before and after

So Riley decided it was time for a haircut. It wasnt going to be this short but as I was cutting it as you can see the shortest part on the side she moved and seemed to keep moving everytime i went to blend it together. Oh well it is just hair. And I guess she learned her lesson as she says she will never move again when your cutting my hair. As after it just getting shorter and more and more lop sided we ended up at the salon to get it fixed.

Gingerbread Houses!

Christmas Eve when we had Daddy and Grandma Whitmer here to help. These little houses where at our local grocery store and where just the right size. It was very interesting to see each child put theres together. Riley just did her own thing didnt look at the picture on the box once. Then there was Brody had the picture right next to him and took a long time to get it just right. And then Hyde oh Hyde he I think ate more then ended up on his house. We all had alot of fun.

Kids being kids

So not a lot of things have been going on lately. But wanted to update everyone on the kiddos.


Riley has been full of it lately. Just yesterday we were driving to church and went past the kids school and she just started talking. She was telling us that she was so happy to live in Texas as you are free here. And the people long ago came across the ocean to New York and then came to Texas to be free.
Then she said did you know mom that when Grandma and Grandpa went to school it was in a one room house. I go really? Then she said yeah and you know what else they had these special kind of writing tools called quills and they had to dip them into the ink. Really where does she come up with these things.
She also has become a reading machine. Her school had a book fair last week and so I took her on Friday and she got to pick out a book for each of her brothers and then she got to pick out a a couple of books for herself and she picked out a 3 pack of Junie B Jones books. She came home that night and started the first book and finished it Sunday night after a few forced breaks.


Brody wow has he grown up so fast just in the last two weeks. When he started going to school he would come home with one to 3 time outs in a three hour day. But then after a really bad day something Robert told him must have really clicked. =) So now after 9 straight days of awesome days he is like a changed little boy. He can be so kind and gentle. Like today he gets into the car with after we picked him up at school and Hyde is being Hyde having a hard time being two not wanting to get into the car and Brody goes its ok Hyde I'll sit by you and you can have my sticker which is a hugh thing as this is what he gets if he has no time outs. He is so into spider man and it is so funny to see him jumping along the floor or shooting out his spider webs and having to refuel his webbing by drinking gatorade.

Hyde is getting so big so fast. It is so hard to believe that he is just barely two years old. He talks all the time and is trying to be so independent. He wants to do everything on his own. When he is told to put something away and he doesn't want to he will give it a big hug and look at you with his big ol eyes and say but I Love it!
He is so great to watch playing by himself when Brody is at school he will get out the train tracks and we will build them together and he will then just play on them for a good 30 - 40 mins. He also is learning all the primary songs. And it is so funny when he just walks out and is singing 1 little monkey in the tree snap out of the tree 3 monkeys in the tree no more monkeys in the tree. No catch me No catch me. I think our next big step is going to be trying to get him potty trained. Wish me luck.

So that is what we are doing these days what are you guys up to???

Just Funny

Quote of the day from Riley.

After asking to eat lunch at school I go ok do you still want to take your water bottle? She turns to me and says no mom I checked and they have american milk.

Happy Brithday Baby Girl!!

Dear Riley Paige or ReeRee,


You have brought some much to our home. 6 years ago today you are the one who made me a mom. You have taught me how to love another even more then I ever thought I was capable of doing. As you grow you are more and more like your dad. You are very out going and LOUD... we all know when you are not happy or when you are very happy.

This morning you woke up before the sun was even out and came running in asking me before I even had knew it. If I was going to tell you Happy Birthday! You decided to go to work today with dad. I hope you have a lot of fun with him.

You can make me crazy at times but I love you to death. You are a great helper around the house and you are willing to do whatever you can. If I let you you would I think take over the world. As just the other day I wasn't feeling good so we couldn't go to the pool and you go "oh mom I would be more then happy to watch the boys at the pool so you could rest". Sometimes I think you are much older then you really are.

I can't believe my baby girl which I am greatful you still let me call you but no one eles can. hehe sorry Robert.. Is 6 you are growing up way to fast. I hope you know that your family loves you very much. And we are so happy you choose to be part of our family. We can't wait to see what you have instore for us this next year.

Love, Mom

First Born..

Then...

Now....


I was asked to do this on Facebook. But wanted to add it to my journal. I think I might do them for each of my kiddos. It was so much fun remembering back to that exciting time in my life.


1. Were you married at the time? Yes
2. What were your reactions when you found out? Scared, Excited!
3. How old were you? 19
4. How did you find out you were pregnant? Home Pregnancy Test I think about 6 of them.
5. Who did you tell first? the grandparents
6. Did you want to find out the sex? YES!!!
7. Did you deliver early or late? Early
8. Due date:August 3 2003 Birth date: July 27 2003
9. Did you have morning sickness? yes
10. What did you crave? cherry or coke slurpees
11. Who irritated you the most? all the "Advice" and birthing stories people told me
12. What was your first child's Sex? Girl!!!
13. How many pounds did you gain throughout the pregnancy? Way to many. I think the grand total was 40 Yuck...
14. Did you have any complications during your pregnancy? No
15. How long were you in labor? 12hrs
16. Who drove you to the hospital? My husband
17. Who watched?Just my husband
18. Was it natural or c-section? Natural
19. Did you take medicine to ease the pain? Yes an epidural
20. How much did your child weigh? 7lbs 8 oz
21. What did you name her? Riley Paige Whitmer
22. How old is your first born today? 5 years old.

this week.....

So this week has flown by so fast and yet again gone by sooooooooo slow...

One of the best things was on Friday I packed the boys into the car and took a drive and on our way home stopped past the mail box and there was a package waiting there for us. It was from a dear friend from Mesa she is so sweet. In the box was something for each of my kiddos. And Chocolates and these magnets that she made with little uplifting sayings for moms. They have been on my fridge ever since and they help when the day hasn't gone so well. Thanks Laurie!!!




Question for all the moms out there in the blogging world... Lately Riley my 5 year old has been very sneaky/mean. Example yesterday she was playing with her brothers nicely and then we hear Hyde crying and go to see what is going on she is holding him saying its ok. We think oh that is nice. And go on then about 5 mins later Hyde comes in and find us and he has a bite mark on his arm. So we call Riley in and ask her what happened? She goes I don't know... I ask her again. her face gets low and she goes I DON'T KNOW!!!! I ask her one more time and she goes I bite him. I then ask her why and she says because he wasnt doing what I wanted him to do. WHAT....

Then this morning the kids where watching tv and being nice as I was making breakfast when Brody walks in and says Riley pinched me. I go where and there was a red mark on his skin under his shirt. I again asked her if she had done this or not and she goes gosh Brody. I didnt do it. I go what are you sure. Then she spills the beans and goes yes I did but you where not supposed to see it. What? I have told her if she can be good and help me then I will have time to do something with her but when she doesn't listen and makes problems then it makes it harder for me to get everything done and to want to let her do fun things. Am I wrong? What am I not doing? If you have any ideas please let me know.

Christmas 2008

In Pictures.....................................

Christmas Outfit!

Here is Riley in her hand made Christmas outfit. I just love the way the skirt turned out. And my friend Michelle and I made her headband to die for.

Sorry this isn't the best I was one handed and dealing with two little ones by myself as Robert has been out of town ALL week......
Riley did an Awesome Job!! I love you!

By the way she is third row right in the middle white shirt.

Just because....

A friend of mine was over here about a month ago and was nice enough to bring over some fabric she wasn't going to use. So the other day I was going through it all and found this great green poka dot. I just had to put it on my floor and wall and take some pictures of my kids. I was going to do them outside but the weather here has been crazy!!! But hopefully we will be able to get out there sooner then later and get some good shots of them all.

Piano Recital!

Halloween 2008

So here they are Riley a cat. Brody a monkey but if you asked him it was boots the monkey..
And Hyde was a mouse so the cat would have something to chase..
We had alot of fun tonight. We hung out and ate yummy food at our friends house then trick-or- treated until our bags where over flowing.

Hanger

It all started with a little hanger....

Today has been a very slow day here at the Whitmer house. We have a sicky so we are sticking close to home. So I took this as a gift of time. We don't have to go anywhere so why not get some of the little things around here done that just get over looked.

So I hit the boys closet. I pulled out all there old not fitting things and hung up things that had fallen down. They didn't even notice.

Then it was onto Riley's, she was very excited and wanted to help even though she doesn't feel good. A couple of Saturday's ago we had hit a HUGH sale at the mall and ended up getting all of the clothes that she will need for school this year. And all under a 100 bucks thanks you.

So I pull out the little hangers and put the newly washed clothes onto them something that rarely happened before now in our house as the kids never really had anything other then play and church clothes. But as I was hanging them up she comes into me and says"Oh mom I really get to hang my clothes up just like you? And I am ALL ready to go to school now." And then it hit me this hanger was doing more for her then just hanging her clothes up, it was a step forward. It was telling her that she was growing up and changing.

If life was that simple that we could all see our "hangers" and know that we were doing what we need to be doing. So my question to you have you seen any "hangers" in your lives?

Happy Birthday Riley!

Riley,
So you are 5 today and you are so amazing to me. You get up each day with a smile on your face and are so excited to get going and to help with your brothers. Today you made me laugh as we were at church and walking down the hall and you kept telling people to watch as you turned and said now look look I'm 5.... And then as you were so excited to get your bike and then turned to me and said ok thanks but maybe I'll ride it when I'm 6. You are the one that made me a mom. I remember that day like it was yesterday. And now you are off to your first day of school. Wow how the days and years have just flew by. I remember when you where born I never wanted to put you down, I never could get enough of your baby smell. I remember thinking you were and are so perfect and how you fit so nicely all curled up on my chest day and night. Thank you for coming to our family. Thank you for making me a mommy. You are and will always be my little girl even if you are now to old mom to do my thing at night for you. But thank you for letting me do it as long as you did, and thank you still for letting me still kiss and hug you. Thank you for still wanting to be held on my lap as there are days it misses you. You are growing up so fast and so beautifully. I am so grateful to have you as my first child. I love you. I hope you had a wonderful 5th birthday.
Love,
Your Mom

McKenna Children's Museum

Brody at the water table

Hyde at the water table he loved pushing the button to get the fountains going.

Checking himself out in the mirror

Face painting. Oh so beautiful!

Working hard!
Hyde in the kitchen

Riley at the water table

Doctor Riley is her to save the day.

Astronaut Brody hard at work in his spaceship.

Grocery shopping with the boys.

FISH!

VW bug had to drag the kids inside to see the rest.

Look at that good job Brody!

Go Hyde!

Hyde trying to figure out the whole plastic ice thing.

We had SO much fun at the museam today. It was hard to leave after being there from 10-2. We will have to go back soon. Loved it!