birthday – Page 2 – The Bless Your Heart Blog

Phipps County Fair

Sawyer turned FIVE a few weeks ago and she wanted to have a county fair birthday party…so we did! 🙂

She’s not very big into sweets but she really wanted to try cotton candy at the rodeo on July 4th. Turns out, she’s a fan! She REALLY wanted cotton candy at the party so that was the theme of our invitation.

Come one, come all... — Come one, come all…

When I think of the county fair, I immediately think of show animals and I knew Wrex had a few boxes of rosettes in the garage from his show days that I wanted to use. When I decorate for parties, I’m all about using and re-purposing things we already have so this was an easy way to add some purple pizzazz without spending any money.

For the backdrop, I had the idea to make paper rosettes with Sawyer’s name on them. I just happened to find the purple and white paper fans at Oriental Trading for $0.50 a piece and then cut scrapbook paper to make the ribbon tails. We printed letters for her name and added them to sparkly foam and voila! My favorite part of the party…

Wrex and his dad made these ‘lemonade stands” for me out of old pallets we had in the shop. We added a little paint and our rosette bunting and I absolutely loved how they looked…

We had a glitter tattoo booth, too! I made livestock and ribbon templates, bought some glitter tattoo glue and some glitter and fancied the kids up…I just didn’t get any pictures of any of that. Boo.

We HAD to have a cake walk – Sawyer’s favorite part of the party (besides her uncles, friends and cotton candy).

Wrex found some scrap carpet at Menards and I painted the numbers and made some tiny cakes and the cake walk was born.

Sawyer’s other favorite birthday game is pin the tail on the donkey. We decided to pin the ribbon on the pig – totally fun to watch the kids fumble through this one! I found some farm animal clip art I liked and had them blown up and printed at Staples as an engineer print ($3!!) and we used the pig for the game and the other animals as decor…

The kids got prizes at every game station, so we made little bags so they could keep up with their treasures…

I got lucky and found a roll of purple and white gingham table covering that totally jazzed up our tablescapes. For centerpieces, I bought some purple buckets at the dollar store and planted some wheat seed the neighbors gave us. We watered and waited and two weeks later we plopped some purple animals in them and called it cute!

Uncle Waco ran the cotton candy machine, automatically making him the most popular guy at the party…but he probably would’ve been anyways…

Besides cotton candy, we had BBQ sandwiches, corn dogs, curly fries, corn on the cob, popcorn and pickles!

We opened some presents and just had an all around good time!

The birthday girl got sang to but opted out of eating her cupcake. 😉

At the end of the day, we thanked our guests with goldfish! Wrex thought real ones would be a cool, affordable parting gift but we opted for making goldfish soap so we didn’t upset any parents. 😉

We bought some plastic goldfish and some clear, glycerin soap. We melted the soap down, poured it into bags, added a cute little fishy and tied it up with a ribbon. These little guys were adorable, if I do say so myself.

All-in-all, it was my favorite party I’ve thrown. Maybe it was because I know the birthday girl had such a good time and felt so loved…that’s the point, right?

with her (our) sweet friend, Andrea... — with her (our) sweet friend, Andrea…

Next up is Grandma Rusk’s 80th. It’s gonna be a ball!

Sawyer’s Birth(day) Week

My first born is officially FIVE! Five has always been a big birthday number for her. She made a list about a year or so ago of all the things she felt like she could do once she was five…use a knife to cut her food, climb a tree, go underwater, etc. (Now that one has been moved to when she’s 10. Darn that bad swimming lesson…)

She had a really fun birth-week (and we did, too!) She got to get a pedicure…

and have heart pancakes for breakfast…

She got sang to at the sale barn and someone gave her a dollar and her special friend Mr. Rod gave her some roller skates! She was THRILLED! She picked A&W for her birthday lunch (girl loves her some root beer floats) and then we headed home to open presents. But first, a little birthday park play…

And yes, she wore that silly little birthday crown all day. 🙂

That night, we surprised her with a birthday slumber party! She’s been dying for one of us to sleep in her room with her in her new trundle bed so that’s what we did…for part of the night anyways. Bum feet and babies make an all nighter a little hard but we did our best! She’s been telling people we stayed up “alllllllll night.” It was 9:00, but good enough for me!

We fixed each other’s hair and did each other’s makeup – daddy, too!

(Yes, he IS the best dad on the planet!) We played flashlight tag and restaurant, read stories and played with sister…it really was a fun night. One on one times with her have gotten fewer with the addition of our other little blessings so it was fun for us to be immersed in her world for a little while.

We spent the rest of the week finishing up the details for her official birthday party. Little Wryder has been all about trailers lately…

So when Wrexy loaded up our little fair booths on Thursday evening, Wryder pulled his little car over and was ready to go. It was the cutest thing….EVER.

She wanted a county fair so on Saturday, a county fair we had! Here’s a little sneak peak…more to come later! 🙂

She had a ball and our hearts were so full. THANK YOU to everyone who came and showered her with love… We are so thankful for our spiritual family who fill in the gaps…you all have our hearts.

Sunday, we had brunch and (not enough) great grandma/PaPa/RaRa/auntie/uncle/cousin play time.

The kids are still recuperating – heck, I am, too! – but it was worth every late night, paper cut and sore foot. She felt so loved…

She is.

Five in a Flash

Sweet Sawyer…

We call you that all the time and that little name was dubbed you before you were even born. “Sweet Sawyer” was plastered all over your baby shower along with lots of real sweets, to boot. 🙂 It was if we already knew… May I just say you have fully lived up to and embraced that name.

There is so much I could write about you on your birthday… I love your beautiful face and your keen eye for fashion… I love how girly you are and how you love to create outfits and change clothes, shoes and hair accessories 14 times a day… I love how you love being outside and coming in filthy after a hard day of building and digging and wrangling goats… I love how you plan parties and feasts and parades… I love how much you love people, even those that have done nothing to deserve the unconditional love you so freely share…

I have so many favorites about you but my favorite thing about you is your heart…

You have a heart for your siblings. The Lord chose you to be the first born; the big sister of the Phipps family. Daddy and I know it’s a hard job sometimes (we were firstborns, too!) but you do it oh-so well. The way you care for and protect and mother (and attempt to discipline) Wryder and Sayble is so sweet. They adore you and we couldn’t ask for a better role model and example for them to look up to.

You have a heart for obedience. Ever since you were just a tiny thing, daddy and I would set one rule and we never had to worry about you even testing that boundary. You spoiled us, kiddo. And tricked us into believing all children were that way. Not so. *ahem* You choose obedience daily and are quick to ask the Lord and us for forgiveness when you feel as if you’ve fallen short.

You have the heart of servant. This is one of my favorite things about you because it’s somewhat of a lost trait in today’s society. You are the first one to rush over and pick something up if it gets dropped or the first to rush in with a towel to clean up a spill (and we have a few of those around here). You never tire of helping with chores or cleaning your room or helping mom plan a party.

Monday night, we came home WAY past bedtime and Sayble was tired and hungry and my foot was killing me and you guys needed a snack and dad needed to run to the barn to put the cat away so you enthusiastically jumped right in and got fruit, cheese and milk for you and Bubba. That blessed me so much and you do that kind of stuff every. day.

You have the heart of a worshiper. The Lord showed me that before you were even a year old and boy is it true. There are no better days than when we just spend some time worshiping through song together. I love when you want to sing when I do your hair or when we all (attempt) to play instruments or when I hear you singing in the spirit in your room or in the car. It’s a joyful noise to His ears, no doubt.

You have a heart of generosity. You so freely share your things. I can’t count how many times you find out someone is coming over or it’s someone’s birthday and you rush up stairs and rifle through your trinket drawers and come down with something wrapped up to give them. You shower me with flowers (and a few weeds) and little notes and pictures all the time. I wouldn’t trade those for the world, you know…

And, fellow readers? If Sawyer ever bestows upon you a half-used chapstick or a too small bracelet or a chicken feather or a few coins…receive them and receive them with gusto! These are some of her most treasured possessions and she’s chosen to share them with YOU.

You have a heart that seeks Jesus. Daddy and I have been amazed at the spiritual maturity you possess for being so young. (We might be a wee bit jealous, too). You are constantly asking questions about how to hear from the Lord and how NOT to hear from satan and how to tell the difference. You are quick to share the gospel even when you get rejected. You love to “read” your Bible and you love our family devotion and prayer time. The zeal in which you seek Him is inspiring.

I think that’s what it boils down to, sweet Sawyer…you inspire me. You make me want to be a better mom and sister and friend……..you make me want to be more like you.

I would be remiss if I didn’t say that these five years have gone fast. Too fast. In a flash you’re five and my heart is bursting with pride regarding you. I’m so excited about these new stages and adventures we’re encountering…but I can’t help but think of all the ways I’ve failed you as a momma. I’m so far from perfect it’s revolting….but I sure do love you.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…if I knew every kid we’d have would be just like you, I’d have 10 more in a heartbeat. Sure would. Until then, I’ll continue to bless you and bless the day you were born!

I bless you with a continued life of obedience. It will serve you well in all walks of life but I pray that that obedience is always born out of a love for the Lord, not because of a set of rules. I pray that because you love Him you so much, your heart can’t bear to bend any other way than towards righteousness.

I bless you with Godly friends and relationships. You are so kind and so giving and so merciful and so forgiving and so loving and I pray all of that is given right back to you ten-fold. I pray that as you get older that the Lord would deliver you a good friend to walk this life with who will be just as invested in the relationship as you are.

I bless you with lots of opportunities to hear from the Lord. I pray that He would continually be in your ear and in your heart and that you would be attuned to listen and obey.

I bless you with a family who models what it means to love the Lord. We fall short so often, sweet girl, but you inspire us to constantly strive to do better and strengthen our relationships with Him as well.

I bless you with the calling of the Lord on your life…that you would hear it and know it from an early age and that you would stop at nothing to a live a life that is pleasing to him.

Sweet Sawyer, you are so special to us…irreplaceable….one of the biggest blessings we’ve ever been given. It’s an honor and a privilege to be your momma. Happy birthday, beautiful! Let’s party!

Worth 1,000 Words: 33

I put Sawyer in charge of Wrex turning 33 and the girl came out swinging!! She decided we needed to throw him an orange birthday party since orange is his favorite color. 🙂 I sat down with her last week and she made a menu and helped me shop for orange everything!

Orange pop, orange slices, Reese’s, orange plates and cups and napkins and straws and silverware and flowers – girl covered it all!

We even found a bright orange cupcake mix!

That's a lot of orange... — That’s a lot of orange…

For his birthday supper, she created the menu all by herself! Steaks with sweet potato fries, cantaloupe, cheese and carrots!

This weekend, we let him decide everything on the agenda so it turned into Phipps Family work day(s)! We washed and detailed the car and got it ready to sell…

We mowed and mowed and mowed some more… We got air conditioners running and closets full of summer clothes and winter ones put away… We got daddy’s trailer door fixed and the battery charged in the Power Wheels… We even had time for a midday cookout!

Both kids were a tick under the weather all weekend so we tried our hardest to sleep in on Sunday. I snapped this pic before I got up…melt my heart.

We went out for Mexican food on Sunday night and the lovely staff just insisted on singing to daddy…in a sombrero…

Then, after they were done singing, they whopped him in the face with whipped cream! WHAT THE HECK!?! All in good fun, but we were all a little shocked!

All in all, I think it was a pretty good birthday weekend!

I’m so proud of this curly haired beauty and how much thought and effort she put into blessing her daddy.

We love this man!

33 looks good on you!

I Got the Gift

Well, well…fancy meeting you here again. 😉 I’ve been a little m-i-a since the wee one was born. Do ya blame me?! I mean, look at that sweet face…

I rejoin the blogging world for a very special occasion…this handsome fella’s 33rd birthday!

I always feel like I’m the one getting the gift on his birthday.

As a little girl and young woman, when I was dreaming up my ideal husband, I couldn’t have put together someone more perfect than my Wrexy. He’s all things good and kind and gentle and sweet and loving and right and joyful…and watching him (especially) the past 3 weeks has made me fall in love with him all over again.

He was a champ – a dream – in the delivery room. Having a natural labor requires a LOT of teamwork and he was the best teammate I could’ve asked for (much like the other parts of my life). He encouraged me and let me squeeze his hand until I thought it might fall off…he held me up when I couldn’t hardly hold myself up and kept me on track when I wanted to cave to pain killers…he supplied me with cold rags and words of affirmation…he counted and encouraged and encouraged some more and encouraged even more…he was a constant ray of sunshine and excitement… I mean this to the fullest extent – there is NO WAY I could’ve birthed that baby without him.

When Dr. Kohl came in the next day, she checked me over and then she said something to the effect of, “I just have to tell you something. Yesterday, during labor, I was so impressed with you and Wrex. My favorite part was that during transition, he was calling you ‘Fox’.”

Ah, yes…transition. That point in labor where the pain is almost unbearable and you start thinking you can’t do it (and don’t want to) and you say that this is your last baby and you are writhing in pain… And in the middle of all of that…when I (most likely) wasn’t looking my best or acting my best or even coherent enough be fully aware of all that was going on around me, he was treating me like I was the foxiest thing he’d seen all day. See what I mean when I say I feel like I’m the one getting the gift?!

Watching him with this sweet, new babe is equally swoon worthy. He’s so gentle with her and talks about how cute she is and dotes on her constantly. He’ll hold her and she’ll fall asleep and he’ll say, “You should come take our picture.” Uh, ask me for anything and you can have it this very moment.

He’s my best friend and lover and teammate extraordinaire and I am SO VERY GLAD that he was born!

Sexy Wrexy, I pray that 33 is your best year yet! On this, the best day in June, I bless you in the name of Jesus!

I bless the work of your hands…that the Lord would honor your fortitude and entrepreneurial spirit and that you would continue to operate for His glory.

I bless you with loyalty…that the same amount of faith and fidelity that your pour out to those around you would be given right back to you.

I bless you with with the receipt of grace and mercy…that it would envelop you as freely as you give it away.

I bless you with strength and boldness as you continue to live a life of transparency that shines the light of Jesus, even in (and especially in) those dark places.

I bless you with an increase in wisdom…that you would press into the Lord and receive His heart on how best to parent and love and discipline our growing family.

I bless you with the time and means to pursue the things that satisfy your soul and refresh your spirit.

And, as any good cow buyer’s wife would, I bless you with cheap cows and easy roads…copious amounts of Mt. Dew and highly marbled steak.

I love you, handsome! Happiest of birthdays to you! Thank you for giving me the gift of YOU all year long…

Wryder Roo is Two!

Happy birthday, Wryder Roo! You’re two! TWO! Even though when we ask you these days, you tell us you’re six…ahem.

You are all boy – from the tip of your head to the bottoms of your feet. They stink. Really, they do. You have the stinkiest, sweatiest feet of anyone I know and I think it’s adorable. I must be your mother, huh? It just reminds me of just how all boy you really are.

Anything that makes noise or has wheels or involves mud or rocks or sticks or jumping off of something – you are all about it! You are very dexterous like your daddy and almost always have something in your hand. You love to put rocks in your “pot-tet” or carry around a stick or throw dirt…we’re still working on that one, aren’t we?

You love ANYTHING tractor (especially the green ones). Thankfully, the guys across the road are going to be planting alfalfa soon and have had to do a lot ground work in preparation for that. You’ve stood on the porch and watched them for hours already…you just wait til they start swathing and baling – I might never get you inside!

Watching intently as the neighbors work ground

You LOVE to eat. Even just the mention of the word snack or supper gets you to drop what you’re holding and run to your seat in the kitchen. We haven’t found too many things you won’t eat…in fact, I’m not sure I can think of a single one. You are definitely your “father’s son” (as Sawyer says) and you love meat and potatoes…and any sweet that gets put in front of you.

A birthday treat from our waitress yesterday... — A birthday treat from our waitress yesterday…

You seem to love the ladies, ahem, which we’re ok with. Daddy does a great job (and will continue to, no doubt) show you how to treat a woman according to Christ. Your extroversion serves you well in this department…as does your general charm and the ease at which you throw around your “I wuv yous.” Just do us a favor and be kind to ALL the girls, not just the young, tall, dark haired ones, ok??

Despite all that masculinity you have coursing through your veins, you are so good at showing love…

You love your family fiercely, which I adore. Your sissy is your best friend and daddy ranks a close second. I suppose I’m not really ever gone enough to test your allegiance, but I’m ok with that. 😉

Every time I hear your little voice say, “Momma hug. Momma kiss,” I just melt. I shall give you all the hugs and kisses you shall ever want…and probably quite a few you’d not.

Oh, I love him so... — Oh, I love him so…

Your laugh and zeal are SO contagious! You are easily excited by the things in your world that are so important to you…tractors and baby calves and monkeys and Booey and sissy and Bandit the cat and going to town and cowboy hats and birthdays and semi trucks and cookies…and it makes us excited, too!

You’re an emotional little guy. Change, especially abrupt change, is hard for you. We have to take our time to tell things “bye” or prepare for whatever comes next. I suppose you get that from your ~~type A, anal retentive~~ mother. Ahem.

You’re very persistent when it comes to…just about everything. We’ve discovered that the “just ignore him and he will stop asking/repeating/whining” thing doesn’t really work with you. It works best to nip it in the bud and attempt to move on. I have no doubts that this will serve you well in some (or many) arenas in your adult life one day.

Your whole existence has been a big change for me! You and Sawyer aren’t just a ton alike and that’s taken some getting used to. (See above paragraph regarding change. Ahem.) I feel like I’m finally getting in my boy groove…and it. is. good. You have added an element to our family that I didn’t even know was missing and man-oh-man, it has been so rewarding and fun…for all of us. We are better because of you, it’s true!

Ride a little pony... — Ride a little pony…

On your second birthday, we bless you in the name of Jesus! We bless your hands – that they would do the work of the Lord. We bless your feet – that they would carry you far from mischief. We speak to your future and call it blessed and we pray that the deep persistence that abides in you will be used to stand firm for the Lord as you further His kingdom. We pray that as you hunger and thirst in life, that your greatest ones will be for more of Him and His word and His presence. We bless you with a life that nurtures your boyish heart; one of adventure and excitement as you follow the Lord!

We love you so much, handsome! The Lord redeemed “tax day” when you were born!

WD’s JD Party

Our sweet little Wryder loves tractors. They are, hands down, his favorite thing right now. He loves to watch them work ground all around us or look at pictures of them on the internet or play with his or ask Mr. Rick for rides… With his second birthday coming up, we knew a tractor party he should have!

DSCF2830 — Wrex cut these tractors out of foam for me and I painted them up

I love the little John Deere boy...reminds me of WD — I love the little John Deere boy…reminds me of WD

DSCF2819 — He got such a bang out of the plates and napkins – so glad I bought them!

We had some of his favorite things to eat, including:

harrowed hamburgers
sickle mower sweet potato fries
garden tractor veggie tray
four stroke fruit
compact corn on the cob
duel fuel lemonade

The dessert table - always the best part! — The dessert table – always the best part!

He's a little blurry with excitement! — He’s a little blurry with excitement!

Especially eating it :) — Especially eating it 🙂

He got some great gifts including a barn that folds up with the animals inside that he can take to the sale barn…

This got lots of play time this weekend... — This got lots of play time this weekend…

Some baby ducks, now named Jack and Danny…

and his favorite gift, a “boy cow” hat!

I can’t believe this little guy is almost two! It feels like his first two years went faster than they did with Sawyer. Hard to believe she’s gonna be five. Yes, five.

We’re all still trying to regain some rest after such a fun weekend with the fam and the kids are definitely going through grandparent detox. Don’t act like you don’t know what I mean… 😉

The Birthday Boys

Happiest of birthdays to two of the biggest miracles I know!

My sweet nephews are one today! ONE!

A year ago today, they were born via c-section at 26 weeks gestation. They weighed in a 1 pound 1 ounce and 1 pound 4 ounces. They’ve come a looooooooong way, they have!

Our first meeting... — Our first meeting…

The Lord has been so faithful to their family. My sister-~~in-law~~ reflected back on the past year and I encourage you to check out her story here.

Happy birthday, boys! We love you sooooooo very much! We have been honored to be able to watch the Lord’s hand on your lives and to stand by your family as we prayed for you and over you. You are alive and thriving for a reason, little warriors! We have seen His favor on you and we pray that you will follow Him all the days of your lives!

I hope you get to eat lots of cake and ice cream…and that your momma sends me a picture when you do! 😉 We love you!

Sooner Rather Than Later

I really didn’t mean to leave for so long. Really, I didn’t. Can you believe I haven’t written here in almost a month?! That’s quite some time for a rather wordy person…

I got busy helping with a 60th anniversary party…and Cubbies started up again…and I joined a Tuesday Bible study…oh, and I’m growing a new life. *ahem* That really takes it out of you, you know?

YES – in case you haven’t heard, baby Phipps number three will be joining us in May!

Just after leaving the doctor's office... — Just after leaving the doctor’s office…

YAY! We are over the moon excited to have another wee one join the ranks! We told the world yesterday and today I’m feeling so humbled and grateful for the wonderful community of supporters we have out there. Sawyer is pretty buzzed to be a big sister again and Wryder has no idea what in the world all the hubbub was about. Rude awakening coming in 7 months…

So yeah…we need to catch up! I need to show you a few pics of the anniversary party…and tell you about my twin nephews that I got to see for the second time…and talk to you about my hair…and discuss all things fall…and how my family made my birthday extra special…and how I’m nauseous – a lot. I was never sick with the other two so I guess I had this coming.

I told my sister~~-in-law~~ this morning that I’ve never had to “push through” more in my life than I’ve had to in the past three weeks. Thank the Lord for heaps of grace, selfless husbands and ginger ale…those seem to be my staples these days.

It’s naptime around here and I do believe I’ll take part in that – BUT – I’ll be back! And sooner this time, rather than later…

Worth 1,000 Words: The Children’s Museum

This girl LOVES the farmer's market! — This girl LOVES the farmer’s market!

"That'll be $65, please." — “That’ll be $65, please.”

He liked the tractor at the farmer's market! — He liked the tractor at the farmer’s market!

Singing and playing... — Singing and playing…

Couldn't get enough of those drums... — Couldn’t get enough of those drums…