Tuesday, December 21, 2010

When the camera is out....

Presley's smile is not. "Seriously mom?" "I will not look at the camera"
"Fine, Ill look but Im not going to smile"
Presley was Anti family pictures. She hardly cooperated. Atleast shes cute even when shes being a stinker. Maybe Ill give her a few pointers.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Murder Mystery Take 2

Have I ever mentioned how fun my friends are? Well, They really are!! We went to the 2nd Annual Murder Mystery party last night and it was SOO fun!! Last years was awesome but this year was beyond amazing. Alana and Bethany worked so hard and were so prepared. We loved it! This years theme was the 50's so naturally Zach and I were a suburban couple where I tend to the children and have supper on the table at 5 o'clock on the dot and Zach is a business man.

Meet Walt and June Cleaver. We know that the real Cleavers were June and Ward but we didnt really find that out until a few weeks ago after we had turned in our names and stories. Zach ended up being the killer of Mr. Francis Finnigan Foxworth and he used none other than the Cleaver. Gasp! *Walt Cleaver is the hedge fund manager for Foxworth who is his Uncle. It is a career that allows him to support his family in style. But he often feels dissatisfied with his position in life.


*June Cleaver is the epitome of an all American suburban housewife. She works hard to create a wonderful home for her family. She has very ladylike pastimes like needlepoint and flower arranging. Her only outside social events are her children’s school events and plays which she attends with her husband Walt Cleaver. She does have a secret addiction to medication and Alcohol.

Friday, November 19, 2010

The time I was in comatose

My friends, a Christmas miracle has taken place today. While driving in my fathers Mustang convertible today, I beheld a wonderful sight. After eating a handful of Pita chips, I was in need of something to cure my breath. My father is the keeper of gum. If you need some, he has some. My father also discovers all of earths goodnesses. He is the one that introduced me to Coconut m&m's, Sobe lifewater, Poore Brothers Salt and Vinegar chips( at the age of 2) and all sorts of other wonderful things. While looking for some gum I had the choice between 2 kinds. One was in a differnt color box that I dont recall ever seeing so I was quick to investigate. Behold!

As I read the title, a great pilar of light came from the sky, the clouds parted and Angels sang. Seriously? Was I dreaming? I pinched myself just to make sure. I was in fact awake. As I peeled back the tin wrapper, my lips pursed, my mouth salivated and I could hardly contain my excitement. I ever so gently placed the piece of deliciousness inside my mouth and began to chew. And then I died. My eyes glazed over and I wasnt thinking properly. How could something so wonderful be on this earth without my knowing? How could my father, who is supposed to love me unconditionally keep this a secret? I kept chewing, I gently swallowed my saliva. It felt like I was eating a bowl of ice cream everytime I would swallow. I quickly texted my father. Then I called Zach. My friends, I could not keep this a secret from you. You must partake. As of this moment I only know of one place where you can find it, QT( Got to love the QT) My father was going to explore other options. He went to Walgreens and was supposed to return and report. He has not reported yet so I will report his findings hopefully soon.

You're Welcome.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Familiar Expression

Remember this face?


Halloween 2009

Halloween 2010
Seems to be annual thing. She busts it out every Halloween.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN from the Little Lady bug!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Portland / Washington

Zach, Presley and I had the opportunity to go up to visit family in the Portland area. OH.MY.GOSH! We love it there. Zach is determined we are moving there. I dont think I would mind it so much either. I took too many pictures which is totally unlike me because I seriously always forget to take pictures. So there are a lot of collages.

Presley LOVED being around her cousins. She and I flew up last Tuesday. We had been fighting Hand, Foot and Mouth disease the week we were SUPPOSE to go up so we rescheduled our flight and I missed out on the Girls Renezvous my Sister in laws and Mother in law had planned. Im still trying not to cry about it. But so is the life of a mother. When you have something special planned your child has something different planned.

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Liza and Scott live out in the country. They had so much space and even horses in their backyard. Presley loves "neighs". She absolutely loved going outside everyday and feeding them. She absolutely loved being able to go outside. Come on AZ! ITS OCTOBER! Time to cool down.

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The whole purpose of the trip was to see our nephew Denmark get baptized into our church. I met Denmark when he was 4 and he sang to me at my wedding luncheon. Now he is all grown up!

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Zach served his mission up in Washington, Spanish speaking and with it only being 5 hours away from Portland we had to make the trip up. Scott and Liza were kind enough to watch Presley for a few days while Zach and I galavanted around Cashmere, Wenatchee and Leavenworth Washington. Since we only really had 1 full day, which was Sunday we didnt get to hit up all the people he wanted to. But I did get to meet a few families that held special places in Zachs heart and who thought he was the greatest too. Leavenworth is really Small Town Germany. Everything is decorated and over the top. Even the McDonalds and Wells Fargo signs were all Germaned out. Since my family is originally from Germany I was totally in awe the whole time. We even found a place called Gustav's and we had to take a picture of it for my Great Grandfather Gustave( came over on the boat), Grandpa R. Gustave, my father K. Gustave and my younger brother K. Gustave.

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Zach loves tunnels like the below. As we drove over to Seattle the clouds were incredible.

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On the way back to Portland we decided to spend some time in Seattle. Zach really wanted to go up the Space Needle so we did and then cruised down Pike Place and The Pier. Seattle really is beautiful and full of crazies! We ate Chowder( Salmon and Clam) at a quaint little restaurant and enjoyed the alone time.

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Our last day in Portland we went a wildlife refuge. We walked around for a little while basking in the nature around us. Our nephew Vance was really into collecting Catepillars and Grasshoppers. The funniest part was when Andrew had found a catepillar for Vance and then Zach caught a Gardner Snake at the exact same time. Vance was a little more into the snake and Andrew totally felt rejected. Vance excitedly screamed, "Hurry! Everyone help me get all these catepillars out of here so I can have this snake."

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We REALLY had a great time! I cant wait to go back.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Holy Catastrophe

I was born with as much hair as Presley has now. It was quite surprising to me when Presley made her appearance that she didnt have TONS of dark hair. No our sweet Miss P was born with blonde hair and somedays it even looks red. The other day I was going through my picture box at my parents house looking for a particular picture. I had a few goodlaughs that led to crying because I was DIEING at what I was wearing or how my hair was done. Ive had many different hairstyles through the years I figured out. Most of the time I am just wondering why on earth anyone let me out of the house.

If there is a big gap between years it only means my hair was the same. Except between 9th and Senior my hair got longer and lighter than shorter and darker after I decided to back to brown at my cousins wedding on a whim. I didnt have any good pictures of just me and my hair so you will just have to imagine it.

For your viewing pleasure. Hopefully I keep friends after this.

Bum budda Dum...
"Hairstyles throughout Whitneys life"...
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Dont Worry in 5th Grade that stinking sunflower shirt was my all time favorite shirt and now I hang my head in Shame. Please also excuse 5th grade in general. Im sure everyone had that one particular awkard brace face permed hair year. Right?..........right? In 6th grade I was trying to grow my hair out therefore leading to half permed half straight hair that remained in a ponytail the entire year until the hairdresser I went to "accidently" cut my hair off at the permed hair. I cried for days. It was horrible. I still blame my mother.
After Senior Year I continued to grow out my hair. It got longer. I havent colored it since 11th grade. Im actually afraid to get it cut more than an inch for fear my hair will never be the same.
I am happy to say my style has gotten better. Oh the awkward years. Thank heavens Zach and I werent childhood friends. Im sure he could never look at me the same way.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

The Guinea pig

I was lucky enough to be the first born in my family. I carried the usual responsibilities of being the oldest and wisest(wink). I actually was pretty hard on myself growing up. I had to be the perfect child. I had to be a good example to my younger siblings. I about died when my dad told me one time he was" disappointed in me". It broke my heart to know at that moment, I was not the perfect child I had worked hard to be. I never lied( I'm a horrible liar. I usually don't make eye contact or bust up laughing. My mom could instantly tell if I was fibbing or not). I never snuck out. I never put myself in uncomfortable positions or went to parties where inappropriate activities were happening. And if they were I was out of there faster than lightning. I'm not saying this to toot my own horn or anything, I simply was afraid of what might happen if I were to do any of those things. Occasionally my Dad and I would have huge fights over how I thought his rules were totally unfair and he must hate me or not trust me.

The group of girls I hung around during my growing up years were ALL the youngest child. I'm so serious when I say this. Until 7th grade I was the only Oldest child among my friends. Their parents were older and more tired so they could get away with ANYTHING. They always got to stay out later, They always got to do sleepovers, etc. Once we hit 7th grade we added more girls to our "Group" and guess what... the only other girl who wasn't the youngest was the ONLY child in her family. What gives? My little group of friends always called me "the mother". If we went out to eat I was the one who got everyone napkins and silverware. I almost always the last one to sit down because I was making sure everyone had everything they needed. Growing up I would constantly tell my parents that one day they would just give in and be tired and let my younger siblings do Whatever they wanted. They always assured me this would NEVER happen and they would ALWAYS be strict. Well I am here to tell you.... BLEH! They are big fat liars(love you M &D). There is 10 years between me and my youngest sibling Kaytlyn. Kaytlyn is 14 and a big 9th grader this year. Weston, my next to last sibling, is almost 18 and a big senior and Kyle, the sibling right under me is by far the smartest child in the family and the oldest boy and on a mission. Lets just get down to the nitty gritty. Lets look at the difference between my rules as a teenager and their rules as teenagers. Now there are similarities. Not a ton. With each child it seems to be a little different.

Whitney: Curfew at 11 until graduated high school , moved out, moved back home, then it was midnight. Not allowed to have boyfriends. Shared a cell phone with my mother until I was 18 years old. Not allowed sleepovers unless HUMONGOUS special occasions and weeks of begging and preparing my mother. Not allowed anything lower then a "B" in any class( one time I had a C in a class at the end of a quarter and I got the 'Deering's don't get C's lecture from my parents'). Must Honor in Seminary. Not allowed to miss school unless the rug by the toilet was my bed the previous evening. Bribed by my mother to wait to kiss until I was 16( I almost made this one. Stinking Thatcher C. with no cartilage in his nose). Shared a room with my 10 year younger sister until 18. Not allowed to drive home alone EVER at night. Mom waited up in the recliner until I got home. You get my drift?

Unfortunately Kyle was held to the same standards. My parents were Young then too. Although Kyle got a cell phone at 16 and was allowed to exclusively date a girl in high school. Like I said earlier Kyle is the smartest. He could seriously never open a book and get and A + in all classes. The little twerp. Him and Weston shared a room until I moved out and got married 4 years ago then Kyle took over my room downstairs after My mom asked Zach for advice on how to get the boys to get along better. Zach told her they needed their own rooms. That seemed to help him and his brother. Almost instantaneously Kyle was moved downstairs and they had their own rooms.

Lets get to Weston. This one is going to kill you.

Weston: also known as " the difficult one". My mom constantly says Weston is the most like her. Apparently she lived life on the edge growing up and was the difficult one in her family too. She "gets" him. Weston has a curfew at 11. Sometimes. Has had more girlfriends then anyone has fingers and toes. Does not have to honor Seminary. Parents are hoping he just goes( Disclaimer: this year he is REALLY enjoying seminary. For serious) Missed 1st hour this morning because he was not mentally prepared for his Spanish Quiz, parents agreed it was best if he stay home too and eat eggs and toast instead. Cell Phone: 14. Misses school for just about anything. Gets a pat on the back for a "C" in classes. Mom now waits in her bed or on the couch. Gets away with murder( not really).

Kaytlyn: held to same standards as Whitney And Kyle, Kind of. Kind of an overachiever. Cell Phone:12. As a 14 year old curfew 10:30. Only a half hour earlier than older siblings. Hardly does any household chores unless threatened to lose her life. Floats about life without a care in the world. Granted she is only 14. I cant wait to watch as she gets older.

I find this all very comical and dont take ANY of this serious at all. And I hope no one else does either. Truly I have amazing Parents. They would do anything for me and have given me everything in the whole world. They have taught me so many things and almost everyday I find myself doing this just how they would. I must say it was hard being the Guinea pig but it has truly shaped me for the person I am today. I find it funny to see how things have changed. Dont worry I'll keep reminding them how HORRIBLE( wink) I had it.