August...

 I feel like August will forever and always be a crazy busy month!  My head spins thinking about and planning all our upcoming events.  I have been making lists, and shopping like crazy.  Hopefully everything will all come together.  

This little troublemaker turns one on Saturday!  She is growing up so fast.  She is so close to taking steps all on her own.  Part of me is so excited for her, and another part of me wants to push her down.

A week after Lyla's birthday Sophie turns eight.  How is it that my first baby is eight?  Planning her birthday has been hard for me.  She has a million ideas and plans and she can't decide on any of them.  I finally just told her I would plan it.  But now I worry about whether she will like it or not!  I'm sure she will.

The following week is her baptism.  She is so excited!  And we are excited for her.  I took her out for a little photo shoot and got some great shots of her in her new baptism dress.  She is such a beautiful girl. She met with the Bishop last week and finalized her program.  It is going to be a wonderful day!

Luckily, school starts later this year so I don't have to add that to my list of things to stress about.  Although I am more than ready for them to go back.  Ready for routine and structure again.  All the kids are dying to go back to school shopping for backpacks and pencils and things like that.  We'll see if we can squeeze it in soon.

love

Love love love this weather we have been having.

Love that the kids can go outside and play!

Love the beautiful Spring flowers outside my front door.

Love that Sophie keeps asking if she can pick them!

Love walking to get the kids from school.

Love not having to wear a coat.

Love the sunshine.

Love going to the park.

Just LOVE!

Monday

Where's Lyla?

Monday is laundry day.
The job that never ends!
Often times it seems that it is filling the baskets faster that I can wash it!
But it's not that bad...
it could be the bathroom
or the kitchen floor!
I despise cleaning the bathroom...
and mopping!
And at least I have some company! {grin}

today

Ruby was here ...

and here ...

All the kids were here ...

Collin was here ...

Sophie was here ...

and Lyla was here ...

Most nights, after the kids are snuggled in bed, I sit down on the couch and let out a sigh of exhaustion.  I look around my messy disastrous house and think about the day.  I am so busy.  Busy cleaning, feeding the baby, doing the dishes, running kids here and there, doing the laundry, cooking dinner, changing diapers, doing homework, giving baths ... the list could go on and on.  Yet through it all I look around me and think just how lucky I am.  Lucky that I can sit here in my messy disastrous house.  Lucky that I have 4 of the cutest, craziest, busiest kids ever.  Being a mom is hard work.  Four kids have been particularly challenging to me.  I have needed a lot of help, but I wouldn't change any of it.  I love these 4 little ones so so SO much!

And I love days like today.  Days were the house looks like a tornado came through.  Days where the TV is off and my kids are off playing away together.  So although I wish my house were cleaner.  I love the mess.  I love the kids that make it and I love the happiness and the chatter that come with it!

how quickly I forget ...

... baby snuggles

... impossibly small baby toes

... constant feedings

... that feeling of being completely overwhelmed

... frog legs

... what 1:30 am feels like

... the incredible amount of diaper changes

... adorable ruffled baby bum

... soft baby skin

... non stop crying

... the feeling of complete and utter exhaustion

... what 3:30 am feels like

... the incredible love you can have for someone you just met

... just how messy the house gets with a new baby

... baby acne

... that the older kids will need something right when I sit down to feed the baby

... what it feels like to be peed on ... and pooped on ... and spit up on

... the look of a swaddled burrito baby

... having an entire closet full of clothes yet nothing fits

... playing dress up

... the constant swaying, bouncing, rocking, and pacing

... the new baby smell

... pacifiers

... formula dust on the counter

... kissable baby cheeks

... how much I love the swing

... clenched little fists

... big bright eyes that should be sleepy eyes

... what it's like to eat without holding a baby

... those sweet baby sounds

... full body stretches

... sleepy smiles

... delicate baby fingers wrapped around mine

... how tiny newborns are and how quickly they grow and change

but it's all coming back to me now!

Captured

It's no secret that I love photography.

Taking pictures.

Capturing the things around me

especially my kids ...

their accomplishments, their cuteness, and their day to day lives.

For me it is a way to save those moments that will soon be forgotten or go unnoticed.

But there are days...

days I am too busy to pick up my camera.

Too busy living life ...

running here or there or cleaning this and that;

and before I know it those days are over.

But on those days

even when I am busy ... wonderful moments happen.

It is then that Logan and I lay in bed laughing, and capture the days images in our minds.

Images of ...

a morning where the kids are happily playing together

Collin and Sophie hula hooping ... especially Collin. that boy has the best body shake!

Sophie and Collin dribbling basketballs ... Collin with such an intense face

the kids begging for ice cream and Logan teasing them about getting some vegetables instead

the kids begging for easter baskets at each and every store we stopped at

Sophie's sour face after taking a bite of her ice cream

Sophie exclaiming "Oh Lucky Day!" when she found out we were eating dinner out

Collin shouting "this is my favorite cheese store" when we pulled into Cutler's parking lot

Ruby's face of fear followed by excitement and laughter as Logan drove silly and swervy in the mall parking lot

Sophie proclaiming "it's not safe to drive like that on the freeway!"

Collin tipping over in his seat several times during FHE and every time Ruby singing "teamwork!"

Singing Itsy Bitsy Spider and Head Shoulders Knees and Toes ... as slow and as fast as we can

Listening to Ruby talk to her babies as she plays in her room

Listening to Sophie read her fairy books as she lay in bed with Logan

Collin telling Logan that he had to stop blocking him while playing Connect 4

I may not have an actual picture ... but I have helped save these moments by writing about them!

Today ...

... I discovered my love for tomato juice {soOoo yummy}

... I had dinner made before I even ate lunch {soup in the crock pot!}

... It was a beautiful sunny day ... but so so so cold {14 degrees}

... Collin came out of school so proud that he could make an "L" with his hands

... Sophie came out of school reading her book {she read the whole way home and after we got home!}

... I took a nap on the couch

... Logan went back to flying {how will I ever survive?}

... Ruby learned how to work Netflix all by herself {thats right people, she's two!}

... Sophie talked us all into doing a craft for Groundhogs Day {it's tomorrow!}

... I actually got out my camera and took some pictures {grin!}

... I read my book

... I listened to my children play together

... I listened to my children fight with each other

... I washed 3 heads of hair

... I listened to my husband read stories to the kids

... I ate milk and cookies!

rainbow

the rainbow outside my house tonight

Took the kids for a walk tonight. It was so nice ... cool and breezy ... then the rain started. After the rain stopped the kids ran outside to play and found this beautiful rainbow. It was a complete arch ... right over my neighbors house.

I am loving the cooler weather we are having in the evening the past couple of nights.

I can't believe that it is August already. I am so NOT ready for the Summer to end. I have been doing some back to school shopping with the kids. It makes me sad. But I think that they are excited to go back. I just can't stand the thought of Sophie being gone all day. Yuck!

Sophie's birthday is coming up. It is all she can talk about. Or think about. I can't believe my first baby will be turning six. Sigh! I have been working on her invitations today ... every time she sees them she tells me they are beautiful.

The kids are in bed. Logan's at work. The house is quiet. I think I might just go have some ice cream!

fort

Here at the Phipps house we all have a little bit of Spring fever. Luckily though we have had some beautiful weather and the kids have been able to get out of the house some ... riding bikes, sidewalk chalk, and the park. It has been so nice. But in between outings, we still feel cooped up inside the house. And a little bored. Yesterday I was so tired. Logan was nice enough to let me take a nap. It was wonderful. But that is off subject ... so anyway when I woke up, Logan and the kids were building this fort.

It was big ... and perfect for taking away some of the winter boredom.

It sort of resembled a circus tent. And the kids loved that about it.

The kids immediately got out their sleeping bags to make it nice and cozy ... and they may have begged to sleep inside their fort that night more than once.

Forts are good for being silly and just relaxing. Do kids really relax? I'm not sure. But a fort is good for that sort of thing.

Forts are a good place to share a sweet little treat. A Valentine treat. In this picture they are reading what each of their valentine hearts says. I wish I could remember just what they were saying ... but I can't. It was cute though.

Overall forts are a GREAT time ... that is until your baby sister decides she wants in on the action too.

AAHHHH ... RUBY ... MOM GET RUBY ... SHE IS GOING TO RUIN OUR FORT ... AAHHH

Notice Sophie trying to block Ruby out with her legs!

Forts are not nearly as fun when you are forced to let your baby sister inside ... at least to Sophie they aren't! She was in complete panic mode. But to baby sister ... forts are pretty great!

The fort didn't last too much longer due to the fact that Sophie was about to have a melt down ... but it was fun while it lasted. A good break to a long winter afternoon!

You Capture - Color

Color. It makes me happy. Especially this time of year when everything is so grey. Everything. Although we did have some blue in our skies today ... so wonderful! Winter is long. I am so ready for Spring. But until then, I will have to imagine ... and soak up all the color I can find, wherever I can find it!

My lemon tree had 2 bright yellow lemons on it this week. I say had because shortly after I took this picture the kids picked them to make lemonade. Sour lemonade. Both made me smile. The lemons and the kids making the lemonade.

On my counter this week I have these bright orange flowers. From my sweet hubby. He is always so thoughtful and regularly brings gifts home for everyone. Thanks babe.

And thats the color in my life this week unless you count the colorful crayon marks that are all over my walls and floors from my baby ... but I like to pretend they aren't there. Carrying around a crayon just makes her so stinkin' happy. {Sigh!}

2009

It seems like it is a little after the fact for this post (I have been busy. Busy doing the mom and housewife thing ... and perfecting my Mario Cart game.), but it is a new year. A new decade even. And I feel like it would be weird to just move forward without documenting the year we just left behind. So I thought I would do a little "Best of 2009" and "Worst of 2009" for the Phipps family.

Best of 2009

I got my DSLR camera

Logan and his dad went to a fun fly in St. George

Collin started pre-school

Sophie started Kindergarten

summer art class

backyard swimming

Sophie played soccer

family vacation to Sea World and Lego Land

family vacation to Canada

Logan and I went to the Reno Air Races

Ruby was blessed

numerous trips to Lagoon

numerous trips to the zoo

Collin learned to pedal his bike

father/son and mother/daughter outings

I went to see Wicked with my mom

I lost 32 pounds

Logan and I took a day trip to San Francisco

Logan got a dirt bike

Collin got potty trained

Logan and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary

Ruby celebrated her 1st birthday

Worst of 2009

physical therapy for Ruby

sleep training

5 am wake ups ... everyday

Logan crashed and totaled his car

waiting in line for the H1N1 vaccine

Kindergarten shots

4 day trips for Logan

Logan and I got one year closer to 30!

kicking, screaming, tantrums ... everyday.

Collin stopped taking a nap

fevers, coughs, and earaches

in-grown toenails

running on the treadmill

It really was a great year. And it was so fun to look back at all that we have done and accomplished. I am excited for what is to come.

Welcome 2010!

Christmas Memories

There are so many little things about Christmas that I remember fondly when I was small. Eating on the Christmas dishes, wearing my rudolph sweatshirt, sitting at the top of the stairs with my sister waiting for my Grandma and Grandpa to come over on Christmas morning, family Christmas parties, anticipating various Christmas gifts, shaking wrapped presents under the tree, spending Christmas Eve with my best friend, Tiffany. The list really could go on. Just thinking of these things make me smile. But one of my all time favorites was helping my mom make the Christmas goodies. Every year we made Christmas treats ... fudge, toffee, and festive cream sandwiches. I remember that it seemed as if our dining room table was filled with the tempting goodies. So now to me it doesn't seem like Christmas without making and eating some yummy Christmas goodies! And trust me I have done more than my fare share of eating them.

This year I made some peppermint bark. Yum!

chocolate is so yummy!

the store i went to didn't have peppermint candy canes. seriously. tons on other flavors but no peppermint. so i had to settle on these instead.

The kids even got in on the baking fun. They made chocolate covered pretzels to give to their teachers as gifts. Collin was so good at it and stuck with me until all of them were done.

they both had a few ... errr a lot of tastes of the 'frosting'

these were so yummy too. any extras we had are now gone! and yes, it was me who ate the majority of them!

Soon we will be making gingerbread cookies. Sophie has been dying to make some for Santa this year so we will give them a try.

We got VAXED

We got vaxed for the H1N1 flu virus ... or at least the kids did. And boy am I ever glad that experience is over. On October 17th the kids and I went to one of Davis County's first flu clinics for the H1N1 virus. We waited in line along with 5,000 other people for 3 hours. It was awful! Then after receiving the shot I was told to come back in 3 weeks for a second dose. WHAT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? The thought of having to do this all over again made me want to cry.

We went home and I tried to forget the miserable experience. But I couldn't really. It was looming over me. I would listen to the new about the H1N1 clinics taking place and how people were camping out over night to get a good place in line. And the weather was changing. There were many days were people were waiting in line in the snow. I couldn't even imagine it. There was no way I was going to wait in line over night or make my kids stand outside in a giant line freezing to death. Ya right.

Well my three weeks went by and I decided that it was time I figured out how I was going to get this second dose for my kids. I looked up the flu clinics online only to find that they had changed their system. You now had to wait in a line for a ticket with an appointment date and time on it for the vaccine. Luckily one adult could pick up all the tickets for everyone in the family. So I sent Logan to get our tickets. He waited in a long line but was able to get us a ticket. Later that night I heard on the news that they had 6,000 tickets and all of them were gone in under an hour. I felt so lucky to have gotten one.

So yesterday we set out on our adventure to get our second dose. We waited in line for 15 minutes and were done! Yeah! I am so glad that the kids got the vaccine and that I no longer need to worry about it any more.

You Capture - Real Life

Real life is often glamorized in the blogging world ... mine included. But not today. When I saw Beth's theme for this week I knew I had to participate. So here is a glimpse into my "real" life.

In real life I don't spend enough time here. With a baby that wakes up at 5:45 everyday I find myself always wanting to crawl back into bed. And yes, in real life my bed is rarely made.

On most days we are really good about unloading the dishwasher first thing in the morning and then loading the dishes right after we use them ... but often times when Logan is away (because life is more "real" when he is out of town) I choose to not unload the dishwasher until after lunch. And by then the dishes are piled up.

And when I do decide to unload/load the dishwasher I have a little helper. But I wouldn't have it any other way!

In real life at any given moment my floor is covered with all matter of shoes, diapers, toys, snack crumbs, etc. I try to keep my house clean, but it never fails to be covered with the above mentioned items.

In real life you can always find a child running, skipping, chasing, riding bikes, crawling, or scooting themselves around my kitchen floor. Sometimes I feel as if I am constantly dodging them in order to make my way around the kitchen.

In real life I spend too much time on this. As Logan says, "The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem!"

In real life I ALWAYS have this stack of papers staring me in the face. Anything from school work to kids art projects to important papers that need to be signed and returned. I know, it needs help ... but I just don't know how to fix it. Kids create sooOOoo many papers. I go through it about once a week and file or throw things away, but obviously that is not often enough. Sigh!

In real life my kitchen table is always turned into an artists work station. There is always some form of coloring, cutting, painting, gluing, and drawing taking place there. I love it!

Well that is enough about my "real" life. Now show me a little about yours!

A Few Of My Favorite Things . . .

Whew it has been a busy week. I have been cleaning like mad. My house is spotless. Ha! I wish. The kids just seem to undo what I did. I still love them . . .

I am slow at getting to this, but this week at i ♥ faces it is a non competition week. It is "My Story in Photos: My Favorite Things." I just couldn't pass it up.

So in no particular order: A Few Of My Favorite Things . . .

My family. My sweet husband and my three amazing children. I love them like crazy. I love all the fun we have together; all the laughs, all the silliness, all the adventures.

My wonderful mom. I can't think of a better friend. I truly enjoy the time we spend together.

Sleep. I love sleep. It seems that I can never get enough of it. I am so grateful that Logan and I switch off sleep-in days when he is home so that we both can get some extra needed rest. Ya, sleep is one of my favorite things!

(And no this isn't my bed. Although I wouldn't mind. I didn't take pics of all my favorite things!)

Treats. I love treats of all kinds. These are my favorite cookies although right now I can't get pumpkin chocolate chip cookies off of my mind . . . maybe because it is fall.

Pedicures. I love to get my feet looking good with a relaxing pedicure. I don't get them enough and they don't seem to last long enough. Red is always my color of choice.

A sleeping boy in the afternoon. He falls asleep on the couch almost every day and it melts my heart every time I see it. So sweet.

Sisterly love. There really is nothing like having a sister. I love how close these two are getting.


Shopping! But not in heels . . . ha ha!


Birthdays! Mine or my kids. I love the celebration and the fun. And you get treats. An added bonus.


My camera. I am loving photography and trying to learn all that I can about it.


My computer. I could spend all day on the computer. I love blogging and reading the blogs of others . . . even those of people I don't know . . . but have come to know via their blog! I also love editing my photos and learning ways to make my photography look better.


Wowza! That was long. And I think I could go on a bit longer, but I have wasted enough time on this already. What are a few of your favorite things?