Mom's clown name is Lavendar

Grayson doesn't have a "clown name", but he's learned how to paint his face all by himself.

And I tried to make this stupid wreath... it didn't hang like the thrifty girl's. I'm not so proud of it, but it took some time to go get everything so they're stayin' put for a few more days unless I can figure out some awesome ribbon situation.

But this picture looks goofy to me, but I tried the same idea on this frame and I really liked it. It was black. Sprayed it ivory and glued the rest of my lima beans on there. Not too bad.

Grayson and his ball, it's in the blood.

Here's Justin with the basketball.

But Grayson has a soft spot for Mickey.

The big cruise the one where I forgot to take my camera!

For those who don't know, I just turned 30. And after years of hating my birthday I made a resloution last year to never hate it again. So last year I got Disneyland passes for the whole fam and this year Justin and I left the kids and went on the cruise. First stop was Catalina. So beautiful and the weather was perfect.
The water was so clear! We HAD to go snorkeling and with the water being a good 55... I needed all the wet suit get up. We're talking wet suit, booties, hat, gloves... you get the picture (and you'll have to have an imagination because we didn't take a pic of that). Justin and I suited up and walked over to a little cove and jumped in. We could see for at least 75 feet! So pretty.

The new dog... like I wanted one in the first place

But if I am going to have a dog I must admit so far she's my favorite. She's a chocolate lab who we now call Chloe. The people at the pound said her name was Cindy. Really? That's not a dog name.

So far MacKenzie seems to have trained her to sleep in bed with her. Although that rope tied around the bed sure does help.

Organizing that beast of a master closet under the direction of my mother.

For my Happy Birthday (coming soon in Jan) my mom came home with me from Christmas and showed me how to get things done in the closet. She paid for California Closets a LONG time ago and after one closet she said, "That's it! I can do THAT myself". And she did.

However... I had no clue, until now. It was so not hard to do and with Kennedy's help (ha) we were done in no time. It was an all day project, but we got it done in one day! (Okay we got it done in one day because Justin had MacKenzie and Grayson outta the house). Thanks Mom! I love my new closet.

And now I'm ready to rip out the rest of the closets in the house!

Is it an upgrade when you get a bigger clock?

The clock I had before stopped working a few months after buying it (stupid piece of junk). I went to get another clock motor thing except... it wouldn't fit! I was about to get one from Costco when I found this sweet deal @ Home Goods. It's huge. And now it's screaming for a new friend of a mantel. But for now it will have to make due w/ the reindeer and snowmen.

And not to let Rebecca take the show with her display of Christmas presents. I already had this pile started. It's just as cute as yours no? And just as spectacular!

Flashback Wednesday was nicer than "Old chubby pictures w/ bad hair"

I mean this is blow up and put it on the wall worthy. Looking at all the birth pictures it is finally starting to feel like a LONG time ago.

What a cute little girl she is/was!

Remember this? I notice Rebecca conspicuously hiding in the back with orange hair? Maybe it's just the lighting. And how old is Justin? 14, maybe 15?

hunting chucker

Justin's been hunting 3 times now and finally.... he got something! He was so excited.

They're kind of cute too. These little guys are called chucker. For those of you who already knew that we must not know each other very well. I'll let you know what they taste like later.

I couldn't resist. This might be my favorite part of Christmas blogging.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Let the holidays begin

with a movie night. The house is spotless (so mom, Jenna and Kjersti when you come tomorrow and find it messy it's not our fault) and what better to do with a clean house? Lay down and enjoy it 'cuz it ain't gonna look like this for long. Happy Thanksgiving!

when did no turn into yes?

I don't like animals. I live in a family of people who don't care.

And this is not the same guinea pig twice. It's 2 different pigs that were "free". Right. Is anything ever free?

choose your pose

MacKenzie's cat pose.

And Kennedy's raccoon.

Can you see the sass vs. reservation?

wood stack pic

I have been trying to think of a backdrop for a family Christmas pic and the idea came to me... do it in front of a huge pile of stacked wood. How earthy and festive. Except. I need TWICE the amount of pretty stackage and this pile alone about wore me out. (Or was it because I did it after I attacked the bushes in the back yard in effort to make them look like trees). However for kid pics I really like my little pile. What do you think?

So appropriate

Fall activities

include making turkeys...

Going to the mountains to get wood in our new trailer. That's right Justin found a trailer on craigslist while we were in Fresno for Benjamin's wedding. He's been floating around the house for almost a month feeling "like a man" now that he has "manly things".

And what's fall without a little hint of winter. I found this tree at a yard sale a few months ago which means... we're puttin' up 2 trees this year! That's right 2! This one the kids decorated with stuffed animals. Total cost $0. Take that Tai Pan.

He's 2

Grayson is the oldest baby I've ever had, usually there's an 8 month old crawling around somewhere. Can't believe he's 2. Can't believe we've lived here almost 2 years! To celebrate we had a big party and because I'm super organized mom we planned ahead for this kind of thing... 10am the morning of is planning ahead. It all began with the motorcycle.

That afternoon he dropped a can of pineapples on his big toe (which immediately turned his toenail purpleish-black). Poor guy has the party hat on with the expression of why are all these people here? I just want the pain in my toe to go away. Oh wait is that fire on the candles?

And toys! I don't have to share? Man this is getting better and better.

I'm sad to say, Grayson might own more purses than trucks. He was in heaven.

And what ever happened to pin the tail on the donkey? All Party City had was put the sticker-nose on the clown. The kids loved it anyway.

Well happy birthday Grayson. We love you. And your purses, I mean trucks.

Kennedy's first Primary Program

Today was Kennedy's first Primary Program. My mom & stepdad and Justin's parents came to watch her debut her big speaking part (we also threw together a quick birthday party for Grayson which explains the party hats).


From L-R Bruce, Kathy, Kennedy, Mom, MacKenzie, Manuel, Grayson, Katelyn on me & Justin.

Now for those of you who don't know, the Primary Program it's where the children ages 3-11 perform a 30-40 minute presentation instead of your regular "Sunday sermon" if you will. It is always entertaining and usually funny. This morning I was able to appreciate it as a parent.

As the program started the children were singing and all I could see was the back of Kennedy's head. Nice. The chorus began and she whipped around to sing all the words like a champ. That's my girl. Second verse... cat stretching for a few minutes until the chorus again where she starts singin' like a pro. Good job. (Insert proud Grandparents, Aunt Katelyn and mom)

Then she has her speaking part, "I lived with Heavenly Father before I came to earth". Said through her hand up to her mouth and her head turned to the side. My shy little girl. Aww. Cute.

Another song and they sit down. THEN... what is she asking her teacher? I see their little conversation and it ends as Kennedy walks down off the stage and is now sitting on my lap. Uh.

M: The program's not over, don't you want to finish?

K: No. I'm tired of sitting up there.

M: I'll give you some gum if you go back up there.

K: Um, no thanks. I'm done.

Well okay, what do you say to that? I don't know, but she sure was cute while it lasted. Thanks to the grandparents for driving all that way to see your granddaughter in her 5 minute performance. Next year is sure to be a crowd pleaser with MacKenzie though. She'd've sat up there today if we let her.

pics @ the park

Look what my 4 year-old can do

I felt like painting the front door today, but soon realized I didn't have enough leftovers. Dang there goes plan A for the day. Hmmm, look at all these other colors of paint. There's some left over blue, I wonder if that would work in the kids room. Nope. Hey how about the laundry room? It's white. Let's try just a little. Alright maybe a lot. Okay I don't hate it, let's go with it.

Then Kennedy picks up on my train of thought with, "MOM!!! I want to help!" Alright let's see how she does.

She did AMAZING. I was all busy doin' my side and when I turned around I saw little miss resourceful on the chair trying "to get up to the top". One little smudge on the ceiling, easily whipped off. Not a drop on her shirt or the ground. I think she's better than me.

You know we may not be doing pre-school or play school or whatever you want to call it, but gosh darn-it... that girl can paint!

Dinning chair covers

I just found some chair slipcovers and they look like a table cloth threw up on my chairs. I'll be taking them back. What's the cheapest best slipcovers?

whatcha got in dat there purse a yours?

I'm walkin' along Costco (yes I'm feeling much better, I had Katelyn mop the floor this morning and I went to Costco this afternoon. Fantastic day.) Anyway I'm goin' down the isle for the sour cream when I realize, dang. I just passed it. So instead of turning the very large shopping cart (with Kennedy in it) around I just leave it there next to the gogurts and get the sour cream. Got the cream. Good. Look up and this couple about my age are staring into my shopping cart NOT at the Halloween treats that are bright orange, but at my purse!!! What the? This is Costco! You can't be tryin' to steal from me in Costco. Physco! They see me and keep walking as if nothing happened. To myself (who's had the swine flu and strep throat this week) I think how odd people have become in just a few days.

Outside I go to put the groceries in the car. Turn the car on to heat them diesel coil thing-ers up, put my purse in my seat, shut the door and open the back to load in all my stuff. As I shut the back of my car I turn to find this old guy staring in my window at MY PURSE! Dude! I'm right here! He quickly, yet slowly walks away. What are you looking for? Do I even look like I have any money?! You wanna know what's in my purse? I'll tell you. A credit card I don't use ATM that has recently been frauded and a hospital bill from when I took Grayson to the ER. You want the bill? Oh wait my water bill is in there too, you can take my bills. But really. What is with people today?

#5

The big wedding. Wedding number five. That's right my parents are done gettin' them kids out the door and into their own homes. My little brother Benjamin is officially a man or at least a grown boy paying his own rent and food bill. He got married in the Fresno temple which translated means, my sisters and I had a long overdue reunion. 5 years since we were all in the same state together.

Me, Khristie, Mom, Ben, Jessica, Rebecca, Julia

We carried our excitement right into the temple with us. Unfortunately for everyone else reverence and "Phillips girls" don't mix.

Here's a redo of an old pose.

I haven't had such a good time laughing in a LONG time! I almost peed my pants many times this past weekend and it felt good (not the pee, the laughing). I think Rebecca put it right when she said there's reason we all have moved to different states click here. Thanks fam for the fun weekend.

Box Car

There's a primary activity tomorrow. It's a "drive-in" movie and everyone has to make a car to watch the movie. MacKenzie's not really in primary, but do you think they'd notice if we left her?

These are my favorite part, the license plates.