Ho, ho, ho!

Like everyone at this time of year - we've been BUSY! Here, in pictures, are the latest happenings in the wild & wonderful Whitley world...

A silly photo of Sam's class and teachers



































































Donuts with Dads, at Sam's school, was a fun treat in the first part of December.

St. Nicholas (aka: my Daddy, Sam & Brice's Papa) came to church for a visit, leaving oranges and golden/chocolate coins in all the children's shoes that were left in the breezeway.

Sam's Christmas program at school...

Brice's Christmas program at school, with lunch following. As you can see from the photos, I think he was much happier at lunch...

Begging for Momma...

And, last but not least, a trip to Bass Pro Shop to visit with Santa...and test out the ATVs!

Capitol Hill Wedding

Brian and I went to Washington DC for the wedding of one of the "Auburn Girls". We are so happy for Elizabeth and Sean! The time we got to spend sightseeing in DC prior to the wedding was great as was the gorgeous wedding at a small Episcopal church and the reception at Union Station. We visited several museums and the new Capitol visitors center but the highlight of the "tourist stuff" was a tour of the West Wing!


In the White House press room - which used to be a swimming pool back in the 1930's during FDR's administration.



Outside the West Wing with Rachel and Rob.

The Capitol

In case you don't know, this is a typewriter eraser - obviously, larger than life - in the sculpture garden in between the two National Gallery of Art museums.

There was more than one happy couple at the wedding!

The Auburn Girls

A hysterical moment doing a silly dance. This is one of my favorite pictures from the entire night.

No, we haven't joined the ranks of infamous party crashers. We were legitimate guests as was President Obama's Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel - who, I might add, was quite the booty-shaker! The groom is Rahm's Chief of Staff.

Our "new" house

Before


Before


After


After

The porch floor and steps have yet to be painted but we love the new colors! The flower pots will get planted one of these days...

Brice

He's fully (and easily, thank God!) transitioned into a "big boy" bed; happily sleeping with his puppy "Lifford" and a rabbit he named "Horse".


Brice loves to watch Sam "do work" on the computer (nickjr and pbskids) and give him commands for what he wants him to click.

Without a doubt, Brice is all boy and fully emersed in the "terrible twos". He's often a challenge (that's a nice way of putting it) but he also has his moments of comedy - which I think is a survival tactic. My mother once said, "He can be so bad but then be so cute." I explained I thought that was God's way of keeping him alive!

Family Photos...just for fun

My grandmother, Eleanor Katherine Harrison Sheridan, as a little girl. Her grandchildren called her Dinny.


My grandfather, Christopher Robert Sheridan, Sr., as a young man. His grandchildren called him Gonny.


My grandfather's mother, Alma Elizabeth Kennington, when she graduated from Mt. de Sales Academy.

Thank you so much to my Aunt Katy who, through the wonders of technology (email), has been sharing these priceless photos with her family.

Time to catch up

We have been SO busy lately and the blog has been neglected. Here are some pictures to give you an idea of what we've been up to - in no particular order. Our business boom isn't shown well in pictures but I can tell you we have certainly seen our share of business, especially with all the recent rain and flooding in middle Georgia. We are very thankful that we have a great team at Rainbow International and the increase in business has allowed us the chance to do the "fun stuff" too.

Brian is "living a dream". We bought a '78 Camero that he has been working on, night after night. He raced for the first time this past Saturday and, for a novice, did pretty well placing 7th and winning $25! At least he made back his entry fee... Here he is getting a few tips from his crew chief.

So, if you think this primer grey is pretty, scroll down and look at the "before" picture.



2009 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

Lindsey and I with our awesome Kids for the Cure volunteers!

Brian and I at a tradeshow.


Our first camping trip without the boys. Shhhh! Don't tell them. They'd be devestated, but it sure was nice to get away and experience the relaxtion part of camping.

Below is the view from our camper. We had a wonderful campsite!

I took the boys to see Disney Playhouse LIVE!

The #33 car - BEFORE!

A girls trip to Birmingham to celebrate Elizabeth's (far left) upcoming marriage.

When I grow up...

Yesterday, out of the clear blue, Sam said...

"Mommy, when I grow up I want to play football for Alabama, be a rockstar and make deposits at the bank."

For the life of me I can't figure out the Alabama football facination. Rockstar? I get that. Making deposits? Bless his little heart, he has no idea just how hard you have to work to be able to make those deposits but he had just heard me say we were going to make a deposit at the bank then get a haircut. My guess is that it's all about getting a sucker...

Brice

Brice got his hair cut and has learned about putting his hands in his pockets.


No, this is not a tribute to Michael Jackson. He's just always loved to put socks on his hands. Go figure!

Whitley's Funniest Home Videos

For all you Yo Gabba Gabba fans...

Any of you who have witnessed Brian's "moves" can appreciate this one...

Cloudland Canyon State Park

Here are the hi-lights from our Labor Day weekend trip to NW Georgia where we visited Cloudland Canyon State Park, had our first (and probably last) experience at a KOA campground, and spent some time in Chattanooga at the Tennessee Aquarium and the Children's Discovery Museum.



Hiking down to the pond for the Catfish Rodeo.


Sam did this all on his own. I'm just glad I captured it!


Notice the lumps in his socks. Since he didn't have pockets, I suggested Brice put the nuts he found in his socks. He liked that idea!


Sam would NOT climb into the cave.

The jumping pillow at the campgrounds. It's exactly what it sounds like and lots of fun.

Brice loved it and had NO fear!

The Tennessee Aquarium.

I took this from the ground with my big zoom lens. I think it's about 14,000 feet up. Click on the photo to make it larger. You can see the hang glider running off the edge!

Sam was lucky to get a job helping pick up hang gliders. Thanks Peyton!

After we observed it from the ground, we just had to go see what it was like up on the mountain. Pretty breath-taking and actually quite scary.

At Chattanooga's Children's Discovery Museum.

We are big Curious George fans in this house!

After a visit from the Whitley boys, the park rangers decided it should be renamed "Loudland" Canyon!