It's Been A Long Time (So here are some Four Month Old Pictures)

A Very Whitmore Christmas

When I was a little girl, I remember my mom packing us all in to the "Family Squire" station wagon or the Caddy or "B heart U" (as my friends liked to call our mini van with the BYU bumper sticker...the one with the heart around the Y one the back) and we would drive to the Greek Orthodox Church....where she would drag "the three little one's" (that's me, Johnny and Lisa) in with her...... so that she could cast her vote. This event took place every election year. On the way there and on the way home, my mom would talk about why it was important to vote and she would tell us that someday......when we grew up, we too would have the opportunity to vote. She would always mention something about "this wonderful country that we live in" and how blessed we were to be Americans and to have the many freedoms that we have enjoy. As I was driving to cast my vote......I thought of my mom and the wonderful example she set for me over the years, which has always reminded me of my right and my duty to vote. As I walked in the Southeast Christian Church, I passed lots of friends before I made it to the little lady at the desk with the big book! She opened the book to the page with the other last names that began with HUT...and she looked and looked for my name. She said....."do you see your name on here?" I looked carefully at the list and said, "I don't......but THERE IS MY MOM AND MY DAD and LOOK, here are their signatures..... they've already been here....they've already voted." I was actually even a little emotional......and extremely grateful for incredible parents who have taught me throughout my life...by their EXAMPLE. The sweet lady at the desk looked at me and said, "Dear...it looks like you are at the wrong polling location...here is where you need to go!" So I got back in my car and headed for the Southeast Baptist Church, just up the road. As I drove, I thought about how grateful I was to be an American and for the democratic process. Entering the church I offered a silent prayer of graditude for the many freedoms that I enjoy and especially for the opportunity to vote in this election year. I prayed that I would make the best choices that would allow me to continue to enjoy the blessing that I do now. I knew that I was at the right place when I saw my neighbor Shirley, sitting at the desk with the big book right in front of her. "Crazy Shirl" quickly found my name and handed me my special voting card. Once again......I was a little emotional....so grateful for so many things... Of course it also crossed my mind that this is the last time for ETERNITY that I would vote as Amy Hutchins and that the next time I vote......I will be "Amy W." and I will probably have my "three little ones" with me and I will be teaching them the same important lessons my mom taught me! Thanks MOM! This is the church my mom voted at when I was little!

Details, Details!

Life has been a total whirlwind the past few weeks! RUSS DIXON (www.russdixonphotography.com) was so amazing to squeeze in an engagement shoot for us while Mike and the kids were here a couple weeks ago. I really wanted to have some pictures done in Midway and I really wanted to include the kids! We received the pictures yesterday and I love them. (Well.....most of them....there is only so much magic one can do with photo shop......for everything else....I guess there's Weight Watchers!) This one of Mike and I, standing in the middle of the road in Midway is one of my favorites! I'll post a few more when I have some time! For now......I've got to get back to work!

It feels like HOME!!!!!

"My Gabby Girl"

Today when I returned from walking Gabby and James to school, this little note was waiting for me on the counter. Gabby is the sweetest little seven-year old girl that you could imagine. Her perma-smile makes my heart happy! The only time she isn't smiling is when I comb her hair and when I suggest that she eat some fruit or vegetables! I love "My Gabby Girl"!

Last week, Mike's boss asked him to be in Detroit, first thing Monday morning (yesterday.) Only one problem....Mike and the kids were still going to be in Utah Monday morning with me, in Midway. My (generous, kind and handsome) boss allowed me to work remotely so that I could fly back to Seattle with the kids and stay with them while dad is away on business. Mike flew out Sunday night and some how, I managed to get three kids (and all of their stuff) packed up and to the airport in time for our flight yesterday. (Thanks for your help MOM!) Mike gave perfect instructions on finding the car at the airport and we were home in time for dinner last night! This morning......all three kids were alive and made it to school without incident! Maybe......with a little work...(ok maybe a lot) ......I can figure this mom business out! We'll see....it may be too early to tell! It's only day two!

Funny Stuff ....in the life of an (almost) mom!

12 year old Alexis insisted that she put her ice cream sandwich in the microwave just to soften it a bit!
Apparently she didn't know that two minutes was too long! (this is what the ice cream sandwich looked like before! (I found this picture on-line) After Shot!

Quick, Quick Update.........

With so much going on the past few weeks, there hasn't been much time to breathe.....let alone write in my blog! I thought I would take a moment to post some pictures from the past few weeks! One of these days I'll actually write something and get caught up. Life is good!

Day TWO! YAHOOOOOOO!

Mom, Kelsea, Holly, Lisa and I are all together in Newport Beach for a girls weekend! We are having such an amazing time. We woke up and went for massages, came back for breakfast on the terrace (overlooking the golf course and ocean), then our sweet mom presented us with special "Mother, Sister, Daughter, Friend bracelets, then to the mall for makeovers, dinner and then......to see Wicked! WHAT A DAY! We are the luckiest girls in the world.

Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, Friends........ (Girls Weekend in Newport)

! This picture was taken just after Wicked (at the Pandagues Theater.)

OH BOY! OHHHHHHH BOY!

(WARNING.....Hand may appear larger in photo than in real life......I can always hope!) This is what I had waiting for me in my hotel room when I arrived! I was speechless (again!) This is me when I checked out of my hotel room yesterday morning! I gave several dozen roses to the hotel staff and still had TONS to share with some of the incredible people who made my weekend possible!

Ben's First Day of Kindergarten

I emailed a friend today about "my day" and thought I would also post it here on my blog. I LOVE MY BEN! It has become a tradition in my sister Holly's family, that I photograph each of her children on their first day of kindergarten (and about 10,000 other events, annually.) I have one niece and two nephews that turned five this year......which means KINDERGARTEN time (except for "girl genius" that started first grade today after a year of private pre-school.) Anyway, back to Ben....I LOVE THIS BOY so much! When he was born, my brother in law turned to me and said, "Amy, you've earned this one....why don't you cut the umbilical cord". Wow....lucky me! I had the honor of cutting what had been his lifeline for past nine months. I stared at that precious, perfect baby in amazement as his breaths became his own! Today, more than five years later (which by the way seem more like five days ago than five years ago) I got a little teary as we dropped him off at school. He was so confident as we left the house and walked to school together! The closer we got to school, the faster his heart started beating and the more nervous he became. He wasn't quite sure this was what he signed up for! As he walked in his class, I blew him a kiss and he blew one back and the tears (my tears) started rolling! So many mixed feelings! Interestingly enough......Ben and I probably shared a lot of the same feelings at that moment.....excitement, fear, anticipation, insecurity, pride....what a morning! I spoke with him right after I left work tonight and he said, "Hey Aim, It was great! I like school!" Today was a good day! ------Amy

My FUN weekend with Taylor!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com