morning frost

Although I hate the cold weather, I love seeing the trees covered in frost each morning!  I think it is so beautiful. But I look forward to seeing these same trees covered in blossoms.  Spring can't come soon enough!

Ice Skating

Over the break, we took the kids ice skating.  Sophie had been dying to go and was so excited.  The kids had a blast.  Well, Sophie and Collin did. Ruby opted not to skate, but to watch with Lyla and I. Although I think she had a great time watching too!  Sophie was actually really good. She only fell once or twice. Collin on the other hand, fell a lot! But he always got right back up.  He went home soaking wet from all of his falls. We'll have to go back another time before Spring comes...and it can't come soon enough!!!   

October 25, 2012. First Snow!

We had our first snow yesterday.  While I was a little bummed to be seeing snow already (can't it wait until after Halloween?) the kids were over the moon excited about it.  They couldn't wait to go out in the white stuff before school.  I think they may have went to school with soaking wet feel (a good reminder to me that I need to buy them all new boots this year!). And although I am not quite ready for the cold and snow...I was just sitting on the beach in Puerto Vallarta two days before this...seeing and hearing my kids excitement made it seem welcome!

Logan snapped these pictures after school.  Let's reflect that Collin just finished building a snowman in shorts and flip flops!  He sure was excited for the snow, but maybe he isn't quite ready for winter! At least he had his coat on!!

snow

It snowed. I wish that I was able to capture Collin's excitement when he woke up and saw the snow. I was still much too sleepy ... but his facial expression was priceless. That priceless facial expression was immediately followed by "can I go play in the snow?" I made him wait ... Sophie wasn't even awake yet, but soon I was stuffing and bundling and shoving little hands into mittens. It really is a lot of work getting kids all ready to play outside. A lot of work for a few minutes of enjoyment. But worth it. We all went out. The kids, Logan, and me with my camera. It was a family affair.

It was Ruby's first time to play in the snow. I think she liked it. She thought she was so silly the first time she put her mitten down in it.

Collin wanted to build a snow man. Lucky for him Dad was up to the task.

Collin rolled...

and Logan stacked and patted the perfect shape.

All the while this crazy girl snacked on the freshly fallen white stuff ...

and this silly girl crawled around.


And when that snowman was complete ... Collin knocked it right down! Boys will be boys! What a wonderful time of year ... but why does it have to be so cold?!?!

i heart faces - bundled up

The theme this week at i heart faces is bundled up. I hate to think of bundling up. My sights are set on Spring ... and I don't want to look back. We went to the zoo today ... in just our jackets, and it was wonderful. But we did have a lot of fun this past winter.

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!

Special Visitor

Last night Santa came to visit. The kids were playing and they heard some jingle bells outside. They were so excited about who might be at out door. Sophie couldn't believe he was at our house and she quickly went to the window to look for his reindeer. She wanted to know just how he got here. The kids must be on the "nice" list for sure to have such a special visitor come.

Ruby took one look at the guy and started screaming ...

Still not so sure, but at least she isn't in tears.

It wouldn't be a visit from Santa without a candy cane ... yummy ones!

We love you Santa!

When Santa was leaving she looked again for his reindeer. She was really worried about how he was going to get home to the North Pole. I told her "Santa Magic!"

And did you know ... Santa has a special key to get inside those homes that do not have a chimney. Sophie has been worrying about that.

muffins

Sophie calls her new ear muffs MUFFINS!

I love to hear her say it.

She gets so excited to wear them!

Hardware Ranch

Today we took a trip to Hardware Ranch for a sleigh ride through the elk. It was a long drive both there and back but I think it was worth it. It was a lot of fun and the kids loved it! They were so intrigued ... and could hardly take their eyes off of the elk.

on the sleigh

the elk

looking hard for an elk with horns

my cute baby girl

she loved the sleigh ride as long as it was moving

she would point at everything she saw

What a fun afternoon!

More Lights!

A nearby city puts on a great light show every year. The kids love it ... we love it too! It is fun because it is one you can either walk through or drive through. We always walk through it at least once, and it makes for a good break to a stir crazy night so we drive through it a lot! Last night we bundled up and walked through.

sophie wanted to have her picture taken by all of her favorite animals ... which happened to be just about every one. she liked the unicorns the most though. the dragons were collin's favorite.

this rascal DID NOT want his pic taken. i had to practically twist his arm to talk him into this one.

Lights

It wouldn't be Christmas time without a visit to Temple Square to see the lights. I have been wanting to take the kids but have been dreading it at the same time just because it has been so cold lately. But I got up the courage to brave the cold and last night for family night we made the visit ... and it was cold! But we all had a good time and the kids loved the lights. Sophie liked all the pink lights and named almost every tree she saw "diamond!"

love the pink nose!