Sleeping Beauties

As hard as it is to believe, Ashlyn has been perfectly content to sleep in her crib. She has never tried to climb out even though her little friend Marcus tried his best to show her how. =) I have been perfectly happy to let her continue to sleep in it since it was a hard transition for Whitney and Gavin to make. Alright, hard on me due to toddlers who wouldn't stay in bed and kept me awake all night long. Of course, they were both a lot younger than her and started trying to climb out around 1 year old. I started thinking that with the baby due in a few months I should probably get her out of the crib. She is already lukewarm at best concerning the whole new baby idea. I hopefully told myself since she is 3 years old we might just skip past that whole not wanting to stay in bed phase. The first night was a dream come true! She went right to bed and stayed there all night long! The second night was a nightmare. Starting around 2:00 am she was wandering the hall and making visits to everyone in the family. The third night I put a door knob cover on the inside of her bedroom door and turned off the overhead light fixture, which she wasn't too happy about. The fourth night when I put her to bed she said "leave my door open", yeah right. She still likes to get up in the nights at times and play. Resulting in anything from a little tired to an exhausted Ashlyn during the days. Gradually though things are improving.

But this whole big girl bed has resulted in one happy side effect. One of Chris's most "favorite things in the world" is for the kids to fall asleep on him while he watches TV on the sofa. He has often complained because Ashlyn would almost never go to sleep on him even when she was tiny. Suddenly, she has been falling asleep on him and he his thrilled!!! I haven't had the heart to point out the obvious connection to him that she is just so exhausted from partying at night that she can hardly keep her eyes open as evening rolls around. I have even found her passed out at times around the house, which is not her. She has always been one of those kids that needs to be in her own bed to sleep.

We're Going To Disney World!!!

YAHOO!!! Gavin, Ashlyn and Whitney holding their Disney World park hopper passes!

Giving Daddy some love!

Mr. Fun (aka Chris) surprised the kids with the news that we are going to Disney World yesterday afternoon. Now this was led up to with about a week of him saying things to them such as -

Chris: I've got the best surprise for you! Wanna know what it is?

Child: Yes, Dad, yes! Tell me!!!

Chris: No, I'm gonna keep it to myself for awhile longer.

And then there was a conversation he and I had at least 100 times.

Chris: I want to surprise the kids but I just can't wait! Maybe I'll tell them? Should I tell them? I'm just so excited!!! I don't know if I can wait three weeks to tell them!

Now what I would say is pointless because he really didn't want to hear my opinion. I would mix up my responses just to see his reaction and play with him a bit.

The passes came in yesterday to ITR (place where military folks buy discounted tickets) so of course he ran right down to pick them up. He comes home puts each child's pass in an envelope. Wraps the envelope. Puts them in a box, wraps the box, puts it in another box and wraps that box. Naturally, the kids are ECSTATIC once they finally get past that fourth layer!

FYI Disney World came out with an awesome deal for military members this year, that Chris just couldn't pass up. The soldier gets in for free and then can buy 5 day park hopper passes for family members for only $99 each. Since Orlando is only about a 6 hour drive from here, we will just drive down. Plus, he found a good deal on a condo rental. The last time we went to Disney World I was pregnant and about 6 weeks away from delivering Gavin. =) We will also be going to Sea World cause they've got a similar deal where the soldier is free and they also give them up to 3 free tickets for direct family members.

Navigating the Waters of Womanhood

Yesterday Whitney and I had a Mommy/Daughter Day just the two of us. Our main goal -finding out what size Whitney is in misses/juniors sizes and getting some pants. I have been crying and lamenting the fact that she has outgrown girls sizes. With equally heavy doses of avoidance and denial. Maybe you're asking yourself why I'm having such a strong reaction to this event. Here's what I've come up with in no particular order:

1.) Misses sizes are more expensive.
2.) I can't shop for her without her there to try things on.
3.) Many styles are way too mature for a 10 year old girl.
4.) I can no longer dress her and Ashlyn alike.
5.) She is growing up too fast!
6.) I remember when I was in that limbo land between girls and juniors sizes and nothing seemed to fit right.

She can still wear some girls size 14's but I finally had to face the fact that she is 5 foot tall and wears a 6 1/2 in womens shoes. We started off at Old Navy where we had to return a pair of girls too small, size 14 pants that I had gotten her for her birthday. We tried on about 10 pairs of pants and came out with one pair. I know this will sound all too familiar to all you women out there. One size 2 was a tad small one 2 was huge . . . you know how it goes. Lets just say Whitney was not enjoying the experience. She wanted to know why they didn't just make all size 2's the same size. This is something her father has yet to understand. Every time he goes shopping with me he wants to know why I simply can't just breeze in buy "my size" and be on my merry way. He "never tries on anything he just gets his size and it fits every time". This is where I slap him for being such an ingrate. Just kidding, though I sometimes have to strive very hard not to. =) And the plethora of styles and cuts! As anyone who knows Whitney will attest she asks many, many questions. She also wanted to know what the difference was between the diva, the flirt, the sweetheart, boot leg, straight leg , skinny leg, low rise, mid rise . . . and the list goes on. Next was JC Penney's where I had to explain the different categories of womens sizes petites, juniors, misses, womens when she thought she had located the right department and I had to point out we were in womens/plus sizes. Which reminded me of the time (around a year ago) when she came upon a table of thong panties, held up a pair and asked me what they were. I told her they were panties. Her reaction: a look of utter disbelief, while saying NUN-UH! Seriously, one needs an experienced tour guide to navigate the mall. No wonder most men are at such a loss when trying to shop for their woman. After about 3 hours of shopping she announced herself "exhausted" and said "I never knew shopping was so tiring!" Next obstacle to hurdle - shopping for her first big girl bra.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

Left to Right: Emma, Alicia (on the sofa), Jessica, Destiny, Stephanie,

Whitney, Alicia and Brook.

Pizza Time!

Crazy Girl!!!


Whitney asked Chris to make an ice cream cake for her party. I couldn't stand how he'd clumped all the candles into that one side of the cake. I wanted to rearrange them but I was out voted.

Watching "Another Cinderella Story". They all gave it two thumbs up! Ashlyn was in heaven all night long and thought she was just one of the big girls.

Friday night our home was filled with the sound of giggles, squeals, singing and high pitched chatter all night long and into the wee hours of Saturday. Whitney asked for a slumber party for this years birthday celebration. Earlier in the week she asked if we could get rid of "the boy" (meaning her brother Gavin) for the night. Lucky for her he was invited to sleepover at Kaden's house. Her party started at 5:00 and she graciously offered to walk him over to Kaden's house at 1o to the hour. In her defense he had been tormenting her with how he was going to shoot her and all her friends with his vulcan nerf gun. I had been a little nervous about dramas or problems but it went really well. Despite the fact that none of them could have gotten more than a few hours sleep they all seemed pretty sprightly and chipper the next day. I on the other hand was beat. I'm such a light sleeper that any noise wakes me right up. And 8 girls cavorting the night away is noisy!

Pregnant Heather

Here I am, in all my pregnant glory. I look like I'm about 8 months pregnant but I'm only 21 weeks along. I have to say I was shocked when I saw these shots. I didn't realize I was this big! I guess this is what happens when you're on your 4th pregnancy and your abdominal muscles are nonexsistent. I don't think 2 c-sections helped things either. At least that is what I like to console myself with. And here's the real shocker so far I've only gained about 4 pounds. How is that even possible!?! I have decided #4 is my limit because I have been the most miserable, complainingest pregnant woman around. I actually used to pride myself on being a good pregnant woman but those days are long gone. I can't stand myself and I know my husband is ready to trade me in.

Whitney Through the Years...

Starting at the top from left to right: 9 years old, 2 years old, 5 years old, birth
second row: 8 years, 7 years
Bottom row: 3 years, 6 years, 1 year, 4 years

I had wanted to do the pictures in chronological order but since they weren't all the same size it wasn't working. I'm sure there is a way around that but it escapes me.

Happy Birthday Whitney!!!

The birthday girl enjoying her requested breakfast, cake and bacon!

It was another beautiful day in paradise when Whitney Michele Weaver made her arrival on January 8, 1999 in Honolulu, Hawaii. She was 8 days past her due date of December 31st. She weighed 7 lbs. 10 oz. was 21" long and had a full head of black hair. She was very alert and strong. Right away she started trying to hold her head up. She and Chris had their first battle of wills right away. Chris was insistent that she wear a hat at all times she did not want to wear the hat. As soon as he would put it back on she would start moving her head back and forth against the mattress until she had wriggled it off.

Whitney started out life full throttle and has yet to slow down! She started walking at 8 months, insisted on feeding herself and started talking. By the time she was 2 1/2 she was asking me to ride the bus and go to school. She has always had such drive and motivation to learn and be the best she can. Right from the start she had definite ideas about things. When she sets her mind to something there is no stopping her!

It is mind boggling for me to think we have had the privilege of being her parents for 10 years now and in only 8 more years she will be going out into the world and our job will be done in many ways. When I was pregnant with her people were always saying things like "just enjoy every minute, they grow up so fast". I started to get pretty annoyed with that comment and think if one more person says that to me, I will scream. It wasn't long before I started to understand what they meant. It really does go by so quickly! Thank you Whitney for being my little girl, for teaching me so much, inspiring me and bringing me more joy than I knew was possible. You are truly one of the best things that has ever happened to me.

Christmas Photos

I have gotten into the habit of taking professional photos of the kids at Easter and Christmas. This is also when I splurge and buy them co-ordinating clothes. I've been sad because Whitney has outgrown girls sizes and needs to move up to juniors sizes. =( This means no more perfectly matched outfits. Since Chris got me my new nifty camera I now get to take the pictures myself. We finally got them done a week after Christmas and I am finally posting a few of my favorites. Ashlyn has been so hard to take pictures of this past year that it is next to impossible to get a good group shot.

Birthday Bash/New Years Celebration

Chris was pretty proud of this ice cream cake he made himself. Earlier in the week when I asked him what kind of cake/desert he wanted for his birthday he informed me he was making himself an ice cream cake. Think he's trying to let me know he doesn't like my cooking?

He wanted to have a Lousiana style shrimp boil for his birthday dinner which he once again cooked himself in his fabulous, new turkey fryer that he recieved from the Tarbets. By the time I took this picture the food was already considerably less than when we started. You never need worry you will go hungry at the Weaver house. It was yummy and so easy!

Here I succeeded in taking a picture of everyone shoving food in their mouth or at least making a funny face. =)

Doesn't this gift bag just scream Chris? The Patterson boys picked it out especially for Chris. Inside was the cutest gift! Fancy roasting sticks with all the ingredients for smores. The perfect accessory for Chris's new fire pit he got for Christmas.

Here's Chris brushing up on his baby care skills with cute, little Calvin. Ashlyn came over and told Chris she does not want a baby brother once she saw this cozy scene. We have been trying to talk up & excite her for the impending new arrival.

I had gotten out a bunch of the kids games for the kiddies and Gavin and Kaden played games all night long. Here they are deep in a tense game of Battleship. They even managed to stay up till midnight to welcome in the new year.

Jenny insisted on sitting in Ashlyn's princess chair all night long. Just kidding! I just find this picture funny so I had to post it.

Ben put up a good fight and didn't succumb to sleep until around 11:00.

Colton almost made it till midnight too but not quite. Gavin's top bunk was just too inviting.

Whitney & Colton both had fun playing Cranium with the adults. Girls vs. Boys. Whitney was quite the assest to the team and earned us quite a few points. We will have to let her play more often! She passed out before New Years too. I just love sleeping pictures.