It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas!!

Come on in and enjoy Christmas at our house! and may your Christmas be truly blessed!

The Countdown is over!!

Timmy is finally done with college, and is home with his family! They are all very happy!

Family Tree Hunt

We had our annual tree search today, and it was fun because Joann, Donny, Heather, Timmy and Beniah came with us. It was a cold morning, with frost still on the trees, and crunchy mud underfoot. But we were all bundled up and ready for a great time.

Donny and Beniah thought these trees were just the right size....
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"I want this one..."

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Donny was very excited to see dinosaurs! At least that's what he thought the wooden reindeer were!

Donny in the dinosaur sleigh!!

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Heather and Beniah

The whole family watching 'Grandpa' cut down THE tree.

Beniah met a new little friend. Donny was a bit more timid about it and stayed in Auntie Jo's arms!

Timmy wasn't really holding any weight on this tree -- a fact that his dad proved when he sprinted away carrying it alone. Donny was a bit frightened by the sight of his Grandpa running after him with a tree!!

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"Grandpa, what are you doing?!!"




"I don't want these socks on..."

"...and you can't make me wear them!!"








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"Yum!! Candy cane!!"

Timmy's countdown continues....

This is it!! Timmy leaves today for his last week -- Finals Week! If he passes his finals, :^)<--< ,

he will be all though with college and ready for the 'Real World' at last!!

Yay, Timmy!!

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Beniah's keeping track of this. His Daddy will graduate in two weeks! Hurray!!

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Timmy is getting close to graduation. Beniah is happy for his Daddy,too! (scroll down to see earlier pictures from this -- his very last term at the university).

Christmas lists - 2009

For those of you who aren't our kids or their families, you can skip this post and check out our pictures and other things of interest after this. Thanks for checking in with us!

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Now for the Whittaker family:

Christmas is coming…

You know what that means?

It’s time to make lists

Of our hopes and our dreams.

.

Visions of sugar plums

And all of that stuff

The things we could buy

If we just had enough

.

Let’s try to be modest

Not unthinking slobs,

Remembering that most of us

Right now don’t have jobs

.

It’s being together

That gives the most joy

But I want to give something

To each girl and each boy

.

Giving is special

E’en if it’s a ball

But if you’re a girl

You might get a doll.

.

So put on your thinking caps

And list what you want

Send it to me

And I’ll post it on the blog....

.

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Marie

Mug tree to sit on kitchen counter (like a ‘clothes tree’, but holds several mugs)

Blanket with ‘arms’ to wrap up in while reading or watching TV, etc

Teacup tower (holds two or three or more teacups and saucers)

A calendar with pictures of my grandkids and kids :^)

You can surprise me with something that you make or see somewhere that you think I would like.
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Kim:

Really doesn't need anything.

but...

Loves fuzzy, colorful socks

Loves musical theater and Shakespeare on DVD

Loves new clothes in size XL or 16

Loves handmade treasures with sentimental value

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Andy:

Movies on Blu-Ray (We own "Snow White" & "UP" so far)

Books by David McCullough

"The Johnstown Flood"

"The Great Bridge"

"The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal"

"Brave Companions: Portraits in History"

"Mornings on Horseback"

"Truman"

The Simpsons seasons on DVD (Already own 1-5, 7, 8)

Wii Points (gift card)

iTunes gift card

WalMart gift cards

Fred Meyer gift cards

.

Wii Games

Guitar Hero 5

Guitar Hero: Greatest Hits

Super Mario Bros. Galaxy

Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Trilogy

other Wii games

.

Batteries

Nerds candy (Grape/Strawberry)

Sour Patch Kids candy

Red Bull (the drink. not Babe's arch nemesis)

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Everlyn:

Doesn't need much. We have toys galore...

so...

Clothes sized 6-9 months and up (she's in 3-6 month right now)

Diapers sized 2 and up

Girl specific toys

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Donny:

Also doesn't need anything.

but...

Clothes sized 3T fit right now, as well as some 4Ts

Loves the alphabet

Loves Elmo and the Ses' Street gang

Loves numbers

.

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Jack:

Things most often spoken of with longing by Jack:

Thomas and the Great Discovery DVD http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Friends-Discovery-Pierce-Brosnan/dp/B001BEK856/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1257804366&sr=8-1

Take Along Thomas- Annie and Clarabelle http://www.amazon.com/Take-Along-Thomas-Friends-Clarabel/dp/B0006TNBVK/ref=pd_sim_t_4

Disney Cars- Frank http://www.amazon.com/Disney-Pixar-CARS-Movie-Oversized/dp/B0028OJ2F0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1257804576&sr=1-1

Play Doh set such as this http://www.amazon.com/Play-Doh-Toolin-Around-Playset/dp/B000NLAUFQ/ref=pd_sim_t_21

He isn’t old enough to be paying attention to gift quantities, so if any two or more parties want to go in on one of the above for him, it would not be a bad thing. Some of them are inexpensive- others may be more than 1 person wants to pay.

Please avoid clothing purchases for this kid, unless you are very certain that it will fit him, or you have a son that would benefit from him growing out of it rapidly. J I am having a very challenging time keeping him in clothes, and would prefer that your hard-earned cash be spent in a more productive manner.

Other Take Along Thomas vehicles he does NOT have: Culdee, Bill & Ben, Jack, Murdoch, Fergus, Daisy, Hero, Breakdown Train and Flatbed, Rosie, Iron ‘Arry and Iron Bert, Gordon, Spencer, Edward, Henry, Stepney, Oliver, Bertie the Bus, Sir Topham Hat in car, Max and Monty

If you have other ideas aside from this list, feel free to follow your heart.

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.

Katie

Things that I think Katie would enjoy having for her very own:

Melissa & Doug Wooden Sandwich Making Set http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Wooden-Sandwich-Making-Set/dp/B00006JZCS/ref=sr_1_25?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1257805855&sr=1-25

Melissa & Doug Playtime Fruits http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-4082-Playtime-Fruits/dp/B001613Q8A/ref=sr_1_221?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1257806853&sr=1-221

Mr. Potato Head (or Mrs. Potato Head) http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Wooden-Sandwich-Making-Set/dp/B00006JZCS/ref=sr_1_25?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1257805855&sr=1-25

Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Sing with Me CD Player http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Laugh-Learn-Sing-Player/dp/B001IEZ1BK/ref=sr_1_147?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1257806231&sr=1-147

Rub a Dub Sticker for the Tub http://www.amazon.com/Rub-Dub-Stickers-Tub-Beep/dp/B00021HBGS/ref=sr_1_203?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1257806474&sr=1-203

A Katie-sized apron with big pockets

Little Helper Broom set (or something similar) http://www.amazon.com/Schylling-BROOM-Little-Helper-Broom/dp/B000BN8Y8G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1257807131&sr=1-1

Katie likes to read books, but has WAY too many already (is that possible?). She really doesn’t care to play with stuffed animals or dolls that much- they are really only good for hurling across the room, in her humble opinion. She does, however, love to imitate anything that her Mama does, and is actually quite helpful when it comes to laundry sorting and dishwasher unloading.

She still has clothing that was given to her last Christmas that she is just starting to wear, so again, although I greatly appreciate gifts of clothing, unless you check with me first on brand/size, please don’t get any for her. Little Miss Skinny can’t wear some brands at all without altering (a chore I would rather not take on).

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.

Matt and Beth would be content with NO gifts. But, since you probably don’t like that idea, here are a few suggestions. The following would be great for a “couple” gift:

Gift Certificate for movie/music retailers. Also Half.com or Amazon.

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Beth would like anything (or anything similar to) listed in her etsy favorites: http://www.etsy.com/favorite_listings_public.php?user_id=5740493&ref=em

JC Penney gift certificates toward the purchase of the most perfect Christmas dishes I have ever seen.

Please avoid cosmetics, soaps, lotions, and perfumes, unless it is Burt’s Bees chapstick (pomegranate or mint), of which I cannot seem to have enough. Every other variety of girly stuff seems to just sit in my cabinet taking up space.

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Matt can always use good sturdy work gloves, and also likes the brown all cotton variety. I know this seems boring, but really… he likes getting them.

John Deere logo gear is always good, although he prefers t-shirts without huge logos on the front.

Any kind of nail/screw sorting storage system might be nice for his woodshop. He already has some with pull-out drawers, but he has a pretty serious collection of odds and ends, so more couldn’t hurt.

Books by Patrick McManus that he DOESN’T have:

Never Cry “Arp!” and Other Great Adventures

Kerplunk! Stories

Into the Twilight, Endlessly Grousing

Real Ponies Don’t Go Oink!

Peppered Beef Jerky also makes him very happy.

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OK, so Christmas lists:

Danny:

Chronological Study Bible -

http://www.amazon.com/Chronological-Study-Bible-James-Version/dp/0718020685/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259591491&sr=8-1

Amazon wish list -

http://amzn.com/w/2UWNVEW8LNXK0

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Betsy:

Amazon wish list -

http://amzn.com/w/26AVZYSAXIJFF

http://amzn.com/w/UBHGWTK9SKXK

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Aaron:

Puzzles - NOT toddler puzzles, nice 100+ piece kids puzzles

Board Games

Will add more if we think of them.

Love you!

Danny

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Joann:

Movies (DVD style):

The Time Traveler's Wife

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Amelie

Seasons 5-7 of Friends

.

Books (I prefer soft covers, if available):

the new Robert Jordan book ("The Gathering Storm")

"Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" by Winifred Watson

"A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

"Teaching a Stone to Talk" by Annie Dillard

.

Music (CD or iTunes gift):

"Glee - The Music, Volume 2" (I already have volume 1)

"The Avalanche" Sufjan Stevens

.

Gift Cards:

iTunes

Forever 21

Target

Regal Cinemas or Cinetopia

.

Miscellaneous:

Really fancy-pants camera lens (because we are all so rich right now:)

Wide-angle (aka Fish Eye) camera lens (I know, fancy-pants)

Something you think I'd really, really love

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Tim and Heather: The Office season 5 (this can definitely be our only gift from everybody)

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Tim:

Music

Muse -- any album

Brand New—Daisy

Gift cards to music stores

Books

Brandon Sanderson--Hero of Ages

Chalmers A. Johnson -- Blowback

Ron Paul -- End the Fed

F.A. Hayek -- The Road to Serfdom

James T. Patterson -- Mr. Republican

Frederic Bastiat -- The Law

Dress shirts for office work (Medium)

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Heather:

Potting Soil (no pots please, I have a bunch in the bomb shelter)

Heather plant

Indoor Fern (or at least a hardy one that could be difficult to kill)

12x12 scrapbooking pages with top loading covers.

A drawer system to hold 12x12 scrapbooking pages and other paraphernalia.

Gift card to any photo developing store (for my scrap book)

Good Books

Gift card to Old Navy

Earrings and Necklaces that don’t scream “I’m in highschool!”

Pictures of my family to go up on our wall – black wood frames please.

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Beniah:

Books

Blocks

Anything Musical

Please no clothing. We have an overabundance of clothes.

Sippy cups. We never seem to have enough.

He is very easy to please, so you can give him whatever you feel like even if it’s just a box.

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If anyone wants to add to their lists, send the additions to me and I'll get them added in.

Jim (Daddy/Grandpa):

We're still waiting for your list. Send them to me, and I'll add them to this post. 'hoping to hear from you soon.

Countdown to Tim's Graduation

NOVEMBER 15, 2009: Timmy is not happy with all the pictures!! But he IS enjoying the countdown!!















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NOVEMBER 8, 2009 -- Timmy, Heather and Beniah are all getting more excited about graduation.

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NOVEMBER 1, 2009:

It's been a long haul for Timmy, but now that the end of his school days is in sight, I started this countdown sign for him. (the weeks listed are for the weeks of this last quarter of his time at OSU).

He laughed when he saw it, but he loves it. Heather and I do, too. She will be especially happy when he graduates! We'll all be celebrating!

New Bedroom

We finally have our new master bedroom suite done and have moved in. I thought you might like to see some pictures.

This is the view from our kitchen out to the bedroom. The door on the left is to the laundry room and on out to the garage. On the right are shelves that will soon have doors on them like the one in the kitchen.

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Looking back from the bedroom to the kitchen.
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The door to the left is my walk-in closet. I'm enjoying finally having one!
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Looking across the room to the bathroom and a storage closet. As you can see we're not quite settled yet. Still some boxes to unpack, and no pictures on the walls yet. ............................................................................................................................

...and the other way, to the window and my desk. ............................................................................

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Here's the best thing about the walk-in closet... it also served as a bedroom for our sweet granddaughter, Evie when we had her overnight for two nights early this week.

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Don't you think she 'dresses it up' very nicely? She's the sweetest thing in there!!

Cousins and Us

Our family from Singapore has been gone for a week and 1/2 by now, but I wanted to post a few more pictures from that time. Aaron is the one of our 6 grandchildren that we don't get to see for years at a time. So this post is dedicated solely to him. We loved having him (and his Mama and Daddy) here, and miss them now that they're gone. Here he is with us and with his 5 cousins.

Aaron with Grandma

Aaron with Grandpa
Aaron is 3 and 1/2 years old. Here he is with his 8 month old cousin, Beniah...

and with 18 month old Katie...


and with 2 year old Donny

and with 4 month old Evie

and with Jack, who is also 3 1/2 years old. Jack is 6 weeks older than Aaron. They had a lot of fun together.

Here Aaron is giving Donny a good-bye hug. They had lots of fun together, too. Donny still occasionally asks, "Where Aaron?"