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White-House-On-An-Acre

• January 19, 2012
• 18:38

  Vinegar Pie!!

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  Have you ever heard of Vinegar Pie?
  
  I was reading a book set in the mid-1800's, and the woman baked a vinegar pie. I'd heard of it before, but was intrigued enough this time to go online and look it up. Vinegar Pie was a pie that pioneers made in the winter when the dried fruits had been depleted. The pie is suppose to have a rather fruity flavor. I found several recipes, and decided to make one. I didn't tell the family what it was until after they had tasted it because I was afraid they wouldn't want to try it.
  
  
  I wouldn't classify it in my favorite pies, but it wasn't bad. I may even make it again and try one of the other recipes.
  
  Hmmm.... vinegar pie. Who knew?!
• February 06, 2011
• 20:54

  Beautiful Babies - Jan 2011

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

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  Little Miss Everlyn
  Big Brother Donny
  "Where do those little people go?"
  
  Evie and Great Grandma admiring Elijah John
  
  
  
  
  
  Before Great Grandma moved in, the kids had fun playing in the empty room.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Peek-a-boo!!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Fun with the cousins. Jack, Beniah, Katie and Donny (in front of Evie)
  
  
  
• December 18, 2010
• 21:55

  Cousins!! November 2010

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  Aaron got to spend time with his USA cousins when he came for a visit from Singapore.
  ___
  Here he is with Jack and Katie
  
  and with Beniah
  
  
  
  All the cousins had a good time playing the first day Aaron got here
  
  
  
  
  
  
  When Beniah celebrated his second birthday, everyone wanted a piece of the cake...
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Aaron, Donny, Evie and Beniah
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ...and everyone wanted to play with Beniah's new train track.
• 21:21

  Sugar and Spice...

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

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  Here are some pictures of my sweet granddaughters -- taken in November 2010: ----Little Lady Katie
  
  
  Little Miss Everlyn and her mommy, Kim.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Evie happy with her new mode of transportation. She's finally walking!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Now, aren't they both adorable?!! ---This grandma thinks so!
• December 09, 2010
• 22:07

  October birthdays

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

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  We celebrated Joann's (9/30) and Kim's (10/8) birthdays together between the two days. Here are some fun pictures of the event.
  
  
  Katie, Jack and Donny helped with the candle blowing. With all those candles, Kim and Joann could use all the help they could get!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 21:28

  Fun times remembered 2

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  Beniah loved helping Grandma water the plants on the deck.
  
  ...and speaking of decks, here he is on his double-decker chair!
  
  
  
  
  Jack and Katie in the fall garden.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Grandma Marie with her precious little people.
  Like Father, like son!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Evie loves the quilt rack. It's a great place for playing peek-a-boo!
• November 12, 2010
• 21:09

  Pumpkin Pecan Pie Bars

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

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  I don't normally post recipes here, but I made these this week, and they are so good that I wanted to share the recipe with my friends. I took the bars to a meeting and everyone loved them. I think you will too.
  
  
  

  Pumpkin Pecan Pie Bars

  Categories: Cookies
  Yield: 48 servings

  • 1/2 c Butter or margarine; softened
  • 1 c Brown sugar; firmly packed
  • 1 1/2 c Flour; un-sifted
  • 1 c Oats
  • 1 tsp Baking powder
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 16 oz Pumpkin
  • 1 can Sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 Eggs; beaten
  • 2 tsp Pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
  • 1 c Pecans; chopped
  • Confectioners' sugar; (opt)

  Preheat oven to 350~. In large mixer bowl, beat margarine and brown sugar until fluffy; add flour, oats, baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix until crumbly. Reserving 1/2 cup flour mixture, press remainder on bottom of 15x10" jellyroll pan. Bake 20 mintues. Meanwhile in medium bowl, combine pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Spread over baked crust. In small bowl, combine reserved 1/2 cup flour mixture with pecans; sprinkle over pumpkin mixture. Bake 30-35 minutes or until set. Cool. Cut into bars. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar if desired. Store covered in refrigerator.

  
• November 06, 2010
• 23:42

  Fun times remembered

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  I just had to add some sweet pictures from a few months ago.... So cute!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• October 11, 2010
• 22:32

  CHRISTMAS LISTS - 2010

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Just added new lists for several....

  AND THE PRIZE GOES TO TIMMY AND HEATHER FOR GETTING THEIR LIST IN FIRST!!!

  Thank you everybody! All the lists are here. If you think of new things let me know so I can add them to your lists.

  --

  --

  Tim & Heather

  DVD - The Office Season Season 6

  Anything off of our baby registry at Target and Baby's R Us.

  Wii console, with Wii Fit

  --

  Tim

  Gamestop gift card

  Book: Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson

  DVD: Date Night

  Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 Headset (best price I found was at Amazon)

  Beard Trimmer

  Any used books you might think I'd like

  Any new-to-me music, besides Country or Gangsta Rap

  --

  Heather

  Jewelry Box – It doesn't have to be this one, but I like this type from Target.

  Watch – I like the thin silver bangle type. (Again, it doesn't have to be this one, but one like it would be fine.

  Gift Cards from Target, Old Navy, Motherhood Maternity, Walmart (or anywhere that sells nursing wear)

  Photos of my family in a black frame.

  2 under the bed storage containers

  Just about decorative thing that is wrought iron - please no chandeliers :)

  Candles

  Handmade gifts are always awesome.

  Used books are also welcome (I like just about any type except the ones with pictures of anorexic but voluptuous women on the front)

  --

  Beniah

  The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name [Hardcover] by Sally Lloyd-Jones (Author), Jago (Illustrator)

  Anything Thomas the Train

  Anything Clifford

  Anything Sesame Street

  Anything Martha Speaks

  Anything Bob the Builder

  Anything Arthur

  *I think that covers all of the PBS shows that he loves. If you give us anything Wiggles, you will be disowned! :)

  DVD's of said shows.

  DVD's by Pixar

  Books

  Wooden Puzzles (He has mastered the 2-5 year old puzzles, so if you see a wooden one that is harder it would be perfect)

  Anything to deal with learning shapes and colors

  ----

  ##############################################################

  ----

  Joann:

  Alright! Here's my long awaited list: :)

  Wii Fit Plus game & board (or gift cards to purchase one) - new or used

  It's Complicated - DVD

  The Fantastic Mr. Fox - DVD

  Big Bang Theory - seasons 1 & 3

  Friends (seasons 5-8)

  30 Rock - any season

  the latest Robert Jordan novel (ask Timmy which ones I'm missing)

  Forever 21 gift card(s) or items

  rotary cutter

  rotary cutter board

  other quilting necessities

  zoom lens for my Canon (new or used)

  wide-angle (fish-eye) lens for my Canon (new or used)

  the rest of my high school shows on DVD :)

  etc. - be creative, i like lots of stuff

  That's all for now. :) Love you!

  jo

  ----

  Matt B:

  Books (gift cards to amazon.com and Powells are great); or:

  • NT Wright, "After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters"
  • John Franke, "Manifold Witness: The Plurality of Truth"

  Gift cards for clothing/running shoes (Target, JCPenny, Old Navy)

  Coffee! Always need coffee beans (whole beans)

  Dark chocolate is wonderful.

  ----

  ##############################################################

  ----

  Danny and Betsy:

  OK, so here are a couple of ideas, will add more later:

  DVDs:

  How to Train Your Dragon

  Karate Kid (the new one with Jackie Chan)

  Alice in Wonderland (also the new one)

  Amazon Wish Lists:

  Danny: [amzn.com]

  Family: [amzn.com]

  I plan to update the Amazon lists later.

  ----

  ##############################################################

  ----

  2010 Twist Christmas Wish Lists

  Katie:

  Magnetic pages photo album for sticker collecting

  LeapFrog Tag Maps: USA (spotted at Fred Meyer for 19.99)

  Age appropriate puzzles

  Preschool Activity Books

  2T jeans/sweats/leggings/tights

  3T shirts/sweatshirts/sweaters/dresses/fleece footed jammies

  2T socks (she is wearing a size 6 shoe these days)

  Most girly/little mommy/nurturing/dress up toys would be loved, but she is also into building/stacking/tractors/balls/digging in the dirt type toys, and is possibly ready for some basic Preschool level craft-type toys, such as Shrinky-Dinks.

  ----

  Jack:

  DVD- Thomas and the Misty Island Rescue

  Magnetic pages photo album for sticker collecting

  A Memory Game

  Kindergarten or First Grade Level Activity Books

  A grocery cart similar to Katie’s pink one, but in primary colors

  6 or 7Husky jeans/sweats/camo pants

  5-6 or XS shirts/sweatshirts/sweaters

  12-1 socks (he’s wearing 12-12 ½ shoe these days)

  Still very much in Love with Thomas and Friends, and any of the Take Along or Take and Play size engines would be welcome (please contact me first for names). He also loves the building kit that Grandma bought for him last Christmas, perhaps at IKEA, and could use some more pieces. I think he is ready for “real” LEGOS, so maybe a basic set to get him started.

  Joint gift idea for the kids:

  High Five magazine subscription (the younger version of Highlights)

  ----

  Matt:

  Peppered Beef Jerky

  DVD- It Might Get Loud

  Oster Belgian Waffle Iron
  

  Books:

  The Double-Jack Murders: A Sheriff Bo Tully Mystery by Patrick F. McManus

  The Huckleberry Murders: A Sheriff Bo Tully Mystery by Patrick F. McManus

  Avalanche: A Sheriff Bo Tully Mystery by Patrick F. McManus

  The Blight Way: A Sheriff Bo Tully Mystery by Patrick F. McManus

  (are you getting the theme?)

  ----

  Beth:

  Any item from or inspired by my etsy “Favorite Things” list

  Books (new or used… in order of preference):

  Honeysuckle Manor by Blackbird Designs

  Comfort Zone by Maggie Bonanomi

  The Art of Colonial America by Shirley Glubok

  The United States of Americana by Kurt B. Reighley

  Fraktur: Tips, Tools, & Techniques for Learning the Craft by Ruthanne Hartung

  Samplers (Shire Collections) by Rebecca Scott

  When the Cold Wind Blows: Quilts & Projects to Keep You Warm by Barb Adams

  Woman's Day Book Of American Needlework by Rose Wilder Lane

  Over the Knee or Knee High 100% wool socks

  Clip on LED book light
  

  Silver Solder Kit

  Wire Binding Machine

  ----

  ##############################################################

  ----

  Kim:

  feel free to improvise and guess. I love to be surprised.

  someone to come deep clean my house while I'm out one day :)

  someone to re-upholster a couple of my dining chairs

  gift cards to IKEA or Target

  cute clothes in size 18 or XL - XXL works better while pregnant so stay tuned for that sort of news

  shoe size 11

  home made aprons

  18 gallon rubbermaid tubs

  breadmaker

  food processor

  pampered chef peeler

  Kitchenaide mixer attatchments for pasta and applesauce

  ---

  Andy’s 2010 Wish List

  BOOKS

  A DANCE WITH DRAGONS by George R. R. Martin

  THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, by Stieg Larsson

  THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, by Stieg Larsson

  Honeymoon with My Brother by Franz Wisner

  THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD; THE GREAT BRIDGE; THE PATH BETWEEN THE SEAS; and MORNINGS ON HORSEBACK, all 4 by David McCullough

  Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History by Erik Larson

  Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin

  “The Worst Journey in the World” by Apsley Cherry-Garrard

  “Into Thin Air” by John Krakauer

  “Seven Years in Tibet” by Heinrich Harrer

  “Home of the Blizzard” by Douglas Mawson

  “Farthest North” by Fridtjof Nansen

  “the Right Stuff” by Tom Wolfe

  “Alone” by Richard Byrd

  “The Long Walk” by Slavomir Rawicz

  “Castaways” by Alver Nunez Cabeza de Vaca

  “Touching the Void” by Joe Simpson

  “The Oregon Trail” by Francis Parkman

  “The Perfect Storm” by Sebastian Junger

  “Carrying the Fire” by Michael Collins

  “Journal of a trapper” by Osborne Russell

  GIFT CARDS

  iTunes

  Game Stop

  Home Depot/Lowes

  MISSLE-ANY-YES

  I like the T-shirts here…. [store.glennz.com]

  I like this one too…. [www.threadless.com]

  Garden shears for trimming the shrubs and bushes and tiny tree like thingies...

  Screwdrivers

  Wrench set

  Pliers

  Wheelbarrow

  WISHES

  iPad 64GB WiFi only (No 3G)

  Sony Playstation 3

  40" HD TV (preferably Sony, Samsung, or Sharp

  ----

  Donny:

  Loves character things from PBS kids and Sprout (Sesame Street, Angelina, Clifford, Wiggles....)

  Loves letters and numbers

  Loves cars

  The book "How to teach your child to read in 100 lessons or less"

  We like books as gifts - or more age appropriate learning toys

  Wears 4T clothes and size 10 shoes

  ---

  Evie:

  Loves everything... especially if Donny or Beniah are playing with it

  Loves books

  Mirrors and hair pretties make her smile

  Wears 12-18 month clothes and size 4 shoes

  ----

  ##############################################################

  ----

  Mama Marie:

  Banana-grams game

  Socks

  Pretty drinking glasses

  GC for Joann Fabrics (or other fabric store)

  Cloth purse like Kim’s

  A day w/me to help sort and discard stuff

  Kitchen Aide applesauce attachment

  Boots (like Beth’s and Joann’s) – sz 9

  DVDs: Little House (Seasons 6 and 7)
  Showboat

  ---

  I don't really need anything. So don't think you need to spend lots of money on me. The things on my list are just ideas, and some of them are kind of expensive. If I think of other things, I will add them, but I will be happy with whatever.... especially if it includes time with each of you, the family that I love so much.

  ----

  ##############################################################

  ----

  Daddy Jim:

  Here are some ideas for me for birthday (hint,hint :>) and/or Christmas:

  BOOKS

  (used are fine, as are paperback)

  >Deeper Water (Tides of Truth Series, Book 1) by Robert Whitlow

  >Higher Hope: Tides of Truth, Book 2 by Robert Whitlow

  >Greater Love (Tides of Truth, Book 3) by Robert Whitlow

  >A Lineage of Grace: Five Stories of Unlikely Women Who Changed Eternity by Francine Rivers

  CANDY

  Junior Mints or similar mint/chocolate candies

  IMPORTANT REAL-LIFE GOODNESS

  Donations to Real Hope Ministries (Heather would know more details since it is the ministry Heather’s sister Evie and husband Ravi have in India) – donations go through New Life Christian Center in Roseburg - they are currently raising money for special Christmas celebrations at towns they work with in India.

  DVDs:

  Extraordinary Measures

  Letters to God

  Letters to Juliet

  No Greater Love

  The Spy Next Door

  OTHER

  Gift cards to Fred Meyer, BiMart

  
• October 04, 2010
• 23:31

  Wedding gown memories

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  In April Donny and Evie got to help Auntie Jo pick out her wedding gown (for her wedding in August). It was a fun day!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Beautiful!
  Adorable!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Evie had fun with Grandma... and Grandma had fun, too!
• July 17, 2010
• 20:10

  Sweet Little Evie

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  
• July 11, 2010
• 12:00

  Happy July!!

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Happy July!! I just baked a pie!
  ... and speaking of dessert, how would you like this in your ice cream dish?
  
  
• May 18, 2010
• 23:10

  Sugar and spice and everything nice....

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  ...that's what little girls are made of!!
  Grandma Marie enjoying her little sweethearts Katie and Evie. These pictures were taken in February, but are too good not to share.
  
  
  
• April 29, 2010
• 22:39

  Mastress Joann OR 'Little Blue Riding Hood'

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Our Joann is the first one in the family to receiver her Masters degree. We attended her hooding ceremony today at George Fox College. It was a lot of fun. Our sweet little Miss is now a Mastress!! She will graduate on Saturday with an MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching). We are very proud of her!
  
  Kim and Donny got to help in the hooding ceremony.
  Our beautiful Joann!
  
  Little Blue Riding Hood!
  
• April 22, 2010
• 17:03

  You Have to See This!!

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  I get some interesting orders for ice cream cakes at Dairy Queen. The first one was ordered by a man for a co-worker. The order was for a hot pink cake. Yes, he wanted the "cake" (ice cream) to also be hot pink, so that's what he got! That is NOT frosting! (of course the ruffles, roses and writing are frosting, though). I added pink coloring to the soft freeze ice cream before molding it. I would have liked to see the mouths of the people that ate this cake!! (or maybe not!) My boss asked me this morning if I tasted it to see how it was, and my answer was "no way!" I wasn't even tempted to taste it! I hope it wasn't bitter!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The last one is a cake I had just randomly made, and it sold very soon after I made it, with a birthday message added. 'Guess I'll have to do a repeat of it someday soon.
• March 09, 2010
• 16:19

  Ready for Tea!!

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  After packing my teacups away nearly two years ago in readiness for moving, I finally have a cabinet and was able to unpack them yesterday. Jim made an open cabinet into a lovely place for my collection -- with glass shelves and lighting. It was like Christmas unpacking it all. I'm thrilled with the end result!
  Wanna come and have tea with me?
  
  
  
  
• 15:49

  Ice Cream Cakes!!

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  I (Marie) got a job at the end of February making and decorating ice cream cakes at Dairy Queen. I work 5 days a week for 3 to 5 hours each time. My days off will normally be Sunday and Monday. Here are a few of the cakes I've done since I started.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• February 12, 2010
• 10:00

  Happy Valentines' Day!!

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Valentines' Day is almost here. Enjoy my decorations:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Have a happy Valentines' day!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• February 09, 2010
• 16:16

  Sneak Peek

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  It's been awhile, but I finally got started on a new quilt. It's the first quilting I've done since Nov. 2008 when I finished Timmy and Heather's quilt. Here's the first block for Katie's quilt. It's all I have done so far. I won't tell you about the rest of the quilt. You'll have to wait until it's finished to see it. :^)
  
  
  
  
• January 11, 2010
• 17:11

  My Little Angels

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Christmas is over, but I'd like you to see some pictures of my 'little angels'. The first picture is when the family got together for Jack's birthday. Four of the 'kids' sat at the table to eat. Here's Jack, Katie, Donny and Beniah.
  
  
  Katie and the angel doll....**************************************
  
  Evie and the doll are about the same size.**************************************
  
  Donny just had to touch the nose....*************************
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Beniah was fascinated by the angel, too.***********************************
  
  
  
  
  Aren't they all adorable?!!
• December 21, 2009
• 21:21

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

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Come on in and enjoy Christmas at our house! and may your Christmas be truly blessed!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• December 20, 2009
• 22:21

  The Countdown is over!!

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

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  Timmy is finally done with college, and is home with his family! They are all very happy!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• December 05, 2009
• 20:14

  Family Tree Hunt

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  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....
  *********************************************************
  "I want this one..." ***************************************
  
  
  Donny was very excited to see dinosaurs! At least that's what he thought the wooden reindeer were!
  
  
  Donny in the dinosaur sleigh!!
  ****************************************************
  
  
  
  
  
  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!!
  
  **************************************************************
  
  "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!!"
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• November 22, 2009
• 23:20

  Timmy's countdown continues....

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  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!!*******************************************************
  
  Beniah's keeping track of this. His Daddy will graduate in two weeks! Hurray!!
  
  *******************************************************
  
  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).
• November 18, 2009
• 10:13

  Christmas lists - 2009

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  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!

  *********************************************

  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....

  .

  *************************************************************

  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.
  *************************************************************

  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

  **************************************

  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)

  **********************************

  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

  **************************************

  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

  .

  ****************************************

  Jack:

  Things most often spoken of with longing by Jack:

  Thomas and the Great Discovery DVD [www.amazon.com]

  Take Along Thomas- Annie and Clarabelle [www.amazon.com]

  Disney Cars- Frank [www.amazon.com]

  Play Doh set such as this [www.amazon.com]

  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.

  *****************************************************

  .

  Katie

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

  Melissa & Doug Wooden Sandwich Making Set [www.amazon.com]

  Melissa & Doug Playtime Fruits [www.amazon.com]

  Mr. Potato Head (or Mrs. Potato Head) [www.amazon.com]

  Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Sing with Me CD Player [www.amazon.com]

  Rub a Dub Sticker for the Tub [www.amazon.com]

  A Katie-sized apron with big pockets

  Little Helper Broom set (or something similar) [www.amazon.com]

  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).

  ********************************************

  .

  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.

  *************************************************

  Beth would like anything (or anything similar to) listed in her etsy favorites: [www.etsy.com]

  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.

  *****************************************

  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.

  *************************************************************

  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

  **************************************************

  Betsy:

  Amazon wish list -

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

  http://amzn.com/w/UBHGWTK9SKXK

  ***************************************************

  Aaron:

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

  Board Games

  Will add more if we think of them.

  Love you!

  Danny

  *************************************************

  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

  *************************************************

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

  *************************************************

  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)

  *************************************************

  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.

  *****************************************************

  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.

  ******************************************************

  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.

  
• November 01, 2009
• 22:50

  Countdown to Tim's Graduation

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  NOVEMBER 15, 2009: Timmy is not happy with all the pictures!! But he IS enjoying the countdown!!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  _______________________________________________________________
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  NOVEMBER 8, 2009 -- Timmy, Heather and Beniah are all getting more excited about graduation.
  
  
  
  ____________________________________________________________________
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  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!
• October 17, 2009
• 22:15

  New Bedroom

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:  New Master Bedroom   [edit]

  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.
  
  ...............................................................................................................................................
  
  
  Looking back from the bedroom to the kitchen.
  .....................................................................................................................
  
  The door to the left is my walk-in closet. I'm enjoying finally having one!
  ......................................................................................................................
  
  
  
  
  
  
  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. ............................................................................
  ..........................................................................................
  
  
  .................................................................................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.
  ...............................................................................Don't you think she 'dresses it up' very nicely? She's the sweetest thing in there!!
• August 11, 2009
• 19:24

  Cousins and such

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  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?"
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• August 04, 2009
• 22:40

  Special people

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  For your viewing pleasure, here are some random, but good pictures.
  First is Beth with her sweet little girl, Katie. She IS a Mama's girl, and wants to be near her at all times.
  Aaron thought the dominoes were fun.
  
  
  Now here is a great picture of Tim and Heather's little boy, Beniah. Isn't he adorable?!!
  
  
  In this picture, Aaron seems deep in thought. He was trying to be patient with all the adults who were starting a disc golf game. He really wanted to get to the playground. We didn't make him wait for too long.
  
  
  
  
• 22:27

  Fourth of July Fun

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  I'm exactly a month late posting this, but wanted to share these pictures with you. On theThird of July the family gathered at Beth's house for a fun day, ended with Oregon approved fireworks... (not very exciting fireworks, but still a lot of fun).
  
  Here is Jim with his two sons, Danny and Timmy.
  
  
  
  M-m-m-m! S'mores!! Here are Betsy and Aaron with theirs. This was Aaron's first time to have them. He wasn't too sure about the mess...
  Jack didn't seem to mind it quite as much. In the end, they both enjoyed the yumminess of them! (and so did I, but hopefully I didn't get as messy!!)
  
  Sparklers! They are such a delightful, if short-lived, thing! Here is Aaron enjoying doing one with his Daddy Danny.
  
  
  
  
• August 01, 2009
• 20:21

  Family Times

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  We had some good times with family this summer while Danny, Betsy and Aaron were visiting from Singapore. This first picture is of Aaron pretending to take a nap....
  Some of the Kjosness family visited one day. Here is Timmy's little Beniah with his second cousins, Tobias and David. They were very cute together.
  The Whittaker family visited another day. Here is Beth's son Jack with his 2nd cousin, Sammy Jo.
  
  
  
  Beth's little Katie enjoyed the old Fisher Price castle -- especially dropping the people into the dungeon!
  
  
  Kim's little Donny loves his pack-pack!
  
  
  
  
  
  Aaron also enjoyed the old bowling set. Our deck is the perfect place for bowling, but the bowling pins found their way down into the flower bed below more than one time!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Here's Aaron wearing Grandma's sunglasses....
  
  
  
  
  and here he is wearing Auntie Jo's sunglasses. Maybe somebody should get him some of his own!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Donny likes Auntie Jo's sunglasses, too! ... and did you notice he still lives with his parents? Can you imagine that?!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• July 31, 2009
• 23:46

  Whittaker Beach trip

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  I promised more picture, and am finally getting some on here. As I mentioned in an earlier post, we had a great family beach trip. This first picture is of the whole family -- all of our kids and grandkids together in one place. Fun!
  
  
  Our three walking grandsons, Aaron, Jack and Donny along with Betsy and Kim - carrying baby Everlyn.
  
  
  This grandma enjoyed playing with the little ones.
  
  
  This is a fun picture of little Donny. He stayed in this position, enjoying an interesting viewpoint of all of us for several minutes. He gave us an interesting view, too! So this gives you a few more pictures to look at while I go get some sleep. I plan to post some more soon -- I hope!
  
  
  
• July 05, 2009
• 13:25

  Some of my favorite people!

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  We've been busy with family, and I haven't posted for awhile, but was downloading some pictures. Here are some of my favorite from the past few months:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Katie (5-28)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Jack is cool! (5-28)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Beniah (5-25)
  
  
  
  ...not a people, but I like this pic of one of our roses.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Beniah in the bathtub...
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Beniah and Donny sharing a bath
  
  
  Beniah and Donny
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Donny meeting our big old doll (6-5-09)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  More coming.....
• June 19, 2009
• 20:02

  We love being grandparents!!

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  We just had the most wonderful beach trip with our family -- all of our kids and their families! 3 days and 2 nights of fun and chaos, laughter and sleeplessness, silliness and love!! The weather was beautiful, so we were able to enjoy being outside, but we also had two great houses to use while we were there -- all 19 of us.
  ***
  
  Here we are with our grandchildren -- a rare photo opportunity since one of them lives in Singapore. Most of the family hasn't seen Aaron since he was 4 months old, and after he and his mom and dad go back home, it will be a long time again. How fun it has been to get to spend time with him and get to know him.
  ***
  All of these little ones are so precious, and we are enjoying each of them. From left to right, there is Beniah (Timmy's) -- 7 months old; Donny (Kim's) -- 24 months old; Evie (Kim's) -- 2.5 months old; Katie (Beth's) 17 months old; Jack (Beth's) -- 3 yrs, 6 mo; Aaron (Danny's) 3 yrs, 4 mo.
• April 26, 2009
• 22:38

  Home Sweet Home --- finally!

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  We are happy to say that we are finally in our new home!! After being told the closing date would be March 27, it didn't really finalize so that we could move in until April 15. We had moved out of our apartment on March 31, and camped out at Kim's house for the interim period.
  Here are some pictures that will show you a little of what we're enjoying:
  
  
  A lovely English garden in front.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  A view of Mt. St. Helens from our living room.
  
  
  Here are Donny and his "Papa" enjoying our deck on a warm day.
  
  
  
  
  the living room with lots of windows, looking out at trees and nice landscaping.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  We still have hundreds of boxes in the garage to be sorted and settled where they belong (some to go away forever we hope! We have too much stuff!!) But the house itself seems fairly settled and is ready for company. So do come!!Timmy and his wife Heather and little Beniah are living in the daylight basement for the next year or two, and they, too are working on getting settled.I just want to say that it's nice to finally have a home again!
• 22:13

  The Grandchildren

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Here are some recent pictures of our 6 precious grandchildren. We are so blessed! And we're so enjoying each of the little ones. We only wish we could see Aaron more often!
  
  Everlyn Holly Rose Shire - born April 1, 2009 (Kim's)
  
  
  
  Beniah - now 5 months old (Timmy's)
  
  
  
  
  
  Katie - now 15 months old (Beth's)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Donny - now 22 months old (Kim's)
  
  
  
  
  
  Aaron - our Singapore boy was 3 in February (Danny's)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Jack was 3 last December (Beth's)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Like father, like son!! (Timmy and Beniah)Comparing 15 month old Katie and 5 month old Beniah -- not a lot of difference -- except that Katie is more petite.Katie, Beth, Jack, Beniah and Timmy
  Beth and Auntie Jo with the little ones
• April 01, 2009
• 20:09

  It's a Girl!!

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Everlyn Holly Rose Shire joined our family today!! She was born to Kim and Andy Shire at 12:36 on April 1, 2009. She weighed in at 5 lb, 9 oz, and was 18 inches long, and as you can see from the following pictures, she is as cute as can be!! We now have 2 grand-daughters and 4 grandsons -- all very precious!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Daddy Andy and his little girl
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Big brother, Donny. He wasn't as thrilled as the rest of us.... He was more interested in the equipment in the room and running in the halls than he was in his little sister. He doesn't know that his life has just changed drastically!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Auntie Jo holding her sweet neice.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Grandma Marie and Grandpa Jim
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• March 14, 2009
• 14:07

  This is the house....

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  I thought it was time I put some pictures of the house we're buying on here for all of you who are wondering about it. If things go as planned, we will be closing the deal on March 27 and could be moving that week-end. Right now it appears that it's going to happening, but there is still a chance that something might happen to delay or stop it.
  
  
  here is the front of the house -- carport on the left and entry way through a sun porch.
  a very nice deck looks over the back yard.
  
  
  
  
  
  sunporch...
  
  living room
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  this is the family room in the daylight basement.
  
  
  
  
  the door with the flowers is the door to the...
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Bomb shelter! (It makes a good storage room, as well as a topic of interest).
  
  The carport and garage (which we plan to close in and make a room out of).So there you have it. We think it will be a good place for us, with plenty of room for our family to visit and be comfortable, and space for overnight guests, etc.Do come visit once we get settled.We'll keep you posted on how things go.
• February 14, 2009
• 11:58

  Birthdays are for the Birds!!

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  For my birthday this year, we went to Long Beach for a night. I love the beach, and though it was very cold out there, we had to go walk on the beach for at least a little while. This first picture should have told me something.... even the seagulls were all 'hunkered down' because of the cold!
  
  
  
  There was a flock of hundreds of birds hovering near the edge of the waves. We enjoyed watching the patterns of flight they made.
  
  
  I tried to join the flock, but they rejected my friendship and removed themselves from my advances.
  
  
  
  It was SOOOO cold!! Here I am with only my eyes showing, and I was still freezing! It was the wind chill factor that got us. We didn't stay out very long. The interesting thing was that we could drive on the beach, so after returning to the car, we drove out where we had been walking, and found it a lot more comfortable!!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  After a nice dinner we went back to the motel room and settled in to watch a movie. It was just starting when the electricity went out -- and stayed out for about 45 minutes. Luckily I had my flashlight and Jim had his computer to add light to the room. we were glad when the lights came back on before we were ready for bed because we were envisioning everything coming on in the middle of the night and waking us. We did get to watch the movie after all.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  On Friday morning it was kind of rainy over there, so we did a little shopping in Long Beach gift shops, then headed home. But on the way we met Kathy at Longview and she treated me to lunch for my birthday. Nice!
• January 24, 2009
• 9:29

  Sweet Katie's Birthday

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  On January 10, Katie turned one year old. It's amazing how fast this first year has flown! We got to help celebrate the day by attending her party along with the other grandparents and some of Katie's aunts and uncles.
  Beth made a butterfly cake since that seems to be one of Katie's interests at this point in her young life.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Hmm! Pretty! Should I touch it?
  

  So dainty! This was about as far as she got with the frosting. She didn't like the feel of it. Beth had changed her to this outfit for the cake just in case she really got sticky, but the most she did was to get frosting on her finger and then wipe it off onto her leg! And she lost interest fairly quickly.

  The rest of us enjoyed the cake! It was another of Beth's yummy recipes. Mmmmmm!

  
• January 04, 2009
• 21:09

  Under the Tree

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  A fun thing I did as a kid and taught my own kids and now my grandkids. Here I am with Donny under his Christmas tree. "See all the pretty lights?"
  
  
  
  
  
• 19:16

  Christmas with the Whittakers

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  We didn't have our family Christmas celebration until New Year's Eve -- not an uncommon thing for us. We like to spread our Christmas out and make it last!!
  On the 29th, Tim and Heather came to spend some time in our apartment with us. We loved having them and little Beniah here. We babysat Kim's Donny on the 30th. He wasn't sure what to think of his little cousin. When Beniah cried, Donny would run to the kitchen to get away.
  
  

  Here we thought he was showing a bit of interest, but just when I was ready to take the picture, he exclaimed, "Elmo!" and started playing with the toy on the front of Beniah's chair. Beniah seemed more interested in Donny than Donny was in him.

  
  
  The youngest family member. "Santa Baby"
  
  We had a few extended family and friends join us this year. This is our dear sis-in-law, Kathy and friend, Dave.
  
  Jack really likes his little cousin.
  
  Our little darling, Katie melts our hearts. She's so precious!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  This was a fun photo shoot!! The ages of our little ones and the varied personalities made it difficult to get everyone looking in the same direction at the same time. There were at least 5 cameras flashing pics and all the adults (except Grandma who was holding Beniah in place) grouped in front of the little ones trying to capture their attention. Then Katie was done and climbing down, and it was all over -- in a flash!
  
  Katie, Donny, Jack and Beniah. Aren't they cute?!!
  
  We always have fondue. Yummy!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Kim and Heather
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Jack and Uncle Timmy
  
  
  Jim with his brother, Jeff
• December 22, 2008
• 23:33

  White Christmas!!

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Some snow scenes from our apartment. The scenery may not be as pretty as other places, but there's something about snow that makes even the most ordinary things seem magical.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  And some things are.... fun!
  
  
  
  
  Today Jim took the ice and snow off the van, put chains on the tires, and we finally got out for a drive. We were feeling closed in at our little apartment. So it was nice to go to Kim's for awhile.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Kim and Andy's cars were buried in snow.
  
  

  Here's a house that I think is pretty. Maybe next year I'll have pictures of our own house to put here, but in the meantime, I'll enjoy seeing others.

  
  

  
  

  Everyone have a wonderful Christmas, and if you have snow, enjoy the beauty. If you don't have snow where you are, I hope you enjoyed these pictures.

  
  

  We don't have to dream of a white Christmas this year. 'Looks like we'll have one! (Of course this means that some of our Christmas plans have had to be cancelled, which is sad, but I still love the snow!)

  
• December 10, 2008
• 16:26

  Last But Not Least

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Beniah:
  mobile for cradle
  books
  King-size pillow cases to use as cradle sheets (will need to be sewn to 12" x 36" x 4")
  DiaperAps (disposable diaper liners from CottonBabies.com)
  he likes to look at lights, so you could work with that, I guess
  things from baby registries at Target or Walmart
  
  Heather:
  nursing wrap
  pajama pants (Large)
  baby food cookbook
  What To Expect the First Year by Arlene Eisenberg
  Gift Cards to
  Old Navy,
  Starbucks,
  Borders (or where ever to buy Tuck by Stephen Lawhead coming out in Feb '09),
  Fred Meyer (or anywhere to develop pictures)
  good books
  
  Tim:
  USB connector cable for Sony Handycam DCR-TRV140 (not necessarily the expensive new one--take a look at this link)
  Portable mp3 player
  Good music to put on said mp3 player
  'Fevre Dream', or really, any books written/edited by George R.R. Martin (I already own all 4 books in A Song of Ice & Fire, as well as 'Nightflyers' and 'Dying of the Light')
  Any books by Brandon Sanderson
  Discworld books by Terry Pratchett (I own 'The Colour of Magic' and 'Witches Abroad')
  'Oathbreakers' and 'Oathblood' by Mercedes Lackey
  Any other good books
  'Professional'-type clothing
  
  The Whole Family:
  money for a digital camera
  The Office Season 4
  Enchanted
  Dan in Real Life
  Get Smart
  Young @ Heart
  An 8 hour nap
• December 04, 2008
• 21:23

  Apartmentalized Christmas

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  I really thought I'd be okay with no Christmas decor this year. But I was wrong!! No. I do need at least a little Christmas here. So today I went and bought not one, but THREE Christmas trees. Now, doesn't this look nice?
  
  Oh, and since I didn't have any of my Christmas clothes here, when we were down in Eugene yesterday, we went to our house in JC and dug through some things and got some of them. I knew where they were. We just had to move some things to get to them. I feel better. Christmas can come now!!
• December 03, 2008
• 12:26

  Ma and Pa lists

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Thanks to those of you who have posted Christmas lists. I'm working on lists for Daddy and me. Keep checking back to see if we've updated them with more ideas.
  
  Mama's List:
  
  One thing I know I would like is satin PJs (size 12-14). walmart has some pretty red ones with black designs for $12.
  
  One of those things they sell in the malls that you heat and put on your neck and shoulders or back or whatever. I don't know what you call them, but they feel good.
  
  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.
  
  Hmmmm -- I'll keep thinking and post some more things soon. (it's hard to think of things that I'd like when I don't have a house at present. Being with all of you is what I really want)
  
  
  Daddy's List:
  
  
  

  A Very Merry Christmas List (I've Checked It Twice!!)
  

  I love my family! You are so great and give me much joy. You are my Christmas gift that I get every day. I have three things that I would like each of you to give me this Christmas:
  
  1) a box with something you make/find/from $1.00 store/from goodwill/etc. for me to open - I like opening gifts! But don't want you to waste your time or $$$ trying to think of something for me when I can't think of anything . . .
  
  2) a card with how you used some of the $$ saved on #1 (above) to help someone else: check out the video clip on the following site, from which comes some of my inspiration - [www.adventconspiracy.org] (some suggestions for this would be perhaps sending $5 or $10 to Ravi and Evie's ministry c/o New Life Chr Ctr; Gleanings for the hungry [google those words and get info about it], Compassion international shoebox ministry, "Love 146" [another one to Google -- a very worthy ministry]. The idea is instead of spending whatever you would on me, send $5 or $10 to one of these or to another ministry you're aware of.
  
  3) a hug/handshake and a smile.
  
  I am looking forward to having more time with you this coming month!
  Grandpa/Dad
  
• November 30, 2008
• 12:11

  The Shire's Lists

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Our lists:
  Donny's List:ElmoBoard Books (he loves the hungry caterpillar)age appropriate learning toysPraise Baby DVDstoys with buttons to pushhe's wearing 2T, though he doesn't need clothes (but we like new cute clothes anyway!)
  Kim's List:
  Musicals and Shakespeare on DVDTOM TOM (or Target cards which can go towards the purchase of one)other things you think I might like
  Sorry!  I have Donny and Andy... that's all I really want.  It's hard to make a list.
  Oh!  I just saw a home yogurt maker on the Today show.  I'd love that!
  Andy's List:ON DVD/Blu Ray [WIDESCREEN versions, please]:
  The Simpsons: Season 6 on DVD (Seasons 10 and higher wanted too.)
  LOST: Season 4
  Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 release)
  Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
  Kung Fu Panda
  Animaniacs: Vol. 3
  
  MOVIES ON VHS LREADY OWNED I WANT TO REPLACE WITH DVD/Blu Ray VERSIONS:
  (Widescreen versions, desired)
  Liar Liar
  Happy Gilmore
  Billy Madison
  The Lion King
  Unstrung Heroes
  Tombstone
  Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
  Rudy
  Son in Law
  Dante's Peak
  The Shawshank Redemption
  So I Married an Axe Murderer
  Matinee
  Daylight
  Dead Poets Society
  Dragon Heart
  The Ten Commandments
  Armageddon
  007: Tomorrow Never Dies
  For Love of the Game
  The Great Outdoors
  Mr. Holland's Opus
  Air Force One
  The Rock
  American Graffiti
  Gettysburg
  The Horse Whisperer
  Geronimo
  The Mask of Zorro
  Starship Troopers
  The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney animated feature)
  Hercules (Disney animated feature)
  Dumbo
  Space Jam
  The X Files (Original Feature Film)
  Beverly Hills Ninja
  Contact
  The Little Rascals (feature film)
  Mystery Alaska
  Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh version)
  
  MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS:
  Sports Illustrated
  National Geographic
  Entertainment Weekly
  
  OTHER STUFF, STOCKING STUFFERS OR OTHERWISE:
  
  Classic Nintendo Games such as:
  Super Mario Bros. 3
  Metroid
  The Legend of Zelda
  The Legend of Zelda II: The Adventures of Link
  
  For use with my job:
  Ballpoint Pens (I lose them all the time with my new job)
  Sharpie marker, black ink
  Thomas Guide for Portland/Vancouver (Latest version)
  Fast Food gift cards
  
  GIFT CARDS:
  Best Buy
  iTunes
  Apple Store
  Target
  Home Depot
  
  WISH LIST:
  Nintendo Wii or Playstation 3 w/blu ray
  HD TV (Sony, Samsung, Sharp, or Vizio)
  Sony Blu Ray player
  Sirrius/XM Satellite Radio for the car
  TomTom or Garmin GPS for car
  
  
  
• November 21, 2008
• 9:58

  Twist Family Christmas Lists

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Jack:
  Veggie Tales The Wonderful Wizard of Ha’s DVD
  Classic Bugs Bunny clips on DVD
  Dumbo DVD
  Radio/clock/CD player for his room
  Take Along Thomas die-cast trains (please ask which he doesn’t have before buying, because he regularly tells me which ones he needs! Although he has many already, these characters are his special friends, and he would really get TONS of play time out of them.) I just discovered that amazon.com is a great source- they have many available, and the prices are competitive.
  
  Katie:
  She is so content with Jack’s toys that I don’t really know.
  She is adventurous, so any age appropriate toys that might intrigue her- she is definitely not into stuffed toys at all, so you can check that idea off of your list! And we already have a bajillion kids books, so preferably no more unless they are specific to Katie.
  12-18 month clothes
  Right now she is fascinated with butterflies, and is often reaching up toward the ceiling and saying “fies”. So maybe something along that theme would be fun.
  
  Matt:
  Big Woodstove for the Shop
  Durable work gloves- he likes the kind that are leather and stretchy material pieced together with Velcro wrist straps
  GC’s to Lowe’s or Home Depot or iTunes
  The third Pirates of the Caribbean DVD
  Butler Creek 25 round .22 clip “Hot Lips” found at Bi-Mart ($15 or $20 each)
  Small keychain LED light- the smaller the better
  Stainless Steel (inside and out) travel mug
  
  Beth:
  Cordless Hot Glue Gun
  GC’s to Michael’s or Craft Warehouse
  Anything off of my etsy wish list (see the sidebar on my blog) either purchased or handmade by you in imitation of what you see there.
  Books (half.com is a great source):
  A Shaker's Dozen (Hardcover, 1999)
  With These Hands They Built a Nation; the Story of Colonial Arts and Crafts (1971)
  Simply Primitive by Pat Cross(Paperback, 2006)
• November 17, 2008
• 17:09

  Meet the ...

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Meet the newest member of the Whittaker family! Beniah Mark was born at 5:20 AM on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008.
  He was 9 lb, 6 oz, and very cute!!
  
  
  ________________________
  
  As you can see, his daddy, Timmy is very proud! We can tell already that he's going to be a good dad.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Their first family picture! Tim, Heather and Beniah Whittaker
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  See? I TOLD you he was cute!!
  
  
  Heather and Beniah getting to know each other.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Their initial response to each other....
  
  
  ...soon became a good thing. They both looked amazed in this pic!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Smiling at Grandma....
  _________________
  
  
  
  checking Grandpa out....
  
  _________________
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Grandma and Grandpa are both very happy with the new little bundle! What a precious gift a baby is!
• November 16, 2008
• 15:01

  joann's christmas list

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  This is very simple, sorry!
  
  

  • half.com has a thorough list of my book, music & dvd desires...you must simply log-in as me (joann_3) using the password i sent in the email and go to my very long wish list. The list is not at all in any particular order. Actually, I want everything on the list, so you can look and see what would make you happiest to make me happy with.
  • the perfect red shoes, not tennis shoes...but ballet flats or China flats or stilleto type heels...if in the flat version: size 10 (maybe 9 1/2 wide)...if in the heel or pointy toed flat version: size 10 wide or 10 1/2 or 11 (i want them to be loose enough that I can actually wear them without killing my feet)
  • fabric scarves...you know, the same sort of fabric (thin-ish, but wide with fringe) as my black & white checked scarf...Urban Outfitters has a ton of great ones...
  • TOMS perfect polka dotted shoes...now, these are a bit more expensive than shoes you would normally buy because it's a really cool company where you are essentially buying two pairs of shoes, but one of them gets sent to Africa or some other part of the world where they are placed on kid's feet who don't have shoes...the website linked above elaborates on that, if you care to find out more...size 10
  • earrings & necklaces can be fun and snazzy. be creative and think about what sorts of things i already wear and what i may enjoy
  • be creative...i don't have very much space where I'm at, but you should know pretty well by now what i like...so if you see something that screams "Joann" (literally or figuratively), go for it
  • zoom lens for my Canon...Daddy'll know which one I want
  • camera lens filter, again, for my Canon - you know, like an amber one & what-not

  Happy shopping!
• November 08, 2008
• 0:07

  Fort Vancouver

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  A couple of weeks ago the weather was good (probably the last really good day for doing anything outside for awhile), and we went to visit Fort Vancouver. Since we live here now, we thought it would be a good thing to see. I thought it was fascinating, and hope to go back when they're giving tours and all the buildings are open to go inside. The original fort was burned down, so what is there now is reconstructed. But it sits on the same site and the buildings that have been built are accurate as to what was there before. a lot of the articles in the buildings were actually recovered by archeologists who excavated the original site.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  After touring as much as we could inside the fort, we went to "Old Apple Tree Park" (nearby) and saw what is reported to be the oldest apple tree in the territory. I expected something bigger than this.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  We walked under the railroad tracks to get to the tree. I thought it was quite picturesque....
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ... as was the river just before sunset.
  
  
• October 28, 2008
• 10:23

  Grandma's new home

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  We got home last night after spending a week in Eugene helping get Grandma moved into a nice apartment at Solvang Retirement Living. She seemed to be adjusting to the change remarkably well, and I think she will truly be happy there, and may even wonder after awhile why she didn't move there a lot sooner. Here are some pics for you to see what it's like:

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The dining hall is set up like a restaurant, and she can go down to eat anytime of the day from 7 AM to 6 PM. Good food. We ate there 3 times. They take people shopping two days of the week, and two days are set aside for doctor visits. If they have an appt on one of those days, they will take them there and then pick them up when they're through. They go on trips to different places of interest at least once a month, have entertainment come in, have Bible studies and church services, etc. They encourage the residents to keep active by awarding them "Solvang Dollars" every time they attend an excercise session (chair excercises) or walk around the building. When they have accumulated 7 solvang dollars, they can trade it in for a guest meal ticket so they can treat their guests to lunch or dinner with them in the dining room when they come. While we were there, several people came to meet Grandma, and one lady in particular was very helpful and had her go to two or three meals with her. I think she will continue to be a friend for Grandma. She attends the church where Grandma goes, but they didn't know each other before. Of course Grandma is hoping for frequent visits from her kids and grandkids. There is a guest apartment there (I didn't see it) where people can stay for $50 a night, which includes all meals.At this point, I'm glad we made the decision and moved her there. I'm praying for good times and good friends for her there to fill her days and help her begin to live again with joy.
• September 18, 2008
• 14:10

  Be It Ever So Humble...

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Well, we’re in our apartment! We moved in on Tuesday (with help from Andy, Kim and little Donny, who had to be confined to a playpen since he was determined to be outside). We still have a lot to do, but keep working on it and are finding places for the things we brought here, knowing it’s a much smaller place than we’ve been in (and also knowing that as soon as Jim has a job and our house sale in JC is finalized, we'll be looking for a house and moving again!) I’m having to be creative to find slots for everything – especially in the kitchen.
  But the place that some of the things are going to is back to the storage unit we have here in Vancouver! So now we have ‘stuff’ in 3 places: The shop back in our Junction City house is still half full of furniture, etc;
  The storage unit, which is quite full (some of the ‘stuff’ there belongs to Joann and to Timmy, though);
  
  The apartment.
  
  But we have two bedrooms, and are almost ready for company! If you come, I promise to have the guest room ready for you.
  
  I’ll post some more pics as soon as we get better settled.
  
  No job yet for Jim. I’ve kept him pretty busy this week moving and setting things up, helping to unpack, and settling in, etc. Thanks for checking in with us, and for your continued prayers for direction to the right job.
• September 06, 2008
• 10:05

  Apartment

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  We found an apartment in Vancouver, and will be moving in on September 15 or 16! It has 2 bedrooms and is about 1/2 the size of our house in Junction City, but is nice for a temporary home until Jim gets a job and we can know where we should buy a house. I'll post some pictures once we get in there.
  Stay tuned for more in the continuing store of Jim and Marie!
• August 31, 2008
• 20:31

  Family

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  THIS is the reason we moved!
  THE FAMILY-- almost all were together on Saturday for a weiner roast at the Twist lodge (Beth's house). If Danny and Betsy could have been here, our day would have been complete! We missed them.
  
  Grandma Marie with her sweet little Katie
  
  Timmy, Andy, Joann and Katie, grandma Marie with Donny and Jack.
  
  Donny with Uncle Timmy
  
  
  
  
  

  Jack helped Donny get a drink.

  Jack with Auntie Jo

  
  

  And we finished the day with a leap over the fire! "Beth be nimble, Beth be quick...."

  
  

  What a fun day we had! I'm sure glad we're here!

  Joann got a job at Starbucks and starts on Tuesday, but Jim hasn't gotten a job yet. We're still staying with Kim and Andy in Vancouver, and looking for work, a place to live, a church, a bank, new doctor and dentist, etc. What fun we're having!!

  
• August 21, 2008
• 8:45

  Where???

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Where did everything go??
  
  To the shop, of course!
  
  We had planned to be out by Saturday morning, but even though we had help from family and friends, it was 2 PM Sunday before we had everything completely out of the house and were ready to leave. We packed almost everything into the shop at the back of our garage, and loaded both of our cars full. Said good-bye to the house, then headed north.
  
  Probably within a couple of hours our renter/buyers were moving in – very happily. They’ve been living in two camper trailers for the past month.
  
  So the next phase of our life has begun! We started out spending Monday and Tuesday at Beth’s house in Sandy, OR – playing with our grandbabies there, and enjoying Beth and Matt’s hospitality. It was nice to be able to relax after the frenzy of work getting moved. We did go out to pick blueberries (for them and for us) for a couple of hours on Tuesday.
  
  On Wednesday we came to Kim’s house in Vancouver, WA. I made dinner last night after Kim got home from a day at CYT day camp. I also made a yummy blueberry dessert for all of us. We’re going to make this our home base for awhile, so will spend some time today making a space for some of our things in their garage. We’re also going to go look at some apartments today.
  
  Then we’re going to go visit the Cowdens in Seattle and Kathy in Centralia for the week-end. We’ll be back at Kim’s on Monday, and Jim will go drive tractor for his brother for a few days before he comes back and starts job hunting in earnest. The teaching job we mentioned in the last post didn’t happen for Jim. There’s still a possibility of a job at another school… We’ll see what happens. We’re not sure what the Lord has planned for us, but we’re trying to be flexible in the process. Please leave us a comment so we'll know you're seeing our posts. We like hearing from you, too.
• August 13, 2008
• 23:27

  Moving along

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  It's time for an update on our status. Jim had his interview at King's Way school in Vancouver on Tuesday. He says it went well. He's hopeful of a job offer, but know they were also interviewing others, and we don't know anything about them. The administrator said they would get back to him by the end of the week. So we wait....
  
  In the meantime, we are seriously packing. Our house is starting to look empty.
  
  Tomorrow a friend is going to come help Jim move a lot of our furniture to the shop. We're storing things there until we get a home.
  
  Tonight the buyers came and we signed papers for the sale of our house. They were celebrating the signing. I was sad. It's all so final.
  
  We're trying to be out by Saturday so they can move in....
  
  We'll go to Beth's for a few days, then Kim's, then...?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Job --- we'll buy a house
  
  no job yet --- we'll rent an apartment
  
  we'll keep you posted. thanks for checking in. And thanks for praying for us.
• August 05, 2008
• 23:33

  Another Step

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Another step is done… kind of. We started the paperwork today for the sale of our house to the Hitchcocks. They’ll be renting for the first few months, but the sale looks good. We have some details to work out this week, and will do the final paperwork next Wednesday. Then we wait for the government program they're applying for to be processed. They say that will take from 2 to 4 months. We set August 20th for the last possible day we’ll be out, but will try for the 15th and 16th so they can start moving in over the week-end.
  
  Jim has an interview on Tuesday, the 13th at King’s Way school in Vancouver, Washington (not far from Kim’s house). They had an unexpected opening for a 5th grade teacher. We had checked out that school in the spring, and were impressed with it. They had no openings at the time.
  
  In the meantime, we’re packing boxes and taking loads up to the storage unit each time we’re up there. We plan to store most of our things in the shop here until we find a place to move into up there – wherever that may be. If Jim gets the job, of course, we’ll look to buy a house near the school. If he doesn’t have a job yet, we may get an apartment temporarily. But will have to live with Kim or Beth for the time between leaving here and finding a place to live.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Now we have to squeeze some other things into our final days here (besides trying to squeeze all our things into boxes and into the shop). We have friends and family to spend time with and the Scandinavian Festival to attend this Thursday through Sunday. I’m really looking forward to that! I may even work in our church food booth one shift. Jim and I did that last year, and it was fun.
  
  
• July 23, 2008
• 22:32

  A Moving Story....

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  July 17th, we took a U-Haul and van load of 'stuff' to storage. It's nice to have the boxes we've packed go away instead of being stacked in the house here! But if you were to visit us today, you wouldn't really see evidence that we're moving until you went out to the craft room and/or shop. those rooms actually have lots less in them. we're packing the things you don't see first. that way we don't feel like we're living in a half-empty house!
  
  
  
  
  
  Kim, Andy and Donny met us at the unit to help unload. Donny wasn't a lot of help, but he sure was cute!!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Beth took me to a quilt show on Friday, and I was surprised to see the quilt I made for her and Matt on display! It's the blue and white one, and looked very nice hanging there with all the other quilts. Unfortunately Jack wasn't interested in looking at quilts. So our looking was cut short. I did get to browse a little longer though, while Beth took the little ones and went for lunch. I was in 'Quilt Heaven'!!
  

  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Here's our sweet little Katie, at 6 months old.
  
  She looks like she's about ready to take off flying....
  
  Kind of like her Auntie Jo -- when she was 6 months old!!
• July 15, 2008
• 19:46

  Progress Report

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  I'm having a hard time believing we're actually moving, but we really are! (Maybe it would help if we knew WHERE we're moving to!)
  
  On Monday, July 14, we rented a small U-Haul truck to take as much of our stuff to the storage unit in Vancouver as possible and make the final move (probably about August 15) easier. Heather brought Timmy down and they had dinner and spent the evening with us. Timmy helped with a few of the heavy items that evening. Then he spent the night while Heather went home so she could go to work the next day.
  
  Megan joined us to spend the night Monday, which just happened to be her 13th birthday! Can you believe that?!! Happy birthday, Megan!! Then on Tuesday morning she and Marie passed boxes and things down from the attic so the guys could load them into the moving truck. Amazingly we got it pretty full and are ready to go take it up on Thursday. We'll pack up some more things and load them into the van or more into the U-haul tomorrow.
  
  Joann has also taken more stuff to the storage unit, so it will be a lot fuller in a few days.
  
  Now we need to find out where we're going to be, and get a place to move into....
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• July 09, 2008
• 14:34

  Want these?

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  I won't leave this on for long, but wanted to show you some things I'm getting rid of to see if you want them. This table is 23 inches square and 26 inches tall.
  
  
  
  
  
  remember this table that was upstairs in our roseburg house? The table and the lamp are available.
  
  
  
  Dishes anyone?
  
  There were some other things that I'm getting rid of, but they weren't worth showing. I know none of you would want them.
  
  Let me know ASAP if you want any of these. they'll be going away soon otherwise.
• June 30, 2008
• 9:12

  Moving update

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

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  This is our 10X20 storage unit in Vancouver after the first van load up there. We've added some more things, plus Joann has brought a car load from Bend for HER move and has it in there, too.
  

  It doesn't look like much, but we ARE making progress. We plan to take another van FULL on Thursday on our way to visit the Kaplans.

  
  

  The latest is that it seems that we have a sale of our house in the making. Friends from our church here came over yesterday and proposed it to us. They need to be out of their rental house in two weeks, and would like to rent our house until their financing comes through. Then they would buy it. Their financing is in the works now and could be up to 6 months before it happens. They would love to make a deal with us, and we are feeling that with the housing situation as it is now, it would be better to do this with them than to have the house sitting empty after we leave -- for 'who knows how long?'. We meet with them again Wednesday evening to talk about the particulars, and will probably go ahead with the deal unless something comes up to show us we shouldn't.

  
  

  But that doesn't mean moving in two weeks. They have a place they can stay temporarily. We're thinking mid-August would work for us. Still not having a job in the Portland area makes us a little reluctant to 'up and move' when we don't know where we should settle up there. If nothing comes up in the meantime, we would probably keep most of our stuff in storage and rent an apartment or something until there's a job.

  
  

  'Time will tell' with all of this. By mid-august, Jim may have his job and we can buy the house we want to stay in. We're not excited about moving twice, but will do it if necessary.

  
• June 17, 2008
• 20:39

  For Sale -- for sure!

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

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  Today the sign went up.... Our house is officially for sale.

  It was a strange feeling putting that sign out. It makes it seem so final.

  We still don't know what's next... where the next job is, where we'll live, etc. We trust that God will direct us to the right place at the right time. I'm hoping we'll know before long, but that we will still be here for the Scandinavian Festival, which this year is August 7 thru August 10.

  I haven't done much on packing, but have been focused on clearing out clutter and getting the house ready to be shown. There is still a lot of work to be done, but we're chipping away at it.

  Stay tuned for more. We'll try to keep you updated on our progress.

  
• June 08, 2008
• 16:53

  Transitions

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Well, it's finally happening.... School is over for the year. Jim has given his notice, and we're moving to be closer to our girls and the grandchildren! It's rather bittersweet because we love our home and living in Junction city, and have enjoyed being close to Marie's family. BUT... We are so looking forward to being with our own family.
  Again we're leaving Timmy behind. But this time he has a wife (and a baby on the way). We'll miss being close to them, too. But are hopeful that when he finishes school in March that they too will be moving to the Portland area.
  No job yet, though there is an interview set up for this week. We'll see what happens on that. We'd really like to be somewhere between Beth and Kim....
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Now begins the monumental task of sorting, packing, getting the house ready to sell, etc. Today we loaded the van with the first load of things to go to a storage unit up there somewhere. We figure that each time we go we can take a load of things and make the final move a little easier. Plus, we'd be getting the extra clutter out of this place so it will show better for selling.
  
  Tomorrow we'll go up, get a storage place and unload our things, spend a couple of nights at Kim's and go to the interview. Then on Wednesday Jim will go to put in a few days of tractor driving for his brother while Marie goes out to visit Beth and her little ones. We'll head back home on Friday and try to get the house ready and up for sale.
  
  It seems like we'll have a pretty busy summer. 'Wanna come help?
• April 11, 2008
• 10:37

  Small Beginnings

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  The kids at school asked for baby pictures of Mr and Mrs Whittaker. So I scanned and printed these for them. I thought you might like to see and download them too.
  
  Baby Mr. Whittaker!! (Jim)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Baby Mrs. Whittaker (Marie Kjosness)
  
• January 22, 2008
• 21:52

  Visiting the Grandkids

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  There was no school on Monday, January 21 (MLK Day), so on Sunday we went up to Kim's to visit there. Then on Monday, Kim and Donny joined us as we went out to Beth's for the afternoon. What fun it was to have the babies together!!
  The only thing that would have made it better was if Aaron could have been there, too (along with his mama and daddy of course! We miss them all!)
  
  
  Jack was quick to come to Donny's side and greet him.
  Here they are checking each other out.
  
  
  Here's Grandpa -- his first time to see little Katie, who was 11 days old.
  
  Sweet Baby Katie!
  
  Grandpa and Grandma Whittaker with the two youngest of our grandchildren.
  
  Oh, this Grandma loved being with the little ones! I could have stayed a lot longer, but we had to go home so Grandpa could be at his job the next day....
  
  Just before we left, Jack pulled Grandpa into the TV room to watch "Cars" with him. Looks like all 3 of the 'boys' are enjoying the show!
  
  
  We look forward to this summer when Danny and Betsy will be here with Aaron. It will be fun to have all 4 of our grandchildren together!
• January 13, 2008
• 19:52

  Katherine Pearl Twist

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Our little Katie was born to Beth and Matt Twist at 11:45 AM on January 10. Grandma Whittaker got to go take care of Katie's "big brother", Jack while the big event was taking place. Then when Katie was only 2 hours old, she received her first visitor -- brother Jack. After the initial meeting, Grandma got to join the family, hold her precious granddaughter, and take some pictures. Following are some pictures of that day and the next day when Katie came home.
  
  
  
  
  Katie and Beth bonding.
  
  A sweet family picture
  
  The Twist family
  
  Jack is delighted with his little sister!
  
  
  
  
  Grandma is delighted with her sweet little Katie!
  
  Daddy and brother admiring Katie
  About 1/2 hour before Katie arrived home, Grandma let Jack see a slide show of pictures from his visit the day before. He really enjoyed the pictures. And when they arrived home, he was excited to see Mama and Daddy and again was fascinated with his baby sister.
  
  Sweet Baby Katie!!
  
  You can see Beth's account and pictures of the day by going to [thetwistfamily.blogspot.com]
• December 05, 2007
• 20:46

  Mama's list

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  I added some things to my list on 12-5-07. So if you haven't shopped yet, there may be more ideas there for you.
• December 01, 2007
• 13:50

  Tim and Heather's Christmas List--Updated!

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Timmy and Heather's Combined List
  ~ The Office Season 3
  ~ Coffee Grinder
  
  Heather's List
  ~ 12x12 Scrapbooking pages w/ top loading covers
  ~ A Good Book (new or used)
  ~ Good Music CD (new or Used)
  ~ Good DVD's (examples of bad movies: anything Jennifer Lopez or Angelina Jolie)
  ~ Bathroom Scale (please not a talking one. That would be BAD!)
  ~ Yoga/Birthing/Balance Ball (whatever they are called) for someone who is 5'4"
  ~ Anything Antique
  ~ Old Navy Gift Card (Such a wonderful store)
  ~ Money to get my wedding dress cleaned and preserve it.
  ~ Anything that makes you think "Oh, Heather would like this!"
  
  Timmy's List
  Technological Marvels
  ~ Laser Pointer (Green preferred, Red also okay)
  ~ Portable Headphones for use with a Laptop
  ~ Supreme Commander (PC game)
  
  The Word in Written Form UPDATE!!!
  ~ A Storm of Swords or A Feast for Crows (books 3 & 4 of George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series
  ~ Shadow of the Giant (by Orson Scott Card)
  ~ good books, new or used
  ~ Orson Scott Card's The Tales of Alvin Maker--Book 2-"Red Prophet," 3-"Prentice Alvin," 4-"Alvin Journeyman," 5-"Heartfire." I already own 1-"Seventh Son." I will be buying "Red Prophet" on December 26th if I didn't get it!
  
  Language Delivered through Song
  ~ Drastic Fantastic by KT Tunstall
  ~ good music (neither country nor rap is EVER good music!)
  
  Cloth for the Purpose of Countering Nudity
  ~ warm hoodie sweatshirt
  
  (Sorry 'bout the formatting--Blogger refuses to change font size the way I tell it to!)
  
• November 26, 2007
• 20:55

  Daddy's 'short' list

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Sorry I'm so slow - the hardest part of Christmas each year is trying to come up with 'the list'! It's easy to make a list of what I don't need . . . ties, underwear, hair ribbons, shoes, shirts, toothbrushes, candy (got lots) . . .
  
  Then there are the things I 'need' . . . . more DVD's, a new computer, a new car, surround sound + hd TV, an 'Elvis' wig . . . oops! scratch that last one!
  
  I did see a couple of items at Radio Shack - perhaps similar things other places that would also do OK . . . Radio Shack had a special gift display of items for $10 - a 1 watt mini-light, a booklight set, a 4x magnifier (these ol' eyes need help at times!), a weather (or not) station. Also heard part of WOW 2007 CD that sounded good.
  
  A few new items: long nosed vise-grips, smaller than normal vise-grips - $15 at BiMart
  windshield deicer spray - $5 or less at many stores with auto departments
  hands free cell phone thingy - I have one with mic & ear thing, but it's hard to hear incoming voice - want one that has an ear bud type (mine rests against the ear but not firm enough to hear if much background noise)
  DVD of Amazing Grace movie
  
  Guess that's about it for now. I really will try to come up with something more, but not sure how soon. But I'll keep my eyes open for ads . . .
  
  Love to you all! God bless - Dad
• 13:02

  we want Daddy's list!

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  we want Daddy's list!
  we want Daddy's list!
  
  we won't go until we get it (won't go, won't go)
  we won't go until we get it (won't go, won't go)
  we won't go until we get it...
  so bring it right NOW!
• November 23, 2007
• 14:52

  Tim and Heather's Christmas List

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Timmy and Heather's Combined List
  ~ The Office Season 3
  ~ Coffee Grinder
  
  Heather's List
  ~ 12x12 Scrapbooking pages w/ top loading covers
  ~ A Good Book (new or used)
  ~ Good Music CD (new or Used)
  ~ Good DVD's (examples of bad movies: anything Jennifer Lopez or Angelina Jolie)
  ~ Bathroom Scale (please not a talking one. That would be BAD!)
  ~ Yoga/Birthing/Balance Ball (whatever they are called) for someone who is 5'4"
  ~ Anything Antique
  ~ Old Navy Gift Card (Such a wonderful store)
  ~ Money to get my wedding dress cleaned and preserve it.
  ~ Anything that makes you think "Oh, Heather would like this!"
  
  Timmy's List
  Technological Marvels
  ~ Laser Pointer (Green preferred, Red also okay)
  ~ Portable Headphones for use with a Laptop
  ~ Supreme Commander (PC game)
  
  The Word in Written Form
  ~ A Storm of Swords or A Feast for Crows (books 3 & 4 of George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series
  ~ Shadow of the Giant (by Orson Scott Card)
  ~ good books, new or used
  
  Language Delivered through Song
  ~ Drastic Fantastic by KT Tunstall
  ~ good music (neither country nor rap is EVER good music!)
  
  Cloth for the Purpose of Countering Nudity
  ~ warm hoodie sweatshirt
  (Sorry about the format--I can't get it to change even when I change it! --Timmy)
  
• November 16, 2007
• 19:12

  Mama Marie's Christmas List

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Added to on 12-5-07:
  
  Okay, here's the beginning of a list for me. I may add more when I think of other things. Just remember, I really don't need anything except for you all being here (or wherever we have our Christmas celebration) for as long as you can give me. So if that is all you can afford, I'll be happy.
  
  Silk Pajamas or Flannel Pajamas (size L)
  Sweat pants or something like it to wear around the house and be comfortable and warm
  Tea Cozy (cover for tea pot)
  Thin wallet for my credit cards and money
  OR a coin purse
  
  CDs: 4Him Hymns
  
  DVDs: The Cosby Show (Seasons -- we don't have any)
  Leave it To Beaver ( Seasons -- we don't have any)
  Monk (Seasons -- we don't have any)
  Little House (Seasons -- we have seasons 1-4)
  Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
  Showboat
• November 12, 2007
• 17:18

  Wonderful World-Wide Whittaker Wishes

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  OK, we may add some more things later, but one of the things we would love as a family is a DISCatcher Traveler or two. Not sure what the best price and so forth is, but the guy we play with here was able to get about ten of them for around $100 US including delivery to Singapore. Not sure how he worked that out, may add a link later for that. The best price I found so far is here. Innova has a version as well, but it is more than twice the weight, so the DISCatcher is the best version out there.
• 13:20

  joann's christmas list!!!

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Alrighty, here it is.
  Please keep in mind that I've created these wish lists not so that you'll necessarily buy the exact item at the exact price/condition/on-line site as I've listed, but so that you have a clear picture of what I'm looking for.
  
  A word on my Target wish list: these are suggestions--I don't need the exact item, but something very similar is what I'm looking for. Some items are way expensive, but I put them on there more for my own amusement than with hopes of actually getting them (as it would be way depressing to get only one present for Christmas because it is so expensive, I prefer more items than just one solitary huge gift).
  
  A word on my Half.com wish list (to view, you'll have to go to half.com click on wish lists, then sign in as me...check your email for my username/password): for books--I don't mind used at all, but no torn pages or highlighting please. Please opt for paper back whenever it's an option (not a big fan of hard back). For music--used CD's are also fine (as long as there are no scratches & it includes the cover/jacket). Or you could just get me an iTunes gift card if you can't find the CD. For movies--DVDs, no VHS. Again, used is fine. As long as they actually work. I don't even necessarily care if they come in the original case as I toss all cases out to save space.
  
  Here is a list of musical accessories, that again, don't need to come from this website, but you can see what they look like & the exact brand, size, etc. (as getting the right brand & size is ultra-important when dealing with a musical instrument & I know exactly what I use & love):
  

  • Elixir11075 Light-Medium PolyWeb Acoustic Guitar Strings (12-56)
  • DaddarioJ810 Prelude 4/4 Violin String Set (Medium)
  • light grey (.60 gauge) Dunlop guitar picks
  • Guitar stringing device (pro-winder)
  • Acoustic guitar humidifier

  Let me know if any of these links are giving you problems & I'll attempt to remedy the problem. Merry Christmas to all& to all a good night!

• 12:10

  A Series Of Items That Might Bring Andy Some Holiday Cheer

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Stocking Possibilities
  -- Blank Post Cards (visit www.postcrossing.com and you'll see my new hobby)
  -- Post Card stamps (see above)
  -- AA batteries, 9volt batteries.
  -- Nerds (the candy, please... I like the strawberry/grape varieties)
  -- Other incredible edibles (no nuts, please)
  -- My copy of the DVD "Gone in 60 Seconds" .... Ahem! ;-)
  
  Bookseses
  -- MAD's Greatest Artists: The Completely MAD Don Martin [Box Set] by Don Martin
  -- Justice Vol. 3 by Alex Ross & others
  -- DeLorme atlases for Washington and/or Oregon.
  -- The Johnstown Flood by David B. McCullough
  -- A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin (and Book 2, & 3, & 4, etc...)
  -- A subscription to Time, National Geographic, Entertainment Weekly, or World Magazine.
  
  DVDs (ALL in "Widescreen" versions when a choice is presented)
  -- The Simpsons Seasons 5 & 6
  -- Corner Gas [Canadian TV Series] Seasons 1 and on
  -- Gods & Generals
  -- Animaniacs Vol. 3
  -- The Truman Show (A VHS replacement)
  -- Unstrung Heroes (A VHS replacement)
  -- The Shawshank Redemption (A VHS replacement)
  -- Independence Day (A VHS replacement)
  -- Tommy Boy (A VHS replacement)
  -- Billy Madison (A VHS replacement)
  -- Happy Gilmore (A VHS replacement)
  -- Contact (A VHS replacement)
  -- Matinee (A VHS replacement)
  -- Dragonheart (A VHS replacement)
  -- The Little Rascals [the feature film] (A VHS replacement)
  -- Dante's Peak (A VHS replacement)
  -- Liar Liar (A VHS replacement)
  -- So I Married An Axe Murderer (A VHS replacement)
  -- Rudy (A VHS replacement)
  -- The Rock (A VHS replacement)
  -- Gettysburg (A VHS replacement)
  
  Gift Cards
  -- The Apple Store (for computer software or toward an iPod)
  -- Best Buy (for use toward home theater upgrades)
  -- iTunes (for buying music online)
• November 10, 2007
• 21:08

  Kim's Christmas List

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  RANDOM CHEAPISHNESS:fun socks (I have a million Christmas ones already) like the you're icky ones which I wore out60% plus coacoa dark chocolate
  BOOKS:Something on baby sign languagethat Robert Jordan series that everyone raves about
  GAMES:Settlers of CattanSurvive! (out of print - have to buy it used online)
  MUSICSwitchfoot CDs - new way to be human, nothing is sound, learning to breathe, gravityitunes gift certificates
  DVDsKenneth Bragnah's Hamlet Noises Off Into the WoodsWestside StorySeven Brides for Seven BrothersKevin Kline's Pirates of PenzanceStompJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatNewsiesPeter Pan (stage show)Cinderella (Rogers and Hammerstein)King and IMrs WinterbourneHairsprayStranger Than Fiction
  MORE EXPENSIVE - BUT I STILL WANTOld Navy gift carddigital picture frame (that I can load my pics on for rotating photo show)GPS navigation system for my car and getting lostishness/not getting directions before I leave the houseiclishnessnew bed pillows (I think I want memory foam - or other foam...)
  
  I'll update as I think of more things.
  
  
• 21:00

  Donny's Christmas List

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  clothes in the 9 months plus size,children's books,lead free toys :)poster from allposters.com "ultimate proverbidioms" and/or "Shakespearience" & "Proverbidioms" & "Proverbidioms II"  & "Eats", ALL drawn by the artist T.E. BreitenbachThe Picture Bible by David C. Cook; publisher (the one we grew up reading)
  he's not picky.  mostly he likes putting burp rags in his mouth, blowing spit bubbles, and smiling at people
  
• 14:25

  Matt's Christmas List

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Durable travel mugs for coffee on the go
  
  Pond Pump (specs will be posted later- this would fall in the $50 range)
  
  Subscription to Field and Stream magazine
  
  2 gallon garden spray tank
  
  Work gloves, both heavy and lightweight, size XL
  
  Clay “pigeons” to shoot
  
  the original Star Wars trilogy on DVD
  
  Pirates of the Carribbean At World's End DVD
  
  Gift certificates to:
  

  Itunes
  Sears
  Home Depot
  Coastal
  Harbor Freight

• 14:22

  Beth's Christmas List

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  2 piece flannel PJ set, size L, preferably in darker colors, such as red, royal blue, burgundy, or brown- patterns are okay if they aren’t too crazy!
  

  Beth's Target Wish List
  

  Norah Jones' newest CD
  

  Allison Krauss & Robert Plant's collaborative CD "Raising Sand"
  

  External hard drive for photo storage
  

  Software & cables necessary for transferring from video to digital

• 14:02

  Jack's Christmas List

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Thomas the Train videos(recorded from OPB-on @8:30am Sundays works as well as new DVDs!)
  

  Fun, interactive bath toys
  

  Play tools
  

  $$ for his savings account
  

  Jack's Target Wish List
  

  Take Along Thomas sets and trains,
  

  he already has:
  Sodor Engine Works
  Molly with Tender
  Toby
  Thomas
  Extra track
  Thomas Carry Case for Trains
  

• October 28, 2007
• 22:42

  Singapore report

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  We’ve been home from Singapore for 11 days now, and I’m finally feeling back to normal physically, though I’m still not sleeping through the night without taking drugs! It was a good two weeks. I loved being with Danny, Betsy and Aaron – especially getting to know Aaron and letting him get to know his Grandma and Auntie Jo a bit. I think he enjoyed us, too.
  We did lots of different things…. Visited the tropical island of Sentosa and swam in the South China Sea, went to the zoo, shopped in Chinatown and Little India as well as some malls, ate in ‘hawker’ centers, toured Danny’s school, rode buses and mass rail transits, went to an International night at the school and watched Betsy doing Bhangra dancing, attended their church, toured a strange Chinese ‘museum’ of mythological statues, etc., walked in the beautiful riverfront area, rode a river taxi, ate a slab of corn ice cream sandwiched in multi-colored bread, got refreshment at Starbucks and Coffee Bean shops, experienced torrential rainstorms, endured very hot humid weather (every day), took myriads of pictures, laughed and played, cried and got sick, and fainted and went to an ER (at least I did that!). The journey itself was long and not much fun, but being there was wonderful… and being back home is very good, too!
  
  Following are four more posts with pictures. I hope you enjoy them. (We have LOTS more to show you when we see you).
  
  Aaron was a lot of fun! So cute!!
  
  This is the apartment building they live in. Their apartment is on the 10th floor – open windows – right where the tree limb is!
  
  A view of the apartment -- nice
  
  ‘Mr. Whittaker’ helping one of his students
• 22:35

  Sentosa was ...

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Sentosa was beautiful
  Little India was interesting
  Vivo City Mall was crowded
  There was no explanation for the
  Norwegian flags on the riverfront!
  The riverfront area was very pretty
  
  Riding in the river taxi
• 22:25

  My sweet Aaron….I miss him!

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  My sweet Aaron….
  I miss him!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Danny and the ‘Roo
  
  Drivers’ Ed starts early in Singapore!
  
  Joann enjoying the view of Sentosa island
  
  My Umbrella Girl – isn’t she cute?!!
• 22:17

  The Merlion is Singapore’s famous symbol.

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  The Merlion is Singapore’s famous symbol.
  
  Danny and Joann
  
  Aaron and Grandma
  
  Danny, Betsy and Aaron
• 22:11

  Danny laughing ...

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  Danny laughing at pictures Joann took of him….
  
  
  
  (No. this picture wasn’t there! But it IS kind of funny!)
  Like Suma Mama, like Suma Son!
• September 29, 2007
• 12:00

  Our Labor Trip

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Over Labor Day week-end we took a trip to visit dear friends from the past. I thought you might like to see some of the pictures we took:
  
  First we visited the Cowdens in Seattle. Both the girls are living with Twila and Gary at present. Here are pictures of Amy and John and their two little boys, and of Rachel.
  From there we went through Acme on the way to the Kaplans near Bellingham. We had to take pictures of our old house... and the little yellow transparent apple tree -- still quite small.
  
  We were shocked to see the condition of the Morrises old house!!
  
  Driving through Acme... The old church and school building (vacant)
  
  The Kaplans took us to see Duane and Ruby Cooper (our former pastor from Acme). They live in Bellingham now and seem well. When Jim was taking the picture of all of us, Duane requested that we try to make it look like he isn't shorter than all of us....
  We also visited Julie and Dave Mitchell, and then the Rich and Melody Morris and Carol Fentress came to visit at Kaplan's with us. It was a fun week-end. Things have sure changed since our Acme days!! -- mostly all for the better.
• September 03, 2007
• 11:39

  kaleidoscopes

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Beth & I found an entertaining function on Paint Shop Pro this weekend. You may need to use the restroom before proceeding...
  

  The original photo is posted first, then follows the kaleidoscopes. For some of the last ones, you'll want to click on them to enlarge the pictures for full hilarity factor.
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  Another original. This is from Timmy & Heather's wedding.
  
  
  
  
  Yes, Timmy, you were included in this too.
  
  
  
  
  And the famous beach day photo of 2004.
  
  
  
  
  
• September 01, 2007
• 7:52

  Aaron at the Zoo

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]
• August 28, 2007
• 19:08

  A MOONLESS NIGHT (sort of)

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  
  Just wanted to show that even old dad can get up and take a picture or two in the middle of the night! But I wasn't up very long . . . was an interesting sight to see the reddish eclipsed moon at 3:30 AM.
• August 26, 2007
• 22:51

  NLCC Reunion

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Today was NLCCs 50th anniversary celebration. It was a lot of fun! I thought you might like to see some pictures from the day.
  It was so much fun to see the Coffeys, Kim Jones, and many others of our friends -- some of whom have moved away or attend another church, and some of whom still attend NLCC. Just walking into the foyer was like going back in time. It felt like a family reunion (only better!)
  
  The Coffeys were still the same. They were both happy to see everyone, too. Here's Dave taking pictures while Diane talked!
  The service was started with worship team from the past, including Dave and Dan VanSlyke, and Cheryl at the keyboard. It was nice to have Dave leading worship again!!
  After the old worship team, they had the young team that leads at the church lead a segment of worship -- reminded me of the worship I've heard at Joann's services in Bend.
  Here's one of the old pastors :^)....
  
  ...and here is the current pastor, Tim Powlison. He seemed like a good pastor for New Life. We liked what we heard from him.
  It was a good turn-out. (The empty seats in the front were for the worship team, etc). The church was full -- including the seats in the side section.
  Here are all the pastors, past and present who have ministered there. You can barely see Kim Jones on the left by Shirley Yates. Dave and Jill York, Dan and Phyllis Ferguson (the first pastors of NLCC), Steve Sherman and wife (Sutherlin pastor now), The Powlisons, the Coffeys and Jerry Harrison.
  Kim Jones with Ken and Kathy Walz.
  I forgot to take pictures at the picnic in the afternoon -- except for these two! I had the camera with me, but was too busy getting caught up with lots of good friends to think of using it!
  Yes. Ron Perkins still wears tie dye!!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• July 03, 2007
• 11:26

  Donny comes home

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  Our precious baby!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Kim and Andy brought their little bundle home on Monday early afternoon. He looks so tiny in the car seat!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Admiration!! What an amazing gift!!
  
  
  
  
  
  Contented in his Daddy's lap.
• June 24, 2007
• 14:59

  Past time for an update!

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  This is the busy part of my summer! Just finished two 4 day 'bursts' of tractor driving, then two nights security at our school/church fireworks booth (first year our school has done this - will be interesting to see how it comes out financially) - Tim will be doing about 9 nights of security at the booth, Monday through Thursdays, the next two weeks, so if you are up in the middle of the night, give him a call - helps to keep him awake!
  
  
  This Thursday I head to Roseburg to do the McMahan's parking lot sale - didn't have one last year, but they called and wanted me down again this year. There will be 11 nights there - perhaps a bit of 'dumpster diving' during that time! Anyone need furniture? Actually a bit hard to transport anything I might find . . . especially to Singapore! Mama will most likely be in the Portland/Vancouver area most of that time, so lots of family to family minutes on the cell phone.
  After McMahan's, I'll probably head home for a day, then to wherever Mama is, then back to the tractor driving. Not sure where our summer will take us after that . . .
  Yesterday Mama and I went to the wedding of a special young lady we knew in Roseburg, Melissa Welty. She taught with Kim at UVC - I believe both Joann and Tim either had her or were at school during her time there.
  She is a sweetheart! The wedding was really well done - the pastors adding special comments to keep the special moment extra special . . . Weddings with two people who have waited so long for this moment and kept themselves pure are extra special - both Melissa and her groom are about 30 (he's two years older than Melissa). He is from Texas (Austin area) - they were introduced through mutual friends, then got to know each other long distance (email, phone, etc.) until he came up to visit and then she spent quite a bit of time down in Texas so they could get to know one another.
  It was also fun to visit with a number of UVC friends who also attended the wedding. Probably the biggest surprise was seeing Bryce Peterson - remember him from when we did childcare for him as a preschooler? Then later I had both he and sister Emily in my class. Bryce was the only one from his family to make the wedding and I just barely recognized him . . . slender, about 6' tall, sharp looking young man! Still had the look of Bryce, but grown up! Also enjoyed seeing some former staff members from school . . . (in the picture: Mrs. Harmon, Mrs.Barbara Keller, Jill York, Ms.'R', the Zinks - also Shannon Goble Risley in background on right).
  
  Guess that's about enough for now. Except to say to my five 'kids' - thank you for making good choices with your lives. I am a very proud papa! Times like Melissa's wedding where I did a lot of updating on where and what you all are up to, it's so fun to share - no embarrassments among you! Every where I went, UVC people asked about various ones of you and what is going on - you are remembered!
  
  God bless to each of you: Kim + baby, Beth + babies, Danny and relocating, Joann + Mexico trip & housing & work, Tim + summer work (fireworks stand!), plus your great spouses . . . (Joann - your time may come - Lord directing - and often the longer the wait, the greater the blessing!) - I'm praying for you! Lots of love!
  
  Papa Daddy Jim
• May 12, 2007
• 15:31

  On Sunday afternoon May 6, Grandma Whittaker was v...

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  On Sunday afternoon May 6, Grandma Whittaker was visiting Jack and his mom and dad.
  
  
  
  
  
  Beth and Matt wanted to do some yard work, so Grandma got to wander with Jack. It was a fun time! Here he is looking at ants. He said, "Oh Wow!"
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  "Are you coming?"
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Balls!!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Then he went over and sat on his Daddy's lap to enjoy some time with him and get some tips on gardening....
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  Picking dandelions was a great delight, but it was even more fun kicking and stomping on the fuzzy ones!!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The boy and his dog!
• 15:23

  Dear Jack and John Deere

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  
  When visiting Jack last week, I took a John Deere tractor for him to see and play on. It was too expensive to keep, but it was fun to see him with it. I took LOTS of pictures (of course!! you aren't surprised are you?) Here are a few:
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 15:06

  Jack's new quilt and book

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  These pictures were taken when Jack first got his quilt and book from Grandma:
  
  "Ohhhhhh!"
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  I have lots more pictures, but these were some of the best ones. It was a fun day!
• March 07, 2007
• 20:44

  The Life of Marie

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Saturday, February 24, 2007
  
  The Life I Live
  Life continues busy for me. On Monday I'll be finishing a Rosemal class that I've been taking. This time we painted a bread board. I'm getting back to my Norwegian roots!! 'Almost ready to start the project I promised Joann for Christmas!
  And on Tuesday I teach roses in the cake decorating class I have. There are 12 people taking my classes, and we're all having fun at it. Four more classes to go....
  Wednesday and Thursday are my normal days to care for pre-schoolers and kindergarteners for a few hours in the afternoons. I never know how many kids I'll have til I get to the school. This past week I had 6 kids one day and 9 the other. Last week I had 15 kids one day! That was one crazy day!! I was ready to go home and put my feet up after that one!!
  Today I've been catching up on some long-overdue cleaning projects. I'll never catch up, though. There's always more to do. I need my daughters to come help me weed out my surplus stuff! I'm ready when you are!!
• February 27, 2007
• 18:24

  Like the look!

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Hey Beth, looks wonderful! I like the new look a lot.
  
  If you really want to transfer ownership I can tell you how.
  
  OH, I will be posting pics and maybe a video on our site later, but Aaron has taken his first few steps.
• 9:04

  A New Look

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Due to the disappearance of my ISP, our wonderful photo backdrop was permanently dropped from the internet along with my ability to do my own hosting. Therefore, I have revitalized our family blog and given it a new look. I am also hoping that our venerable parents will start to use this site as their own personal place to keep us informed on their lives. So far, it looks like I will still be the "owner" since I can't seem to transfer it over to them. Let me know if you have any ideas or suggestions.
• January 15, 2007
• 20:25

  It's a new year . . .

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Thought it time to put something up that reflects the new season - the post-Christmas season (may the spirit of it linger on). Mama and I greatly enjoyed the time with family over the holidays. Now we are enjoying the snow, though not the extra cost to keep the house warm! I tried using up the wood in the back and keep the heat cost down a bit, but unfortunately the fire caused a bit of offensive odor in the house plus some coloration (discoloration?) above the fireplace. So I've been banned from more fires for now. Both smoke detectors went off, though not really much smoke to see . . . oh well. Life goes on.
  
  Mama and I went to see 'Stranger Than Fiction' this evening. Mixed reaction - typical splattering of language and out of marriage relationship, but fun story, very inventive plot. To be honest I liked it, despite what that might say about my spirituality . . . sort of reminded me of The Truman Show in its plot . . .
  
  Hope your new year is starting well! God bless to all (and to all a good night!)
• December 13, 2006
• 9:49

  Additions to Joann's list

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  In case some of ya'll haven't finished your shopping yet, I thought of a few more things that I would enjoy:
  
  Elixer acoustic guitar strings (medium/light, polyweb)
  Jim Dunlop guitar pics (size .60 mm--they're light gray)
  
  And, for a limited time only at Payless Shoe Source:
  size 9 1/2 Lower East Side "ballet flats" with ribbon laced through sides leaving a bow on top (same color as shoe), color red or black (I can't decide...I kind of want both). They are slip-on, casual/dressy shoes, rounded toe, real comfy and cute.
• December 03, 2006
• 10:37

  Accessing Lists

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Sorry about the access issues... I re-posted the October lists so that they would all be visible on the opening page instead of everyone having to go into the archives. Henceforth, if you wish to update your lists and can't access them yourselves, just let me know and I will do the updating for you.
• November 28, 2006
• 12:24

  Add to Mama's list

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  A new addition for Mama's list (for some reason I can't access it to add to it anymore....):
  
  
  
  Books about Rosemal painting
• November 27, 2006
• 16:07

  Timmy the Updater

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  I updated my list, for those of you who haven't bought for me yet.
  
  
  
  SNOW IN CORVALLIS!!! Good for eyes and tongues, bad for paper routes...
• 9:42

  Joann's Christmas List

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Instructions: the Target one is a wish list I composed...there are a few on there that I really love and some that I really like--basically it gives you an idea of my clothing/jewelry taste. The slip-on Converse shoes are way cool. I like books and movies a whole lot too. The books & movies are in order of desire:)
  
  Half.com
  Books (all w/o highlighting/underlining please):
  Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
  Knife of Dreams (book #11 in the Wheel of Time series) by Robert Jordan
  Anne books (I have 1 & 2, and would like 3 & 4 as well) by Lucy Maud Montgomery
  The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
  Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther by Roland H. Bainton
  
  Movies (DVD’s only please):
  Anne of Avonlea (the 2nd one)
  The Little Mermaid
  Mulan
  Singin' in the Rain
  Muppet Christmas Carol
  Nacho Libre
  
  
  converse (chuck taylor) all star slip-on shoes (black) unisex (size 10 in women’s)
  Search on line (I’ve seen it lots of places)—it runs around $40--they look just like regular converse low tops, but they don't have shoe laces because they are actually elastic where the tongue is sewed to the sides of the shoes.
  
  Gift cards:
  Old Navy
  Fred Meyers
  Target
  Barnes N’ Noble
  Starbucks
  
  Target on-line
  Joann's Wish List
  
  Mama told me that the link no longer works for my target wishlist, but if you go to target.com and then click on "wish lists" it will ask you to enter in a person's name---type in "Joann Whittaker" without putting in a location for me and I will come up!
  
  PS--the things on the wish list (except for a few) and also to give you an idea of my style if you want to risk branching out from the list:) But I do really love the black skirt and red coat (and the other stuff too I guess:)
• 9:35

  Mama's Christmas List; updated 11/26

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  New items added 12/2:
  :
  Books about Rosemal painting
  
  warm terry cloth bathrobe
  Warm PJs (Flannel ? -- like what the girls have gotten at Old Navy, etc)
  
  Nice sock with small floral designs or things like I've seen on Beth
  
  “Little House on the Prairie” on DVD – Seasons 5 and thereafter
  pretty jewelry – no hearts (I have a lot of hearts already)
  henckel knife (or equivalent – ask Beth)
  – I have a good paring knife and one with a 6 ½ inch blade
  Scrapbook tote –
  - > ‘Crop n style P3 paper tote
  -> Fmpguru/ MemoryStor rolling scrapbook cart and organizer
  
  

  Books: “For Women Only”
  

  DVDs: “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”
  "Showboat"
  Padded hangers

  Light table (I haven't looked for any of these, but know I'd like something for tracing -- instead of having to hold the things up to the window to trace. I can only do that when it's daylight out!!)

  I'll add things as I think of them, so check back if these don't help. Some of these items are more expensive, so if several of you want to go together to get me something, that's okay with me. You aren't required to get me anything, though. I'll still love you no matter what!!

• 9:33

  Beth's List (edited to reflect recent Bday gifts)

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  www.half.com
  

  Bebo Norman, "Try"- $2.50
  Margaret Becker, "Immigrants' Daughter"- $2.50
  Russ Taff, "Under Their Influence"- $3.00
  Russ Taff, "A Christmas Song"- $3.99
  Breakfast at Tiffany's DVD
  Blue Like Jazz, by Donald Miller
  Bringing Up Boys, by James Dobson- $8.00

  
  www.bedbathandbeyond.com
  

  Henckels International Hollow Ground Classic 7" Santoku Knife- $46.99
  

  
  gift certificates
  

  Old Navy
  Starbucks
  Target
  

  
  Subscription to Blueprint- www.marthastewart.com- $17.94
  yardstick
  256MB or 1GB memory card for my Canon PowerShot A40 digital camera
  Burt's Bees skincare products- www.burtsbees.com
  SDW circa 1710 German Band Sampler, graph only- www.scarlet-letter.com- $16.00
  Swift River Cardigan, Chocolate Brown, size L, WQ50876- www.llbean.com- $29.50
  
  Target on-line(I copied Joann!)
  Beth's Wish List
• 9:32

  Jack's Christmas List

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Clothing sized 12-18 months
  Lincoln Logs
  Cast Metal Toy Tractors- www.getgreengear.com or www.deeregear.com for ideas
  Books
  Age appropriate educational toys
  $$$ for his college fund!
• 9:31

  Matt's Christmas List

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  A big, heavy Bench Vise- harborfreight.com- $50 range
  Webbing Tie-Downs- harborfreight.com- 4 pack for $13.99
  Advantage Timber John Deer Hat #00273- deeregear.com- $17.85
  Advantage Timber Camo Hat #1494- deeregear.com- $14.30
  John Deere Parking Only tin sign- getgreengear.com- $15.99
  This Farm Uses Quality Equipment tin sign- getgreengear.com- $16.99
  Lion King DVD
  Fox and the Hound DVD
  
  gift certificates
  

  Old Navy
  Sportsman's Warehouse
  Harbor Freight
  Sears- he would really love this- there are some router bits he wants there
  Coastal Supply
  

• November 26, 2006
• 21:10

  Mama added to her list 11-26. Another ...

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Mama added to her list 11-26. Another idea....
• November 22, 2006
• 23:32

  Notice the addition

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Mama added to her list on 11-22: another idea....
• November 21, 2006
• 20:31

  I Retain My Title!

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Drill Bits
  New Music (CD's, mp3's, whatever--even tapes!)
  Old Books
  Hardback Copies of Ender's Game, C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy, Lord of the Rings, Terry Prachett's DiscWorld novels (any)
  Books in General, Really (Hardback preferred, but not necessary)
  Bookshelf To Hold Said Books (Too Many Book + Not Enough Shelving = Stacks On The Floor and an annoyed wife)
  
  UPDATE!!!
  High Quality Chessboard (beautiful wood or glass)
  Video Rocker (as seen here ---don't care about brand, just a good pic)
  Nice Poker Set (chips specifically---cards not needed)
  Wired Optical Mouse (not wireless, please)
  
  No Laptop (Heather and I bought one as each others' Christmas gifts..."Look Heather! A SPACE BAR!!!")
  
  UPDATE THE SECOND!!!
  CDs...
  Jimmy Eat World (any)
  KT Tunstall (any)
  Sarah McLachlan's "Fumbling Toward Ecstasy"
  Depeche Mode
• November 16, 2006
• 16:02

  Addition to Joann's Christmas List

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Mama told me that the link no longer works for my target wishlist, but if you go to target.com and then click on "wish lists" it will ask you to enter in a person's name---type in "Joann Whittaker" without putting in a location for me and I will come up!
  
  
  
  PS--the things on the wish list (except for a few) and also to give you an idea of my style if you want to risk branching out from the list:) But I do really love the black skirt and red coat (and the other stuff too I guess:)
• November 14, 2006
• 15:52

  Kimmie's List-a-Roo-Zeeeeee!!!!

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Sears Gift Card
  *goes toward the purchase of a much desired Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer)
  
  Books *Dr. Suess (hardcover please)
  -- The Butter Battle Book
  -- To Think I Saw It On Mulberry Street
  -- If I Ran the Zoo
  -- 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins
  -- How the Grinch Stole Christmas
  -- Daisy Head Mayzie
  -- Scrambled Eggs Super!
• 15:49

  Andy's List-a-Ding-Ddoh!!

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  DVDs
  * Simpsons Seasons 2-8
  * Strong Bad DVDs/Misc. Collections (homestarrunner.com store)
  
  CDs
  -- U2 - 18 Singles (releases November 20th)
  -- Billy Joel - Live @ Madison Square Garden, NYC
  -- 4Him - Hymns
  
  Gift Cards
  # Best Buy
  # Sears
  # Barnes & Noble
  # Powell's
  
  An Incredible Edible
  
  Books
  @ Road Trip USA (4th Edition/2006) By Jamie Jensen
  @ Justice: Vol. 1 by Doug Braithwaits, Jim Kreuger, & Alex Ross (Graphic Novel)
  
  Clothes (no turtle necks)
  ^ Chicago Bears attire
  ^ Homestarrunner.com attire (store)
• November 13, 2006
• 4:24

  Singapore Wish Lists

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  OK, so we are finally getting you our lists, we have set them up on Amazon.com so we can continue adding things to them, some things were not on Amazon, they are added separately:
  
  Combined list
  Brad Stine – A Conservative Unleashed
  
  Betsy's list
  Billy’s BootCamp Elite
  
  Danny's list
  
  Aaron's list
  
  Dr. Suess books
  We have: Cat in Hat (& Comes Back), Horton Hears a Who, Green Eggs, To Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street, Great Day for Up
  Little Golden books
  18-month clothes and up
• November 07, 2006
• 21:45

  Heather's Christmas List

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Well, here is my list. Tim's is coming later.
  
  ~ Plants:
  Heather plant
  English Ivy (small plant for our bathroom)
  A Feathery Fern (unless it will die outside on the patio)
  A small metal watering can
  *Please no ceramic pots I have PLENTY!
  
  ~ Decorative kitchen coffee signs
  ~ Your own or bought pictures in a black frame (I don't care if it's black and white or colored)
  ~ Ladle Rest for my stove (please no plastic)
  ~ Bread Machine
  ~Espresso Machine (I am starting to REALLY love coffee on the mornings that I have to get up at 3:30 in order to get to work on time!)
  
  ~ Movies:
  All DVD's please
  Pride and Prejudice (the one with Kera Knightly.)
  The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
  Ben Hur
  
  ~ Gift Cards
  Old Navy
  Bed, Bath, and Beyond
  Borders
  
  ~ Spending money for India
  ~ Cloth Money Belt to hold my passport, etc. (kind of like a fanny pack, but is able to be worn unnoticed under clothes.
• November 01, 2006
• 21:21

  Daddy's ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  I've been pondering this Christmas gift thing for awhile, with little success. I suppose there are some 'things' that would 'make my day', such as:
  
  the Coming of Jesus!!! Wow! That would be fantastically fantastic!!
  
  the total healing of Holly! No 'thing' could compare to that!
  
  a visit from my 'kids' - Hey, you could give mom and I a combined gift!
  
  But down to the ordinary - I have three books I'd like, and used books are fine -
  - Fifth Seal (A.D. Chronicles, #5) by Bodie Thoene
  - The Temptation (Mustard Seed Series #3), Nancy Moser
  - Legends of the Guardian-King (4 books), by Karen Hancock
  A new belt would be nice
  NEW idea! An indoor/outdoor thermometer + perhaps rain guage? Don't need
  clock, though it's OK. [www.weatherconnection.com] has some ideas
  I have plenty of clothes - items from 20 years ago still work for me
  I have lots of ties - perhaps I'll pass a few on - beware of what you open!
  I like gadgets (at least for a few days before I lose interest). Been thinking about one of those LED flashlights with lots of LED's . . .
  I like DVD's that I can trade in for other DVD's if I want to . . .
  
  Most of all I like you, my family, who make me proud. Few dads not only survive marriage to one sweety, but also have great kids who love Jesus and seek to live like it. I am greatly blessed and look forward to being together with you for whatever time works out this holiday season. And some fun internet video times with you special and missed ones in Singapore!
• October 31, 2006
• 10:20

  Mama’s Christmas list:

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  New items added 11-17:
  Nice sock with small floral designs or things like I've seen on Beth
  
  “Little House on the Prairie” on DVD – Seasons 5 and thereafter
  
  pretty jewelry – no hearts (I have a lot of hearts already)
  
  henckel knife (or equivalent – ask Beth)
  – I have a good paring knife and one with a 6 ½ inch blade
  
  Scrapbook tote –
  - > ‘Crop n style P3 paper tote
  -> Fmpguru/ MemoryStor rolling scrapbook cart and organizer
  
  
  

  Books: “For Women Only”
  

  DVDs: “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”
  "Showboat"
  
  Padded hangers

  Light table (I haven't looked for any of these, but know I'd like something for tracing -- instead of having to hold the things up to the window to trace. I can only do that when it's daylight out!!)

  I'll add things as I think of them, so check back if these don't help. Some of these items are more expensive, so if several of you want to go together to get me something, that's okay with me. You aren't required to get me anything, though. I'll still love you no matter what!!

• October 22, 2006
• 18:36

  Joann's Christmas List

   » ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

  Tags:    [edit]

  Instructions: the Target one is a wish list I composed...there are a few on there that I really love and some that I really like--basically it gives you an idea of my clothing/jewelry taste. The slip-on Converse shoes are way cool. I like books and movies a whole lot too. The books & movies are in order of desire:)
  
  Half.com
  Books (all w/o highlighting/underlining please):
  Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
  Knife of Dreams (book #11 in the Wheel of Time series) by Robert Jordan
  Anne books (I have 1 & 2, and would like 3 & 4 as well) by Lucy Maud Montgomery
  The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
  Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther by Roland H. Bainton
  
  Movies (DVD’s only please):
  Anne of Avonlea (the 2nd one)
  The Little Mermaid
  Mulan
  Singin' in the Rain
  Muppet Christmas Carol
  Nacho Libre
  
  
  converse (chuck taylor) all star slip-on shoes (black) unisex (size 10 in women’s)
  Search on line (I’ve seen it lots of places)—it runs around $40--they look just like regular converse low tops, but they don't have shoe laces because they are actually elastic where the tongue is sewed to the sides of the shoes.
  
  
  Gift cards:
  Old Navy
  Fred Meyers
  Target
  Barnes N’ Noble
  Starbucks
  
  Target on-line
  Joann's Wish List
• October 16, 2006
• 15:51

  Sheesh!

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  Hey all- I do check this site often to see if anyone is out there posting. What I didn't realize is that it has actually been almost exactly a year since I last posted! That is pathetic. Sorry.
  
  Activity will pick up on this site now, as it seems to be a great place to post Christmas lists. So post away, ya'all! Hopefully we will know soon who we get to splurge on for Christmas. :)
• October 08, 2006
• 20:21

  WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT?

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  It was a good weekend at the school retreat and visiting family at Kim and Andy's on Saturday. After Kim's, we (mama and I plus Tim, Heather, and Joann) spent the night at Jack's (along with his mom and dad . . .). Tim and Heather took Joann back to Bend, leaving about 11:00 AM. I helped Matt on the shop while mama visited, leaving close to 4:45. We decided to stop in Albany at the DQ for a 'treat' (it was actually mama's idea this time!), then went to get back on the freeway. Getting on the freeway in Albany required stopping at a light . . . while stopped, we saw a car that looked just like Tim and Heather's! Wouldn't it be something if they just happened to be coming through on their way back from Bend and intersect with us on our way to Junction City when we had left the same place but on very different paths? So we called Tim's cell phone and found out . . . . . . . . . (pause for dramatic effect) . . . . . . . . . . . . that it was them we saw go by! How about you mathmeticians in the family come up with the odds on that happening without any planning!!!
  
  Have a great week, month, fall, year, decade, century, life, and eternity!!!
  
  God bless
• October 06, 2006
• 12:28

  A Car, Bend, and Birthdays

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  Figured it's about time to push "Little Scandinavia" to the #2 position - it's been up for nearly two months! Probably no one will even see this new item for a while - gotten out of the habit of checking since nothing new shows up!
  
  Mama and I found a car for Joann. "Pete", Joann's bright red Prizm, had motor difficulties too costly to be worth the dollars - it had well over 200,000 miles . . . she now has a '95 Toyota Tercel that we hope will capture her heart as Merlin and Pete did. But it may take a bit of time. Mama and I have been trying to figure out what to do with the CRG on the license plate . . . we thought perhaps there was a Craig in her future, but all the Craigs she knows are no longer available. You can enter your ideas on this site just to keep it interesting! How about 'Certifiably Righteous Girl' or 'C Renee Giggle' or 'Catch (the) Right Guy' or ?????? Let us know, Joann, when you have decided on an appropriate name for the car.
  
  I'm doing a school staff retreat in Bend. It's been good so far - much better than expected, actually. Good direction, insights, fun times, food, etc. Tomorrow Marie and I take Joann with us to the birthdays celebration at Kim and Andy's. Look forward to seeing family and perhaps talking to Danny . . .
  
  We are praying for you - for jobs, direction, wisdom, purpose, safety - let us know of specific requests so we can be more focused in our prayers.
  
  GOD BLESS!!!!!
• August 14, 2006
• 19:27

  'Little Scandinavia'

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  The Scandinavian Festival is over for another year. It’s one of those things that I count time by. I told Jim this morning that today is the beginning of a new year….
  
  It’s a four day event, and the town of Junction City kind of shuts down for it. They shut down a four block section of Greenwood Avenue and two blocks each of the intersecting streets (5th, 6th and 7th). There are booths down both sides of the streets – (food and products), and there are four buildings that are dedicated to showing off and selling goods – including the firestation, which is filled with tables and booths with all kinds of Scandinavian things as well as things not Scandinavian. The sounds of Scandinavian music can be heard from several blocks away. And at each end of the festival ‘grounds’ there is a stage where dancers and musicians perform throughout the day. Also you will see Vikings and trolls roaming the streets. Honestly even though we live in Junction City and are familiar with the streets, both Jim and I had a hard time getting our bearings at times. It just isn’t recognizable as our town, but is transformed into a ‘little Scandinavia’!
  
  I always enjoyed attending the festival through the years, but now that we live in Junction City, it’s so much more fun! My honey let me be a Norwegian for the week-end – as much as I wanted to be. I was there every day for hours, and loved every minute of it!
  
  Why do I love it so much? I think it’s because my Daddy was 101% Norwegian! He felt that there was no country as wonderful as his Norway, and that love for the country was contagious. My visit to Norway with him back before I was married just added to the appeal that Norway has for me. So it’s somewhat the nostalgia of wonderful memories of my Daddy and of Norway itself, and it’s the heritage that I have. I loved watching the dancing and imagining my ancestors participating in similar dances in ‘the Old Country’.
  
  I didn’t venture over to the area today, but know that when I do go back, everything will be back to normal, and it will seem like Junction City again. (Incidentally, I love Junction City, too, so that’s not a bad thing). Of course there are the ever present reminders of the Scandinavian roots of the town – numerous buildings (particularly in the festival area) are painted with Scandinavian designs and colors. So though the major things – like the booths, the windmill that sits in the center of the festival area, the stage areas, the music and the wonderful smells of the festival – are tucked away somewhere out of sight, it’s easy to see that little Scandinavia isn’t far from the surface here. Maybe that’s why I like living here so much.
  
  What do you think?
• August 11, 2006
• 11:02

  IT'S SCANDINAVIAN TIME!!!!

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  It's really quite amazing that so many come to little 'ol Junction City for the Scandinavian Festival. In its 46th? year, I've heard that over 100,000 people come through each year. Mama visited yesterday quite a bit plus I stopped by twice - an afternoon show with a former student in it, then for a Ukrainian dance group (from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada!) that was real good. They do some amazingly intricate and athletic dances! There also was a play of sorts (put on by local young people) based on 'The Emperor's New Clothes' - some fun, but somewhere less than the quality I've gotten used to at Kim's plays . . . Grandma, Bruce, Megan, and Caleb were at the Festival last evening, also. Looking forward to some of the family stopping in to be a part of the fun this weekend. Wish Singapore weren't so far away!!!
  
  I'm starting to 'gear up' for a new school year, hoping this one will be full of purpose and fulfillment in the lives of the students. Installed an air conditioner in my classroom yesterday, may do some sorting of stuff later today. No tractor work for awhile - perhaps after the 20th . . .
  
  Guess that's it for now. Have a great end of summer! God's blessings to you
• July 24, 2006
• 12:00

  One Month

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  Well, Heather and I have been hitched for a month now, and I thought it might be a good idea to post an update. As far as housing goes, our former property manager evidently sold the complex, because a new property manager came to visit us last Wednesday to get acquainted. But the apartment itself is great, though the heat wave has been...unpleasant...
  
  As far as jobs go, Heather has a few applications and resumes circulating, and I am starting my search today. She is hoping for an office-type job, whereas I would love to work at Starbucks or some other coffee shop.
  
  Not as much of an update as I thought this would be, but there it is. Consume slowly for best results.
  
  timmy and Heather Whittaker (hehe!)
• July 21, 2006
• 10:07

  July Update

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  June with its end of school, tractoring, Tim & Heather's wedding, Danny + Betsy + Aaron's visit, has come and gone. Now July is almost gone as well. Marie and I went to my 40th Rochester High School reunion recently - I was encouraged to find that most of my classmates looked older than I think I look! But then, they probably thought the same thing . . .
  
  We had a nice trip this past week. First we visited my mom - she looked good! Then on our way to see Danny and family, we stopped to see my Aunt Katie, who is now 97. She is also doing well, though not quite as sharp memorywise as she used to be, though not bad. Then we had a good two days at Deer Lake north of Spokane. Aaron is definitely changing - now reaches to grab items (glasses, mouth, whiskers, fingers, toys, etc.). Mama W. had a special nap time with him the morning we left - Aaron fell asleep in her arms and slept for a half hour or so, then opened his eyes and just continued to lay there, watching 'grandma', studying her face, listening to her soft words to him. That lasted another 10+ minutes before he decided to move.
  
  After Deer Lake, we drove to Bend, delivering a new computer to Joann (insurance money allowed her stolen one to be replaced), visiting some Wednesday evening. She is doing well! Her new job seems to agree with her. She is looking into where she will stay this fall when school begins again.
  
  We are now home, have gone through a weeks worth of mail, etc. and are getting ready for the Woolley reunion tomorrow. With predicted 100+ degree weather, it may be warm at the park! Then next week we go to see Danny, Betsy, and Aaron off. Hope to see more of the 'fam' then also. Then a Whittaker family reunion in Chehalis, then not sure what. Probably some tractor driving, some relaxing, some gearing up for school, helping with grandma K. and Bashor family, etc.
  
  In case you hadn't heard, Holly and Kris are at OHSU today for some tests - not sure when they come home. I know they want to be at the reunion tomorrow, but that is not likely. Hope all is well with you! God bless - - - Dad
• May 29, 2006
• 16:48

  A Memorial Day

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  Nothing really out of the ordinary today here in Junction City, except I'm home and the rain has stopped for a day - been too wet to mow the lawn lately, so I'll be doing that this evening (waiting 'til evening so it has time to dry more). Lots of change coming, though . . . last week of school, then our school has a bow shoot this Saturday that I help at - about 40 targets are set up on a farm in the hills east of Junction City, mostly in wooded areas. The targets are some kind of rubberized 'statues' of animals (deer, bear, cougar, etc.) that the bow hunters can shoot at - it's quite a deal . . . last year about 180 came despite it being our first year and poor weather. We're hoping for 400 this year - weather is supposed to be better . . . made over $10,000 last year - hope for much more this year.
  
  After the bow shoot, I hope to drive tractor some (weather permitting), then Danny, Betsy, and Aaron arrive. Then Timmy's wedding preparations and actual event - so it will be a busy June! God bless!
• May 24, 2006
• 12:03

  The Dreaded Fever of School Absence

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  It's weird. When I was in grade school, I liked school and didn't want to miss. Same thing in junior high. In high school, I enjoyed being sick because I got to stay home and miss class. Now I'm in college, and I would want to miss class for almost ANY reason, but I also get stressed by the classes I miss. So I really DON'T want to miss class. I think that's a bit odd, since I'm so ready for summer break.
  
  Anyway, just a pointless thought for you to ponder.
• May 06, 2006
• 12:04

  Temporary Confusion

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  I don't know what happened, but the background is back for me now. Whatever. I am NOT blind!!!
  
  I, too, am looking forward to a new pic to put up, though this one IS really good, just outdated. Maybe a wedding pic this time? Just a thought...
• May 04, 2006
• 18:28

  Seeing Double

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  I can see the background just fine, and I'm also seeing the same post twice! Looking forward to an updated background picture this summer with two additions and a stronger connection!
  
  Love you all!