Best Friends

My girls are finding out what true friends are. Gentry found her best friend in kindergarten first day of school. Oddly enough, both of their names were wrong, the teacher thought she had twins in class. Both girls' name tags said "B. Gentry". Gentry's first name is Bryn-Gentry, her best friends' name is Braxton Gentry. From that day on, they have been tight. Braxton celebrated her birthday this weekend too. Here is a picture from the party.

Giant Jumping Pillow

I had to put these pictures up so that those of you reading this can see how large this thing actually is. Chris would love to put this in our back yard instead of a swing set or pool. He loved it. Due to injury, I was unable to participate.

Just Ash

Birthday Weekend!

Friday we went to Huber Farms and as usual it damaged the budget. We had a blast and Chris' sister made her big announcement.... A new baby will join the White family in April of 09. I can't wait. I told her I don't care boy or girls just chubby cheeks and legs.... Griff had a blast and Mr. White did too. I will post a pic of the jumping pillow. We stayed on it for hours. Paid for it the next two days.

Saturday, Griff had 5 friends join her for the "Erie Express" haunted house at the children's museum. Then they spent the night. Helpful hint, I found a "Would you rather" sleepover book at Target. It kept them busy for 2 hours. Griff said her birthday was fantastic. Success!

The Golden Birthday..

Griffin will be 11 on the 11th. Her Golden Birthday. Unfortunately, her plans are bigger than my budget and tolerance. "Mom, can I have 11 girls spend the night?" Are you kidding me? How in my right mind can I say yes? I am trying to say no, but it is her golden year. For her 10th birthday she had 10 friends stay in a hotel suite with her. They swam and ate pizza, played with beach balls and squirt guns till they passed out. It was perfect. How do I top that? It all sounds so expensive, but believe me it was coupons, and dollar store all the way, oh and triple A. Now what do I do? If you have any suggestions, please help.
Also, we always head south for Griffin's birthday to Huber Farms in Starlight, IN. We meet the in-laws there and spend the day. We've done this since her 2nd birthday. It is beautiful but costly, time and money. It takes a full day to get through the whole place, and if you are taking pumpkins home, dig out your wallet. So, in the past that was the family birthday and then the friends came for another party later. I know this is my fault, she has always had an original birthday, one that none of her friends have had and now I am creatively stunted. Can I really pull off 11 girls Saturday night still get up for church and not lose my mind? Pizza for dinner, biscuits and gravy for breakfast, popcorn for snacks, and I am done right? I feel guilty, should we feel guilty for not having 2-5 birthday parties per year? Suggestions, please.

Just Ash

Like a Hurricane...

I finally slept through the night... Yeah! It happens about twice a month. I woke up looked at the clock and realized I had made to 6 am. Fired up I woke up Chris by singing "Tell the World That Jesus Lives". He may not have been as happy as I was to see 6 am or sing God's praises before sunrise. What a way to wake up, praise songs stuck in your head, laying next to Mr. Perfect for me, and enough time to shower. Blessed be the day!!!
Then the girls woke up......Like a hurricane hit. Clothes flying, dog barking, doors slamming, and somebody didn't brush their teeth. It is hat day at school, "where did Geiger hide my hat?". "Gentry locked me out of the bathroom." "Griffin forgot to make her bed". Each child telling on the others. Chatting and bickering, and "the dog peed in my room". Then Gentry jumped on Griffin's bed, it collapsed, cat came running tripped Geiger, and my morning is now officially started. My beautiful hubby looked at me smiled, and said "maybe they won't miss the bus". With a kiss he was off to start his day.
Did I mention, the refrigerator has been out for 10 days, so coolers and the outside freezer are getting us through. Breakfast consisted of boiled eggs, to which my son fed to the dog. Dog carried it to the carpet to tear it up and not eat it. Phone rings, the fridge repair guy, I scream into the phone "Oh, thank God, tell me you are coming today, I will have a fridge tonight, right?". His reply, "Ma'am, excuse me I am calling about your washing machine going out". It had actually slipped my mind that the washer wasn't working either. He will be here between 3 and 5 today.The girls caught the bus, the dishes are done, and their hair was curled even tho it is hat day. It is only 8:30 am and I am ready to go back to bed. Time to turn on the praise music again and hit restart. Even tho I am frazzled, I know God will never put on me more than I can handle, I may have made my path, but God is directing my steps. I never lost my temper when the bed collapsed, or the dog peed on the floor, and the laundry will be done tonight!
Happy Tuesday!

Just Ash

I am still figuring this out.

I am still trying to figure this whole blogging thing out. Bare with me. I realize I am sharing my most humbling moments publicly, and I hope you will give me grace when I say or do something odd.

Just Ash

Filter, please!!!

Sometimes you shouldn't say exactly what is on your mind. I need a filter. Everyone has that jugular spot, more tender than others. I have been trying to find a way to ward off people condolences, for that is my jugular. Thank you for caring, now change the subject, "What is for Dinner?". You know what I mean. I speak before thinking. "What a beautiful hair piece." I don't think of it as offensive. (When you chose to wear a hairpiece, don't you know it doesn't look real? Like suddenly your hair grew 2 feet longer.) "When did your daughter start wearing black eye makeup?" Most of the time, when it comes to kids, I am curious. I want that heads up. Could they say, "Soon they want to wear make up beware of the black eyeliner." Right? Did you not see them leave the house today? Oh, and I am famous for patting pregnant bellies and asking when they are due. Monday night, the reply was "what baby"? Yes, I did it, foot straight up to the mouth, do not pass go or collect $200 dollars. Then why did she wear a maternity top? She didn't know Liz Lang was maternity in Target?
Today, and it is still early, I have already hit my mother's jugular. So sad, I forget she is his mother, not the sister who is okay to joke about my brother's flaws. Like pouring salt in an open womb, telling her something she didn't know about him is painful. Myself, being the little sister there is still a tattling element when she doesn't know something. I wish my mouth had rewind. Her pain is great enough with out someone poking at her.
I think today I am better off to stay home and clean the house. Maybe I will make a cheese ball and bake something like cinnabons!!!! Yum. Why does it seem the harder I try the further I fall? I am climbing back up today in my own solitude, praying that my mouth is slower to react. God give me a filter!

Just Ash

Griff, Gent, and Bree

Griffin and Gentry with their Cousin Breann

No she isn't a super model yet, but check the up and coming Hollister catalogs

One Day We Will Be In-Laws

I make the 80's look good!

I am posting this picture to remind myself that big hair isn't really in style right now no matter how much I love it. As Katie Booker said, "Ash you are the only person I know who can make the 80's look good". Somehow, she really did mean it as a compliment. One of those days when you know you are looking good, and then it hits you, it is no longer 1989.

Geiger and Beau Beau "Mud Men"

Someday women will fall to their knees

for these abs and biceps.

Until then, only their Mommas think they are

"It and a Bag of Chips"

Poor Mr. White, the things we do for our kids!

I will never run a marathon!

Last night against my better judgement, I fell into peer pressure. Michelle Gray talked me into jogging. "We walk one lap and run the rest", she said. I stretched out, warmed up and started the power walk warm up. With Michelle by my side, I assume no matter what I am in good hands, she is after all, a nurse. First lap, no problem. Second lap, start the jog. I was timing my breathing pacing myself the friendly girl talk stopped, we meant business. By the end of our "Run", we felt great, I accomplished something I hadn't been able to in years!
I quit smoking July 6 of this year. I watched as a team of doctors put my brother on a ventilator, and when they asked us to leave the room, I went out to smoke. It relieved my stress, helped me through the hard times. ( It sucked the life out of me and made my whole world smell awful). Sunday night, July 6, the night before my girls left for church camp, after leaving the hospital visiting Heath, I had an asthma attack.
I prayed for God to help me quit smoking. I woke up the next morning took my girls to the church to catch the bus, and never craved a cigarette again. Grace of God!!!! This is my proof that prayer works. He was listening, I just had to ask. Truth be told, we only ran 1/2 a mile, but it is a beginning. I doubt I will ever run a marathon, but tonight I will meet Michelle for another attempt to at jogging, thanks to God.
Just Ash

As many of you know, my brother Heath passed away August 11. I have to share this with you as I am hoping someone else as had something similar happen and will share with me their story.

Last Saturday was my 33 birthday, I woke up at 6:30 am w/o an alarm. Wide eyed and bushy tailed, I turned on the TV radio station. Which I never do, to the 90's hoping to celebrate and rock out while getting dressed for a flag football morning. As soon and the TV radio came on it was

Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven". Heath, a huge Clapton fan, was a guitarist who always had a Clapton CD playing no matter what room he was in. My first thought was to crawl back in bed and cry. Knowing this was the first time ever my older bro would not call me and wish me a Happy Birthday. Then it hit me and I smiled, he remembered... Every day is hard, every hour I think of him, as Geiger looks just like him. I am constantly reminding myself that his hell was here on earth and how selfish I am to have wanted to keep him here. Thanks for listening.

With happy tears,

Just Ash

The White House Family 2006 Our first and only family picture ever taken professionally. Contrary to his face, My husband really does like me. LOL

News to Me!!

Not really sure we are exciting enough to have a blog named after us, The White House. However, I love to share new ideas, specials, sales, recipes, and updates on the family. As I am sure most of you feel, we should be a sitcom. Our parenting is... well different, and my marriage is..., I don't know entertaining. Not to mention we are the Pastor's neighbors. (Not the neighbors that hit the mailbox, we are the "what happened did your dog die?', neighbors). Chris and I have been married for 12 years and are still learning from each other daily. We are proud parents of 10 year old Griffin, she is figuring out her own sense of humor right now. She has always been the quietest of our three. She is our ball player, softball, basketball and now flag football. Gentry, 8 years old, is my mini me. I think she really does carry invisible pom poms. She is the Doctor in our house. She knows much more than she should about the medical field. And our grand finale, GEIGER!!! God finally gave me a boy, too bad I used up all the boy names before he came. Anyway, I am sure to blog more later this is kinda therapeutic...
Day one blogger,
Just Ash