PhillipsStuff

A New Post

2008-09-28T23:45:00.002-05:00

I've been getting rightly hounded about my lack of blog content. I think you all know me by now, and know that I am a huge slacker when it comes to self fulfilling endeavors. But, now that I know it means soooo much to soooo many others, I will strive to be more vigilant.

I changed my template!!

Enjoy!

Samoan Fiafia

2008-03-03T07:54:00.006-06:00

We had so much fun on Saturday night! Our church ward family had a Samoan Fiafia (a Polynesian feast) to celebrate and bring an end to our 40-day fast. It has been a great experience for us. Our good friends, the Pauga family, shared their Samoan culture with us and even provided myself and the kids with traditional clothing to wear for the fiafia. Wesley's "skirt" is called a lava-lava, and he did not want to take it off. He was running around in it at the park, climbing on the playground and everything. When we got home that night, he wanted to sleep in it. It did however, fall off before he went to bed, but he wanted to put it right back on the next morning. Unfortunately Mark had to go into work Saturday night (7pm-7am), so he was sleeping when we left for the party and he didn't get to see us all dressed up. Honestly though, I think he would have freaked right out to see me in a moo-moo (that can't be how it's spelled). These pictures are the first glimpse that he gets. I'll be honest, it sucks that we don't always have him around, but we appreciate all the hard work he does to take care of us. And I'm so thankful that he enjoys his work. Being in the health care realm, he sees a lot and it makes us realize daily just how blessed we are.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

2008-02-14T09:21:00.002-06:00

We Love Valentine's Day!!

Wesley woke up in the best mood, wishing everyone a good morning and a Happy Valentine's Day! He was full of hugs and kisses for all.

Emma always looks forward to Valentine's Day. She says that it is her favorite holiday because of all the love and the pink and red decorations.

Mark and I haven't given each other any grand and glorious gifts in the past 5 years, but we love to wake up on Valentine's Day and pay extra close attention to all those little moments of stolen passion. I love him sooo much that it sometimes feels explosive. This is our 10th Valentine's together, and there are still times when we hold each other and don't want to let go. He's brought the greatest love that I konw into my life, and for that I will always be grateful!

Emma wanted to make her own class Valentines this year, and here are the results:

I think they turned out beautiful! We had such a good time working on them together. I love that she wants to create things. It makes my soul smile.

Happy Valentine's Day to All !!

Out of The Mouth of Babes

2008-02-06T22:02:00.000-06:00

Conversation with Wes:
Mom : "Wes, why are you being so ornerey today? You've been acting a little crazy."
Wes : "Oh. Um, I want baby."
"You want to be a baby?"
"No. I want have a baby. Oh mom, get baby at the store!!"
"You want to buy a doll at the store?"
"Mom, you are funny. No doll. I want have a baby. I be big sister like Emma."
"You want to have a little baby brother or sister?! This is why you are acting up."
"Let's go mom! I so excited! Let's get baby at the store!"
"You're going to have to wait and talk to your dad about that."
When Dad came home:
"Dad, we need go to the store and get baby! I so excited!"
"What?!"
(Brief explanation)
"Wes, do you want to have a little brother or sister?"
"I want baby. I be big sister."
"No. You would be a big brother."
"Oh! Yes, I be big brother like Emma."
"Do you want a little brother or a sister?"
"I just want a baby."
"Well, your mom and I will have to work on that. But, we can't get a baby at the store. I'm sorry. It might take awhile."
"I so excited!"

So, anyway, I guess we have some work to do.

New Year's Eve 2008

2008-02-05T20:58:00.000-06:00

Just to get "The Fear" down the page, because it seems that I managed to scare plenty of people with that post, I have finally decided to post pictures from New Year's Eve.

Yea!!!!!!!!

And the night ends.

Guess who the party animal is in our home.

The Fear

2008-01-15T07:46:00.000-06:00

This is just something that has been on my mind. Sometimes I feel like we live in a constant state of fear; ie: The cost of health insurance is ridiculous, but if I don't have it and something horrible happens, the cost of health care is far worse. The fear that makes us question everything.
Last week on two separate occasions I happened upon 2 unfortunate souls. On both occasions I was driving either to or from home with my kids in the van. The first, I was at a stop light and glanced around. I noticed for the first time a little park (1 bench, some flowers, a trash can, and a sign indicating that it was indeed a park), perhaps because there was an elderly woman with what looked like all of her possessions in a bag beside her on the ground. She did not have much of a coat, and she seemed to be getting ready to take a nap. I couldn't help but feel like I should turn around at the light and go and talk to this woman. I wanted to offer her a warm meal, a bed to sleep in, or even just a listening ear. But, there was the fear. What if she's unstable, what if she has some contagious disease? I have my kids with me. I can't put them at risk. If it were just me, I would stop. Or would I? When Have I seen thee naked and clothed thee? An hungered and fed thee? If I want to teach my children to be kind, shouldn't they see me being kind?
On the second occasion, we were just leaving our alley way and I noticed a woman walking along the side of the road. She was obviously having an inner struggle as she twitched and cursed out loud as well as in sign language. (I think it was sign language) But what I noticed next was that she did not have on any shoes. Her feet were dark black from the dirt and tar stains and she walked on the side of them. What could I do to help? It was obvious that she was unstable. Bringing her back to our home was clearly not the wisest idea. Did I have any shoes that I could give her? If I went back to find some, would I be able to find her again? What if she doesn't accept, and then I end up making the kids late for school and they're wondering why that strange lady just spit on their mother. Again, the fear.
It's crippling. If at the moment a thought of kindness comes into our minds and hearts and we act immediately wouldn't we be able to make things so much better in this world. But, there's not even time to act before the doubt and the fear take over.
Does anyone else feel this?
Because we believe in a divine spirit that can lead us in the right direction and keep us from danger, shouldn't I be able to have a faith strong enough that I could essentially live without fear. Your mind would be free from doubt and uncertainty because you would have the assurity of the spirit to clear it away. That is my goal. To increase my faith to the point that I can truly live in the world and not be of the world. Does that make sense? What better protection could I afford to give my children?

New Posts to Come Soon

2008-01-08T10:09:00.000-06:00

Hello All
So sorry that there has been an immense lack of posting. I have been on "vacation" for the holidays. To tell the truth, there have been days at a time that the computer hasn't even been turned on. We'll just call it decompression time. I plan on reworking the blog too, so look for something new within the next 2 weeks.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

2007-11-22T09:52:00.000-06:00

!!!!!!!!HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!

What what what!

2007-11-12T21:51:00.001-06:00

I know it's crazy..........2 posts.
But Emma and I just got back from my little brother's( Zak) Jr. High production of Alice in Wonderland. It was GREAT!!
Way to go Zak! We had a great time because the whole cast seemed to really be enjoying themselves, and of course because Zak is such a stud! He looked great, he sounded great, and that's all because he is great!
We love you Zak!
And we had a great time seeing Aaron, Grandma Nutt, Grandpa, Aunt Krista, baby Tymber, Aunt Faye and cousin Mike too! Thanks for a fun family activity.
Mark had to miss it, because he stayed home with Wes. Wes came down with, what I like to call Clines disease, because it is exactly what almost all the Clines kids are at home battling as we speak. Thanks guys. We feel even closer to you now. Hope everybody is feeling better soon.
-Seacrest Out!

An Open Forum

2007-11-12T13:06:00.000-06:00

There have, of course, been several things that I could've blogged about within the past 5 or 6 months, and yet did not take the initiative. So today will be a photo montage because, let's face it, we all like to look at pictures rather than read my ramblings.

Halloween Night!! Emma was a ballerina, and Wes was a "Rockin' " Spider!!

We spent Halloween trick-or-treating with 4 other families and their kids. It was a blast! We loved being out in our own community. This a picture w/ Autumn and Josh. None of the big group pictures I took came out.
Emma and I went to see the Broadway version of "The Lion King" at Music Hall in Dallas on the 13th of October. We'd had our tickets for a whole year, and Emma had patiently waited. It was well worth the wait! We loved it! It is so neat to be able to share these kind of things with her, and to watch her light up with awe and feel inspired together.

Twin Day at school!
This is Wes' "Gang" of trouble makers! Thank goodness we have a backyard!!!!

The pumpkin patch at the Arboretum

I took Emma to the mall one night before Wesley's birthday so that she could buy him a present. As we walked around we passed by the Godiva store, and Emma nearly broke her neck looking back over her shoulder at the chocolates. I took her into the shop and the chocolatier let us sample a few pieces. She then asked Emma what her favorite kind of chocolate is, and Emma told her that it is chocolate with chocolate inside. We picked out 3 different truffles to take with us. As the shop-girl was packing them for us, Emma gazed in wonder at all the many chocolates surrounding her, and then looked at me and asked in an awe-struck voice, "Mom? How do they make chocolate?"

And just by chance, the Arboretum has an entire exhibit, that is running through December, all about the "Chocolate Tree"! We discovered where chocolate comes from, how it is made, and even got to sample some.

I've been taking Wesley to an hour long class on Tuesday mornings at the Rec Center. He gets to play, sing, dance, jump, climb, and play with a giant parachute! And we love his teacher, Mrs. Morales. We even had her oldest daughter babysit for us one evening. It was our first "real" babysitter. The kids loved her, and we will definitely have her over again. (That was the night of the infamous Oct 27th post!)
Wes turned 2 on October 7th!! We were at G & Papa's house for General Conference that Sunday, but between sessions we did a little celebrating. Wes wanted a Frog cake, and this was the best we could do:

Brittany and Emma made up party games and everything, with just a little help from G. They played pin-the-heart on Wesley, roll the pumpkin with your nose, and of course the spoon and potato race!

Emma decided that she wanted to cut her hair. She's been growing it out for almost 2 years so that she could have hair like Rapunzel, but she made the choice herself and Aunt Krista gave her a very cute new do!
We got Wes a Tee-ball set for his birthday, because we felt bad that he and Josh had to find creative ways to play, like this:

Oh yes, that is a football in a flower pot being hit with a shoe bat.

I thought that was pretty clever!

These are pictures from our end of summer, High School Musical 2 party!!

I just really liked this picture:

If it were up to Wes, we would be at the zoo everyday, and he would live with the Giraffes and Elephants.
We took family pictures while in Katy with Mark's family this summer. Apparently my children's eyes are very sun-sensitive. Who knew?
I really like Mark's smile in this one.

Here is the whole Don & Jeanette Phillips clan:
This was a big year for Emma. She turned 5 this summer, and we celebrated with every princess we know!

Mark stayed up all night before the party, painting our living room. It was our first party in our new home, and we did it in style. There was princess freeze dance, princess bingo, pin-the-crown on the life size Emma, and of course an all out princess treasure hunt. All the princessess arrived in full royal attire.

This one is just in here for the "cute" factor.

We went on our first annual trip to Blueberry Hills Farm with Molly and the Harris family. We had so much fun picking blueberries, and Wesley discovered that blueberries right off the bush are the best!!! There were so many more berries that made it into his mouth without even a chance of making it into his basket.

So, there it is. A slightly encompassing retrospective of the last 5 months. And for those requesting an "all about Tonia" blog, ask a question and I will answer, but I don't volunteer that information. You've got to be specific.

Why do I blog so little?

2007-10-29T21:20:00.000-05:00

Why, oh why, did I post just 3 words last?
Maybe because the time was past,
Maybe because I felt too ill,
Or perhaps I had yet to finish my meal.
The reason could be that blogging felt "old".
But you want the truth so it must be told.
I wrote those three words and the bed had been laid,
So the love I professed had to be "made"!!

I love Mark

2007-10-27T21:49:00.001-05:00

VICTORY!!!

2007-09-25T17:49:00.000-05:00

Today I claim VICTORY!!

I feel 100% better than yesterday, thanks to my awesome support sisters, and because all school supplies at Target went on sale 75% off today!!!

It was just the BEST day ever.

Witness my $35 plunder:

For anyone who doesn't know me.... I LOVE school/office supplies! My husband even got me a bouquet of fresh pencils one year for Valentine's Day. Seriously, I have a problem.

But check this out; I went to Target first thing this morning after taking Emma to school and I just happened to get there as they were finishing the mark-down. I got backpacks, pencil boxes, tape, glue, stapler, markers, crayons, scissors, spiral notebooks, folders, drawing paper, white out, dry erase board, etc, etc, etc. I took Emma after school and she picked out a backpack for next year. I was able to fill it with 80% of what she will need for 1st grade, and put it away for next school year! Wesley even got a lunch bag to take when we have lunch with Emma at school. Like I said,

It was the Best Day!

Non-Blog

2007-09-24T10:20:00.000-05:00

I'm supposed to blog today, and I've been catching up with my friends' blogs this morning, so I thought I better go ahead and add something while I'm on the computer. The only problem is that I'm not sure what to write about. Oh, I have plenty of thoughts but they are a big jumbled mess that will not form into coherent patterns of any kind.
We have a lot going on, but nothing that excites me or is accompanied by any feeling of accomplishment. So I suppose this a depressing rant. I have been feeling rather "BLAH" lately. I've been having all the unproductive thoughts of, "If only....". I could do so much, if only......
What a crock! Where's the magic that I'm known for?(known to whom, I'm not sure) The ability to create something from nothing. I've lost it as of late. Any suggestions? The other depressing news.......The Energy
It's gone, wilted, and sad. This used to happen every once in awhile, but was just a precursor to an explosion of positivity. I'm hoping that this is just a longer stint of the aforementioned situation, and all will be mended in no time.
Think good thoughts. Think good thoughts. Think good thoughts.
And now I will feel awfully guilty for posting such a blog, because my life is filled with so many blessings. But I do think that sometimes we're allowed to feel this way. Am I right? You see, now I need justification for my negativism.
Please feel free to share your positive affirmations with me. Thanks.

A Shout Out

2007-09-17T10:10:00.000-05:00

Ok, Ok, so I fooled you all into thinking that my blogs would become more regular. I apologize for the deception, and am here to try and rectify my misdeeds.

I've included several pictures, with the intent of providing some interest. Let's dive in:

This is a picture of the "work" Emma came home with on her first day of school. She drew her friends Autumn, Ella, and Darcy in the bus windows along with herself.

She drew this next picture on the back of the page. Emma's little friend Darcy moved away, far far away to the vast lands of Missouri and Emma really misses her. She knows Darcy isn't old enough to go to Kindergarten yet, but she wanted her to know that she was thinking about her. Emma is in the red and Darcy the purple.

Sadly, this is the only picture I found of Darcy w/ Emma and Wes. This was from May '07 on our way to the zoo. But, I'm pretty sure the elephant hat may have given that away. I did find several out-of-focus pictures that I took one day when Darcy was over to play. I apparently didn't realize the need to use the flash.

This is a glimpse into Wes' new morning routine. Our good friend Autumn comes over in the morning to ride to school with us and usually helps to wake up Wes. Notice the subtle and gentle awakening. Thank you, Autumn! She can really get him going. She is one of Emma's best friends and Wesley loves her too.

These next two pictures were taken one day last week. They are an ode to the many wonders of paper. Mark helped the kids make a paper sword, and a princess hat. Then he and Emma designed their own paper house.

The house is complete with a bed, blanket, and pillows, a tree that houses a flying butterfly, a sun atop a mountain, and a fast car. This is a totally "green" house. That's right, 100% recycled products.

Yesterday Wes wasn't feeling very well, and Mark had to take him home early from church. We're pretty sure it's just his allergies, but he has been feeling congested and has had a very yucky nose. When Emma and I got home, she was very concerned about her little brother. Mark headed back to the church for meetings, and the kids immediately changed into their pajamas. Emma was so sweet, and gave Wes her stuffed puppy to hold while she "read" him stories to help him feel better while I made lunch.

I think it worked, because later that day I got the call..."Mom! Come see. We have a surprise for you!" And when I turned the corner from the kitchen, this is the scene that met my eyes:

The "Booty" dance!! on the couch, even! And now I have to take a moment to thank Emma's good friend, Miss Luella, for introducing us all to the "Booty Dance" this past summer at a sleep over Emma had in June. She is the true Booty Master! Just check her out in action

And as you can see, it works wonders! Just look at those happy faces.
To really make this "shout-out" post complete, I have to tell everyone about my good friend Farrah's incredible business she has started. I am so proud of her, and inspired by her tenacity and perserverence. Please check out her site at http://www.sweetpapery.com She is very talented and will only continue to grow this venture with the many creative ideas that she has. So, to my peeps..."What's up!"

Wesley Time

2007-08-30T13:25:00.000-05:00

Have you met Wes? He is one of my two most favorite kids in the whole world!!
He will be turning 2 in October, and we have really had life change in these past 2 years. So much more energy and life has been brought into our family by the arms of Wesley.

It has really been nice to have time alone with him since Emma is now in school. He has even taken on all new challenges because he doesn't have his big sister here to do it all for him (whether he wants her to or not). As we arrive home from taking Emma to school in the morning he asks, "Mom, I push button open door?" I hand back the garage door opener and he pushes the right button first off. He suddenly is showing me how well he can count (which is something like, "count 1, 3, 2, 4,7" but at least those are actual numbers). He has gotten to play his "fishy" game as much as he wants, and loves to catch fish and tell me, "Yea, I caught a blue fishy!" or "a pink fishy" or "a green fishy" even though the fish might actually be red. I have to say though, that 89% of time he gets it right.
Of course I deeply believe that he is a genius. As rightfully I should.

All is Quiet

2007-08-28T20:18:00.000-05:00

I can't believe how quiet it is now. It is 8:15pm, Emma and Wes have been asleep for 30 mins. Can you believe it?! They were so exhausted by their new ventures that they were both more than willing to head off to bed while the sun was still out. Emma had another great day at school. And like I told my sister, Krista, earlier; when I was driving her to school I secretly was looking forward to the first time she gets sick and has to stay home a day from school.

I have to tell all my wonderful girlfriends and fellow mothers of 1st time "schoolers" how much I have appreciated our mutual blubbering sessions and support calls. You are the best group of friends that I could have ever asked for. Thank you. And I can only hope that our kids will become that same support for each other.

And to all ...
A GOOD NIGHT!

The First Day of School

2007-08-27T13:37:00.000-05:00

Today....I cried.

And Emma started Kindergarten.

Mark took a few hours off work this morning so that we could all take her to school. Doesn't she look ready! She was so excited that she told me she woke up 3 times during the night, and then told herself that it was still dark and she needed her sleep. We've been preparing for this over the last couple of weeks, and I was sure that because she went to preschool last year that I would not have such a hard time letting her go. But, it was still scary for me. All the "mom" worries have been running thru my mind: Will she be alright? What if she needs a snack? Will she make the right choices? 3:00 is soooo far away!! Have we taught her enough? Will she have fun?
And then I'm softly reminded that this is Emma we're talking about...she's going to love it! She got to pick out her first backpack and lunchbox, and even used the $ that Papa gave her (Thanks Papa!) to buy herself a matching princess Thermos.

I've really been holding it together pretty well. In fact it wasn't until this past Saturday that I started to cry. I was going thru her clothes, and she has a pair of little pink pants that she has worn since she was 9 months old. No kidding. They were pants, then capris, then shorts, and then pajama shorts. But, when she put them on she said they were too tight. From baby to Kindergartner.Just look at how much she has grown.

This picture was taken in February 2005

Halloween 2005
This picture was taken the day Wes was born! She has grown into such a great big sister, and Wesley loves her so much. When we took her into her classroom Wes asked which chair was his. And then driving home from dropping her off, he said that he wanted to go to school too. While he and I were having lunch, he looked at me and said, "I miss you mommy. I miss Emma." ..............................

Well, she's back!! We just got back from picking her up. She loved it! Wes was so excited to go get her, and when I asked Emma if she was ready to go back again tomorrow, Wes said "No! No more school."
Last Friday we had a dress rehearsal of sorts. A mock first day of school.
Emma's friend Autumn will be riding to school with us every morning, so she got to practice with us too.
Emma really likes her teacher, and we're pretty lucky because there are 4 other kids from her Primary class that are in the Kindergarten with her. In fact, her friend Ella is in the same class. She does not divulge enough information for my curiosity, but she says she wants to go back tomorrow and that is really what matters at this point. I'd say it's a pretty good day!

Today's Moment of Zen

2007-08-14T19:51:00.000-05:00

Emma - "Tah-da! Mom, I present King Wesley"
Wes - "Ta-da. Hey, Mom!"
Mom - "Hello, your majesty. Uh, Emma where are Wes' pants?"
"Oh, I took them off. He looks much cuter in just his diaper, I think."
"Well, could you put his pants back on please."
"But Mom, he likes it like this and he's the King."
Inner Mom voice - "Hum, that does make sense."
"I da king"...... "naked, ha-ha-ha!"
"Alright, but please make sure that the diaper stays on. O.k.?"
"Sure"
"NAKED!"
Wesley leaves the scene, with scarf-cape flapping in the breeze and adoring "fashionista" sister right behind him.

Pictures from Vacation

2007-07-23T12:12:00.000-05:00

These are some pictures from our trip. Just click on the image if you'd like to see a larger view.

There's one of Dallin and Jett in their jeep( or is it a "seep"), Grandma helping Wes blow bubbles, Krista with Tymber (who could not be seen without her necklaces, so much so that she had a fit when they had to be removed for her bath, but setteled right back down as soon as they were back in their rightful place), a beautiful shot of Emma's pouting face, Aaron and Zak serenading Jimmy with "Happy Birthday", Beach shots (me and the kids, wes w/ his hands full of sand, Emma and her dainty-splash, Jared and Meghan living out their surfer fantasies) and then pics from the zoo and Herman park.

A Mini-Vacation

2007-07-23T11:16:00.000-05:00

How long has it been? I haven't blogged in nearly 2 months and I am ashamed. This is very much like journals of my youth; paragraphs of quick notes that try to list all the events that had happened over the previous months with little details and no hope of evoking true memories. Does my life follow a pattern? Well at least I can attest to the fact that some patterns can be broken, IE: my husband is a much better man than any other guy I ever dated. So, there is hope! We just got back from a mini-vacation to Houston. The kids and I went to Pearland (south side of Houston) on the 12Th to stay almost a week with my brother, Jimmy and his family. Afton, his wife, planned a great surprise birthday party for him. He will be turning 30 in December, but because Afton's 30Th birthday is in August she wanted to be sure he would get the "honor" of turning 30 first and had his party on July 13Th. My little brother Jared and his wife Meghan flew in from Utah and got to stay for a few days and it was great spending time with them. Mom and Dad were there, Aaron and Zak, Krista & Tymber, we had a blast. We went to the beach, ate at a great Indian restaurant, went to the Japanese flower gardens (but they were closed), played at Herman park downtown, went swimming, got a tour of the law-firm Jim works for downtown in a huge beautiful building, I did a spin-class with Afton (and my bum still hurts), went to the Houston Zoo and got rained on a lot. It was so much fun. We stayed up late after the kids were in bed and got to play games, reminisce, look at old football cards, watch movies and laugh!! It was great getting to watch Pride & Prejudice with Afton, and Jimmy burned a great CD for me. I had a blast taking Dallin and Jett shopping for their birthday presents. I loved getting to play the part of "Aunt". Emma and Wes are still talking about all the fun they had.

We then drove to Katy on the west side of Houston to visit with Mark's brother and his family. We got to Stu and Rinda's house last Thursday and then Mark drove down with his parents to meet up with us on Friday. His whole family, including Aunt Martie from Tucson, came to celebrate his nephews' birthdays. Austin turned 12 on the 17Th and Parker 16 on the 22ND! Loraine shares her birthday with Parker and we got to celebrate a little bit with her. As much as she would allow anyway :)! Stu rented a ginormous inflatable water slide for the occasion. And on Saturday, after a morning of family pictures (which I will post when available), we spent the day climbing up an 18 foot high slide and bouncing, flipping, jumping, rolling, and sliding our way down into the splash pool! It was so cool! We had a blast. The thing was so huge that it wouldn't fit into the backyard, so we had it on the side of the house with all of the jealous neighborhood looking on. Good Times!!

So, now we're back. And I have phone-calls to return, a checkbook to balance, laundry out the wa-zoo, and real life to return to. So, thank you Family for the wonderful vacation! We had a blast, and I think I had forgotten just how much fun family can be. I do have to say though......It is good to be home! and I love having a house to come home to.

A Beautiful Ballerina

2007-05-25T12:30:00.000-05:00

This was Emma's special night! And having her Aunt Krista come to fix her hair and having her and the grandparents, Uncle Zak, and one of her best little girlfriends (Miss Ella) there to watch along with us was what really made her feel special. So, thank you for coming to support her and for making her feel like a princess.

A Quick Run-Down

2007-05-25T12:10:00.000-05:00

I can't believe how much has happened in the past 6 weeks. We have moved into our house, though there are still a few odds and ends at the apartment. And I have to tell you that this living in a house thing..ROCKS!!! We love it! But, oh my gosh, the projects go on and on. We are far from having it be a "home" just yet.

Mark has completed his Bachelor of Radiologic Sciences degree, and graduated from Midwestern State University on the 12th of May! I couldn't be prouder of him. Emma had her last day of Preschool last Friday, and her very first ballet recital this past Tuesday. She was so beautiful, and so focused on her performance. I don't know where she gets it. Wesley is growing like a weed, and TALKING! He is so polite. You just have to know that when he says, "jell-o" it means Thank you or sometimes it means jelly(like a peanut butter & jelly sandwich is often referred to as "jell-o". And his "your welcome" is a respectful head-bow in your direction. So, you know, "talking" is really relative.

So Fast

2007-03-31T19:12:00.000-05:00

We're starting the packing process! And as Mark and I were packing away baby clothes and pictures from years past, we can't help but feel a rush knowing that we're beginning yet another phase in our life together. The kids are growing so fast, which amazes us because in many ways we still feel like kids ourselves. It's really exciting to think of what's to come.
This lifetime goes by so quickly, how could it be less than part of an eternal plan. All of these memories, events, obstacles, & conquering feats, for nothing? I don't think so.
My heart is literally pounding at this second with the wonder of what's going to happen next. But the high-pitched squeal from the bathtub reminds me that it's probably going to have a lot to do with mopping up the bathroom floor.
Life is too sweet not to savour!

I'd Rather be a Mother

2007-03-22T09:43:00.000-05:00

I'd rather be a mother than anyone on earth

Bringing up a child or two of unpretentious birth. . . .

I'd rather tuck a little child all safe and sound in bed

Than twine a chain of diamonds about my [carefree] head.

I'd rather wash a smudgy face with round, bright, baby eyes

Than paint the pageantry of fame or walk among the wise.
--Meredith Gray, from The Beauty of Motherhood

My very good friend Chantelle sent the following to me, and I wanted to share it with all of you.
This is an excerpt from the book "Mothers" by Jane Clayson Johnson:

A couple of years ago, my husband and I attended a dinner meeting outside Washington, D.C. It was a wonderful gathering of about seventy-five mostly LDS couples from a variety of professions, including law, business, education, and communications. After dinner, each of us was asked to introduce him- or herself.
The men in the room confidently and appropriately stated their professional achievements, which were impressive. They had degrees; they served on boards; they tended to patients and served clients; they had accomplished sons and daughters.
Then their wives stood up--beautiful, intelligent, spiritual women. Many of them had served on boards, held degrees, and were seasoned in their respective fields. Each of them was also a mother.
But this is how many of the women described themselves:
"Oh, I'm just a mom."
"I don't have any credentials; I'm just raising our six children."
"My life's not very exciting right now; I'm just a stay-at-home mom."
"I don't have much to offer here. I'm just a mother."
We heard some variation of the phrase "I'm just a mother" repeated, almost apologetically, over and over again.
Their words surprised me. I had recently given birth to my first child, and I was on top of the world. My baby was a blessing that had come to me a little later in life than usual, and I was excited and honored to finally accept the mantle of motherhood. I felt an extraordinary sense of responsibility. And power. Not as the world defines the word, but from entering a sacred partnership with the Creator himself. What a remarkable gift! I wanted to shout from the rooftops, "I am a mother! I am a mother!"
So when I heard these women say, "I'm just a mother," I was taken aback. Was I missing something? Did these lovely women--these experienced mothers--know something I didn't? Was it simply a matter of time before I'd figure it out? Before I, too, would understand that motherhood was somehow of lesser importance?
I was so bewildered by their comments that questions began to gnaw at me--What have I done? What have I done?
When I left my television career in New York City to get married and to have a family, many of my colleagues told me I was crazy, that I was out of my mind. I had turned down a lucrative, four-year network contract, working on exciting, high-profile, prime-time projects.
Some people were incredibly supportive. One producer in particular came into my office, looked me straight in the eye, and said, "Good for you!" He wasn't endorsing my decision to be a mother per se, but he did congratulate me for having the courage to follow my heart, to act on my convictions. He noted that there were so very many others with the impulse to leave; but they wouldn't. They just couldn't walk away from the prestige, the money, or whatever it was that seemed more important than following their hearts.
By way of contrast, when I explained to another rather influential colleague that I would not be taking that contract offer, he told me I was making a terrible decision that I would regret for years to come. "What will you be without your job?" he asked. "If you leave television now, you're done." He quoted an old CBS newsman as saying, "Without work, there is no meaning to life." And finally, knowing of my faith, he asked, "What are you going to do . . . move up there and teach Sunday School?" Well, as it turned out, the first Sunday in my new ward, I was called to teach--the Gospel Doctrine class.
I found that the reaction from my female colleagues was largely, and disappointingly, less than supportive. I shared my decision with one woman who smugly joked, "Why don't you just get a nanny?" Another network executive asked me what I was going to do once I got to Boston. I told her I was going to have a family, I was going to be a mother. "No, I understand that," she said, puzzled, "but what are you going to do?"
All of this was still fresh on my mind during that evening spent near Washington, D.C. A chorus of "I'm just a mother," juxtaposed with "What will you be without your job?" and "You're making a terrible mistake" made me wonder, Could they be right?
Is it possible that motherhood is an insignificant, second-rate occupation?
Had I made a bad decision? I thought I'd done everything right. I'd fasted and prayed. I'd felt such a powerful, spiritual confirmation that this was the right choice, for me. Could it be that Heavenly Father would plan for me to walk away from something I loved for the "misery" of being "just a mother"?
What I have since learned is that God's definition of motherhood and the world's definition are vastly different. And sometimes--probably all too often--the challenges, daily physical and emotional exhaustion, and occasional self-doubt that come along with being a mother cause many of us to buy into an inaccurate and destructive understanding of our role. There just doesn't seem to be a lot of joy--or fulfillment--associated with the world's interpretation of motherhood.
But when we trust in the arm of the Lord rather than the voices of the world, everything changes. Elder Neal A. Maxwell observed, "When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses?" ("The Women of God," 10-11).
I see no "justs" when I read those words. Instead, I feel something: Honor. Responsibility. Awe. Hope. I begin to understand what the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been quietly reminding mothers for years, that "motherhood is near to divinity," the "highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind" (J. Reuben Clark Jr., Improvement Era, 761).
At times, there may be few immediate rewards for those of us who are mothers. There are no Christmas bonuses, no promotions, no paid vacations. But there is love, there is laughter, there is joy. And there are assurances. For, as the Apostle Paul taught, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). A mother who loves the Lord and teaches her children to do the same--above all else--cannot be denied this blessing.
President Gordon B. Hinckley has said, "God planted within women something divine" (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, 387). It is that divinity that makes women nurturers, that encourages a woman to pursue motherhood--even when that means sacrificing her own comforts for those of her children . . . and loving those children with a fierceness and loyalty that is incomparable.
What power we would possess if every mother would turn off the voices of the world and instead truly believe what President Hinckley and all the prophets have taught--and the Lord has promised!

A Beautiful Day!

2007-03-21T11:32:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was an absolutely beautiful day, and the worst day to not have a working camera.

The kids and I were invited to go with a friend of Emma's from school to the Dallas Arboretum.(check it out at http://www.dallasarboretum.org ) We have never been before, and it was gorgeous. The Tulips were in perfect bloom, and tulips are my favorite. There were activities for the kids, including face painting, where of course Emma and Annabelle were painted like princesses. Wesley loved running around and touching all the flowers. I was so proud of him, because he would barrel over to the flowers and then stop and slowly bend over to touch them softly. He did not once grab at a flower. We strolled along in the cool breeze, smelling sweet Hyacinth, and listening to lovely music. It was a wonderland for the senses, and very soothing.

We left the gardens and headed to Emma's ballet practice. She is really enjoying her class, and when Mark came home from work she gave us a demonstration of what they have been working on. She was so cute, and we were very impressed with how much she has learned. She moved in time to the music and was graceful, something I have never been accused of.

The weather was so nice yesterday, that we went for another walk when we got home from ballet and played for an hour on the swing set outside of our apartment. Wes loves to swing! If I pull the swing up and let it go, he squeals "Wheeee!" He can also climb up the fort ladder, and get back down all by himself. That's a big deal. We are so looking forward to having a backyard of our very own for the kids to explore everyday.

That brings me to another reason yesterday was so beautiful. Our option period for our new house expired without any complications or surprises! We went over to the Elstrod's last evening, and were able to meet John. We have really been blessed to find this home and to be able to get to know the current owners. They are of a very sweet and generous nature. We have been assured that we can now start packing!! Which I suppose I better get started on.

I am Consumed

2007-03-16T08:23:00.000-05:00

Over the past the 2 months I have literally been consumed with our search for our 1st home. We have had one crazy experience after the other where this search is concerned. And as with all the wonderful events in our 9 years of marriage, we again have felt extremely blessed by our loving Father in Heaven. We celebrated our 9th Anniversary, on Tuesday the 13th, and did so by ending the search. This time it's for real. Sure, I was at the point where I felt we could make "anything" work, but thank goodness Mark was willing to wait for just the right one.

Monday night we had the pleasure of walking into the home of Ms. Dee, a wonderfully sweet person, with our tremendously patient realtor, Tessa, and became overwhelmed with the sweet feelings of "Home". Prayers have been answered. Dee and her husband John received 6 offers at the time we put ours in, but they said that they felt inspired to go with our offer. And we are truly grateful. We had the inspection completed yesterday, and guess what.... No Termites!! or anything major.

I am now consumed with feelings of peace, love, gratitude, and humility. Lessons have been learned, though hard to accept at times. And overall this is shaping up to be one of the most exhilarating experiences for our family.

We are scheduled to close on the 27th of April!!

Pictures

2007-02-12T01:05:00.000-06:00

Had a great time talking with my brother, Jared (who we never get to see), earlier this evening and told him that if he checked out our blog he would get to see pictures. This post is to help me stay true to my word.

The Things You Don't Expect

2007-02-12T00:05:00.000-06:00

Wesley is hilarious!! I remember when he was born and we were worried that he wouldn't have a sense of humor because it took him 2 months to crack a smile. But after that, the good times have just kept on rolling! Check this out. Wes turned 16-months old this past Wednesday, the 7th. Apparently that was a big deal to him, because on Thursday this crazy little man used the potty! He doesn't even talk yet, outside of his favorite phrase, "This, this." I was shocked! Shocked, I tell you! He totally initiated the whole thing himself. It hasn't become a habit yet, but come on, I wasn't even thinking about potty-training.

He was begging me (pulling on my hand and banging on the door) to let him into the bathroom. He often asks to take a bath this same way. I told him it was not time for a bath, but he was very persistent. I opened the door to let him in, and he jetted over to the toilet, raised the seat, and pointed "This! This!". You want to go potty?! OK. I thought it was just a ploy to get to play with the toilet. I sat him on the potty, but of course he nearly fell in. I took him down so that I could get the little potty for him, but before I got it ready he turned towards the toilet and pee'd on the floor. He was very pleased with himself. But, that's not all. Oh, no. An hour and a half later, he asked again and this time I was prepared. He went in, sat on his little potty, and pee'd in the potty. For all those without kids, believe me when I tell you - Going "potty" is a huge milestone. There were celebrations, cheers, high-fives, and the whole family was involved! He hasn't done it again, but he has asked to sit on the potty everyday since. And most of the time he thinks all clothing should be removed. Oh, yah - Good Times.

I love Good Mornings!

2007-02-06T08:36:00.000-06:00

Good Morning!

I love mornings in our home. We've got "Good Morning" songs and everything! Emma usually comes into our bedroom just before Mark goes to work and always starts with, "Good morning!" Although if she happens sleep in a little she likes to sneak up on me in the kitchen and yell, "Boo!" She loves to wake up before Mark leaves because then she gets to have breakfast with Dad. Emma loves breakfast with Dad. I'm usually showering at the time, and Wes is still sleeping so she gets Dad all to herself. Wes starts his day by jumping in his crib and yelling at the top of his lungs. Oh, sometimes he'll lay there for a little while humming to himself, but inevitably he'll end up jumping and yelling. He gets so excited about the idea of oatmeal for breakfast that he can hardly contain himself.

I love living in a 2nd floor apartment because the sun comes in so beautifully in the mornings. The first thing I like to do is open all the blinds so that the sun comes gleaming in through the windows. It's one of my favorite parts of the day. Mark says that I'm easily impressed. I wouldn't have it any other way.

One Word: Termites

2007-01-29T13:37:00.000-06:00

The house.....NO GOOD!!
We had the inspection done yesterday, and there were several things wrong. At first just several little things, but then ------- an entire master bedroom wall that literally crumbled beneath our fingers. TERMITES!! Big Time! So, buh-bye house on Grinnell. We shall continue with our search. But at least we know where we want to be, and that we want to find a house.
This is just about the time doubt starts to settel in and I have to yell, "Get out doubt! I don't want you here!" You may think that is figurative speech, but you would be wrong. I seriuosly just yelled it out loud, but not too loud because Wes is napping.
It's also a humbling moment for me. My husband is a wise, careful, thoughtful man and I should listen to him a lot better than I usually do.
He never said, "I told you so." Although he very well could have. He didn't trust the sellers of that house from the beginning. But, I was ever optimistic and regretably naive. And all he said was, "You needed to find out for yourself." Why didn't I just listen to him in the first place? I'll tell you why. Pride. That's why. How fun it is to learn your daily lesson.

Here's the Picture

2007-01-27T21:38:00.000-06:00

A Week Later

2007-01-27T21:10:00.000-06:00

And so it begins. It took me a week to figure out how to even get back on here.
This week has been an emotional roller coaster to say the least. We found a house that we are hoping to make into a home! It's an inspired venture.
Thanks to my good friend, Farrah, here's a picture of the house.
It's also thanks to Farrah that we are so excited to have a chance to work on this house!
For some reason it was in the back of my mind that after you get married you eventually out grow friends, but we have been blessed with an abundance of very good friends who help shape us as people and as a family. Needless to say, that idea no longer pollutes the back woods of my mind. Friends are the best! Friends within the family and those who somehow become your family.
And for the next week or so, I imagine the themes of these blogs will very much be related to "the house". We feel blessed in this decision, and are hoping that things will go smoothly. There is a lot of work that needs to be done in the house, but we can do it! With help.
I was able to go to the temple this past Thursday night (I don't normally share these kinds of things), and I was waiting in the chapel for a session to begin. Of course, "the house" was on my mind, and when I opened the scriptures my eyes fell upon these words found in D&C 95:11-13
"Verily I say unto you, it is my will that you should build a house. If you keep my commandments you shall have power to build it. If you keep not my commandments, the love of the Father shall not continue with you, therefore you shall walk in darkness. Now here is wisdom, and the mind of the Lord - let the house be built,..."
I can't very well argue with that.

Inspiration

2007-01-20T23:05:00.000-06:00

Inspired by the blogs of friends and the little delight I feel just by saying the word "blog" in my head; I begin to blog!
I hope this will become the family journal that I can't seem to write down on paper. A few quick jots, thoughts, and notes of the day. And hopefully, when I figure this out, pictures too!
A lot of stuff happens within our little family, hence the blog title "PhillipsStuff". Wish me luck, and the sense to know what the heck to write.
Until tomorrow?...........