Jesse, Tricia, Brian, Aaron, Anna--Jan. '09

Ok, fellow Whitney's and Sorensens here is the update of the Wisconsin Whitney's. We are stuck under a 3 foot layer of perma frost with no sign of spring or warm air in sight. The weather has us housebound and that is hard with 2 boys that love to have friends over. Today, there were 4 little boys running around, fully armed, shouting and shooting each other. Fortunately, the extra two left after 2 hours or I might have been tempted to throw them in the brig. Anna was dying to play with them and followed them around carrying a tiny little gun. We had a great Christmas. Brian had minor surgery two days before Christmas to remove a cyst on his thyroid gland. It went very smoothly and he spent the night in the hospital where he was lavished with attention. There was a movie library of over 400 movies for him to choose from, he got a quilt, pillow case and 3 teddy bears to take home, there were 2 visits from "therapy dogs" and he got to eat all the toast slathered in the "most delicious butter ever" (his words) he wanted. In short, he said that the surgery and hospital stay was the best day of his life. Jesse spent the night in the hospital with him and slept on a cot. He said that the cot had no middle, there was just the sides and the floor. Poor guy. My parents came and stayed with the other kids while I went back and forth. The boys got science kits to build different little vehicles and sound contraptions, books and games for gifts. Anna got a tiny little stroller and a baby doll with a bottle. It's interesting that girls know right from a tiny age what to do with babies and bottles and strollers. Anna took her first step on Dec. 16 and no longer does her little scoot and slap at all. I have to admit that I miss it. But, I love the toddle/wobble that she does. The boys do love playing outside when the wind chill gets over 0 degrees (yes that actually happens :-) ). They tunnel in the snow banks and play commando. Jesse is doing well. He has gotten yet another cold and that has knocked him down for a few days. He's still job hunting and we are really trying to stay here in this area. Right now, though, we are just grateful that he has a good job and his company told him that there won't be any layoffs this year. That was a relief. He was released from his calling in EQ 2nd counselor yesterday and is fearful of what is in store. I have been busy knitting, sewing, keeping my sanity. I get to go to the theatre in two weeks! One of my friends and I are going to "Wicked" and get to attend a gala with drinks and appetizers before the show, see the show, and then have dessert and mingle with the cast afterwards. I found a great black velvet dress with velvet jacket to wear to it. I have never been to a show like this and am so excited! It will be fun to have a girls night out. We love all of you and hope that we can read some new additions to the blog! We miss you all!Jesse, Tricia, Brian, Aaron and Anna

Jesse, Tricia, Brian, Aaron, Anna--Nov. '08

This month was pretty hum drum. We Halloween as our big event. We had our trunk or treat at church and the kids made a huge haul there. There was wall to wall people. Anna carried her own pumpkin bag until she realized that Jesse wasn't going to let her eat candy and then she pushed it off on him to carry. Costumes: Brian was Optimus Prime-the Transformer Autobot leader, Aaron was the Incredible Hulk and Anna was a very cute pink M&M. All three were specially made by mom. Brian designed his own costume and it was pretty good. Aaron's was complete with HUGE muscles including washboard abs. It was so funny because he's so small inside of it. Anna's was pretty snug, I didn't make it big enough to go over her winter coat like I should have.
Anna is finally beginning to stand up. She hates doing it, we think it's because it scares her. I caught her CAUTIOUSLY standing up and then just as cautiously sitting back down. Today she stood up by herself in her crib. She is so funny and quirky. She loves to get us up in the middle of the night and when one of us bleary eyed go in to see what her deal is, she greets us with a cheery "who is it?" Gee, who could it be?
Brian and Aaron had their primary program two weeks ago. They each had small speaking parts. Brian did his pretty well. He told a New testament story. Aaron had one sentence and before he said it he had to hang something up on a large flannel board. One his way back, he was to stop at the podium and do his thing. He grabbed the mike on the way back and without even stopping muttered his line unintelligibly to everyone. We love Primary Programs. There is no dignity left in life.
I have been busy canning apple pie filling. So far, I have made 21 quarts and have 5 more to go. We can't wait to get the kitchen back. Jesse has been busy at work. Lots of big projects for him there. The cold weather has come and has us both feeling claustrophobic already. Can't wait till January!!
We love all of you and really enjoy reading all of the blogs.

See Dano's November post in the September posts

Dave and Garrett-November

David and Garrett are driving to Las Vegas on Friday, November 7th to go see Madonna on Saturday, November 8th.
More to come......

The Sorensens--November

Hi everyone! I just got done sending you all harrassment emails about the blog..so I thought it was time to add in our stuff. Here's what we've been up to the past month:
Spencer: As most of you know, Spencer's previous company decided to merge with another, and in the merge, the new company that took over Spencer's department's funding, decided to 'misplace' large amounts of money, and therefore put an indefinite freeze on paying his department. So......he's spent the last 3 weeks or so spending some quality time with his beloved family, being put to work by his sweet and skinny (wink wink) wife, and advertising his various website services. He's picked up a few jobs, and is actually earning his keep (and ours), but the search contines. He's also decided that being layed off concurrently with his business partner twice in one year is reason enough for the two of them to get serious and start their own company. They've been meeting with potential clients and figuring out all the ins and outs of that sort of stuff that I'm totally clueless about. He should be writing about this, but since he's relinquished the computer to me for a short (short!) time, I am not about to ask him back in here to do it. I always like having him around and all, but this whole sharing the office and phone business is really getting old. Plus having him around more is making my eating habits go down the toilet, so that does NOT make the old girl a happy one. He also just got released as Cub Scout Chairman, and got put in as Ward Mission leader.
Shaunell: I am just doing the regular mom stuff and not too much is different. I feel like the Whitneys have had a more stressful time this last little while, so I've been thinking of you all quite a bit, and worrying and praying. We got to go up and see Grandma at the beginning of Oct., and I'm grateful we got the chance. I have so many good memories of time spent at Grandma's house; Jess and I making fudge at this time of year, spending the night and having Grandma make us yummy breakfast in the morning; going camping with Grandma and Grandpa by myself, and all the holidays and events we got to share. I'm grateful to have lived so close to her and Grandpa both, and that they were a big part of our lives. Who else is gonna call me glamour puss? :) All in all, I am just really grateful for all of my family. The more stressful life gets, the more grateful I am to know why we are all here, and what life is really all about. Family is most important, and I try my best every day to teach my kids what I feel about life, Heavenly Father, and family. It's a struggle, and I feel like I fail most days, but that's what I am doing, and strive to do every day.
Cetera: My sweet Cetera continues to test her mother's mettle and patience and intelligence each day. What would I be without her? She loves school, and is learning so much. Today she was telling me about vowels and syllables....because she honestly thinks we don't know (ha ha). She is picking up reading quickly and her little eyes get so big when she realizes what she's doing. It cracks me up. She is still in dance, and practicing for her Christmas recital. She asks every day, "is it December yet?"-because she is so excited to perform in front of a 'real audience'. The other day she came home from school, and they'd had a big "drug free" week all week long, and that day they'd had a big pep assembly type show. She walked in the door and said, "Mom, did you know that Drugs are a trap? And they will snap you down just like a mouse's head in a trap!"
Aislyn: Good old weeze......remains my happy and non-grumpy child (except when hungry). She has learned how to use scissors and thinks they are the bomb, and so, she asks me at least 4 times a day if she can 'cut'. She also wants to use my lipstick and eat my gum all day long. Halloween and the advent thereof have been winners with her, because of the large influx of candy into our house. She is a candy fiend! It's replaced "Juice" in the number one spot for main source of calories. NOT good. My favorite thing lately is when I ask if she needs or wants something she replies, "NO mom, I am JUST fine."
SO that's us as of late. Love and miss you all. Check our blog for latest pics. Hugs.

Mom and Dad --Sept. '08

Visit to Gary and Gretchen in San Diego in March. Happy Birthday to Sylvia--her 29th. Senor Whitney with Senor Iguana in Cabo in Feb. this year. It was a great vacation with all of the Whitney family on the cruise ship Elation at the end of February 2008.

Jesse, Tricia, Brian, Aaron, Anna--Sept. '08

This summer was busy for us! The boys had summer school. Aaron loved it, his class was to get him used to kindergarten. Brian had summer school twice, the second session was a reading enhancement that jumped up his reading level 3 levels! We were so happy for him. Aaron also learned to ride a bike. We tried to teach him earlier in the spring, but it didn't work. In May, we took off the training wheels and he jumped on and took off. We bought a season pass the the local zoo and found out it gets us into other zoos around the state, so we did that on various day trips. Madison had the best zoo and Milwaukee had the hardest to find zoo.
This school year brought a lot of changes, Brian is in 2nd grade. His teacher is a lot of fun and he really likes her. The first day of school he told me "I looked around the classroom and think-what am I doing in 2nd grade? Only smart people are in 2nd grade!" Aaron likes school, but misses mom. He asked mom why school has to take so long everyday. He loves walking home like a big boy. They are growing up fast! We think that we have some future scientists/inventors on our hands. Last week, they came up with a surefire hornet trap and excitedly demonstrated it for me. Aaron stood ready with a rock the size of his fist and he planned to throw it at a hornet and Brian waited until the unfortunate hornet would fall to the ground and he planned to run it over with a wind up car from a McDonald's Happy Meal. Mom asked them what Plan B would be on the off chance that it didn't work and Brian said "Oh, I have my bubble gun and I will catch the hornet in the bubbles." Tricia and Jesse laughed so hard. They crack us up.
Anna is 1 already. We don't know where the past year has gone. She is cute and fun and very girly. She has a baby doll and a bunny and one of them goes with us everywhere we go, and she hugs them often. She doesn't crawl, she does the "scoot and slap". She sits and scoots forward and pulls with her hands. She gets around really fast and is into everything. We don't expect walking soon, typically kids on Tricia's side walk around 18 months. Her famous catchphrase is "What is it?" or "Who is it?". She adores the boys and was so lonely the first 2 weeks of school, she just moped around the house and followed Tricia hugging her ankles all day long. It's fun to have some Mother/daughter time with her. Anna is fun to play with.
Jesse is hoping to start teaching college this winter. He would like to get his PhD (that stands for Piled High and Deep in case you have ever wondered) and the best way to do that is to teach night school on the side. His favorite time of the week is the weekend when he can take the family to the library and the park. The boys like to be "chased". They run pell mell through the park and Jesse lopes like Shaggy from Scooby Do after them around the park. It's fun to watch.
Tricia has been busy sewing and upholstering. So far to date she has recovered 2 couches, 4 arm chairs, 2 rocking chairs and 2 footstools. Not to mention clothes and odds and ends for the baby. It's been fun learning new sewing techniques and her sewing has improved greatly. She had fun this summer doing science experiments with the boys. Did anyone else know that 20 Mule Team Borax makes a HUGE crystal in just 3 hours and Epsom Salts make hardly any crystal in 3 days? We also filtered dirty water with clean socks.
Also, if you will look in the October issue of the Ensign starting on page 25 and continuing on page 26, you will see a short submission regarding community service by Tricia Whitney. I sent it in last year and forgot about it. It's pretty cool to see one's own name in print in a magazine. I am stilll knitting hats and making blankets for the NICU, by the way, and have done approximately 200 hats and about 75 blankets to date. Please forgive me for bragging, I guess it's my "15 minutes of fame". :-) Ensign article