Whipple Christmas Update 2013

Oh, hey there! Welcome to our neglected little blog. Corky and I were both shocked when we realized the last time we added to it was last Christmas. I have been a realist when it comes to blogging by not pressuring myself to keeping up with it. My priorities have shifted for the time being, but if I had to blame something for killing my blogging enthusiasm, I blame Instagram!

So, onto our family update that will probably sound like I take life way too seriously...

2013 has been another great year for our family. Nothing monumental to really talk about but our lives continue being crazy busy and we don’t see it slowing down….like, ever!

Gracey (9 years old) has had a great year participating in soccer, swim team, softball, and her most recent discovery, basketball. This year she chose to try out gymnastics rather than continuing dance classes and that has been a really great fit for her. She is very strong and athletic and we enjoy watching her develop her athletic abilities. She also participated in the summer theater program here in Independence. She really enjoys that outlet as well. It’s a good thing most of her sport and theater seasons are scattered throughout the year because I am not sure she would be able to decide which one she likes most just yet. She loves being busy! 

Emily (7 years old) also participated in the usual sport seasons doing soccer, swim team and softball. She likes working hard and being part of those teams, but it is in her dance classes and performances that she really shines! She loves anything to do with music and movement and we see her bustin’ a move anywhere she can. This Christmas she is doing a ballet performance to the Nutcracker’s Sugar Plum Fairies song and she is very excited!  On top of being a natural performer, Emily is proving to be quite the comedian. Her one-liners and impeccable timing have us all laughing often.

Janie (almost 2) is the boss of the family! Her older sisters continue to dote on her as they always have and she takes full advantage. She looks for them every morning and is thrilled if she is able to see them before they head off to school. Some of Janie’s favorite things are boops (books), o-dirt (yogurt), and Emmo (Elmo)! She is getting so big and certainly testing her boundaries as far as behavior. Most of the time we must turn our heads to laugh when she throws one of her many tantrums, but they are just too darn funny.

Corky and I have had a couple of opportunities this year to take some great trips. This summer we took our yearly trip out west and saw a lot of family in Arizona and Utah. Our girls loved seeing so many cousins and we love catching up with our families. In September Corky and I took a weekend trip to Boston. We got to see some good friends, eat great food, and attend a Red Sox vs. Yankees game! In October, we took all three of our girls back to New York to attend Corky’s 10 year class reunion at West Point. We had a great time! We saw all the landmarks in New York City, visited where I used to live in Connecticut, and became nostalgic as we roamed around the West Point campus. We had been planning this trip for almost 5 years and I must say, everything went as smooth as we could have asked for. 

Thanks for stopping by and reading of our highlights of 2013. This year was certainly filled with craziness, laughter, heartbreak, and excitement! Of all the things we have been blessed with this year, the most important continues to be the love of our Heavenly Father. We know that we have been lifted up during the hard times and strengthened. Many times, the blessings that have been given to us have come from our dear friends and family. Thank you for being part of our joy and happiness. We wish all of our family much love at this Christmas time. 



Love- 
The Whipples

Corky, Morgan, Gracey, Emily, and Janie.

Christmas 2012

I am pretty sure I have said this every year for the past couple of years, but I think this may have been our best Christmas yet. We did not over-do it, the girls had a particularly longer break from school, Corky had an unusually easy schedule and break from work, and we just enjoyed being together, the 5 of us.

Santa Claus brought the older girls each a pair of roller blades while Janie received a scooter/walker/music maker (what it's really called is still up for debate).  Oh yeah, and Buster got a bone.

I think that I am finally learning that sometimes the best, most memory-filled times, are when things are not overly planned out. I had to laugh Christmas morning when I looked at my living room, at our "simple" Christmas, and it was full of torn wrapping paper and shiny new gifts. We each were beyond spoiled by each other and our families. It was one of the many moments I recognized how blessed we are, and not just because of the presets.

Ralph, our Christmas elf, was able to stay and watch us open our gifts. He also wrote a letter to us that said the girls could give him a hug one last time without him losing his magic, but that night he would be going back to the north pole.

We invited a couple of other families in our ward over for dinner that did not travel for Christmas. We had the most delicious smoked turkey, sides, and desserts. We decided to take a timed photo of the adults just before eating, which is usually never super great. I had to include the picture though because it shows Janie digging right into the Maja Blanca (a filipino dessert brought by our friend Roda, on the left!) 

The Tortosa's (left), Whipples (center), and the Hintons (right)

Snow Fall

*In an effort to get more on top of my journaling, I have decided to not allow myself to feel the pressure of writing down every. little. thing. I found that by becoming overwhelmed and feeling like I would never catch up, it prevented me from writing down even the most important things. Here is the beginning of what will hopefully be more consistency. Whether the quality is good or bad, at least it will be something.

We finally had a snowfall about a week ago. I say finally because my girls have been dying to play. Gracey has checked our home's security panel every single day since being on Christmas break, just hoping (and even praying at night) that it would snow.

Well, her prayers were answered and on December 31, 2012, we all suited up to play in the snow. It took us nearly 30 minutes to bundle up properly and get our boots on before we could go outside. Unfortunately though, Janie really hated her snowsuit. I don't blame her. She reminded me of Randy from "The Christmas Story" movie. She "couldn't put her arms down!"

Christmas Eve 2012

What might have turned into a new Christmas tradition, Corky built the girls the most amazing blanket fort any of us have ever seen. Using the girls bunk beds, chairs, and clothespins, it was like being in a 2-story building!

Using a leftover box, Gracey built a door to the fort that even us parents had to use. That only happened one time. We hated to spoil the fun but us old people don't move like we use to, so that was a challenge.

Beds were made in there

We read our scriptures and Christmas stories in there.

And Buster stood guard....but mainly snoozed in there.

This fort stood the test of time, lasting nearly a week before Corky and I decided we needed our dining room chairs back.