The Whitelaws: 2009

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Pictures with Santa

I had a fun time going back to see all of Jenna's pictures with Santa. Enjoy! Above: 2007

2008 - She wouldn't sit by herself so I had to go too.

2009 - At the North Pole - this is the real Santa my friends!

I love how she's really listening to what he's saying in the one above.

On another note, there are a few random things that I have to write down for posterity. One day, after her Bible class, I asked her what her story was about. I knew that it was from John 4, "Jesus Heals the Official's Son." She told me, "Jesus was sick and a boy healed him!" So precious even though she got it a little backwards.

Ever since Daddy's musical, Peter Pan, she has been obsessed. She wants to have stories about Peter Pan, she wants us to make her fly around the room, etc. When we went back to the same auditorium last week for Kevin's Holiday band concert, just after the concert started, she said, "Where's Peter Pan?! I want to see Peter Pan!"

A few nights ago, out of the blue, she says, "Mommy, I love you! Sometimes, I can't believe it!"

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Ready for Christmas

Jenna is getting excited for Christmas already. Last week in music class, we sang Jingle Bells and played bells while we sang. She really got into it and sang very loudly. When she sings with you, she can sing all the correct words. Here's what she sings on her own (also notice how she holds her crayon - good form). (See "Jingle Bells 2009" video.)

Hard to believe that just 9 months ago, in March, this is how she sang it: (See "Jinglebells" video.)

A few weeks ago, Jenna watched the Sound of Music for the first time (it took 3 nights to watch the whole movie). Then she watched it again, a few days later. She loved it! After 2 viewings and a few times of me trying to muddle through the words with her, here's her version of Maria. (See "Maria" video.) Just before I got the camera, she did a better version including the "how do you hold a moonbeam in your hand" part.

In addition to "Maria," she has added "Do a Deer" and a little of the yodeling song to her repertoire. She requests the movie by asking, "Can we watch 'The Hills are Alive'?" And the other day she asked Garrison, "How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?"

Also, the other night we let her watch part of a Christmas movie on TV. Now, whenever she hears the specific song (I can't remember what it is) on the radio, she says, "That the song from the movie!"

Jenna's Daddy and Mommy are getting ready for Christmas, too. We've had lots of snow, one snow day and one late start day for Daddy. Christmas concert tonight. And, the best thing is we've got the keys to our new house!! Kevin has one more week of school, so maybe we can get settled in by Christmas!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving in CO with Kevin's parents and my parents, sister, brother, and brother's girlfriend. We had a good time and did a lot of things. Jenna enjoyed watching Daddy carve the turkey and got some free samples!

After Thanksgiving at lunchtime, we went to walk around Garden of the Gods.

The kissing camels.

This one looks like an Indian chief.

The best view in the park.

Matt holding up the balancing rock/protecting Leslie.

The day after Thanksgiving, we went to the North Pole. Jenna got to sit on Santa's lap. She was very serious, taking it all in.

Jenna enjoying a ride with Daddy.

The popular photo op location.

Saturday, we ate breakfast at the Pantry and Jenna loved feeding the ducks. After that, we attempted sledding, but Jenna and I wiped out, ending the sledding fun. Hopefully, she'll be willing to try again in a few weeks when there is more snow. Saturday afternoon, Dad, Mom, Katie, Leslie and I went to tour the AFA while the others watched football or napped.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Girls Weekend

The weekend before Thanksgiving, I was so blessed to be able to get together with "my girls." The 6 of us have been friends since college and all have been my roommates at one point. Left to right: Sarah, Katie, Me, Jenni, Dara, and Mollie.

We had a blast! Thanks to Jenni for hosting at her home and to Mollie for taking all the pictures (I forgot my camera). For some reason, I can only get these two to post. For more, Jenni, did a great job on her blog. Highlights of the weekend: our mix CD that we all contributed songs to, Bueno, laughing, singing, praying, so much good food and tasty treats, New M**n, chinese food, shopping, scrapbooking all our previous get togethers, and the best was just being together.

I love this picture and think it's a good summary of the music of the weekend.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Jenna Update

This is going to be an attempt to summarize the cute things Jenna has said/done lately. It's impossible to include everything because she says something that makes me laugh several times every day. She still loves to climb into boxes. Picture above - she put pillows in to make it comfy, then wanted all her toys piled around her.

Original song lyrics: Praise Him, Praise Him. Praise Him in the morning. Praise Him at the noontime.
Jenna sings: Raisin, Raisin. Raisin in the morning. Etc.

Original song lyrics: Better is one day in your courts, better is one day in your house. Better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere.
Jenna sings: Better is one day in your horse, better is one day in your house. Etc.

Yesterday, I'm changing Jenna's dirty diaper. She says, "Mommy, it's the mother load!"

Yesterday, I stopped to get gas in the car. When I got back in the car, she said, "I love you!" I asked, "What was that for?" She said, "You got gas, so I love you!"

The other day, I couldn't find Jenna. Then I went into the kitchen and saw these little feet sticking out from under the kitchen pantry doors. She got in there and shut the doors all by herself.

Beach hat and snow boots. I have no other words!

Notice the bed she's standing in - her practice big girl bed. We moved the crib mattress to the floor so she could practice. We're planning on a real big girl bed when we get in our new house. She does a really great job of staying in bed. Although, a few nights ago, we heard her singing and singing before she finally went to sleep. When Kevin went to check her before we went to bed, he found her wearing only her diaper! We had put her in some fleece one piece pjs with a zipper down the front at bedtime. She sure did figure out how to get out of them. We were cracking up and then we couldn't find the pjs anywhere near her. We finally found them across the room on the changing table!

Other Jenna facts: she has all her teeth now; she holds her crayons, pencils, markers, etc the correct way and appears to be right handed; she can jump; she tries to tell knock knock jokes; she knows all her colors, but for some reason occasionally gets yellow and red mixed up; she points out the letter "O" whenever she sees it and also knows "J"; she can match pitches and rhythms and echo them back to you.

Today, Jenna got to go to her first musical! Kevin's school is doing Peter Pan and he's the pit orchestra director. They had a matinee performance today for elementary and middle schools and us. We got there early so she could see Daddy and the musicians down in the pit (unfortunately, she wasn't in the mood to take a picture). When the house lights went down to start the show she said, "I can't see better!" Then when the curtains opened and the show started, she said, "Oh, now I can see better!" After it was over, she said, "I want to see it again!" And, at lunch, she was singing (song from the show), "I don't want to grow up!" I'm not sure I want her to grow up either. I was really proud of how well she did for the 2 hour show.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

College Game Day

Last weekend, my friend Jenni came to visit. Her visit happened to coincide with ESPN's College Game Day visiting the Air Force Academy for the Air Force/Army game. So, we decided it would be a fun thing to see. We left the house around 7am, drove to the Academy. Then we rode a bus to the broadcast site. Jenna was very excited - her first bus ride, I think. Above is the view of the crowd (much smaller than I expected) and the screen that let us see the College Game Day crew a little closer.

Love this chapel.

F-16 flyover! Jenni captured a great video as well as some great pictures of our weekend that you can see on her blog.

Kirk Herbstreit

The whole Game Day crew.

The pig that Jenna just couldn't get enough of. We went over to visit him at least 10 times! You can't tell how happy she was to see him from this picture, but she had a great time giving him fives and hugs. We happened to be near the exit as he was leaving and he made a special point to come over and say goodbye to Jenna.

Jenni and me.

Jenna got pretty tired of being there, so we had to leave early. But, we had a fun time!

Jenni and I had a great time the rest of the weekend. Did a little shopping, met our friend Rebecca and her baby girl for lunch, went to a craft fair for more shopping. The next day after church, knowing how Jenni loves breakfast, we went to our favorite breakfast place: The Pantry. Come and visit and we're likely to take you, too!

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Happy Halloween

We started Halloween a little early (a few weeks ago) by making this cake. The stem is a candy bar, the rest is covered with M&Ms.

Pumpkin carving was really fun this year!

Our cute Ducky and cousin "Dorothy."

The whole gang (at least those who dressed up). Horse, Dorothys, Ducky, Doggie.

Trick or Treating with Daddy. We got some extra mileage out of this costume (last year and this year).

Had to get a profile for the tail!

A little video so you could see her waddle! (See video "0737")

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Fall

It's fall here in CO. We saw this giant pumpkin in our neighborhood last week.

Last weekend, we went to a fall festival (glad we didn't wait until this weekend because the highs have been in the 20s). Above, Grant and Jenna crawling through a hay bale maze.

Garrison, Jenna, and Grant looking for candy in the hay.

Papa, Mima, and their grandkids.

Hard to believe Jenna has changed so much from last year's pumpkin patch, see Oct. 22, 2008.

Trying to pick up the pumpkins.

We got our winter hats and gloves out of storage just in time. Jenna was excited and had to try hers.

In the video bellow, notice her bow. She nods her head down then holds her arm out like she's acknowledging the band (like Daddy does). (See "bow" video in Jenna singing and dancing folder.)

And, if you've made it to the end of this post you'll be rewarded with a funny story. Saturday night, when I put Jenna in the bathtub, I couldn't figure out why she was resisting getting in and then once I got her in she wouldn't sit down. She just stood there looking at her feet. Finally, I looked down too and noticed that I had forgotten to take her socks off!! I couldn't stop laughing, which made it kind of difficult to get the socks off. Later she said, "I don't like to take a bath with my socks, Mommy."

Monday, September 28, 2009

Concerts + Football Games = Dancing

We've had 2 concerts and 2 games in the past 2 weeks. First concert was Sept. 17, first game Sept. 18. Second concert Sept. 23, second game Sept. 25. Phew! We've been busy! Jenna was so excited to wear her "concert shoes" and dance at Daddy's concerts. After the first concert was finished, she exclaimed loudly, "Daddy did a good job everybody!" On the way home from the concert, after we dropped G and G off at their house, Jenna was all by herself in the far back of the car. Mima asked, "What are you doing back there, Jenna?" We didn't really expect a response, but she said, "Looking for monsters!" (It was a pretty dark road).

Mima made this cute dress so Jenna can have school spirit.

Jenna and Daddy at the first game. The theme was Hula so all the Pep Band wore Hula stuff.

Jenna showed us all her great dancing moves at the game! (See video "0652" in LPHS games folder.) If she was sitting in the stands and the band started playing she quickly made it down to her "dancing platform."

The Lollipop Gang

We started something with the lollipops and the game. Now Jenna equates football games with having lollipops.

Cousins cheering for LPHS and Daddy/Uncle Kevin. LPHS won their first 2 away games, now their first home game 3-0, great start! We kept thinking the kids would get tired and we'd probably leave at half-time. They never got tired and were having such a great time that we stayed the whole game.

The second game was considerably colder, still Jenna would not wear her coat. Once again, she kept us entertained with her dancing. (See video "0673")

Looking for Garrison under the blankets.

More dancing! (See video "0678 & 0679")

Once again, the kids didn't get tired of the game (the 2 year olds didn't anyway, the 5 year old did). They won 43-20 and are now 4-0. Go Rangers! 3 more home games to go.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Arkansas

Last weekend, Jenna and I made a whirlwind trip to Arkansas to visit my Aunt Dorothy, Uncle Robert, and cousins. My parents and sister Katie came too, Kevin had to work - concerts and games coming up (next post). Jenna learned to shell purple hull peas and then we ate them for dinner the next night - Yum!

Aunt Dorothy reading Jenna the story she wrote about their dog Stumpy. My Mom holding Jenna.

This is Stumpy (only has 3 legs). Jenna loved him so much! She is still requesting "Jesus loves Stumpy" songs.

Jenna and Lindsey (my cousin Sarah's daughter). Somehow didn't get a picture of Sarah and John. Lindsey was so sweet to read Jenna books and play with her.

My Aunt and Uncle's farm - too bad it rained the whole weekend. Jenna loved the cows. A few days ago we saw some other cows and I pointed them out to Jenna. She said, "Those Uncle Wabert's (Robert's) cows!" I said, "You think so?" Jenna said, "No, I just teasing you, Mommy!"