THE WILD WHITTS @ DISNEYLAND

Yup, we did it. We finally made it to Disneyland and warm, sunny California. We booked our stay at Disney's Grand California Hotel, bought our tickets, and loaded the truck for a 4-day, 3-night stay at the most magical place on earth. We had a SUPER time, especially our little Jaybird.

Before we left on Sunday, Jase told me, "You know, Mom, I'm just gonna ask you are we there yet a lot, a lot of times." It made me giggle a little. But when it came time to get rolling, Jase told us he would rather go to Grandma's house. We talked it over and decided to head to Disneyland as a family....Grandma could wait a few days at least ;)

The drive wasn't so bad (about 6 1/2 hours including stops). The boys napped, Dustin and I talked, and Jase asked another intriguing question...."Mom, why did Jesus put Disneyland so far away?"

At last, we arrived at our destination. The hotel was gorgeous, the service wonderful, and the magic immediate. It was good times for the Wild Whitts until the last day when we had to go home. Jase said it was the dumbest day ever! Stay tuned for my dos and don'ts of Disneyland...I'm an expert now, you know ;)


The boys met Turk at our first Disney character breakfast at Storyteller's Cafe at the Disney Grand California Hotel.

We LOVED Minnie at our breakfast on Tuesday at Minnie's Kitchen located right in the Disneyland Park.

The traditional tea cup ride. Jase said it made him "bizzy."

The Thunder Mountain Train ride w/ Dustin and Jase in the 2nd row. Jase did not like this ride...it was too freaky.

KEEP WRITING!

Over ten years ago, I had an incredible English and business teacher. She was the type of educator that kept you on task, kept you too busy to pass notes to your neighbor, and kept surprising her students with an enthusiasm for learning and writing. She also buried the combination of two words....a lot.

Throughout my education, I have been blessed with several wise teachers. I cannot explain to you why this particuliar teacher or the things I learned in her classroom maintains an influence in my life. Perhaps it was because she wasn't afraid to get personal with her students, divulging her secret of eating breakfast in her bathtub. Maybe it was the way she waved her arms in the air yelling about the "gobbly gook" she didn't want in our next assignment. And I'm sure it's because of the tears that welled up in her eyes the day she read one of my essays out loud to the class.

Thinking about her brings back the image of her handwriting in red...you know the color. The same red pen that every teacher or editor uses to mark up a paper, make corrections, and leave some sort of remark about the assigment you probably didn't want to do in the first place. Yes, I can see it clearly now. The extra commas, the advice to change the ending, and the all capital letters spelling, "KEEP WRITING!" Mrs. Miller, I'm going to "KEEP WRITING!" And lucky for you blog readers, my family members, and those people I consider everyday heroes, you're going to be my topics. Read on, I say, read on!

RACHEL ANN

I don't remember much about her in my earlier years, and that surprises myself because I have vivid memories from an early age. I do remember her and Melissa telling stories about an invisible elevator in our closet that conveniently only worked for them. And I remember being jealous of her blue eyes. They changed shades like gems reflecting light. In a dark blue sweater they sparkled like saphires and anything lighter brought out the color of the sky. I'm still jealous.

I do remember she loved to read. During my busy tom boy era, I had no time to read; but her fascination with books fascinated me. She also ALWAYS brought home good grades. It didn't matter if it was coloring in Kindergarten or Physics at Milford High, she was a complete genius...sometimes unaware of her potential. I think it was her innocence.

And although she had a passion for reading, she had a pure hatred for playing baseball with my dad. I thought she was crazy. Who would rather read than catch fly balls in the old Milford park? On a family outing, she would come kicking and screaming with a resolve to have an awful time. Dad would tease her until she flashed a smile that said as long as I'm here, I might as well play.

She was more than a sister. In high school, she was my best friend even if I wouldn't admit it at the time. When most sisters fought over outfits and boys, we shared friends and dated brothers. I remember bragging to everyone about how she took Trig and Calculus during the same year as a Sophomore. I'll never forget her Prom, her Sterling Scholar portfolio, the Studentbody President election, and her slew of scholarships. I wanted to be just like her.

Each day that passes brings me even closer to my sister. I've learned I don't have another sister that loves chocolate or Coke or debating more than she does. I'm fully aware that she is an incredible mother, a patient wife, a loyal sister, and one heck of a fighter. She knows that she can be happy in any location, in any phase of life. Luckily, this attitude tends to rub off on the people she's around.

Rachel is a Hebrew name meaning innocent lamb. The dictionary describes innocent as having the simplicity of an unworldly person. Rachel is simple, and she innocently sees the good in all those she knows and loves. A better description....Rachel is simply incredible! I still want to be just like Rachel Ann.

AN EPIPHANY

My New Year's resolutions are set. They seem to be the usual including the ever bothersome, always in the back of my mind, "I'd be much happier if I just did it" resolution. You know the one....lose weight. And even though the goals are written down, I still slept in and avoided the elipitical like a plauge. I skipped breakfast, of course, because that always helps with dieting. I even did a few loads of laundry in my avoidance of that big metal machine gathering dust in the corner of my bedroom. But those nagging thoughts wouldn't leave me alone, so I gathered the Ipod, my tennis shoes, and found a bra. My resolve to work out for 30 minutes was easily supported by the sounds of Pat Benetar screaming out "it's a do or die situation..." (Thanks, Melissa, for introducing me to Ms. Benetar.)

Now here's the kicker--the whole reason for the blog. Those thoughts in the back of my mind were still whispering, "You'll be happier if your skinnier. Won't sex be greater if you're more fit, more confident? Don't you want your kids' friends to think you're the pretty mom." And the voice is now flooding my head with all sorts of ideas of how life will be better and more fulfilling and happier if I just conquer all my resolutions, especially this dreaded one. For a minute it was inspiring.

Now don't quote me on this, but I think it was the strong whispering of someone much wiser when my own voice was silenced, and I heard; "RIGHT NOW COULD BE THE BEST TIME OF YOUR LIFE, AND YOU WON'T KNOW IT UNTIL THE BOOK IS CLOSED." People, do you hear what I'm telling you. Live life like today is the best, happiest moment of all the years you've lived because we won't know our best moments until we're on the other side skimming through the pages of our lives...the pages we wrote.

I guess that's it. The very reason I jumped off the elipitical at exactly 30 minutes to race downstairs to the computer. So I won't forget those words:

RIGHT NOW COULD BE THE BEST TIME OF YOUR LIFE!

RANDOMNESS

Randomness...is that a word? I guess it doesn't matter in the world of blogging. You can totally create blog words and terms and feel all intelligent for your creativity and silliness. I LOVE BLOGGING! Anyway, on to my blog. Just thought I would post a few random photos of what the holidays are all about....kids and relaxing. Wow! Did I just say those two words in the same sentence. Looks like this new year is going to be awesome :)

Jase and mom chilling on the couch, cheek to cheek, of course!


Jase in his handsome new shirt.



Jaxon and Aunt Crystal...what that kid won't put in his mouth :)


My handsome boys the Sunday before Christmas. They are such posers.

MY LITTLE JOSEPH

A fellow blogger has reminded me that I am missing some very important posts about the holidays....hmmm, could it be the blogger police again? :) Anyway, before Christmas I received a phone call from a member of our ward asking if Jase would be willing to take on the role of Joseph. I almost screamed into the phone with excitement....I'm such a stage mom. I didn't bother negotiating a contract or salary because I was so excited about his first star performance. He did awesome. The nursery children played all the parts. The only requirement--holding still. Now we all know this would be very difficult for our husbands, let alone my three year old. Although there were a few shepherds harassing the angels, Jase surprised us all as he stood completely still by Mary and gave us a few thumbs up. At one time Aunt Crystal pointed to her lips and prompted him to remember to smile. Of course, he pointed to his lips and flashed us one of those superstar "I'm full of awesomeness" smiles :) And thus began a wonderful Christmas full of excitement, magic, family, and friends. (Photos courtesy of my equally awesome sister, Crystal!)