Life has felt extra busy lately. With summer coming to a close, county fairs, vacations, church and community activities – we’ve all been on the run! When Sawyer said all she wanted for her birthday was to do Legos with her friends, I was sold!
She’s really gotten into building Lego sets in the past year (and even worked through a chore chart to purchase a Lego house! It was huge and she has had a lot of fun putting it together and playing with it).
We kept things pretty simple and played a little Lego Friends bingo, painted boxes to store our Legos in and then built a Lego set. She hand-picked a set for each of her friends and she did a great job – no one had any of the ones she picked for them!
We all had a really good time! It was a nice, fun birthday party with some nice, fun girls!
Of course, I had to make her a Lego girl shirt for the occasion. She looked precious!
The Lego bunting made the whole party! It was a cheap, easy wow factor!We used all of Sawyer’s Lego sets for decor.We got Sawyer this little set for her birthday – the classic Lego man in a birthday cake! She loved it!
Bingo was a way bigger hit than we imagined! These girls were Bingo queens!The winners got edible Legos – what could be better?
After bingo, it was time to paint!
Painting their boxesThere was only one paint spill and it was just the birthday girl’s brush water…I’d call that a success!
Next, it was time for Lego building!
Then, it was time for cake and presents! She had such generous friends and got some really fun things!
Lego cake from mom’s kitchen… Sweet girl thought it was wonderful and that’s all that matters!Her smile in this picture melts me. She’s not my most expressive kid (read: dramatic) so a genuine smile like this is the best!May all your dreams come true, sweet one!
I bought a silicone Lego mold and we froze pink and purple Kool-Aid to make ice cubes that we put in our Sprite! The girls had more fun mixing up their drinks and making them change colors.
Pretty in pink with her pink and purple drink!
We sent this girls home with Lego necklaces and rings made by Sawyer and a Lego cup, like the Lego characters hold in all of the sets – super cute!
And then? They each got a kitten!
HA! We tried to find them all a home, but only one got to become a house cat. 😉
We are so proud of our sweet Sawyer girl and would do just about anything for that little sweetie! She felt so loved this weekend. She is such a great friend and we pray she always has a good group of friends around her that point her to the Lord.
A week ago today, Sawyer took a big step in obedience to the Lord and got baptized!
She was first!Nervous smileComforting hug – she needed that!Dead to sin…
She was pretty nervous when it came right down to it, but she did so well and had a great big smile on her face when it was all said and done.
Joy!
It was a joyous occasion and we had so many sweet friends and family join us to celebrate her big day. THANK YOU to each of you who helped make her day special!
We all had lunch together and spent time feasting and visiting and thanking the Lord for all He has done for us! (Can you believe I didn’t get a picture of the actual lunch festivities?!)
Let’s feast!A timeline of some of the things that have lead her to Jesus…
Sawyer girl, we are so proud of you and Jesus is, too! We love you dearly and know that the Lord has specific plans for your life. We pray that you will seek Him with all of your heart, all the days of your life.
The day she asked Jesus into her heart, September 2014
A week ago today was one of the best days of my life to date! So proud of sweet Sawyer and so thankful for the group of people He has given us to do life with…the day was PERFECTION.
We got to see Santa and a couple of real live reindeer…
Petting the reindeerAnd again….Telling Santa he wants a Paw PatrollerHoping for a Barbie Pop-Up Camper
We ate a few chicken nuggets, went to the doctor for the FIFTH TIME IN 2 WEEKS and then came on home.
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Sweet Sayble is finally feeling a bit better. She got croup just like brother but had two infected ears on top of it and now has a cold. We did a lot of this around here…and I haven’t minded a bit to be honest…
Sweetest little (bald) thing…
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One of my FAVORITE things to bake is pumpkin bread and banana bread. I’m not a fan of thick, dense, heavy bread and these two are moist and light and heavenly, if I do say so myself.
Since we had a little downtime with all the sickies, I cooked up 22 loaves for some of our sweet friends…
YUM-MO
We ate two and took two the Phipps family Christmas and the kids were asking for some this morning. Guess I shoulda made more…
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We always get the kids Christmas jammies as an early gift. They got to open them before we went Christmas light looking and hot cocoa drinking last week.
We get to open a present?!
They got changed immediately and looked ADORABLE!
SistersHe looks so protective in this one…
We cruised around Holyoke and then came home for some popcorn and a little Apple Dumpling Gang watching! This was one of Wrexy’s FAVORITE movies as a kid and our kids have fallen in love with it as well.
Popcorn!
It was a REALLY good day…
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Sigh…
My home is truly a place of refuge for me. The other evening we had the lights off and the Christmas tree was glowing and the candles were filling the air with sweet scents…the kids were playing joyfully in the other room and Sayble was cooing at an angel from the nativity scene…daddy was on his way home and supper was in the oven and I was just so at ease. There is truly no place I’d rather be than HOME.
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Our sweet neighbors invited us over to have supper and have a little Christmas celebration. The kids had a ball (per usual) and were bouncing off the walls in excitement. (Pretty sure the Krueger house was a LOT quieter after we left!)
Mr. Rick built the kids a barn for all of their farm animals and toys and it. is. gorgeous! The hay mow flips open and the barn doors slide; there’s glass in the windows and ‘Phipps’ is engraved in the side. Seriously, you guys, it’s one of the kindest, most thoughtful gifts we’ve ever received. The kids have played with it CONSTANTLY since then!
Twins – Mr. Rick and SaybleTHE barnWith his Charolais bullSawyer posing and Wryder over-smiling…you know, the norm!
Wryder didn’t fully understand that the barn was ours to take home. When it was time to go, he immediately started melting down and said, “Can I please come back and play with it sometime?” Ms. Kristi jumped in and saved the day and helped him realize he got to take it home. He stopped, dried his eyes and started jumping up and down with joy! It was pretty cute.
Mr. Logan and sweet Sara got the kids an EQUALLY awesome gift – a membership to Adventures in Odyssey! For the year, we can listen to any and every episode that we can! With our living in the boonies and driving 30 miles+ to get anywhere, this is a GREAT gift! The kids (and us!) love it!
With Logan and sweet Sara
We are blessed with some of the best friends, I tell ya…
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On Christmas Eve, we spent the day getting ready to head to Nebraska. We still had laundry to do and suitcases to pack and a few last minute gifts to wrap.
We ate a yummy lunch of steak and potatoes – everybody’s favorite – and took communion as a family. We are so thankful that Jesus was born! We took time to thank Him for the ultimate sacrifice He made for us with His death and took time to remember the faithfulness He’s shown us in 2015. We are a blessed people….
We went to Christmas Eve services at church and the kids got to get fancy!
Gorgeous!My heart
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Sawyer and Wryder left Santa some cookies and milk and they left carrots for the reindeer. 🙂 Santa showed up and the kids didn’t even get up until 8:00 to check out their goods!
For Santa and friends
Barbie car for SawyerMicrophone for WD and a push toy for Sayble
Wrexy snacked on the carrots and then threw them in the yard as if the reindeer ate them. The kids found them this morning and were SO excited!
Ick.
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They have been so kind and gracious and grateful this year…makes a momma’s heart happy. They’ve wrapped “gifts” they’ve taken from their rooms and made gifts and then wrapped them all with whatever they could find.
Wrex was looking for his shoes to go to the barn the other day and Wryder had taken those, too! We found them wrapped in tissues under the tree. Their generosity and desire to bless blesses us…
Earrings Sawyer made me…her creativity is ASTOUNDING!
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We headed to Nebraska on Christmas day to be with the Phipps family. We had a WONDERFUL time being together. The kids had so much fun playing with all of their cousins and we had fun with their cousins’ parents. 🙂
With RaRa and PaPa
The boys got pajama pants and we took the mandatory modeling picture. If you don’t hear from me for a while, it means one of these guys has killed me for posting this. 😉
A handsome crew!Urkel style, just for fun
All of us grandkids got to give Grandma Rusk a very special gift this year. We wanted to make it the grand finale – the last gift to be opened – but we were all so excited we did it pretty much first thing!
A merry Christmas for a special lady…
It worked out well because the kids were all quiet and there weren’t a lot of other distractions. This lady is something else and so deserving of every good thing.
We took time for everyone tell the family a big thing they felt like the Lord was doing or something they really needed prayer about in the new year. During that time, Granny said that she’s gotten the same word two different times that the Lord has a mission for her in Stillwater. She was saying she didn’t really have a clue as to what it might be or have any preconceived notion what it was but she was ready to get there and get going! Lord I hope to be here and be that ready to serve the Kingdom at 80 years old…
We love this lady
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We finished up Christmas here today. This year has been especially fun with the kids older and fully able to soak up the joy of the season.
Wryder with the Paw Patroller and LookoutSawyer with her new doll
We are so fortunate to have daddy home with us the rest of the week for Christmas vacation. We plan to soak him up and watch fun shows and eat fun food and play games and enjoy being together…our favorite thing!
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!
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.
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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 crewTaking 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 CliffGifts!The guest bookCenterpiecesAdvice 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
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…
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 SantaReady to watch the paradeSayble snuggling daddyShopping 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…
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, KatieSawyer 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…
I plugged my phone into my computer to charge last night and I realized I have a lot of pictures that haven’t made it anywhere, so I thought I’d post some of my favorites! We’ve had such a great summer…can you believe it’s August?!
We took a little trip up to the sandhills of Nebraska to see the elder Phipps’…always a good time and good food!
The kids with their great-grands!Grandad putting Sayble to sleepGoing for a spin on the golf cart
We had supper with some friends and the kids got to check out the volunteer fire department!
Checkin’ out the fire truck in WagesWryder lost his pants and I’m not completely sure what Sawyer is doing. Hilarious picture though…
The Stukas family came for a visit and we had more fun than we knew what to do with!
Sayble and ShoshanahLook at those smiles!Uno!Reading with Tanner. Wryder loved having a brother around!
Daddy brought home some new barn kitties. Wryder is officially in love. Poor cats.
This boy LOVES his kitty!And his new backpack!Good gravy he’s cute…Kitty, don’t leave
Wrex made this arrow for me for a wedding gift. I loved how it turned out so he’s cranked out a few more since!
Follow the arrow to the hottie!Barnwood stain
I bought groceries one night ALL BY MYSELF. It was a little quiet but quite nice. The kids were incredibly tired and thus distraught when I left. I had to document the fact that they were crying because I was leaving. That never happens…either thing – me leaving or them crying because I do. 🙂
🙁
Sawyer has gotten her craft on lately.
Sawyer selfie 🙂We busted out the puff paint! Flashback 1991!
She’s also been drawing a lot. Here’s a picture of a fish…
Oh. My. Word.
And just a couple of my faves…
CooooookkkkiiiieeeeeeMid yawn looks like what the heck?!
Today is Sayble’s due date! I suppose I have a few more hours of wishful thinking that she may join us outside of the womb, but I’m thinking today is probably not the day.
Three of us Phipps cousins were all due within two weeks of each other, me being due first (ahem) and they have all had their babies as of today. I can now say I’m FOR SURE next! 🙂
I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve such amazing, loving, encouraging, Godly women in my life, but they have just showered me in prayers and messages of encouragement the past few days.
When I thought I was sliding down the slippery slope of “I can’t do this! I don’t want her to come out,” my sweet sister says, “You will be fine! You’re a pro at this!” My sister in the faith said, “I pray that your body begins to relax knowing that you were MADE to have this baby, CREATED to have her. Your body and heart will sync up beautifully!” I’m trying to live THERE.
A sweet friend was praying over my labor and upcoming induction and unprompted she said, “I was thinking earlier today that God has always been faithful especially regarding the birth of your babies and He will do it again! I just feel so confident in His plan for Sayble, too!” Wow. Who does that?!
My two (beautiful and uber-classy) aunts, the moms of both cousins who have now met there sweet little babes, have checked on me oh-so dutifully and both reached out to me today to encourage me and cheer me on! I can assure I’ve done nothing to receive such favor!
I’ve had friends send me scriptures and blog posts. Even my nail lady got in on the action and had researched labor-inducing pressure points for my feet when I went in yesterday to get my pedicure. Our mail lady stopped by today to see me one last time before baby was born and set up a time to bring us a meal and meet miss Sayble.
I tell ya, the Lord has blessed us with some of the most loving and generous people… I have just been in awe of His love for us because of the love of His people.
And so, we wait some more. I’m doing my last big house cleaning today and tomorrow we’re gonna run a few errands and have some fun with the kids. Sunday has already been reserved as a day of NOTHING…and I’m really looking forward to it. Unless…
Unless…she decides to grace us with her presence before induction. I’d be ok with that, too. 🙂
Pray for me if you think about it…for a safe, healthy, complication-free, easy, fast, natural birth! That’s not too much to ask for, is it?! I kinda giggled as I wrote that but I distinctly heard the Lord say, “Not for me…”
Yesterday just might have been our favorite day of the summer, thus far. We got to spend the day with some of the most God-fearing, solid people on the planet! How lucky are we?!
The summer I was pregnant with Sawyer, Wrex and I ran a trade show booth for his previous employer down at the Colorado Cattlemen’s Convention. We were boothed next to the Farm Credit team and in so doing, made some of our dearest friends.
They were so kind and encouraging and offered up so much wisdom and love regarding the new journey of parenthood that we were about to embark upon. We stayed in touch via Facebook (it has it’s good, it really does!) and then we got to see part of them again the next year.
The next convention was less than a month from our departure date to a new adventure in life and they ministered to us sooooooo incredibly much! We still have the piece of paper with a word they had given us regarding our decision that affirmed all that we had heard from the Lord as well. Seriously, these are some special people.
Besides Facebooking and a few phone calls, that was the last time we had really spent considerable time together…until yesterday! We met in southeastern Colorado for some swimming and picnic-ing and playing and chatting – it was the BEST! The kids all had an absolute ball together and we loved every minute as well.
Wryder and Gunner – how CUTE are they?!Sunbathing beauties!The men in deep discussion on a break from their game of washers…Love these ladies!
It’s such a beautiful thing when the Lord connects people in the Spirit. These are people that love Him and live their lives for Him…who are bearing fruit that is evident in the lives of their children…who live their lives with their hands wide open, ready to give and encourage and love at the drop of the hat.
And their sweet kids! They were all so kind and loving and polite and grateful and obedient and CUTE!
We left feeling like someone just breathed a huge breath of life into us! Our steps felt lighter and our souls felt more joyful and we felt hopeful about the world.
You guys, seriously, we adore you – YOU ARE A RARITY in this world! We are so thankful for the time with you! Let’s attempt to make this happen at least twice a year, yes?! And if you’re really serious about that commune thing, we’re in! 😉
It was an absolutely gorgeous day out on the plains of Colorado! I mean, don’t get me wrong, there could still have been less wind, but considering…
Look at that sky!
We went into Grant this morning for Bible study and then we grabbed some Subway and headed to the park with friends!
Lunch with some cuties!
The kids played and played and played some more…and Wryder may or may not have fallen out of the stroller because he wasn’t buckled properly. Ahem. We weren’t moving at the time and he’s fine, thankfully. This has been one of those weeks where he’s gotten a little banged up. He fell out of a little chair on Sunday and bonked his noggin, scraped his chin and cheek on the dollhouse, cut his nose with his fingernail and then the stroller fiasco. Maybe I should put him in a padded room?! Maybe he’s just a boy…
Post park, we loaded up and headed home to play outside some more. Even the chickens enjoyed this beautiful day. They were all out pecking around and took turns playing king of the mountain.
How cute are they?
Daddy did some chores while Sawyer and I dug in the dirt, jumped on the trampoline and “baked some cakes” in the barn. Then, it was pony time!
Be still my heart…
We rode out into the far pasture and I think the goat’s a little a out of shape. She was panting like crazy as I stopped to snap a few pics…
Heavy breather…
Sawyer has really good balance and is really comfortable on Ozark and I’m still having to pry Wryder’s little hands off of the saddle horn when it’s time to call it quits.
I’m a cowboy, baby…Sweet pony…A little choke-hold is good for brothers…
Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for temps in the 80’s! I’m thinkin’ we’ll be doing it all again tomorrow…
What a great weekend we had! It started out a little rough as we traveled west, stopped for supper and realized we had NO MONEY. My debit card was cancelled as part of the Target debacle and I haven’t received my new one yet and Wrex never carries a wallet, so when we met up in Sterling, he jumped in with us, sans debit card. Sigh. Thankfully, we had a Visa giftcard and some generous friends who let us write them a check and spotted us some cash.
It was cold and snowy all weekend, which made a great atmosphere for snuggling babies! Look at these sweet girls!
Sawyer was in heaven!
Sadly, I spent all my time snuggling and zero time taking pictures. She was just so warm and soft and cuddly – I just couldn’t keep my hands off of her!
We had to make a stop at Wal-Mart to grab some baby food for Mr. Wryder and they had some really fun carts!
Wryder was fired up!They thought this was too fun!
Seriously, that was one of the highlights of their weekend!
We had a little pizza snack on Friday afternoon and Wryder tackled me, literally, for the crust. The kid’s an eater!
Check out those lashes!This is delicious!Oh, mom – this is great stuff!
We popped in and saw the people Wrex used to work for. Their kiddos are SOOOO sweet to my kiddos. They had a ball while we were there!
WD winding down with Aunt Cate…Reagan was one of our FAVORITE babysitters for Sawyer!Chandler kept them entertained!Aren’t they cute?!
We stayed with some dear friends – who spoil my kids rotten! They are some of the kindest, most generous people we know and this trip was no exception. They have a wonderful, peaceful, comfortable home and they drug out all the toys they could find for the kids AND let Sawyer decorate cookies. Is there much better in her world? Nope!
Getting her frosting on!Candy eyes – they were soooo cool!Every good decorator works shirtless, right?!
It was a fast, fun weekend! We never get to do EVERYTHING we want to do or see EVERYONE we want to see and sometimes that’s hard on me but we try our best. I guess that just means we’ll have to return soon..
Rhoades’, Johannes’, Stukas’, Allbrittens – you’re on our list!
Then, it was time for cake and presents! She had such generous friends and got some really fun things!
And then? They each got a kitten!
HA! We tried to find them all a home, but only one got to become a house cat. 😉
