The Whitlock Family

I think the holiday season and the whole month of November has kept me from writing on here like I should have.
New Years eve was spent watching Friends reruns and falling alseep on the couch, waking up in time to see the ball drop. The next morning Stephanie got up and made doughnuts. We’ve decided to make that our yearly tradition instead of blackeyed peas. Niether one of us are to fond of them anyways.
My short crochet run has slowed down dramatically now that my evenings are spent playing with blocks, eating plastic chicken legs and watching Elmo tell jokes. All with Zoe of course.
I made the mistake of googling kittens with Zoe one morning and now everytime I sit down to waste time, she says kitty and wants me to pick her up so I can show her all the kitties.

A look back of the past ten years (yanked from my sisters blog):

2000-

• Last year of high school.
• Meet Stephanie for first time in high school class

2001-

• Graduate High School.
• Start job at Busy Bee’s Bakery.  At the time it was my favorite.
• 9/11
• Skip college, a lot.
• Go to Philmont Autumn Adventure.

2002-

• Skip more classes.
• Elaine sells bakery, lose job.
• Start various other jobs.
• Quit jobs.
• Drive to Port Aransas and back in a day, all the while my parents think I went to Waco to visit friends.
• Do the Philmont Autumn Adventure again.
• Apply for job at Philmont.

2003-

• Tell parents visiting friend in Oklahoma, but really travel to Cimarron, New Mexico.
• Drop out of college.
• Work at Philmont for summer. Car breaks down after driving Stephanie to ABQ. No car for summer.
• Start nicotine habit.
• Start job at warehouse in Roanoke.
• Travel to Lawrence, Kansas to see The Anniversary. Turns out it was one of the last shows.

2004-

• Start geocaching.
• Quit warehouse job.
• Break up with Stephanie.
• Get new car. Xterra.
• Get back together with Stephanie.
• Work at Philmont again for summer.
• Turn 21. Have first legal adult beverage at the St. James Saloon.
• Experience Mary Jane.
• Start another warehouse job.

2005-

• Quit job.
• Start waiting tables.
• Work at Philmont for 3rd summer.
• Spend 20 days hiking. Celebrate 22rd birthday at Cypher’s Mine.
• Travel to Boulder, Co. for three days of drinking.
• Visit Rock Mtn. NP.
• Experience Mary Jane.
• Visit Great Sand Dunes NP.
• Climb Mt. Blanca. 14er.
• Climb Uncompahgre Peak. 14er.
• Climb Wheeler Peak. Top of New Mexico.
• Propose to Stephanie at “Lovers Leap”. So cliched.
• Get cat named Duck.
• Break leg geocaching in Fort Worth. Lose job.

2006-

• Start first “real” job.
• Officially “move out” of parents house. Move in with Stephanie in apartment.
• Get dog, Gizmo. A Boston terrier.
• Get married.
• Go on a 5 day cruise through the Caribbean for honeymoon.

2007-

• Buy a house.
• Get another dog, Biff.
• Backpack Glacier National Park with Dad.

2008-

• Start to grow vegetables.
• Our first child is born. Zoe Grace.

2009-

• Expand garden. Build greenhouse.
• Best harvest – squash and onions.
• Backpack in Colorado with Dad. Climb Uncompahgre Peak again. 14er.
• Travel to Grand Canyon with Stephanie and Zoe.
• Hike Grand Canyon with Stephanie’s dad.
• Find out we are expecting our second child.

What does the next decade hold? I can only imagine.

Gizmo finally squared off against Duck for the rights to his bed. Apparently they made some sort of peace agreement.

As you can see, both took up space on this over sized pillow.

Duck was caught taking a nap on the dogs’ new bed. She got so comfy that she slid right off of it.

Zoe had a blast opening presents for what seemed to be hours.

I hope everyone has a blessed Christmas. Enjoy this most glorious day with your loved ones. I know I will.

Luke 2 1:21

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.