Random Rambles

A dear (and beautiful) friend checked in on me yesterday.  She had noticed my lack of blogging and wanted to make sure all was well in Phippsville.  Indeed, it is.  We’ve just been in a season of feeling like we were just keeping our heads above water with all we’ve had going on.  It’s been GOOD stuff, just lots of it!

Today’s blog is an attempt to catch you up on the past 6 weeks of our life…most likely in no particular order because oh, my brain….

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Sayble turned 7 months old and went in for her 6 month old check up. *ahem*  (Re-read the first paragraph…we’ve been a little busy).  She weighed in at 19 pounds and was 29 inches long!  She was terribly fussy yesterday – not usually her style – and lo and behold there was a sharp little nugget of a tooth pushing it’s way up!

Cute as a button...and bald as a cue ball!
Cute as a button…and bald as a cue ball!

She started eating baby food and LOVES it.  Kid is eating about 16 ounces a day and would eat more if I’d let her.  She’s still just as sweet and smiley and bald as ever.  It’s gonna grow.  Really it will.  Soon, sweetie…soon.

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We got new carpet! YAY!  That’s what happens when your adorable 6 month old starts the barrel-rolling/crawling phase and she’s wrapped around daddy’s finger and he thinks the old carpet that was here when we moved in needs to go.  Hey, whatever it takes!  😉 

It. Is. So. Soft.
It. Is. So. Soft.

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One of Wrex’s dreams came true and he got a pony…with a cart.  His name is Ernie and he’s about as wide as he is tall.  He’s 12 years old and is actually quite broke and talented.  The kids ADORE him and they can’t wait to ride him in a local parade.  Keep your eyes out for us!

Ernie and crew
Ernie and crew
Taking Wryder for a ride
Taking Wryder for a ride

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I had the honor of hosting a baby shower for one of the sweetest girls I know!  She is expecting a baby girl named Mesa Rae (isn’t that gorgeous?!) in January so we showered her with lots of love and gifts and (soup and cupcakes)!  It was a fun afternoon of celebrating mommy and baby to be.  There’s just something about a first-born girl…

Ali and Cliff
Ali and Cliff
Gifts!
Gifts!
The guest book
The guest book
Centerpieces
Centerpieces
Advice for momma
Advice for momma

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Sawyer has been DYING to have a Barbie Pop-Up Camper.  I mean, they are pretty cool.  I had the Barbie RV AND the Barbie Dream House when I was growing up so I get where she’s coming from.  😉

Wrex and I had pretty much finished her Christmas shopping and had gone back and forth on whether to take something we’d already gotten for her back to get this but that just didn’t set well with us.  She has a dollhouse that she plays with and we felt like the Pop-Up Camper would be similar and that she’d enjoy some of the other things we had already purchased a little better.

Pop-Up Camper was ALL we had heard about for quite a while and we just asked the Lord for wisdom on what to do.  She doesn’t have to have EVERYTHING she wants…this is the just the first thing she’s ever REALLY asked for by name.  People always ask her what she wants for Christmas or her birthday and she has no clue, so this was definitely different…we just didn’t know how to navigate it.  He answered.

She woke up last week and said she had an idea for us.  She wanted to know if she could cash in her piggy bank and then do chores to work and earn money to pay for the rest; we were definitely behind this plan!

The chore chart
The chore chart

Girl had $64 in her bank!  Thanks, sale barn buddies!  We created a chore chart and she’s been working outside and moving chickens and picking up trash and doing laundry and dishes to beat the band!  We saw it in Wal-Mart today and that added to the excitement.  I’m so proud of her for having a goal and working for it!  That will serve you well, sweet pea… 

Checkin' it out...
Checkin’ it out…

She did say she wasn’t going to buy it until AFTER Santa came because if he wanted to buy her one, she’d save her money for something else.  She’s a smart one, that one…

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Speaking of Santa, we went and saw him Monday evening in town.  He left a little to be desired in the santa looks department (no offense, sir!) and Sawyer was a little skeptical.  She told us afterwards, “He doesn’t talk like the santa we saw last year.  I’m pretty sure one of this is just some guy dressed up as santa…”  She’s a smart one, that one…

Skeptical about Santa
Skeptical about Santa
Ready to watch the parade
Ready to watch the parade
Sayble snuggling daddy
Sayble snuggling daddy
Shopping with Sayble.  I'm sure this is safe, don't worry...
Shopping with Sayble. I’m sure this is safe, don’t worry…

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We met up with the Phipps side of the family for Thanksgiving and the three youngest cousins got to meet each other for the first time!  These cuties were all born within about a month of each other.  We took somewhere between 50 and 100 pictures and I’m thinking this is one of the best ones we got!  Three babies plus a house full of people trying to get them all to smile equal chaos…

Saylor (8 months), Chase (7 months), Sayble (7 months)
Saylor (8 months), Chase (7 months), Sayble (7 months)

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Sawyer sold her first show heifer this past month with some help of daddy and her good friend John Tucker.  She got her check in the mail and opened her first checking/livestock account this past week.  My baby is growing up, it seems.

She picked out checks with horses on them and is so generous, she wanted Wryder’s name on them, too.

Signing her paperwork with our sweet friend, Katie
Signing her paperwork with our sweet friend, Katie
Sawyer and Corn Cob
Sawyer and Corn Cob

Even cooler than the checking account, she tithed off of her income to a ministry our church runs and supports called CARE Uganda. I helped host a fundraiser for them this fall and she’s as bought in as the rest of our family is.  So proud of my girl…

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In the midst of all of the busyness, we have had so much to be thankful for.  We have entered this Christmas season at a slower pace and a purposeful turning of our hearts towards Jesus.  We’ve spent our mornings with our hearts and noses in our advent readings and have worshiped through song before bed every night.  He is so worthy of it, friends…

DIY: Painted Flatware

I’m thanking the Lord for that cozy weather we had yesterday.  I don’t know what it is about clouds that make me productive but they do.  I got my flatware project done – yay! – and today I’m gonna show you how simple it really is.

I’ve done this before for a baby shower I hosted for my sister.  I used hot pink for that event and I absolutely loved how they turned out.

Cool, yes?!
Adorbs, yes?!

This time, I chose a matte black paint; maybe not as exciting as electric pink, but I think it’s gonna go well with the rest of the decor.

What you’ll need:

  • Flatware – any and all; doesn’t have to match (I prefer it not to)
  • Painter’s tape
  • Spray paint that adheres to metal.  (I prefer a model car paint put out by Krylon but maybe there’s some better options out there??)
  • Clear acrylic top coat

    Acrylic coat and spray paint
    Acrylic coat and spray paint

Step 1: Prep and clean your flatware.

A few spoons
A few spoons

I ran these through the dishwasher this morning and then got busy taping.

A few forks
A few forks

I wanted these to be painted at differing heights but the possibilities are endless.

Step 2: Paint the back sides of the flatware.

Face down
Face down

I always start with the backs because I’m usually half-way in a hurry when I’m doing all these projects and if any side is going to be less than perfect, I’d prefer it to be the back.  This model car paint dries to the touch really quickly so after I let them sit for about 5 minutes, I flipped them to do the fronts.

Step 3: Paint the fronts of the flatware.

Step 4: Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the clear acrylic coating. 

This was something I did not do with the pink set of silverware.  They’ve held up pretty well…there are a few nicks here and there…so I thought I’d try adding this step this time to see how they fare.  I’ll let ya know…

Step 5: Let them dry for 24 hours.

A very important step, obviously.  Put them on a flat, dry surface that they won’t stick to – ie – no paper.

Old records work well...
Old records work well…

Step 6: Pair your flatware with some killer dishes.

IMG_5143
That works
Black matte
Black matte

I love this project because it’s cheap and easy AND it’s one of those details that can totally make a dinner party.  Scourge your local thrifts, find some cheap flatware and funky it up!

Showered in Love

I’m in event planning mode, which is a great place to be if you’re me.   Between spring weddings and first birthdays, I am ready to par-tay…er, decorate at least.  Today’s lovely spring weather got me thinking about one of my favorite events EVER – my ridiculously awesome baby shower.

My adoptive mom and sisters threw Sawyer and I the most beautiful shower I’ve ever attended, and I’ve been to a few.  It was bright and girly and whimsical and fun – all things that describe Sawyer today.  There were paper chains and flowers; homemade paper fans and pinwheels; little containers of homegrown grass and goldfish in flower vases…no detail was spared – it. was. perfect.

In honor of “throwback Thursday” feast your eyes on this beauty of celebration!

On the sidewalk leading up to the locale...
On the sidewalk leading up to the locale…
The entry way, complete with a bubble machine!
The entry way, complete with a bubble machine!
The gift hut and family style seating - my fave!
The gift hut and family style seating – my fave!
Oh yes - isn't THAT adorable?!
Oh yes – isn’t THAT adorable?!
The table centerpieces...
The table centerpieces…
I still have every one of these to give her one day!
I still have every one of these to give her one day!
We were so blessed to receive so many things we needed for our sweet girl!
We were so blessed to receive so many things we needed for our sweet girl!
One of my favorite parts - the pregnant dress form...
One of my favorite parts – the pregnant dress form…
Everything was so charming and whimsical...
Everything was so charming and whimsical…
And of course there was lots of pink!
And of course there was lots of pink!
There were lots of sweets and tasty treats...
There were lots of sweets and tasty treats…
Yummy looking and yummy tasting!
Yummy looking and yummy tasting!
How cute are these?!
How cute are these?!
Lots of pinwheels...
Lots of pinwheels…
Sweet little goodie bags...
Sweet little goodie bags…
Sugar scrub as thank you gifts - another fave!
Sugar scrub as thank you gifts – another fave!
It was a wonderful celebration!
It was a wonderful celebration!
I would love to do it all over again - it was just so fun!
I would love to do it all over again – it was just so fun!
Bumps!
Bumps!

The only thing that could’ve made the day better would have been a little less wind (anybody remember the hurricane force gusts that ripped through Colorado that day?!), but it was still one of those days that I’ll cherish forever.  I’m reliving it now…with extreme fondness…