Baby Chase

Baby Chase is Melanie's 5th and final baby. It was a long time coming with her youngest being
4 1/2. She just didn't feel complete, and it took awhile to convince her husband to get on board! We are so happy Chase is part of our family. He was scheduled to be induced on Sept. 9th. Mel got all hooked up, got her epidural, and I came after she was comfortable at about noon. It was so fun to spend so much time with my mom and sisters and Carl's mom Cathy. We laughed and laughed. My mom got a new ringtone on her phone and would get up and dance to it every time she heard it. We ended up just calling her for fun to see the dance again. She also kept saying, "when she goes, she's gonna go fast!" Yeah, that didn't happen. He decided to take his time and not come until 10 :30 pm!

Chase Wesley Whiting 6 lbs 15 oz 18 inches long
Dad Carl holding him for the first time

Grandma Cathy so thrilled to have another grandchild-I love this picture

Isn't he a cutie? Grammy and Chase

Grandad Tenney

Aunt Shauna

Chase with his favorite aunt

Welcome to the world baby boy! We love you!

Preston goes to preschool

Look at my BIG BOY! He is so excited to start preschool! I am sitting here with Claire and we are all alone in the house. It's a little weird...but a good weird. Preston is at Mrs. Marie's preschool (Beelieve in Learning) that Carter went to last year.

His friend Saige from church will also be in his preschool class and carpools with us. They were cracking me up with the conversations on the ride to school. Kids this age are so hilarious.

Mrs. Marie and Presto

He gave me a kiss and was on his way. I know that he is going to love it and have so much fun. Here's to two hours of quiet, three times a week!

1st day of school

Carter started kindergarten today! We have both been looking forward to this for a long time! Since the bus stop is right in front of my house, since Carter was about 2 he would wave to the bus every day and want to ride it with the other kids. Today was finally the day! Doesn't he look so old? He was dressed and ready by about 9 o' clock and he doesn't go until 12:30. He was so excited.

Preston missed his big brother while he was gone.

Funny faces

Lining up waiting for the bus

Here comes the Shrek bus!

Look at his little worried face. He told me when he got home he was nervous when he was getting on the bus but as soon as he sat down he was fine. So brave. I did have a moment of emotion when he got all dressed and ready. He looked so big and I can't believe my little boy is going to school. It only lasted a minute and then I was just excited for him and all of his new adventures. He loved his first day and has already made some new friends, hopefully it continues.

Last but not least, I saw this BYU snuggie in Walmart and had to get it for James. I have a pink one and he wore it sometimes and it would make me laugh. I decided it was time that he got his own. It is in celebration of BYU going independant. Go cougars!

Utah Half Ironman

I am so proud of James, he finished his first half ironman race! This is a huge accomplishment and one he has been training for since March. The half ironman consists of a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, and a 13.1 mile run to finish it off. Pretty crazy huh? He finished in 6 hours 25 minutes. His swim and bike he did phenomenal and then got some stomach cramps during the run which slowed him down. He was a little disappointed with his run but finished it out strong!

We were waiting at the finish line of course and Carter ran with him across the finish. We are so proud of him and all that he has accomplished this past year.

T-ball

My neighborhood organized some t-ball teams for the month of August. The boys had a great time playing. It took Preston a few times to get the hang of it, but was doing great by the end. Carter was on the A's (Green team) and Preston played for the Pirates (Gold). Their favorite part was the snacks and drinks at the end! This is the only picture I got of them...not really playing t-ball but enjoying their reward. Can't wait till next summer when they can play again! Thanks to Cindy for organizing all the teams, we had fun!

Our little princess-3 months old

We got this cute dress in the mail from a family friend in England. I saw the sticker on the front and was reminded why I love being married to a Brit so much! Knickers is the best word ever!!

Claire is getting so big! She is finally sleeping through the night (around 7-8 pm to 7am). I am a much happier mommy! She can hold her neck up now and smiles all the time. I love this little tutu outfit. You can't see it very well but it has a sparkly crown on it too. Girls are so fun!

This little play gym has been the best investment! She loves to play with it, and it gives me some time to make dinner or take a shower without having her cry.

She officially has daddy wrapped around her little finger.

Her blue eyes haven't gone away-I'm hoping they stay. I finally have a child that looks like me!

Last but not least, we have another thumbsucker at our our house! She decided she hated the binky and found her thumb, just like Preston. She gags every time I try to put the binky in anymore, it's pretty hilarious. I think when she sucks her thumb it is adorable but I am not looking forward to breaking her of the habit later. Preston has gotten better about it, but still does it at night. I can't believe she is already 3 months old. I hate that she is getting bigger! I want to freeze time and have her stay this size for awhile--especially since I am getting some sleep now. haha She is such a sweetheart and we love her to pieces!

Stephenson Girls Trip 2010

Another fabulous girls trip under my belt! We had such a great time together. We stayed in St. George again at my cousin-in-law Tamara's mom's house. It is the nicest house ever and can actually fit all 23 of us. We only needed 2 blow up beds...pretty impressive! Here are the aunts and my mom. I have the best aunts ever!! L to R Mom, Aunt Chris, Aunt Jean, Aunt Mary, and Aunt Sharon
I did not take a picture the whole trip until the last 2 hours of the last night. I am hoping some other people will give me pictures of the other events of the 4 days. We lounged by the pool a lot and went down the waterslide! So fun. We also shopped, some got massages, went to eat, pray, love, and went out to eat. This picture is of our shuffleboard tournament. I of course was out in the first round losing to Aunt Jean. We have some competitive women in our family!

Amy was the winner winning a spongebob puzzle, and Shannon was the runner up (not sure what she won)

The rest of the pictures I just wanted to get photos of everyone there- These are my Vegas cousins-L to R Tori (a first timer to the girls trip), Aunt Jean, Jamie, and Chelsea (another first timer!)

out by the pool reading magazines-Shannon, Sarah, and Rebekah (first timer)

April flew out from Denver to be with us! It was her first year and hopefully not her last!! Love that girl!

Tamara and her mom Ginny (the owner of the house)

Jacque, Cathy, Courtnee (another first timer to the girls trip), and Julie

This picture of Cathy is my favorite!! haha

Me, Mom, and Shauna

April, Aunt Sharon, and Amy

all the pregnant girls...well sortof. Amy is not technically pregnant but thinks she might be, so we added her to the picture! We'll see if she was right in about a month. Amy, Rebekah, Tamara, and Melanie. Mel was such a trooper with only 3 weeks till she delivers Baby Chase. Although she isn't in any of my pictures, Claire was also with us on the trip. First baby to come on the trip after persuading them I didn't want to miss it. She was really good and I think everyone had fun holding her.

My mom bought some cute new capris and some Big Star Jeans. So stylish!

Bethany, Sarah, and Chelsea left late Saturday to surprise their husbands by coming home early.

Bekah, Mom, Mel, Me, and Bethany

We all bought the same sandals! Mel was pretty swollen so she was showing off her swollen toes. Me, Amy, Mel, and Bethany loved these blingy brown flip flops.

We always have so much fun together, I love my family. My mom was quite a hoot telling stories about how she can't do a cartwheel or hula hoop anymore. You need to see her demonstration, it is pretty hilarious. She also told about how she is "obese" and tried to convince the girl at the bodpod at BYU otherwise. So funny. April also had a great story of a conversation with a Rite Aid employee about how his brother was buried in Colorado. Awkward! We laughed til my face hurt. The last night we had a great conversation remembering all the great people that have passed away in our family in the last few years. Many tears were shed and it just reminded us that relationships are the most important thing we have. I am so glad we do this trip every year to make those relationships even stronger. Until next year...

Claire's Blessing Day

We had such a great day today! James blessed Claire at church and we had a luncheon afterward for our family. This was the best picture of us with her. Next time I won't get Rob to be the photographer! :)

Sweet baby girl

I love this picture of my mom with her. Claire is named after her so they have a special bond.

It also happened to be my niece Kate's birthday today. She turned 7. Claire was wearing Kate's blessing dress today. I can't believe how fast time keeps flying by! We are so grateful to have Claire in our family. She has been such a blessing and has brought so much joy. I am glad we got to celebrate her today. She is my sunshine!