hand. Praise the Lord. She is the quiet in our storm of life.
As thanksgiving approaches I am reminded of all the many things I have to be thankful for this year. The big daddy of them all is the opportunity Jeremy gave me to quit my career in order to stay home with my sweet girls. It has been a challenge to get used to all the laundry that stares me down every day, but I am so SO SO thankful for this life change. It has been the biggest blessing I've received since...marrying that boy. I'm so looking forward to the holidays this year! I can hardly wait to pull out the Christmas decorations. Incidentally, we have had one cold day this season, which gave me a slight glimpse into what winter may hold for me. It includes PJ's, a bed and a remote control for 9 hours. I cannot WAIT for this!

5 Things about Me

2009-08-26T20:38:00.000-07:00

1. I can't think of 110 things.
2. I snore, which causes my wife endless frustration.
3. Shelly is my perfect match, which is good cause we're married.
4. I'm already struggling to think up more things.
5. I'm the biggest chicken in the world, and I have anxiety about everything including taking anti-anxiety pills.

First Week of School

2009-08-26T20:28:00.001-07:00

We're half way through the first week of school and things are going great. Katelynn loves middle school, which we are thrilled about. Alyssa has one of her best buddies in her class. And, Camryn has all her pals in her class.

Of course, Camryn got stuck sitting next to Spencer The Jerk. On the first day of school, he pushed her head down as he walked by her desk. I've determined it's time to teach Camryn how to show a boy who's boss (a.k.a. kick him in the junk).

Shelly and I have gotten into a nice routine this year as well. She takes Alyssa and Cam to school, and I take Katelynn and the neighborhood kids to their school. Since middle school starts after Shelly has to be at work. After school, the neighbors pick up Katelynn from middle school, and I walk home with the girls from their school. Overall, it's worked out really well so far.

A note from Camryn

2009-07-30T20:54:00.000-07:00

Today we got to babysit baby Emmy. Tomorrow is the last day of dance class. We get to do our performance. If you want to come, it's in Plano. There is hip hop and kind of ballet and jazz. I think you'll like it. After dance tomorrow, we will go swimming and I will watch TV. Good night.

a note from Alyssa

2009-07-30T20:51:00.000-07:00

I babysat Emmy tonight.

a great week

2009-07-28T18:53:00.000-07:00

For the past two days, and for the rest of the week, I am going to dance camp. I loved it!! I had fun both days. I really wish Katelynn was home. Yay, I'm going to church camp! I am so excited.
Love Camryn

Back from Ohio

2009-07-24T17:08:00.000-07:00

I m back from Ohio.I went swimming right when I got home.
Love Alyssa

Shelly's list

2009-07-23T16:27:00.000-07:00

110 things about me

I grew up in California, and sometimes miss that soft green grass
I have 3 sweet daughters. They are my greatest source of joy.
And pain.
And prayers.
Katelynn and I lived solo for 2 years.
I have some great memories of those years.
Like dancing to the Ally McBeal soundtrack before bed
Camryn is more precious than I can ever put into words.
Alyssa is the most determined, dedicated and hardworking child ever.
Jeremy has raised Alyssa on his own since she was 2.
When I met him, he cooked dinner at home and had a clean kitchen
Which made me weak in the knees for that man.
(since then he has forgotten how to use the dishwasher. Weird….)
We planned our own wedding and assembled every invitation, program and detail ourselves.
It was a bonding experience for our entire family.
I spend a lot of time trying to better myself and my family
which irritates them to no end.
I’m turned off by stagnant people
Rude people
Negative people
And loud eaters
I am very hard on people
but not as hard as I am on myself.
I’d like to change that (see 15)
I love Jesus and try to do my best not to disappoint Him on a daily basis, but still do
I will never understand how He can love such an unworthy girl
but when I think about His love for my kids or my husband, it makes me grateful
And helps me accept His love for me too.
I cry in church way too often for my own taste
Speaking of taste, my favorite foods are blueberries, peanut butter, crème brule and steak.
I’m certain I’ve never turned down a dessert
I generally read the dessert menu before the dinner menu
So I know what meal will best go with my dessert
I often change conversations mid- sentence
This leaves the other person confused, wondering what happened.
Jeremy pretends to hate our dog, Jack.
but I catch them cuddling often.
So I don’t buy it.
I loved being pregnant.
But I’m done having kids
Which sometimes makes me sad
When I first laid eyes on Jeremy, he was in flip flops, reading a bible.
I was smitten.
I was voted “biggest flirt” in high school
which is weird, because I’ve been really conservative since the day I was born.
Except when it comes to boys with a nice smile or blonde hair or tan arms.
Which is why Jeremy is my dream boy.
I live too far away from my siblings.
I pray for my kids every day.
Also for Brennan.
Also for Jeremy
I often stare at my children in amazement, not believing they are mine
I haven’t done anything good enough in life yet, to have deserved such blessings
I expected that my kids would be hellions.
Because I was always told I was. (I wasn’t)
I’ve never had a job or a boss I didn’t like.
I believe in showing respect to your children
I believe in showing compassion to your kids feelings and opinions
Our kids adore their grandparents
Which makes me happy
Because I was not close to my grandparents
I love lists of all kinds (grocery, to-do, guest, honey-do, wish, gift)
I shop when I am mad
I used to clean when I was mad
I recognize that this is not a good swap.
Poor Jeremy.
Used to have a clean house, and now he’s broke.
Jeremy and I have a favorite neighborhood diner
They know us by name.
When our favorite waitress left for another restaurant, we followed her
and when she saw us, she cried.
We generally are not stalkers.
But hey, she draws happy faces on our kids cups.
I hope to be friends with my kids when they get older.
I have a lot of respect for families that like to spend time together.
My husband loves to golf and play poker
and I try to encourage him to do it often
I’ve never smoked
Anything
My friends have seen me through some pretty dark days.
I don’t like having political or religious debates
I can't stand advertising that slams other politicians
It makes me hate both politicians
I think political and religious beliefs are very personal
and come from years of very personal experiences
I don’t want anybody to criticize my personal beliefs, so I don’t criticize theirs
I know what I know and I believe what I believe.
Much like I feel like my kids are prettier and sweeter than everybody else’s.
It’s just what I believe and I don’t care to debate it.
I think it is cool to get an insight on others lives
I LOVE cruises
I once cruised the British Virgin Islands
One day Jeremy will take us on another cruise.
Hopefully he’ll book it right after he reads this list.
I love when Jeremy and I get out of our routine, and do something different
He is as unpredictable as he is predictable
and I absolutely adore him for that
I believe you should never, ever, judge someone on where they currently are in their lives
Because people go through hard times, whether they’ve let you know about it or not.
And you will too
And I will too.
I have a long lost brother whom has disassociated himself with the family.
I used to dress him up in my baby doll clothes when he was a baby.
I think of him often.
I love to take naps
Especially with Camryn
I love a husband who cherishes his wife
I hate conflict
I avoid it, even when I shouldn't
Can’t we all just get along?

A note from Camryn

2009-07-19T20:28:00.000-07:00

Today I took a 2 hour nap so I get to stay up late. I'm ready for Alyssa to come home. Love, Camryn

Our family

2009-07-19T20:08:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our little corner on the web. Our family stays VERY busy so we hope to use this blog spot as a way to keep our families updated with pictures and posts, as well as use it as a family journal to keep hold of our memories.