Happy Birthday StinkerBell

It is really hard for me to believe my baby is TWO. She is all girl. Santa brought her a purse full of goodies. Including her rocking sunglasses, her bling phone, bracelets and necklaces. SHE LOVES IT. She also loves her boots. She has one on but was distracted in showing off her other goodies to put the other one on. Sabrina just makes me laugh at how girly she is. Every morning her getting dressed routine includes me painting her finger nails and putting lip gloss on. Did I mention what a girl she is? I just love her. Happy Birthday Bree, I am glad you are part of our family every day.

Santa's Cookies

Christmas eve after dinner the kids and I sat down to make Santa's cookies. This was a good way to keep them from BoUnCiNg off the walls as we awaited the arrival of the big man. Actually the kids were really good. They made the cookies, posed for pictures is their new Christmas jammies for mom, attacked Owen and stole his socks, went to the basement made up their beds, came back up stairs and stole another pair of socks Owen had just put on, dog piled on Owen, had a tickle fight and finally decided to call it a night so Santa could come. All this by 8:30pm. Santa came some time in the night. And as I am sure my mom would say was payback, I heard the kids making noise and the TV in the basement and I rolled over to look at the clock. GUESS WHAT TIME IT WAS???? 3:30 AM.... yep THREE THIRTY IN THE MORNING. Needless to say I went down to tell them to turn it off and go back to sleep till the SUN came up. All in all a good Christmas at the Phillips house.

Did your living room BARF Christmas???

Yeah, our did too.

Merry Christmas 2009

I didn't get around to doing a holiday card and sending it out. If I had this would have been my picture. The kids in their new Christmas jammies on Christmas eve. Owen actually took about 20 pictures and this was the one that was the best of the most kids. Gavin,as usual, wouldn't stop talking long enough to smile. Now if I took the time to figure out Photoshop maybe I could have made the "perfect" picture. But this is a REAL snapshot of our FIVE crazy kids. I hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas.

Attention Stealer

At Gavin's program Sabrina would not stay away from the piano by the stage. Owen had a hard time focusing and taking pictures of Gavin because Sabrina was so funny. I have at least 6 clips of her playing and dancing. In this one, if you look close you can see Gavin performing in the back ground. (now it could be that it is hard for Owen & I to focus on the program because we have seen the same one EIGHT times... we will see it more once Sabrina starts at this preschool)

-Remember to pause the music on the left side bar when you play the video-

Gavin performs

Today was Gavin's holiday program. He did great. For the first time, all the big kids got to go and

which was fun. Gavin was so funny because we were in the front row he would talk to his siblings between each song. And if he wasn't talking to them, he was telling his teacher they were there and all about them. He was just SOOO proud.

Gavin turned FIVE

I can hardly believe my youngest son is 5. Lucky Gavin got to have two birthday parties while we were in California for Thanksgiving. One with my family and then one at Aunt Jenny and Uncle Brett house. I think that Nana and Papa enjoyed seeing a grandchild open and play with their present. This was the first time that has happened for them since Jared turned ONE. And as always all of the kids LOVE spending time with their cousins. 24 hours just wasn't enough time. I really hope that Jen and Brett decide to come for their annual trip up here between Christmas and New Years. The holidays just won't be the same without them and the kids.

Beach in NOVEMBER

So I am thinking that only kids who live in Utah and have to go to school in the morning when it is NINE degrees outside would think that it OK to put on bathing suits and go into the ocean on NOVEMBER 27th. Now I will say that it was a warmish day 68 degrees. But really.

- disclaimer: I was wedding dress shopping with Meghan so Owen was in charge of the kids activies for the day. YEP, all five of them.

YYYUUUUUMMMMMM

Call me crazy. My kids HAD to have it for dinner tonight. There was no getting out of it. So being the nice mom I am I sat in the drive -thru for ONE HOUR AND FORTY FIVE MINUTES. Yep, you read that right. I told the kids to enjoy it because we are not going back til the hype dies down.

OPEN!!!!

Yep... In-n-Out is OPEN!!! I kid you not it isn't 5 minutes from my drive way to theirs. I am hoping to go and eat there soon I am just not sure I want to wait in an hour or more to do it. But I will keep you posted.

When they get quiet...

you know they are into something. This time the something was glue. Which she thought was shampoo. Thank goodness it was washable white glue and came out with one wash.

Favorite Foto Friday 11.6.09

When when we in Boston, there was always a camera out. Someone was always trying to capture our moments. At one point Rachel and Jared took pictures of each other taking pictures. I just love what they both caught.

Don't forget to head to Candid Carrie's to see others favorite fotos.

Belated birthday post

I know it has been a while since the Bean's birthday. But better late than never. Jillian had a great day. Family came all the way from Idaho to share her day with her. Lots of games were played, good food and BROWNIES (she has decided she doesn't like cake, just like aunt Nicole) were ate. Presents opened and shared. Jillian got several pairs of shoes which Sabrina immediately decided to try on and model for her big sis. Thanks to EVERYONE who came by to share her day. Again I can not believe she is EIGHT.

Jared's 1st Campout

Jared went on his first scout camp out. Owen went as well. Somewhere out in the west desert. They came back tired, dirty but I think it was a success. Even if it did rain during the night and Jared's tent leaked. Though I will say both took a nap when they got home right after I made them shower.

Halloween 2009

Again I am having to admit my failings as a parent. I don't have any pictures of Jillian or Hayden other than when they were carving pumpkins. They when to a party and then trick or treating with friends so they didn't come home til they were done. Good thin I wen to the parade and have some pictures in their costumes.

Jared left part of his Grandpa costume at school so we need to find a new costume. Good thing I buy Jillian's Dresses with room to grow. They fit him just PERFECT. The only thing I need to buy was his own tights. As you can see they are great for playing soccer in the house in. Jared worked the girl costume to the max. He took one of my purses as his trick or treat bag. He told me at one house they asked what he was dressed as. He said, "a GIRL". then the people started laughing so hard because they thought he WAS a girl. Owen is so proud.

Owen only had to take the two little one out this year. He was gone about a 1/2 hour and then he was done. Good thing they are cute and people drop extras in the bag because they came back with plenty. We only had 5 kids come by our house so, I am putting it out there, I AM NOT BUYING CANDY NEXT YEAR. We will have a dark house with no pumpkins so don't stop by. Next holiday, thanksgiving...here we come.

Pumpkin Carving 2009

This year we were a little late to the caving of pumpkins. Though it did fill some of the time while the kids were waiting for it to get dark on Halloween. Gavin had his own to carve from his visit to the pumpkin patch with his school. The other chose to have one LARGE pumpkin to cave together. The turned out really cute but you will just have to take my word for it because I forgot to take pictures of them.

Favorite Foto Friday 10.30.09

This is Jillian taking a break from "Paid" labor in the yard. As you can see we need to do so weeding. She and the boys were helping Owen in the front yard clear out some of the flower beds. They got one done on the last warm Saturday we had. Now that the weather is in the forties I think the rest of the weeds will be around till spring. Maybe I will start praying for one more nice Saturday so they can finish. And yes I know I am saying they, I don't like getting my hands dirty. I'll stay inside and clean instead, that or go shopping.

Head over to Candid Carrie's NEW home and join in the linky fun of sharing your favorite fotos in her FIESTA.

On Parade

Grandpa, zombie and our knocked out soccer player were all on parade at school today. Then the sixth grade did the Thriller dance, I don't have video but it was very cute. By the way did you notice the bruise on Jillian's face, not at bad makeup job if I do say so myself.

Taking after Mommy

The other day I was getting ready and Sabrina got very quite. Which normally would mean that trouble was a foot. Instead this is what I found. My 21 month old, kicking back READING. I could not be more proud. Maybe I really do have one that is taking after me after all.

AYYYE YA!!!!

We decided Gavin needed an outlet for some of his energy. We love what karate has done for Hayden so we are letting Gavin give it a try. The above video is from his VERY FIRST lesson. So far I think he his doing great. Though I must admit he we hilarious to watch. I was trying not to laugh so I had tears running down my face. For those of you who know Gavin, he was told to stand still on the spot after each punch or kick. But in true Gavin style he was BoUnCiNg like Tigger unable to contain his excitement.

-remember to pause the music on the left side bar if you want to hear the video!

Family Pictures

Rachel was kind enough to take family photos of us one day while we were there. The day we went to Plymouth we got home and the weather and the timing were to perfect not to try. I am glad we did as the next day was raining. I think we got some pretty great pictures. Ones I know I will treasure. Thank you Rachel.