Whitney turns 3!

Whitney had a great birthday on Thursday. I love how at this stage it is the simple things that matter. We went into her bedroom singing happy birthday and gave her balloons. She really didn't anything the rest of the day - she was just happy playing with her balloons.

We then went to Chuck E Cheese - which I hope to not have to do again for a while - my kids have me double teamed and are becoming way to familiar with that place! Here are some funny pics we got for just a token:)

That night Jeff and Selly came over for a little cake and ice cream party. Whitney had become pretty good at opening presents - pretty meticulous.

The party continued to Friday. Grandma and Grandpa Rasmussen came down and took all of us out to dinner. Whitney got all these dolls and furniture from them and is still in heaven - this morning she didn't care about breakfast - she just wanted to play with her new dolls. It was fun to have everyone over that night for some fun and wii playing. Thanks everyone for helping make Whitney's b-day so fun!

Easter

We had a really good Easter. Whitney and Travis were good enough that the easter bunny did show up. Whitney even got a sticker book and a Disney Princess nail kit - when she saw that, she didn't even care about all the candy. Travis on the other hand must've had a stash somewhere because all day somehow he seemed to always have a piece of candy in his mouth - some wrapped/ some not.

Here's the baskets - yes, Travis got a pink one, he's young enough I figured I could get away with it and not taumatize the kid. Also - here is Whitney showing off her massive princess nails.

I love when it gets warmer because my kids can wear clothes that show off thier cute little legs - I just thought this on Travis was so cute.

my life at random

WARNING! REALLY LONG!

Lately I have just been having random thoughts that I felt I should write down - and since this is pretty much my journal - here it is.

It feels so amazing to sleep through the night again! After 6 months of waking up every 2 hours, 3 months of waking up every 3 hours, and then 3 months of waking up 2 to 3 times a night - I feel honestly like a new person - having slept through the night for a whole month now. It feels like a huge burden has been lifted off my shoulders to have the freedom to go here or there and not wonder when Travis is going to cry, need me, or be hungry. I can finally leave him for as long as I want and not feel guilty.

Bethany babysat for us last Friday and shared an experience she had with Whitney - I won't go into detail because it is really precious to me but she pretty much said how she missed her heavenly father. I'm so grateful Bethany shared this experience with me because it was a big wake up call for me. It made me once again see my kids through the eyes I should always see them - as precious new spirits on this earth, to which the veil is very thin. I was reminded my duty of helping my kids not just learn about their Saviour and Heavenly Father but help them remember that feeling of sacredness they already came with. I was also reminded that they are my kids in a sense - but more like my Heavenly Father's kids who he has entrusted me with on this earth. I'm so grateful for being a mom to such amazing children!!

On a much lighter note - I have been playing basketball on a city league team a friend (Melissa O) put together. I'm so glad she'll let me play with them because after 5 years of not playing, it sure feels good again. It just brings back so many memories of playing sports growing up and the lessons that it taught me. Plus, as I am always reminded when I attempt to play sports, there is no way I would push myself to work out that hard on my own ever!! Last game we had 1 sub and played a bunch of youngins. Having a cold didn't help much - but my face was a bright red as ever and I'm just surprised I could still walk after the game!! I love it!!

Whitney will be 3 years old this week - which means that I have gone through this mothering stuff for almost 4 years (pregnancy to me fells like 18 months!). It's so crazy to me what a little woman she is - and although a lot of times I'm excited for when my kids grow up, get a life, and I get my freedom back - I also realize I only get to do this once. Last week Aaron's parents were here for a couple of days and his dad played some videos on his computer of whitney when she was about 18 months. I stood and watched in shock - how fast I forget what she was like! A little blond show-off that had the cutest smile and wanted everyone to do what she was doing - it was so cute!! It makes my heart ache a little to think how fast she is growing, she has acted three for a year now though - so perhaps this birthday won't be to hard.

I have been reading the book "These in my words" my mother-in-law gave me for Christmas. I love the book. Once again I am pretty addicted to it. It is set about a hundred years ago (1881). As I read it I'm amazed how much our world has changed in just the last 100 years - from travel by wagon, with Indian wars, bandits and little education - to the world we live in now with planes, cars, internet, tv, ect... It's crazy to think!! It just reinforces to me that we really are living in the last days and the time is REALLY soon at hand!

I love my stage of life right now - Whitney is cute and independent, Travis still melts my heart everyday and is just the cutest little midget. I love that we can go and do, communicate, and have fun. I look forward to all the activites we can do now that it is getting warmer too.

Alright - thanks for letting me put some thoughts down in writing - I'm really impressed if you made it all the way through that!

Livin' the life at Grandma's

Last weekend we had a lot of fun - We raided Grandma and Grandpa Rasmussen's for a couple of days since Aaron had a business convention over the weekend in Ogden. They are always so good to us and our kids - probably too good, I fear we wear them out because when we are there our kids would rather play with them (and follow them everywhere!) then with us. On Friday morning me and Lindsay went and did the flowrider (indoor surfing) again. It was much better the second time and I could actually move my head around the next day - it's probably a good thing I don't have one of those too close to me or I would be broke. I already want to go again! Later we went to Toys R us were Whitney got to have a little Easter egg hunt and Grandma got Travis a cute picnic table for his birthday (it's been a hit already!).

Saturday I got to take Whitney to Disney on Ice. I see the commercial for it a couple months ago and knew Whitney would love it. Plus sadly, since Travis has been born I haven't been able to spend a lot of one on one time with her - so I thought this would be perfect. Lori hooked us up with unbelievable tickets - in a suite - thanks Lori!! Whitney was in absolute heaven and still talks about the Dragon that spit out fire and the prince had to beat to get to sleeping beauty. It was a lot of fun. Here are some pictures.

Sunday evening we went to Lori and Rob's for a family get together since Jeff and Selly are counting down days until they leave for California. They made an incredible dinner, Grandma and Grandpa threw two huge Easter egg hunts - one for the kids and one for the adults (I always thought Easter egg hunts would be way more fun with adults and I was right!). Then Lori and Rob were so nice to throw Travis and Whitney a birthday party and they got a hauling of toys! They have loved everything and the princess underwear that Brooklyn gave Whitney I think sealed the deal on our potty training days - I guess she just refuses to pee on a princess - should have done that 5 months ago! Here is a picture of Whitney playing with one of her presents from Jeff and Selly - finger paints on Travis' table - also one at Rob and Lori's house.

AI Part 2

I already said enough about American Idol - but just had to add - after seeing the result show - this is a top 10 that I would pay to see in concert!!

AI

We had a great weekend wich I will have to post about soon but I wanted to give my thoughts on American Idol. I think this year is one of the best for a while. I agree with Lacy that the boys are pretty strong this year. Of the girls I pretty much only care about Carly and Brooke --mmmm, and syesha I'm on the fence on. The boys seem like they would make the kind of records I would like to buy - Micheal John, David Cook, and kind of David Archuleta. Jason is good but seems a little awkward to me. I didn't like this week as good as last although it was good to see David do really good again this week, I think he was the best of the night. Anyway - I think Kristy Cook, Ramielle, or Chikezie needs to go now and I'm already looking forward to next tuesday.

Bethany's mission call

Well it finally came in the mail today!! Poor Bethany has been waiting for her call since monday - it posted that it had been mailed out last Friday. After 3 days of not showing in the mail it came today. None of our guesses were quite close - but as you can see the hoopes family is starting to migrate to this area.

freedom!!

The last couple days have been so nice - I have tasted some much needed freedom and escaped our house. Honestly me and the kids are going crazy having to stay inside. On Thursday night me, Bethany, and Shelley(Aaron's Aunt) went to see Enchanted. The first five minutes or so I was thinking "I don't know if I can handle how unbelievable cheesey this is" - but it got better, and ended up being a cute - cheesey - but cute movie. On Friday all the girls in our family around here took off to the Park City outlets for a shopping spree. It always feels so good to go shopping without kids, but the fact that we were all together made it that much more fun. After shopping we ate dinner at the noodle factory and headed home - which ended up taking a while for us since we thought we knew where we were going until we were in the middle of nowhere!! Then on Saturday night Aaron got free seventh row seats to the Jazz game vs. the nuggets. It was a blowout but it is still so fun to see all the players up that close. Apparently it is suppossed to get a little warmer this week - so hear is hoping for some more fresh air!!

Also we are in the middle of rocking our archways in our house and not only is it fun to do but I think I'm really going to like it!! Here's hoping we get it done this week!

Crazy World

Alright so tonight I was watching American Idol and totally enjoyed Brooke White's performance. As I was watching the judges.... well judge her they briefly showed her husband and dad. I had to take a triple take - because I knew her husband. I went to BYU Jerusalem with him a whopping 8 years ago. He is a cool guy - very confident - but nice guy. Anyway, last I heard he moved to Arizona - which adds up how he met Brooke. I have confirmed that yes, indeed they are husband and wife - but can't figure why her last name is still White and not Ray? Any insights. This was just one of those really wierd things that I had to tell someone.... and since Aaron is playing basketball I just posted it.

Our Adventures

Well, we made it through February and my kids were estatic to be able to go outside and play for a couple days. Every time the door opened Travis would run to it and try to escape - sometimes I just opened the door to see him do it and get a laugh. On Thursday I was doing my hair while Travis took his morning nap. Whitney was in my room watching TV and I heard her run to the bathroom in the hallway and go potty. I thought to myself "way to go Whitney" and continued to blow dry my hair. About 5 min. later when I finished I walked out of my room and could hear the toliet running - I looked into the bathroom and to my horror the toilet was overflowing and the floor was a small pool. I freaked out and tried to stop it and luckily I did, threw down a dozen towels and everything was saved! In the process I learned that whitney used a football sized amount of toilet paper. Anyway... we survived and I think our house wasn't too traumatized.

On Saturday Jeff & Selly came and pulled off a miracle - they babysat a happy Travis! Travis usually freaks out if I'm more than 5 ft. away - little alone gone. We took this funny video of him and Whitney playing the wii before we left - thanks Jeff and Selly!