On The Go

This little guy…

is on the go!

He went swimming yesterday and I tried a few ~~hundred~~ times to get his picture without much luck; he was just too busy being a boy!

Most of my photo ops turned out like this:

or this:

See, I told you I tried.

I finally got a few decent shots…

I mean, at least you can see his face? Right?!

And I got this cute one of sweet sister – she was ready for the camera!

This morning, we went out to jump on the trampoline and do a little yard work. As we were picking up sticks, Wryder became incredibly enthusiastic so I let him have one to keep him busy.

He really enjoyed waving it around and banging it on, well, anything and especially…

I remember my little brother was a stick fanatic as well. My poor mom was always searching for the broom handle, as he’d borrow it to bust out his latest ninja moves. Some friends from Denver came down last fall and their boys had amassed a whole pile of sticks to take back home to the city – how cute is that?!

We love how boyish he is and how much energy he has and how he’s just always on the go… Wonder WHERE in the world he gets that from?! 😉

Random Rambles

This girl has my heart.

She's half Nebraskan... — She’s half Nebraskan…

She’s the best kid I could have ever imagined even asking the Lord for.

She’s a picture of grace and mercy and forgiveness – bountiful in each.

My suntan/sprinkler partner... — My suntan/sprinkler partner…

I really, really wish I were more like her.

Cute girl in a cute shirt! — Cute girl with a big pink bow!

Lord, help me to be the mommy she deserves.

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Today was housecleaning Thursday combined with mowing Thursday. Everything looks spic and span…and I’m beat.

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Wryder has been slowly repaying Sawyer for all of the care she’s given him over the past year.

He’s got a long way to go but it is so much fun to see them play so much together!

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Sawyer has figured out how to get in the crib with Wryder via various toys in the toy room.

Thankfully, he hasn’t managed to get out………yet.

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In order to save a few dollars, I starch and press all of Wrexy’s dress shirts here at home. After I’ve ironed them, I always stick little notes in the pockets. Nothing too elaborate, but a little note of some sort to make him laugh or to let him know how special he is to me; it’s a simple way I can show some love. Sawyer has recently gotten in on the action. She’ll color and decorate the note paper and then write her message and tell me what it says so I can write it out to make sure daddy can understand it. Wrex sent me this pic the other day…

That girl loves the sale barn…and that daddy loves that girl.

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Our sweet neighbor and friend had a birthday today and I whipped up this cute door hanger for their baseball loving family.

Imagine there's a burlap bow and a jute rope hanger, will you?! — Imagine there’s a burlap bow and a jute rope hanger, will you?!

I had seen a version of this floating around Pinterest and I thought it was ADORABLE. Turns out, it was an easy naptime project!

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We popped into the local dollar store yesterday and in a basket of clearance items were some Disney princess stick on earrings for $0.40! We bought ’em.

I remember my grandpa buying me stick on earrings when I was a little girl and I loved them! My parents didn’t really have any major rules on getting ears pierced but I was scared to death to do it until about 6th grade. Thankfully, I had those fashionable, sticky, sparkly shapes to get me through…

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We’re headed to Denver tomorrow to celebrate the graduation of two young ladies who we’ve had the pleasure of doing life with. To think I first met them when they were 7 and 8 makes me feel OLD. Why can’t that danged clock slow down…

Happy weekend to you!

They Have Arrived

I am an auntie again!!

Remember when I told you about this? Well, last Friday my sister {in law} delivered those sweet baby boys! May I just tell you, they. are. precious!

Brenhem Rusk and Berwick Ray were born March 28, 2014 weighing in at 1.1 and 1.4 pounds, respectively, at 25 weeks gestation. They are currently spending time in the NICU and are doing really well given their size and age.

We are so blessed that they are here and we are praying the favor of the Lord on their little bodies. Their parents are some of the toughest, go-getters we know and these little guys are proving to be cut of the same cloth.

Their family has a lot going on right now (healing, decisions, logistics, fatigue) and it would honor me if you would pray for them as the Spirit leads.

And pray for those two, darling miracle boys! We know the plans He has for them…and they are good! We know that He knit them in her womb and that they are fearfully and wonderfully made! He has ordained all of their days and we declare each of them blessed. We remain confident that they will see the goodness of the Lord!

We are so in love with our nephews (and their parents and sister, too) and can’t wait to gaze upon them in person. Oh, how we wish Oklahoma wasn’t so far away…

Show their family some love and encouragement would you??

Horsin’ Around

Despite that nasty wind, today turned out to be decently nice out. Wrex spent the morning digging up a busted pipe out by the well and we spent the afternoon with this handsome fella…

Ozark is a sweet, sweet, sweet old man. Wrex’s family bought him when Wrex was around 12 years old. He stayed at their place for quite a while and then was sold to Wrex’s boss’ family in Denver. Once we got settled out here on the plains, they generously gifted him back to us for our kiddos to ride; THAT was a superb, emotional day.

We’re not sure how old he is but our best guess is around 28-30. He doesn’t have a tooth in his head and we spend a few dollars on feed each month…that then must be soaked in water so he can scarf it down…but he’s so very worth it!

He is such a good, solid guy; so calm and collected and trustworthy. (Some of the same traits as my sweet hubby, I might add). Sawyer loves the stuffin’ out of him (as do I) and I think our newest little cowboy does too. Wryder got to go for his first ride today and I’m pretty sure that it was the highlight of his life thus far! I had to literally pry his little chubby hands off of the saddle.

We don’t know how much longer he has on this ole earth but we are overjoyed and honored that he gets to live it out with us and we intend to soak it up as much as possible. Horses are incredible creatures and we’d like our kids to learn to care for him and gain some horsemanship before it’s time to graduate up to the next level.

Gettin' all the dead winter hair outta there... — Gettin’ all the dead winter hair outta there…

We learned several years ago that Phipps means “lover of horses.” I know that’s true for my hubby and I’m proud to say it’s true for our two cuties too…even though loving Ozark is pretty darn easy.

She's such a good big sister... — She’s such a good big sister…

Loving these guys is, too…

Sisser and Bubba

We had several friends that had babies around the same time that we had Sawyer. I would say that the majority of them popped out kiddos that looked identical to one parent or the other, so in my mind, that would be the same for us; sweet baby girl would come out of the oven looking just like me or just like Wrex. Ahem.

24 hours of labor later (three and a half of that pushing) out came our beautiful baby girl……….who looked nothing like either of us!

Not long after birth, getting her bath... — Not long after birth, getting her bath…

47361_10150260567745335_2283036_n — 3 days old

I remember being so flabbergasted; that just wasn’t what I was expecting! I can admit that it threw me a little…who was this little baby I was cuddling?! (I’m sure being awake for almost 48 hours with little nutrition and a lot of hard work had nothing to do with it. Ahem.) Anyway, as she got older, she definitely started looking a lot more like daddy…

Look at those cheeks, eyes and foreheads!

Fast forward two and a half years to when Wryder was born. As soon as he entered the world, there was no doubt in my mind he was part of the family – he looked just like his sister – and our bond was a little more immediate…

As they’ve continued to grow, we keep finding pictures that blow our minds!

Both babies around 5 months... — Both babies around 5 months…

And just being flat silly... — Being silly…

PicMonkey Collageselfie — Fuzzy picture of chubby cheeks…

Our little cuties are almost twins…just a couple of years apart. We sure do love them, they just need to stop growing up so fast! Sawyer has grown six inches in six months and 10 month old Wryder is wearing 24 month clothes. Where, oh where, did my babies go!?

Freeze Frame

I was playing dollhouse with Sawyer tonight when I jokingly pulled her pajama pants down to be funny. She reached down and grabbed them and cinched them back up with ease and my memory recalled a time when she was too little to do that on her own.

She has grown up so much here lately…too much for me, sometimes. I just want to freeze time right now, right in these moments we’re in, and just live here forever; is that too much to ask? These are some of the best days of my life, of that I am sure.

I love to hear all of the songs sings; the ones she makes up and the ones she knows by heart. When she belts out Amazing Grace and raises her hands to the Lord in worship to Him, I just about melt. (I know He has to about do the same).

I love her little laugh when something really tickles her. You can’t help but laugh right along with her.

I love the little ticks she and repetitions she’s designed for herself…like smelling the candle in the bathroom every time she’s in there…or her tooth brushing routine (it’s quite detailed)…or how she “starts” the dryer by pushing her little system of “buttons.”

I love how she gets so excited to wear pretty dresses and sparkly shoes and likes to change clothes several times a day.

I love how she loves her little brother. She always wants to hold him and help him and play with him. She is sooooo ready for him to walk, but until then, I’ll “take bubba into the toy room” for her every time she asks.

I love the elaborate picnics and birthday parties she creates in the toy room. There is always food and dishes and treats galore; she takes such care in making the occasion special.

I love to hear her speak truth to our entire family (and all of her dolls and toys for that matter). When “boy baby” gets scared in the dollhouse, she reminds him that Jesus is always with us…and when we dig in without thanking the Lord for our food, she’s quick to remind us that we should pray…or when she gets a word from the Lord, she’s always quick to share.

I love her gentle spirit and how quick she is to accept correction. Discipline isn’t always fun and sometimes it downright kills me and she always receives it with such grace…and the times I don’t do it right, she’s always so quick to forgive.

I love how in the mornings, she wants to come snuggle us if she wakes up first. She’ll be really still for a few minutes and then you find her kissing all over you and petting you; can’t get upset about that.

I love how she likes to make graham cracker soup (broken up graham crackers in milk) and how she likes to dip everything in ranch…how she won’t eat the ends of her pickles and how she’ll lick a salt shaker given half a chance.

I love her mind and her penchant for learning. She’s so interested in space and planets and making letters and numbers and counting and patterns and cattle breeds – and I could go on and on and on! She’s a little sponge and it’s so fun to get to research and teach her and show her more of the things she’s interested in.

I love how she loves to make pictures and drawings and in doing so, always use crayons and stamps and markers and map colors and stickers and scissors and glue and creates a complete masterpiece! She loves office supplies; a girl after my own heart.

I love how she likes to hold hands and give hugs and cover you in kisses. I will never get enough of those.

I love how much care she gives our dog Trigger, even though he doesn’t always return the favor. She’ll go out and pray over him and color pictures for him…she always makes sure he has food and water…and she gives him about 10 little treat bones a day, even though he tries to bite her every time she does. Her heart holds no grudge. I need to be more like her.

She is such a special little girl. I know I’m biased, but she really is. I never imagined I would be this blessed. She makes me want to do better, to live better, to eat better, to speak better, to think better, to love better, to forgive better, to play better, to be better.

Lord, help me to make these days count. It feels like I look up again and it’s Friday and a whole week has gone by…and pretty soon I’m gonna wake up and she’s gonna be four…and then 10…and then 16…and then…I can’t even let myself go to the ‘and then’…

Being a mommy is hard on the heart; to know something so intimately and to love something so completely and then to let it grow and let it go just seems so……cruel. I suppose women have done it for thousands of years before me…and I’m sure I’ll survive…but if I had my way…….

Chore Girl

It has been sooooooooooooooo windy here lately and I loathe, hate, despise and murderously abhor the wind. The sound of it alone just grates on my nerves…and don’t even get me started on it’s effects on my hair! (It’s not as bad as humidity, but it’s a close second.) I grew up in windy West Texas and when I moved to Colorado I thought I had escaped it. WRONG.

I’m such a fall/winter person but I’m feeling really ready for spring this year. I know Sawyer needs more time outside, as do I. The walls close in on the house sometimes and I am a complete and utter wimp in the cold. Last week, it got up close to 60 so we took full advantage!

Sawyer put on her new pink John Deere gloves that she got from her Uncle Waco and off we went!

Cutest helper I've ever seen! — Cutest helper I’ve ever seen!

She helped daddy put some more bedding in the chicken nest boxes…

His handfuls were a little bigger.... — One of his favorite helpers…

She's really loves to help! — She’s really loves to serve and work!

The barn cats have made themselves at home amongst the chickens. They sleep in the nest boxes every night and the chickens seem to cordially share their space…

She “cooked” a few snacks for her chickens and cats. Daddy made her a little make shift stove in the barn and she makes herself at home in the feed room gathering ingredients…

She cares so much for her animal friends.... — She cares so much for her animal friends….

She helped daddy make a few repairs and improvements to the “park.” Her steering wheel had worked it’s way loose so they whipped out the tools and went to work…

She was only upset because she had to pose instead of keep working! — She was only upset because she had to pose instead of work!

She went for a pony ride and busted ice in the chicken waterers and fed the dogs a frozen egg and looked for the not-so-tame kitten and picked up some trash and jumped on the trampoline and just flat burned off some energy! By the time we wandered in, we had shed our coats and hats and gloves and enjoyed the sunshine!

It’s supposed to be 66 this weekend! The possibilities are ENDLESS! What will YOU be doing?!

WDP is 9 Months Old

Wryder Douglas is 9 months old!

I'm a happy little fella! — I’m a happy little fella!

I don’t think it went this fast with Sawyer…I really don’t. I just went back and looked at what I wrote when he turned six months.

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?

It must be true. 😉

At 9 months…

you weighed in at just a smidge over 24 pounds. Dad and I usually have to trade off holding you during worship or if we carry you through a store – you get heavy!
you are a big eater! You’re eating 20-30 ounces of food per day, plus 20 or so ounces of milk.

you have 8 cute little teeth and more that are bothering the dickens out of you.
your main mode of transportation is rolling. I’m thinking you’ll crawl one of these days. You’ve got a lot to haul around, I get it!
your favorite word is “momma” but you are perfecting “dada,” “bubba,” and “hi.”

you like to be WITH people; we don’t dare leave the room without you or you let us know about it!
you adore your sister more than ever. Playing with her is your favorite thing and you will laugh when she laughs, even if you have no idea what you’re actually laughing about.

you are so smiley and giggly and flirty. You have great, expressive eyebrows that you get lots of compliments on.
you’re a handsome little rascal that brings us so much joy! You are joy!

I love you, little man! Let’s spread these next three months out a little, ok?

Double the Fun

So, we got a fun phone call yesterday! My sister (who is technically my sister-in-law…but I’m not a big fan of that term, especially regarding her) called to tell us some “interesting news.” Wrex and I had discussed previously that we kinda felt that one of the siblings would make a baby announcement during Christmas. It just felt like it was time, ya know? So when she called yesterday, we immediately said, “You’re pregnant?!?!?” To which she replied…

“Well, yes…………..but with twins!!”

JAW.DROPPED.

1421136_10101600507921262_1719378867_o — Big sister Breckyn

YAY!!!!!!! There is no family history of twins on either side so this was a huge shocker to everyone – but a great shocker, I might add!

We are just thrilled beyond belief for them! We have several friends back in Denver with twins so we’re a little familiar with that reality… It was pretty much our only topic of conversation for the rest of the night – ha!

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Their quiver is getting full! And so are our hearts…yay for babies!

So I have this friend named Stormie. . .

and she’s fabulous! First, isn’t she gorge?!

But she’s a lot more than just a looker! She’s creative and unique and incredibly fashion forward. (I don’t know if she knows this, but she’s TOTALLY inspired me to change some things about my wardrobe. I’m not so matchy-matchy anymore, all because of her. She’s not afraid of mixing patterns and prints and colors and textures in ways that you think would never work, but then she puts it on and bam – she ROCKS it. And I covet it. Ahem.)

I keep saying I'm going to steal this head wrap... — I keep saying I’m going to steal this head wrap…

She has a ridiculous eye for all things hip, vintage and in (or about to be in.) She’s adored by her family and especially her nieces and nephews. (She takes each of them on a special birthday date – just the two of them. Who wouldn’t love one-on-one time with Storm?!) She’s a do-er and a dreamer and she might just be the most generous person I’ve ever met. And not just with her money, but with her time and resources and brain power. Did you know she’s one of only three Denver-ites that have been here more than once to see us AND she’s one of the busiest?! Yeah, she’s cool like that.

I’ve had kind of a bleh day and the post-lady called to let me know I had a package that she’d bring down. I wasn’t expecting anything so I had no idea who it was from or what it might be. But lo and behold, I should’ve know, sweet Stormie sent us a box FULL of goodies!

Three things you must know regarding Stormie’s packages.

1.) They are BEAUTIFUL! Look at all that color and fru-fru! She makes EVERY thing she sends so exciting to open. She takes such care to make sure it’s all just perfect. The receiver can’t help but feel special because look at all the time she put into the wrapping alone.

2.) There is always something for every single one of us! Told you she was generous…

Sawyer got a nursery rhyme puzzle set, which we had to do immediately.

Wryder got the CA-YOOTEST little train, which sister so selflessly helped him open. 🙂

And daddy got something, too! We resisted temptation so he could open it himself. Aren’t you proud?

He's gonna LOVE that steer head! — He’s gonna LOVE the wrap job

3.) She is a fantastic gift giver! She knows her audience and always finds the funnest, neatest, chicest things!

I have an affinity for accessories. Surprised? I didn’t think you would be. Fall, for me, pretty much consists of scarves, cardigans, boots and cute earrings. She nailed it.

She just has this keen sense of how to bless someone. I recently redid a section of our living room so I could have an official desk to do my blog/ministry/pre-school work and these super cute clips are killing me! I am so in love with arrows right now. I have one on my “~~need~~ want Wrex to make me one” list.

I'm an office supply nut — I’m an office supply nut

My frown has been turned upside down! Stormie, THANK YOU for being the kind, generous, hip, loving, beautiful ~~friend~~ sister you are! Thank you for blessing us with your time and talents and for ALWAYS being up for a roadtrip to come see us. Speaking of which…