Author: Emily

When summertime arrives, I get Cabin Fever. I just long to be up at My Grandparents Cabin. It is where a lot of my summers growing up were spent, and it where I remember exploring the outdoors, and just being a carefree child. So naturally when the summer weather comes a knocking, I get Cabin Fever.
The best time of year to go to the cabin is over the 4th of July. That is when everyone from the family meets up to enjoy company, the cabin and the Rodeo.
This year was no exception, although we were not able to get up there as soon as we had wanted with my health, we were eager to get there as soon as we could.
We had an exciting time there, as always, and Truman and Tucker enjoyed horseback riding with Grams:


We made boats from the wood scraps from the addition, and floated them down the river, swan in the hot tub, as well as went for a four-wheeler ride.
This is when the excitement started up.
Toph had left early, for Boys Night with the Phillips Boys (they had a great time at the Stingers Baseball Game), and a few of us decided to go for a 4 wheeler ride.
I was driving and Truman was in front of me, Ikey was behind me, Tiff was behind Ikey, and Tucker and Annabelle were sitting on the back, on top of where the tires were. It sounds crowded, but it wasn’t at all. We went for a nice 15 minute ride, nice and slow, and had a good time. When we came back, I asked Amy to take a pic of us, and so she could get everyone in the shot, I moved Tuck to the front.

We got a good picture, and I proceeded to hand Truman to Amy who was sitting on the Left side of the Four Wheeler. While I was doing this, Tucker started off the Right side of the Four Wheeler. As he was getting down, he grabbed the right handle, and the throttle, sending the four wheeler forward. As quickly as I could, I grabbed the handle bars trying to steer, while Tiff grabbed her kids on the back.
Tucker had firm grip on the handle bars, and the throttle, and so we proceeded forward at a good speed. I couldn’t pry his fingers loose, so I began to grab the hand brakes. We slowed down, and it kind of squished Tuckers fingers enough so that he was forced to loosen his grip on the throttle.
We came to a stop when I heard Amy yelling, he got ran over, “Truman got ran over”.
I think I might have said a curse word as I ran over to him, my aunt heard Amy screaming, and came a running, I have a few members of my family who have medical training, and she is one of them. They came immediately, and looked Truman over. He was fine.
He didn’t even bruise.
We feel very blessed that he was okay.
It shook me up a lot, and I cried, and I feel grateful that everything was fine….
Toph arrived at the cabin shortly after all of the excitement, and in his calm way, smiled at everyone, and joked with Truman about the situation.
It made realize how much I love all of my boys…

My Children love 2 places. They love the River and the Cabin. A few weeks ago we spent time at both of them.
The weekend before the 4th we headed to Idaho for a Phillips Family grand get together, we all camped out at the river, and enjoyed each others company all weekend long. Here are a few highlight shots from our time there.
All the grandkids hanging out and jumping around in Grandma and Granpas tent:

Tuck followed Grandpa Fishing:



Patrick and Toph on the Bridge:

Tuck on the Bridge:


Played and found treasures in the sandbox:

Becca and Baby Maddie:

There was a homemade slip and slide, with a huge sheet of plastic, but the trick to getting a good slide was to cover yourself in dish soap:







We floated the river:


Nora could barely see out of the tube:

Truman fell asleep in the hammock after the festive morning:

The planting of Trumans Tree:


Silly Dallin:

This is what summer is about….

Brian and Lexie were so generous to give us their piano–They are moving out of the state, and didn’t want to move this piano with them. We have had it for a little over 2 weeks and it has been played everyday that we have been home. I am enjoying the sound of a piano in our home.
Although it was not so enjoyable to move the piano into our home. We had 6 men help us move it in to our home. The piano gashed through our wall a few times, our neighbor left with a “flesh wound” and we now know why next time we move we will hire piano movers. (So we don’t ruin any more friendships:) )
Thanks again Brian and Lexie, we will treasure it!

Truman slept all night long last Thursday Night in his very own big boy bed.
He has announced that he is officially Big, “Just like Tucker”

While babysitting some friends, they brought a treat to share. Twinkies. I opened one for each of them, and my kids kind of sat and examined them for a second. This is not like my children to leave anything on their plates, especially sugary cakey treats.
Tucker questioned what they were, and that is when I realized, THEY HAD NEVER EATEN A TWINKIE!
I don’t usually buy snack cakes, but I know that my kids eat them, so I was so surprised when a 4 year old didn’t know what a twinkie was.
What has our world come too?

A few weeks ago, Toph found some Legos at a garage sale. The set came with a book about how to put the Legos together into different things, we didn’t think that all of the Legos would be there. But Tucker really wanted to build it, so we began at FHE a few weeks ago, and surprisingly enough, most of the pieces were there.

So a few hours later, we had ourselves a jet.Toph and I were surprised how much fun it was to build. Toph did most of the building, and Tucker and I were in charge of finding the pieces (Truman didn’t nap that day, so went to bed after the project had just begun) Tucker has played with the jet alot. He keeps it up on a shelf in his room so it will stay safe, and as soon as a piece falls off he brings it to me, so the jet is staying relatively in good shape.

It is so fun to be part of our childrens lives, and watch them grow and mature.

So, it has been along time, like over 2 weeks since I have posted. I don’t know if it is because it is so STINKING hot outside-that I don’t feel like sitting in front of our hot computer, or if our family is just busier, or what, but I must have to admit, I am glad it is summertime, I love it…
Sunny days spent outside
Unending vacations
More swimming than any other time of the year
Magnificent time spent together as a family
Early mornings, with no school to attend!
Radishes, and other fresh garden treats, yum…

Now that Truman is out of his crib, we insist on having the door open when he goes to sleep. It doesn’t have to be all the way open, just open enough, so you know it is open, just the tiniest sliver. He reminds you two or three times during the bed time routine, and if you forget, he busts into tears, and sobs very deeply (and very sincerely) until you open the door back up.
I don’t forget now, and I find myself telling Truman that I will leave the door open, before he even has to remind me. But Topher isn’t quite used to the routine yet, and forgets, but Tru will remind him, and he will learn!

Lexie just sent me this picture…
Don’t the Phillips have good genes and aren’t they all so CUTE?
That’s Another Reason why I love Christopher, someday we’ll have some pretty cute little girls to add to this group…(I AM NOT PREGNANT, I said SOMEDAY…)

I am babysitting while some moms are at girls camp this week, one of the little boys, Ethan, keeps calling me Mr. Phillips.
“Um, excuse me Mr. Phillips?”
At first I tried to correct him, “Oh, there is no Mr. PHillips here, but you can call me Sister Phillips”, but he keeps calling Mr. Phillips.
I think it is kind of funny, my neighbor overheard him calling me that, and she thought it was funny too. I don’t know if it really is, or if I have been around little children too much, but it does make me smile!