Whittaker Woman

Family Night #5 Movies

Welcome to the Movies...Welcome to the show.
We threw together a great movie night for
our family night tonight!

We made homemade pizza for dinner.

We made tickets and had a concession stand, where
everyone could get candy and popcorn as long as they paid  the big bucks!                                                                     

   
Nani was herself and complaining about how long the
line was taking to buy the popcorn.

I even used some old centerpieces to lift one of the couches
off of the ground!
It was a great night!

Stuck on you

Losiah has an obsession with sticking stickers on his face.
I don't know why he does it, but he does.

Crap, I can't stop!

It's been a crazy past year one, no it has been crazy last two years and I have not had time for much TV. If I watch something it is usually during my lunch while I eat. I have been a follower of LOST but then when we moved into our new home, adopted Losiah, decided to leave everything we have known and move across country, well LOST got lost!

Until this week.

I have been stuck, I am living up to my mans explanation of a stay at home mom ...sitting on the couch, eating bon bons and watching soap operas all day. I am not watching soap operas but I am watching LOST. I can't stop! I love ABC and the streaming video!  It's a good thing my kids  like to play together for hours! 
Have you ever watched a show marathons style?  What show?

Birthday party #12...Check, Survived...Done!

I love it when ideas come together! Sohaila had her
6th birthday party this weekend and if I do say so myself
it was great!

I made these pillows that had the info on them. It read
Bring our PJ's, sleeping bag and your favorite
stuffed friend to a sleep over that is pretend.

We had story time and sang some good night songs.

We ate Pigs in a blanket ( how appropriate!).

Then we played a game of pass the piggy.
(Piggy is Sohaila's sleeping companion)

The stars came out,

They sang to her. I know it looks like they are singing
Kum-ba-yah my Lord to her but I promise it was
happy birthday.

And what sleepover is not complete with out a movie?
This was not the original plan, but once all the kids
got there, I realized that I had no control of these sweet
children! So in it went!
When the kids left we gave them a pillow that my
grandma made of each of their first initials. They were
super cute but I did not get a picture!

I don't know who to say did this. It was either some kids
or it was Billy.  Hmmm.
So besides the stress of a party, plus the fact that I realized
I can not control 14 children alone and the small issue
of the oven catching on fire... it was a great party!
What was your favorite themed party you have gone to?

Spring is in the air!

I kept noticing birds flying to our wreath and today we found out why...

Carlos had to take the pictures because even on a stool 
I was to short. But how cute are they!
I am so excited to have some babies around here! H

"Good Morning Sunshine"

I stand corrected, taught and then given specific instructions on how to wake Sohaila up in the morning.  I had no specific way, I would rub her back trying to bring her out of her deep slumber, but I guess it was not good enough because I have been asked to change my ways. Sohaila has given me instructions on how she would like to wake up... including the words I need to say.  And so today, as my baby girl woke as a 6 year old I spoke these words..."Good morning Sunshine."

We started a new tradition on Seanna's last birthday  called the birthday string. Carlos gets on a mission and loops and ties this ribbon all through out the house. At different places we have little gifts wrapped up for her. It such a fun way to start a birthday and something we can keep doing for years!  By 6:30am we had baked 24 cupcakes for her class, made pancakes, did the birthday string and sang Sohaila happy birthday.

Good Morning Sunshine
 

 

What are your family birthday traditions?

Chef? NO!

One of my issues and major struggles in life is not being able to take a compliment. I can go into the reasons that Bobby (my counselor) has helped me discover, but I'll save that for another post. Yesterday was quite the eventful day. We had Sohaila's birthday party and while  we had 14 kids and 9 adults running  around our oven caught on fire, while I was in the middle of cooking pigs in a blanket.

Our friend Joy said "Don't you have an electric stove? Should we see flames?" It was not a big deal because the enchiladas for the adults were already done and it was just the tube thing on fire but it still was very exciting!
Anyways the days events were not over because we were having our new friend Vicky over for dinner. The challenging part of the day was that I had planned to make this amazing dinner that required an oven. So what did I do?  I busted out the toaster oven and made dinner in there. I had to take shifts but it worked out and  everyone loved it. Carlos began to proclaim that I am a great chef (which drives me crazy, because I am not a chef)
[yes she is.  this is carlos stealing her post.  She trained professionally at the Mission Inn in Riverside, CA]
That is funny I left this post open on my bed and look who came by. My point exactly. I am not a chef. I never went to school therefor not a chef. Can you call your self a doctor if you put a bandaid on someone? No.
I can say that after today and two parties with no oven that I am a quite creative cook! 
Do you cook? Burn toast? Or order in? What would you have done for party #2?

It's about time!

I love my blog banner. It was perfect when Carlos made it for me. However I am SO over it! I am a seasons girl and this picture says nothing but fall to me. So Daley came and took some new shots of us I am so excited! Carlos will put my new banner up, hopefully soon. Here is the picture.

Oh i love the blue and my couch is so great! Hurray for color!
I guess I will just copy and paste Carlos' blog post on the topic.

It was time for our quarterly Hake shoot.
This is the third time he has shot us.
Here is the first time.
Here is the second time.
We were able to lounge on our Hollywood couch.

H

Family Night #4 Strawberry Shortcake Night

Strawberry Shortcake Night!
The flat of strawberries were calling my name so we based our night off of it!

We decorated in Red of coarse, the girls got a new
strawberry shortcake coloring book to begin the festivities
and also a new head band.

The grown-ups started the day with a strawberry drink!

Of coarse we had to have strawberry shortcake on a
strawberry shortcake night.

And to end the night we put together a puzzle. H

My little secret

Confession: I love to read Fiction Christian Amish books. How cheesy did I just get! Wow, I really look lame on paper! Well the truth sets you free!  Anyhow on our way home from Nashville we stopped by a Amish Community in Ethridge Tn. It was so great! We went on a wagon ride. It took us to about 8 Amish Farms where we were able to buy things from them. I got fresh eggs, butter, jelly, candy, plus some fun wood toys and everything was so cheap. The people were all so friendly and I just loved it. I can't wait to go back! H

Three for three!

Monday... Ticket in Nashville for expired tags
Tuesday... Pulled over for speeding, got a ticket for that, then another for expired tags, plus two other ones for not transferring my license and plates to Georgia.
Wednesday... Pulled over yet again for expired tags.
I have been pulled over more in the past three days than I have been in my whole life.
H

There is nothing like going out on the town with your grandma! It was so fun. We started the night at the Elrod's. Losiah has a thing for Randy.

We then went to a dinner Compassion put on for all
the artist that they work with. It was so fun to see all our
Ugandan friends.
After dinner we went to the wild horse where we met up with
Stephanie to see her man play.

No Vacancy

Hotel Casa Whittaker is closed. We officially have no more room.
There is the five of us., plus these two.   Oh and you
can't forget Nani, and now our latest cat just rolled in.
We have a full house! I have always wanted to own a bed and breakfast! H

Here you go babe...

Check this out...Enterprise Enterprise.

Where's Carlos?

Most of the time it's " Have you met Heather she is the wife of Carlos", " This is Ragamuffinsoul's wife, oh and she has her own blog too." " Heather is married to the service programing director at Buckhead" There is always a title that is somehow connected to MY MAN. I love that! He is hot, talented and just popular. What can I say I am a lucky girl.  Tonight was one of those nights. I went to a Compassion dinner that was hosted for all the artists that they sponsor. It was a night of working the tables, talking to people here and there. Lots of names and lots of schmoozing. I only wished Carlos was there tonight. He would of loved it and maybe I would have just been Heather. H

Girls just wanna have fun!

Nani wanted me to take this picture, she was ready
even though her local clock said 10am.

   

Friends

Now, that is a word that has been redefined in my book this past year.

Meet some of my friends.

His mother would be proud!

   

   

 

   

My Nashville Peeps!

The kids, Nani  and myself drove to Nashville this afternoon. We are getting ready to go to dinner with some of my favorite people. I am so excited to see him, her,  him, her, her, him, him, her, him and him! I only wish he was here. How did you like that for some link love. It makes me smile to know that with the exception of Chris and Randy I did not know any of these people 6 months ago and now I truly love them all!  Life is so good! H

Classic!

I love the Waffle House, it is the experience that sets it apart, and today was probably the best example I will ever have of how classy the joint is.

Here's the story... I pick up my Nani (my grandma, but you can NOT call her grandma) from the airport. She tells me she is hungry and needs to use the el bano. We pull off the first exit and it is between Mc Donald's and the Waffle House. We chose WH. It was a simple stop. We eat, observe the usual waitress/ cook squabble and then we go to pay. I was at the cash register, but my grandma came up and said she would take care of it and that I should go and put the kids in the car. So I left her to finish paying and walked outside. She follows minutes after and gets in the car.

Then all of the sudden I hear "MA'AM MA'AM!" being yelled with the strongest southern accent. "MA'AM, MA'AM" I look up to see our waitress at the front of our car. Once she knew she had my attention she continues, "Did ya'all forget to leave a tip?"

I don't know if it was because I was a bit confused, due to the fact that I did not hadle the finances of the meal or because I was in shock of what was happening but my quick intelligent response was "excuse me?" She then was determined as ever and repeated herself. "Did ya'all forget to leave me a tip?"

WHAT! Ok, granted my grandma, who just got off of a plane was about to jack her, but really did she just come out to the parking lot to get her tip. I loved it! It was so classic of the experience you know you can count on at the W.H.!

AHH, what a good start to let Nani experience the south! H

Parenting Advice?

Family Night #3 Under the Sea

Under the Sea, Under the Sea, Darling its better down where it's wetter take it from me...
Last night we had tons of fun. We decorated with these great cut outs that my step mom gave us. The girls wore their swimsuits, I gave the grown-ups a free card on that one. We had Octopus hot dogs and shells. Then went deep sea fishing and  raced each other on who could fish the fastest! James won but he cheated. It was lots of fun. H

   

   

He is two, Part three!

This is becoming a trend that I do not think I like.
Guess who I got to call  this afternoon?
Yep little sweetness decided to steal from our roommates
and take some of their drugs.
I found him downstairs pills everywhere and some in his
mouth. Sweet thing! So instead of working on dinner I
was on the line with poison control. And now he is
screaming at me because I took it away. Joy.

Oh how I wait with anticipation for Part Four! What
could it be. The suspense is killing me! H

NO WAY!

I was reading the blog of the wife of one of Carlos' best friends,
that he has known from preschool  and guess what I saw...

It's Rodger MY FAVORITE!  Check out why she saw him here.
We are having dinner with them tomorrow and I can't wait to
ask her a million questions! H

Really?

Losiah?

Look what Losiah got in the mail...

Bipolar?

After we got these pictures this weekend thought it would
be a great time to follow up on this post.

Let me give some important details. Some details I chose to leave out in the initial post and some are questions you asked...
-First, let me start off by saying they were not MY FRIEND.
  I did not even know the person who put me in my place. I don't
  know what I would have done if they were my friend.
-The event is something I will have keep private, sorry you nosy peeps.
-Thanks so much for all your encouraging words. I have never questioned my parenting. I know that my kids  are being raised in a amazing family. I also know that after three kids the best and only parenting advice is to do what works for you and your family.

Here are some comments I thought I would address:
-If your little guy was crying for an extended period of time, I could see it being very disruptive to their own children and themselves, especially given the fact that they don't have their own children CIO. (There was never a time where his crying disrupted anyone. He was in a space where he was absolutely alone.)

-I wouldn't tell someone how to parent their child... but I would however be pretty pissed at someone who straight left a crying baby in my house while they leave. Its not fair that you left the burden of the crying child on them.(He was never in their care, I was always there, always parenting).

-Depending on the child, it might be scary for them to be in an unfamiliar room in the dark by themselves that's all. (We had stayed there at this location for the past two nights so he was in a place that he knew. He had been fine the other nights.)

-Does the person who did this read your blog? (No way. I don't have the balls to be that rude!)

Here are some comments that made me laugh:

-whew! that experience would have made my blood boil! i cannot stand it when people tell me how to parent my kids.-Jennifer

Huh. Who knew? I guess now I can make everyone who comes over to my house breastfeed their babies, because that's the way *I* do it and it's my house so they have to do what I do. -Stephanie

my question: Did you punch them? -Nathan G.

There are certain "my house my rules" things that are ok. No shoes inside,ok. Don't throw things, fine. the cat is not a toy, perfect. But no crying?!?! BS.- Rebekah

thats not balls....thats ass-KFJ

To some of you thank you for your encouraging words, to some of you thanks for challenging my parenting and opening my eyes to how others may see things. To all of you thanks for reading!

Spring Break 2008

Carlos took Thursday off and we headed out to the farm.
 
We got to feed the baby cows,

Go on a hay ride... I guess a smell hay ride.
   
And of coarse drink the fresh milk!

We drove to Athens, (Go DAWGS, did I do that right?)
To visit our dear friend Rachel.

Then headed up to Lake Burton to be roommates again
with our Phenix family. Oh it was so lovely!
 

   

   

   

You know a weekend is good, when you are ready to
go back as soon as it is over. What did you do for
spring break? H

He is two, Part two!

I am not sure how I feel about him being able to roam
his room now that he is out of the crib. He seems to
be doing a little damage. This is what I found when I
got him up today. HMM maybe he is the Incredible Hulk.

Ahh, this is heaven!

She is gonna hate me

I have to post this. It's to funny to keep to myself. However
when she is old enough to go back through my blog and
read these journaled days, she will probably roll her eyes
eyes and with every ounce of teenage attitude say "Mom".

This is my dearest going potty. What is she doing?
She is holding her hair up because she thinks it will
fall in the toilet. I try to tell her that it is not long
enough but no matter what this is how I always find her.
H

Family Night #2 Princess Night

So my best friend and creative genius Jacinda , has begun this new tradition called Family Night. Ok, so the name is not that creative but the idea is there. See we are very similar, we buy the same clothes, parent the same way and pretty much piggy back off of each other when the other has a fabulous idea. So I give her the credit for our new little tradition. This is family night day two, (Our first started last week with Losiah's Birthday party).

   

   

 

 

It was princess night. Alyssa and I wore some bridesmaids dresses, the guys got their jackets out. The girls got hair, makeup, and their dresses on. They were so giddy all night. It was the best night. H

Why Columbus?

A year ago I never would have thought I would EVER want to hang out in Columbus Georgia. I still think why Columbus? Then I see these guys and think, Oh Yeah thats why...

We drove 4 hours to spend 4 hours and we are 4 ever happy.
Ha that is so cheesy I love it. H

We found the jets!

He is two!

   

This started back on Sunday, it was Losiah's second birthday and he thought
he would start it out with a Bang. Literally. He decided that he was now old
enough to climb out of his crib. What he did not do was get down with ease.
I heard a big bang, no tears and then someone at the door trying to open it to
get out. We tried it again for his nap which only ended with another crash.
So we decided to take his mattress out and put him on the floor. He cried at
first but thought it was so cool that he could read books and play with toys in
the morning when he woke up.
The girls never did this. H

Spring is Welcoming us to the ATL

Does it make you want to sneeze?
H