Light Lookin’

Tonight was such a good night, in my book.  Sawyer has been dying to go look at Christmas lights so when everyone woke up from nap, we got Wryder fed, threw some cookies in the oven and headed to town!

Someone was quite proud of her sprinkling...
Someone was quite proud of her sprinkling…
Mom wasn't paying attention on this one...
Mom wasn’t paying attention on this one…

I’m not sure what spurred it on, but little miss was insistent upon cookies and hot chocolate while we went light looking…and that was right up everyone’s alley!

Her first hot chocolate!
Her first hot chocolate!

Holyoke has quite a few houses with good lights so we paraded up and down the streets with our snacks, Sirius Christmas tunes and a light falling snow – could it get any better?!

We tried to go look at lights last year on Christmas night.  We had had such a wonderful day celebrating with just the three of us and we decided that if we wanted to see lights, we better go that night before people started taking them down.  So we loaded up and headed to town.  It had snowed off and on for days and as we were driving into town, we met up with a black cow.  Someone’s cattle had gotten out and were all over the road.  Wrex slammed on the brakes as soon as he saw it but with oncoming traffic, we ended up not being able to go anywhere except right into the side of the cow.

Yikes.
Yikes.

It was incredibly scary for me.  I don’t do well with surprises, especially unpleasant ones and hitting a cow is a pretty dangerous thing.  We smacked it hard enough that it went 50 feet or so, the air bags popped out, ambulances were dispatched (the county rule if airbags pop)…it was not a fun experience.  BUT…the Lord was so incredibly gracious and good to us.  None of us had a scratch on us or were even sore the next day.  Our neighbors (whom we love like family) left their family Christmas celebration and picked us up, drove Sawyer to the one house out here in the sticks that had lights and then took us to their house and fed us supper.  Jesus in the flesh, those people.

Wrex’s truck was smoked; the radiator was almost in the cab.  It was only a 2011 so it wasn’t totaled, but there was like $14,000 in damage.

Seriously, the Lord protected us well.
Seriously, the Lord protected us well.

Very thankful tonight turned out differently.  We made it home safely, ate some soup and then we all curled up to watch The Sound of Music.

These two...
These two…

We have MUCH to celebrate this Christmas.  We have a Father that sent His Son to earth over 2,000 years ago so that we may live with Him eternally.  We have a God that protects us and looks out for us and spares us.  We have a warm house and food in our pantry and gifts under our tree.  We have two healthy, compassionate children who love to spend time with us and whom we love to spend time with.  We have daddy all to ourselves for 14 out of the next 16 days – a daddy who has a job that he loves and that loves him back.

We are a blessed people, no doubt about it.  Praying your night has been as enjoyable as ours!

Jesse Tree

Sawyer is such an amazing little girl, if I do say so myself.  She has such an inquisitive nature and has always been really interested in learning.  On top of that, her memory is absolutely incredible.  She’s been memorizing scripture ever since she was about 18 months old and she has well over 50 verses committed to memory right now.  We are careful to foster these things in her and to fill her mind with things worth remembering – thus the Jesse Tree.

Our "tree" part isn't so pretty.  I'll work on that for next year - ha!  This was the we gotta get this ready to go by December version...
Our “tree” part isn’t so pretty. I’ll work on that for next year – ha! This was the we gotta get this ready to go by December version…

The Jesse Tree is our version of Christmas advent calendar.  I love this season as much as anyone and while I’m completely game for baking cookies and making ornaments and having fun experiences, I also want her to really get WHO we’re celebrating and WHY.  So, while we definitely do those things, we attempt make our main focus JESUS.

Each night, we take an ornament piece, a person in the lineage of Christ, and learn about them and how they are tied to, and point to, Jesus.

These are pretty easy to identify, yes?
These are pretty easy to identify, yes?

Jesus was promised by God to His people long before He was born.  In Isaiah, we read that Jesus would be a “shoot,” like a new sprout that grows on a bush or tree, from the family tree of Jesse.   Jesse was the father of David, a great king of Israel, and Jesus was born 1,000 years after Him.  The tree starts at creation and points to the coming of the Messiah with each story.

There's a rich history on this board...
There’s a rich history on this board…

I feel like she learned quite a bit last year, but this year she has just amazed me with how much she’s taking away from every scripture.  And?  It’s good for her mom and dad, too.  In a world that has watered down the true meaning of the mass of Christ, it’s so good to reset our focus on HIM.

You can find quite a few different versions online if you want to do this at your own house – which I highly encourage.  We got this pattern from a woman at our old church back in Denver and it has served us well so far.

I pray you keep your minds and eyes and ears and hearts attuned to One whom we celebrate this season..the shoot of Jesse, that bears new fruit…

Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—
    yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
    the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
    the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
He will delight in obeying the Lord.
    He will not judge by appearance
    nor make a decision based on hearsay.
He will give justice to the poor
    and make fair decisions for the exploited.
The earth will shake at the force of his word,
    and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.
He will wear righteousness like a belt
    and truth like an undergarment.

In that day the heir to David’s throne
    will be a banner of salvation to all the world.
The nations will rally to him,
    and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.

Never in a Million Years

Yesterday, you got to revel in the complete preciousness of Sawyer and Wryder.  Today?  The whole family!  Stormie took soooo many – it was hard to choose just a few to showcase here but these are my faves – enjoy!

PhippsDec2013 (6)PhippsDec2013 (35)PhippsDec2013 (20)BESTEDITPhippsDec2013 (55)PhippsDec2013 (7)kissingeditedPhippsDec2013 (33)PhippsDec2013 (32)PhippsDec2013 (5)PhippsDec2013 (54)PhippsDec2013 (11)Honestly, that last one might be fave because it’s just sooooooo Wrex!  I chickened out using it for our Christmas card because I didn’t want to offend anyone.  😉  If Wryder was looking at that camera, you might’ve had to shield your eyes opening your envelope.

I am so thankful for these photos.  They are the first official family photos we’ve had done with kiddos and I love that Stormie captured this season of our life.  Even more so, I’m thankful for my little family.  Never in a million years did I dream I’d be this blessed.  Never in a million years did I expect to have a husband as wonderful and kind and patient and forgiving and gracious and loving as Wrex.  Never in a million years did I think I’d have kids as sweet and kind and smart and cute and compassionate as these two little loves.  Never in a million years did I think I’d be this divinely happy to share my life and my time and my resources and my energy with such wonderful beings.  Never in a million years would I have really believed that this kind of love existed.  But I assure you – it does.  

I have delighted in Him and He has given me the desires of my heart.  I am forever grateful…forever singing His praises…forever turning my gift back to Him…forever…for a million years plus forever…

Cute Toots

Man, I’ve got cute kids!  I mean, I’m sure I’m a weeeeee bit biased, but these guys are just melt-your-heart preciousness!  These pics are from a family photo shoot that the lovely Stormie did for us at Thanksgiving.  I ADORE them….

PhippsDec2013 (45)PhippsDec2013 (46)PhippsDec2013 (53)PhippsDec2013 (47)PhippsDec2013 (22)PhippsDec2013 (27)PhippsDec2013 (63)PhippsDec2013 (29)PhippsDec2013 (25)PhippsDec2013 (26)PhippsDec2013 (9)So. In. LOVE…with the pictures…and with these kids.  I am a blessed momma.

Share with me which one is YOUR favorite or else I might print them all!

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.

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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!

{Easy} Christmas Craft

I

love

buttons!

I remember my grandma having a huge canister full of buttons that I would sort through and play with when I was younger.  It was one of my favorite things to do at her house, as silly as that seems.

Wrex has bought most of these for me from auctions or thrifts.  He’s cool like that.

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For decor purposes only – do not eat 😉

Today, we put some to use on a fun, easy, Christmas craft!  You’ll need…

  • tacky glue
  • a felt Christmas tree
  • buttons of your choice
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I like Allene’s tacky glue for something like this.

Then, just get gluing!

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The two-handed squeeze!
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Pick and choose…
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The finished product!
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Super cute, yes?!

When it’s 10 degrees outside and baby brother is asleep in the toy room, you’ve got to have lots to keep you busy indoors!  Sawyer loved sorting through the buttons and picking out what to put where.  I made two more trees that we’ll save to do on another day and then I’m going to figure out something fun to do with the trio.

Anybody else have a button collection!?  Please share!

Daddy’s New Do

We switched toys on Monday so there’s been a lot of beautifying going on around here.

There's not a ton to brush...
There’s not a ton to brush…

Sawyer really likes to do daddy’s hair because she can load it full of product.

Please hair, grow!
Please hair, grow in the name of Jesus!

Mousse is her favorite – what fun!

You can see what's left of it on her fingers...
You can see what’s left of it on her fingers…

Anything that sprays out of a bottle is pretty fun, too.

Moroccan oil?  Why not?!
Moroccan oil? Why not?!

She gets busy snipping with her little pretend scissors.  We have lots of talks about how we only do that with these special scissors and no others…ahem.

That's some fast scissor action!
That’s some fast scissor action!

Daddy’s a really good sport!

She's a gentle little beautician...
Doesn’t he look handsome?!

He was fine that I posted all of these shirtless pictures, by the way.  Pictures of what she’s done to his toes…those are a different story.

Thanksgiving 2013

My heart is full.  My proverbial gas tank maybe a little empty after such a wonderful weekend, but my heart is FULL.

We traveled out to Denver and spent the weekend with our adopted family – always a good time!  There’s never an inadequate amount of hugs or smiles or laughs or food…just time.   Would any amount ever be enough??  I think not…

That's a good-looking, gracious bunch...
That’s a good-looking, gracious bunch…

We stayed at the {beautiful, pregnant} bestie’s house.  It was so nice to spend some time with her and her hubby before their lives get even busier with baby.  She’s scheduled to arrive the 16th!!  EEP!

Gorgeous pic (taken my sister Stephanie Kelley)
Gorgeous pic (taken by sister Stephanie Kelley)

They have a piano in their foyer and Sawyer couldn’t get enough of it!  We’d set the timer for five or so minutes and she’d play her heart out.  She and Dessa sat down and played together one night before supper, which thought was especially wonderful.

Adorable.
Adorable.

Wryder was teething all weekend (hello, top teeth!) and wasn’t the happiest he’s ever been but he got to play in the laundry basket while we got ready for supper and I think he actually liked it!

Containment, people...containment!  ;)
Containment, people…containment! 😉

On Saturday, Wrex took the kids to run some errands down south and I got to go out and Christmas shop.  Alone.  I’m never alone!  I had Starbucks for breakfast and Red Mango for lunch and walked until my feet were about to fall off. It was nice to get in and out of places so quick and to have a little break, but I was ready to meet back up with the troops that afternoon.

Sunday morning, the lovely and oh-so-talented Stormie (I know you haven’t forgotten about her) took our family photos.  God bless her.  It’s not easy with two incredibly unphotogenic people, one toddler with a vicious smile and a 7 month old.  I can’t wait to see the finished images.

We spent the rest of Sunday with the lovely Stukas family.  They bless us more than words can say.  They have four gorgeous kiddos that are incredibly sweet, kind and well-behaved and we love that they love Sawyer as much as she loves them!  The Lord has interwoven our lives in a beautiful way and we are so so so so thankful for them.  I can’t fully describe what it’s like to have people in your life that you trust so fully and implicitly.  Wonder if they’d ever move to Holyoke….hmmmm….

How do we know so many beautiful people?!
How do we know so many beautiful people?!

All in all, it was a wonderful weekend.  So needed.  We grew so much during our time in Denver and we made some phenomenal friends that we miss being able to do daily life with.  We know that we know that we know that this is where the Lord called us and that makes missing them a little easier, but miss them we do.  Thankful for the time.  My heart is full.

We’ve Got it Good

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Wrex is a really great dad.  He loves his kiddos and he loves to bring home surprises and give them good gifts!  (Remember the rabbit?)  Tonight was no exception.  As he was driving home from the sale barn, he stopped at the appliance store and brought this home…

IMG_3165Is there anything better in a kid’s world than a huge cardboard box?!  I think not!  He got out the razor blade and went to town cutting windows and a door…

IMG_3167We got out the crayons and markers and started making it cute!  We put shutters on the windows…

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and planted flowers by the entrance…

IMG_3171Daddy even made her a key!

IMG_3172She decided she wanted it to be restaurant that she would call “Sawyer’s” so we wrote that on the door…

IMG_3173and we moved the play kitchen in from the toy room so she could get those orders out!

IMG_3183Wryder got to help cook a little bit, but he had to stay out of the kitchen for tonight.  🙂  I’m sure once the new wears off he might get invited in…

IMG_3180She had a grand ole time and Wrex and I “ate” until we our “devit” cards were maxed out!!

IMG_3174I’m so blessed to have such a thoughtful, caring husband.  It delights my soul to know that he thinks of us during his day-to-day activities…enough so to go out of his way to haul a huge box home just to make his little girl smile.  He’s a keeper, that one…just ask Sawyer.

As we were eating our real supper tonight, she saved her green beans for last.  Wrex said, “Eat ’em up so you’ll get big and strong,” to which she replied with a quivering lip, “I don’t want to get big because then I won’t fit on your lap!”

Oh, honey, trust me – you’ll always fit on daddy’s lap…he’ll make room for you, no matter how big you get.  He’s got it bad for you, sweet girl…and we?  We’ve got it good…

A Good Day and a Gift from Goo Goo

Today?  Was a really good day.  I think we were all desperate for some family time together that didn’t involve someone feeling like death warmed over.  We had breakfast and cooked some pretend food in the toy room kitchen…

We let Sawyer get a little outside time in since it wasn’t too chilly or windy and we cooked some more in the barn…

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IMG_3104We checked the mail and found we had a gift from Goo Goo so we all put it to good use…

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IMG_3132IMG_3133The kiddos bathed together and got all snuggled up in their jammies…we ate a little supper and Sawyer watched a little show before bed.  It was just a simple, good, familial day…my favorite kind.