camping and painting

This weekend we went to Seward again. We camped out at Forest Acres which is alot more woodsie than the bay area. There had been black bears spotted in the campsite and rumors of a brown running around. Personally I started praying that nothing would happen. I am terrified of bears and babies mixing company. A few yrs back I used to run into bears quite often, so much so that a few people thought I was charmed( yeah right). Anyways after having kids your whole perspective on camping and risk in gerneral changes dramatically. So, I prayed. The campground had a play area where the girls met tons of other kids. The site right next to us was full of a family of 7. Wow was I ever impressed. This mama had her shitake down. There were a pair of 3yr olds in the bunch for the girls to run around with. Along with a seven yr old boy who I credit with Denali's new interest in toy guns and saying Bang bang I shot you. Yay, not thrilled about that influence at all. I know Sean's a gun fanatic and all but not in front of the girls. All in all we had a great time and only suffered a few scrapes and bruises. Denali ran straight into a tree face first. How does this happen, split second and well....it just does. We left by 11 am on Sunday morning and headed into Hope, we are hoping to go camping there in the next few weeks with some other families and friends which will be fun. By the time we reached home in the hood we were all ready for some rest and real food. On Tuesday I gathered up the girls for some outdoor painting during probably the sunniest day we've had yet. Hopefully my slide show will work out for this post. We are still waiting on the house deal. We keep hearing that chances are we are going to be able to get it because we are the first offer in that has all the qualifications for buying the home. Again its a holding pattern game, we just keep flying around in circles and waiting. Til then we are just going day by day. The girls are particularly excited today because they get to go play with there cousin Sara. Hope all is well! Big Love from Sean and the Whalenettes!

maintaining composure in the face of loan processors

We have been extremely busy with the red tape paper work process of the home loan situation. I was talking to Dad the yesterday morning about one of our loan processors saying I just wanted to reach through the phone and slap her.....he let me vent and he's good at saying things I need to hear ...most of the time!:) Sean and I are completely ready to sign the paper work and get the deal going. You all know how he is, he just wants to put money down and worry about fixing anything later......no. Due to our special financing through the Anchor program everything has to be inspected and fixed and so on for us to get the loan. That thankfully means a house in good working order this time around. I'm not to worried about CIHA not accepting the offer because the stipulations with selling the house mean that they will have to deal with the same financing (anchor) for anyone buying the house. Luckily Carol has now explained this to Sean and told him "let me do my job" in the kindest way that you could feel him relax about the whole thing. We are still taking it day by day and keeping in mind that we weren't in the market for another house to begin with, so if it doesn't go through we'll be disappointed but fine.
In other news, Denali is having a great time at the Sunshine Generation dance and sing group. Personally I think its alittle hokey but she LOVES it. Its the first real thing she's been able to do on her own without her sisters which I think is very important. Sandia is upset but she is starting to get better and it gives her more specific bonding time with Elsie which is needed for them both considering how at the hip she and Denali are. We are also busy planning their birthday party. They decided they want a pirate party, so there are many things to make in preparation. Denali and Sandia talk about it everyday. Sean's father is going to be here in late August and after talking to him we decided to try to have it when he is here on the 24 of August which is Sandia's actual B-day. Blah Blah blah. Anyways I have to get running I am making home made Chile Rellenos for dinner, so LOVE love LOVE to you all! ~Big Mama

PC-afying my blog and whalen style camping

Okay so things look alittle different yes? Yes, my old Google page creator was not letting me publish pages and messing up in general all over. Hence I found myself not keeping it up. I instead decided to invade my own personal ranting page, make it pc and use it for my family page. I equate this to the Seinfeld (sp?) episode where George is freaking out because single George is about to die in the face of relationship George as the two are forced together. I suppose its about time. So with all that said and explaining the changes around here to previous readers lets get on with it.


This weekend was fun Fun FUN!!!!! We went camping in Seward, all 5 of us in a tent. Others told me camping with kids is to crazy but I remember doing it when I was a kid and I thought we should try. Sean and I agree that some of the things we LOVE doing are going to be different now but that we can't just stop doing them. How then would the girls get a love of travel and hiking and camping? Needless to say everyone was wrong! We had the best time in our little tent and the girls LOVED it. Here are some pictures for you all. I didn't take many pics because we were just having to much fun. There was an excellent playground very close to the campsite which was wonderful for running the girls out. They got to roast hot dogs and marshmallows and play in the sand and along the water. When it was time for bed they were all very excited that we were all sleeping together and then everyone just crashed. Anyways this just confirmed our belief that while it will be different than before its new and fun and a keeper for summertime family excursions.

Home sweet mortgage

Son of a bisquit!!! I am so excited I could poop. Everything is coming together for our loan process for this house in Turnigan, all we are waiting on is the last 50 thousand to come through from CILC. Theres no reason it shouldn't come trhough its just a matter of the time they take to process the loan app. We more than meet the guidelines for their loan. We fall 20,000 under the lowest amount for a family of 5, we could make double what we make and still qualify, but this way atleast the loan will be deferred!!!!! We could be moving in in 2monthes.
To take our minds off it and put it on much more teeth grining things we are attempting our first over night in a tent trip with all the girls. Seward I hope. It will be a miracle if we don't get so frustrated that we pull up stakes and go home in the middle of the night. On other news.....its 10:09 am and my Denali is still sleeping so I must go wake her up.