Tag: birthday
Full Weekend, Full Heart
What a fun weekend we’ve had! I know it’s only Sunday, but Friday and Saturday were full full full…
On Friday evening, Sawyer and I got to attend Anley’s Royal Tea Party to celebrate her (Anley’s ) 5th birthday!
She picked out a fancy dress and we dolled her up with a little pink eye shadow and some barrel curls. She looked ADORABLE, if I do say so myself.
We had real, hot tea with cream and sugar and dined on sweet and savory little treats.
These girls had so much fun and looked fabulous, to boot!
We got home late that night and then Saturday, we braved the snow to head to Denver for a quick little trip. We had a few errands to run and a few people we wanted to love on – it was lovely!
We ate a yummy lunch and then headed to the thrift store to grab some pants for WD. He was down to one pair of jeans that fit his growing self, so we snagged four more…and a couple pairs of shoes…and a sweet little dress for Sawyer…and a few more things. Ahem.
Then, we dropped into Target to grab some baby snacks for Wryder and stumbled upon a diaper sale…be still my heart. They had eight of the mega boxes of Pampers Swaddlers, size 5 diapers on sale for $26. The boxes with 60 diapers were $25. These with 104 are normally $41. So, we did what any thrifty parent would do…we bought every box. SCORE!
We got to see our sweet Stukas friends for a few fleeting minutes. When we were eating lunch, we asked Sawyer what one thing she’d really like to do while we were in town and she said, “Play with Vaeh and they.” (Vaeh is the youngest Stukas girl). How sweet is that?! Of all the things she could pick…adorable.
Then, we headed to the adopted fam’s house for a family birthday party for two of their main men. It was sooooooooooooooooooooooooo good to see all of them! There is just something about being there that I just love; it’s “home” in a sense. To be in a place where you are loved unconditionally and cared for and encouraged and hugged on…and a place where you can trust your kids with everyone in the house because they all truly do have their best interests at heart (and common sense)…is just a comforting, lovely thing. Makes me not want to leave……and to cry when I do…
Sawyer go to love on sweet baby Eva, the other highlight of our trip! She offered to trade Aunt Dessa straight across the board – Wryder for Eva – but it didn’t work. 🙂
She spent the rest of the evening play with the big girls, who were so incredibly kind to her. Wryder did so well for getting no naps for the day. He was beyond tired but just kept clapping and squealing – he liked being there, too.
We walked in the door about midnight last night so we’re taking it pretty easy today. Laundry, coffee and snuggling are on the agenda and not much else…besides stacking up all of those diapers…
Worth 1,000 Words: Grandparent Birthday Weekend
We spent the weekend with the grandparents in Nebraska. We all had a lot of fun and are attempting to recuperate today. Unfortunately, the kiddos are both quite ill but the weather is cooperating nicely for a stay-inside-and-snuggle-all-day day. Here are a few pics from our weekend!
I’ve had my eye on this shirt at Old Navy for a while but never bit the bullet and bought it. Well, Tuesday I went into the Goodwill in North Platte and there it was, brand new in a 5T. Love.
Sawyer wanted to pick out an ice cream cake for the birthday folks and she chose this beauty. Uncle Waco helped her put the candles in and then we sang…and devoured it.
Sawyer reminds me soooo much of Wrex – an incredibly good thing. She’s a great problem solver and gives everything a good try without giving up. She loves to use tools and build and help, so she helped PaPa put his new work stool together…in a tutu, of course.
Wryder got to open an early birthday present. He got a Duck Dynasty shirt and a toy tractor – what could be better?!
Sawyer and RaRa went on an afternoon adventure and found all kinds of fun things!
Wryder got to hang out with Uncle Waco and play with this balloon. He wanted to pop it with his teeth soooo bad!
Sawyer got to practice shooting the toy gun, which she loved. Daddy brought home his competition BB gun so we can start teaching some gun safety and usage come spring.
This little guy was exhausted between all of the snuggles and playing and the time change. We had to leave church and nap in the car.
We had to get a cute picture with the birthday grandparents! Sawyer is quite the photo poser these days…
On the way home, we made good use of the 77 degree weather and stopped at the park. Wryder loved riding these horses…or chipmunks…whatever they were…
We’ll head that way again for Wryder’s first birthday! Where has the year gone?!
Birthday Goodies
If you’ll recall, my birthday was back in September and my family spoiled me rotten! Apparently, they weren’t done. We made a quick trip to Denver this weekend and Wrexy informed me that we had to make a little detour. He had conspired with a friend and bought me some amazing, old, chippy farmhouse doors and a lovely little table! (See what I mean – he’s the BEST.)
That table is going to spend some time at MOPS but then? Oh, I have plans for it! What do you think I should do with those RAD doors? Send me your ideas!
WDP is 6 Months Old
Wryder Douglas Phipps is 6 months old today!
How, how did this happen SO fast?!!
It feels like these 6 months flew by WAY faster than Sawyer’s first 6 months did. Oh, it’s hard on the heart to be a mommy, ya know it?
At 6 months…
- you roll all over the house to get around.
- you have two, CUTE little teeth.
See ’em?! - you LOVE your sister. You will just about break your neck to catch her glance.
She loves me - you are a GREAT eater! Sweet potatoes are your favorite…carrots, not so much…but I trick you by mixing the two. 🙂
- you are the smiliest, giggliest baby I’ve ever met! Extrovert perhaps?
- you are incredibly dexterous! (Pretty sure you’re gonna be a lot like daddy in that department.)
Let me at that camera! - you’re a REALLY easy going baby…as long as you’re not hungry…or overly tired. Again, a little like your daddy – ha!
- you “talk” A LOT but no real words have come out yet. (I’m still hoping for “momma” to be first…)
- you LOVE to jump or stand (on someone’s lap) and don’t much care for lying down.
- you still attempt to suck your thumb when you first go to sleep but we just keep putting that paci in. (Lord help us in a few months…)
- you have the softest, sweetest little head and face.
No more pictures – I’m gonna go blind! - you’re wearing 12 month clothes and weigh around 20 pounds.
- you delight me more than I EVER imagined that a little boy could!
I love you, Wryder Roo! Sawyer thinks we should celebrate you tonight…with a candle and a happy birthday song…and I’m guessing she’ll get her way. You are most worthy of a celebration, indeed!
A Birthday Blessing
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Happiest of birthdays. . .
…to the woman who lets me call her mom; who loves me like I’m her own; who shares her time and energy and resources with me; who helped birth both of my children; who selflessly mentors a younger generation; who is purposefully leaving a legacy of the fear of the Lord; who sees and calls out the things that need to be seen and called out…
…to the woman that forgives freely and laughs easily and hugs tightly and speaks authoritatively (in a good way, oh yes) and loves unabashedly…
…to a discerner, prophecier, encourager, cheerleader, nurturer and creator extraordinaire!
Yes, happiest of days to YOU! I pray the Lord blesses you with immeasurably more than you could ask or imagine! I pray that He bestows upon you a NEW thing…that He would make rivers in the desert and a way in the wilderness for you. I pray that He would give you a crown of beauty for your ashes, a joyous blessing for your mourning, and festive praise instead of despair…that this would be the year He is most glorified in you.
I love you dearly, mom-a-la! I hope today is sunny and warm; that you have a most excellent hair day; that your tomato plants are bent over with a harvest of deliciousness; that the Partridge Family Sawyer serenades you and that your family spoils you rotten – you deserve all of that and so much more.
Happy Birthday to Goo-Goo!
78 years ago today, Marilyn Maxine Waite was born in Winfield, Kansas. 20 years later, she became Maxine Rusk (upon marrying Arlos) and 27 years later…she became Grandma. Wrex was her first grandchild and they share such a sweet, sweet bond.
Some of Wrexy’s best and favorite memories are of days spent with Grandma. He’d go for weeks at a time down to their ranch in Kansas during the summer. She always cooked his favorite foods and always had a horse lined up for him to ride while he was there. (She knew the way to his heart, for sure!)
I am so incredibly thankful that I get to share Granny right along with the rest of the family. (I’ve mentioned that I’ve married well, yes?) She’s a drippy-sweet extrovert who’s gorgeous – inside and out – and who is always ladylike and put together, no matter the occasion.
She can read and write stories like nobody’s business and is the best person I know at staying in touch with people. She truly is one of the most generous, engaging, big-hearted, optimistic, beautiful people on the planet!
She is one of our biggest supporters, prayer warriors, cheerleaders, encouragers and exhorters! (What would we do without this woman?!) She loves the Lord and is definitely leaving a legacy of the fear of the Lord with her children and her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren.
Grandma actually has quite a few names – Grandma Rusk, Granny, Maxine, Great Granny Max…but Sawyer’s favorite is Goo Goo! One of the grandkids named her that early on and 20 some-odd years later, it’s still sticking! Sawyer ADORES her Grandma Rusk! They’ve had the sweetest, sincerest little bond since Sawyer was a tiny, tiny babe.
Goo-Goo is always at the ready to make memories with her family and to pour into them in any way she can. There is no task too messy or time-consuming; no activity too big or small that she won’t participate in to show love to her kiddos and grand-kiddos.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRANNY!
We love you so very much and are honored to be a part of your heritage. You have loved us and cared for us and supported us in so many ways and we are forever grateful for you. We pray that you are showered with love today, on your birthday…a day that the world most certainly changed for the better. We love you!
31
On Monday, I turned the big 3 – 1. That doesn’t sound as cool as the big 3 – 0 does it? Yeah, I didn’t think so either. I was thinking about my birthday and I vividly remember my dad turning 34, which really is just around the corner. There was a TV station in Lubbock at the time – and I’m pretty sure it was the PBS station where my brother and I got our daily Sesame Street and Reading Rainbow fixes – that was called KJTV-34. I remember thinking my dad was sooooo cool because he was 34, like the TV station – ha! I’m getting awfully close to that number, even though that memory feels like it happened just yesterday…
I was SUPER blessed by a ton of sweet, humbling comments on my Facebook page! Thank you to all of you that took the time to send me a message – it really made my day!
The biggest surprise was a beautifully written blog all about yours truly from my “on call” mom. I told you to check out her blog in my first post, and I really hope you take the time to do so. She has this magnificent, prose-like way with words that I do not have. I think I’m more hard fact than pretty fluff, while she seems to do both of these things (in the same post, mind you) incredibly well.
Anyways, I’m beginning to think that I should’ve had her write my About Me page. From what I hear, she captured me well. It’s hard sometimes (for me at least) to really believe these things about myself and be ok enough with what I think I do well or who I really am and put it out there for the world to see, so THANK YOU for helping do that for me. You honored me and blessed me and moved me to (sweet) tears. Love you…forever.
As I become a veteran of my 30’s, I want this year to be even better than the last. How in the world could that possibly be…possible?
So, in an effort to make it more of a binding contract of sorts, here’s a list of a six things I’d like to accomplish (or at least get closer to making real) this year…
1.) Answer the phone more. I’m not a big fan of talking on the phone. I’m a much better in-person person than an over-the-phone one. Plus, during the day, I’m usually crazy busy a little busy running around with my two little cuties (who do come first vs. the phone – they’re my job and I LOVE it!) My call log often looks like this:
Now, Wrex’s? Oh good gravy. It’s NUTS! He might have 45 phone calls…by 5:00 pm TODAY. So even though I don’t anticipate my log looking like his, nor do I want it to, it’s something I’d like to get better at. I often think, “I don’t have time to have a 20 minute conversation so I just won’t answer” or “Gosh, it’s been so long since we’ve talked, this might be awkward, so I just won’t answer” or “Do they REALLY want to talk to ME?” or – no really, I could keep going! Does anyone else do this?! I think it’s the introvert in me that just finds it almost painful sometimes. But, I also want to honor those that do call to have a real conversation. I think so often our voices get lost in Facebook and Twitter and Pinterest and Instagram and blogs and texts that we forget how to have a real, verbal conversation and I don’t want that to be lost on my kids, so? Better start with me. (As I was typing this Grandma Rusk called. I had to giggle. Lord, you’re funny. Just so you know, I answered…and was glad I did.)
2.) Send more snail mail. I used to be REALLY good at sending mail. Then, I had children and email and Facebook became simpler and much quicker (especially when you live 2 miles from your mailbox and 20 miles from town.) But don’t you just LOVE get real mail?? I don’t mean postcard reminders to bring something to the potluck and I certainly don’t mean bills (ugh); I’m talking handwritten letters or cards or invitations. Last week, I received this dandy in the mail…
Is that not just gorgeous?! The time and effort that went into making this just makes you feel special! It screams, “You were worth the ache in my hand, the marker stains on my fingertips and the supper I had to buy because I didn’t have time to make anything!” I want to get back to sending real mail because who in the world wouldn’t want to receive something like that? (This is for my bestie’s baby shower, by the way. I have NO DOUBT it will be a grand affair!)
3.) Spend less time on Facebook. Facebook and I have such a love-hate relationship. I love that I can keep in touch with so many people, so quickly. We don’t have any family in the state, so it’s a good way to keep up with what they’re doing and vice versa. Friends, too! We left a ton of people we love back in Denver and it’s such an easy way to touch base and stay up to date with what’s going on there. But, and this is a BIG but, I hate how it sucks me in and cunningly encourages me to see the “new stories” because God forbid we miss a second of SOMEONE ELSE’S life. Ugh. Spend less time here, for sure, and much more time doing ANYTHING else.
4.) Take more pictures with ME in them. I’m sure you’ve all read this before and if you haven’t, take the time to do so. (Geez, I’ve given you a lot to read in this post!) It really is a good read and something that I’ve found hard to do. One, because it’s usually just the kids and I during the day so it’s a little hard to get on the other side of the camera. Two, because I often fall victim to that mentality of, “I don’t look great, I’ll get one later,” but “later” rarely happens. I don’t ever remember looking at pictures of me with either of my parents and thinking they looked tacky or sloppy. I do remember looking at those pictures and thinking of what good times they were and I suspect my kids will do the same. Get yourself on the otherside of that camera! Have Wrex help you!
5.) Wear my yoga pants less. (I’m sitting here rolling my eyes that I just typed that…mainly out of rebellion – ha!) They’re just so comfy! Plus, when you’re chasing around two kids all day AND, again, you live 20 miles from civilization and thus get VERY few visitors, it’s easy to just stay in your PJ’s all day. Don’t get me wrong, there are DEFINITELY days where that’s ok, but maybe not everyday? I’d like to just start a new habit of being a little more put together, especially for the hubs. Men are visual creatures and I’d really like to honor him in that way. He’s a hottie; I gotta try and keep up! (Note: He’s never mentioned me needing to do this, just so we’re clear.) Good thing I got some jeans for my birthday.
6.) Gain more freedom. Oh, how I want more freedom from the things that ensnare and confuse me and lie to me and make me forget the Truth! I want to be delivered from those demons that paralyze and render me useless. I want to combat the one who comes to kill, steal and destroy. I want to be FREE. I want to return to the joy of salvation. I want life and life abundantly!
So, here’s to being 31…and hopefully accomplishing this list before I’m 34…