Category: Topher

The Robot Museum.
Or as the rest of us know it as: Discovery Gateway, Salt Lakes’ Childrens Museum.

Robots are a huge part of our lives, and the Children’s Museum has a great visiting exhibit about robots. So of course, we knew the boys would LOVE to go there and see it.

We just finished a goal of reading the Book of Mormon Reader, and as a celebration, we had decided this would be the place to celebrate. The boys worked incredibly hard. Tucker often asked, “Can we read 2 chapters tonight?”, he was anxious to get there.

The day finally arrived, Toph had taken the day off of work on Wednesday for Tuckers School Program, so we decided this would be a great day to go to the museum, and boy were we right. There were hardly any people there, and the boys could do whatever they wanted. It was a fabulous day!

Here are a few pics:
Playing in the beehive ball pit:


Tuck doing a little shoppin’ at the store:

The Crane:

Riding Ginger:

Parents Enjoying Happy Children:

Truman found a motorcycle, and rode it/hauled it with him from station to station:


Truman as a robot:

Tucker as a robot:

Rodney Copperbottoms:

Robot Display:

Building Robots:



Truman found a robot touch screen “build a Robot” computer game, he played, over and over, and over, and over, and over:


Truman enjoyed gathering the balls:

And Tucker enjoyed sending the balls down his “tubes”:

Playing in the Helicopter:


Bug face:

A great day!

A few weeks ago, the boys wrote notes to Santa and we sent them off,
Here is his note:

In case you can’t read it he asked for a Robot, Machine, and a Rocketship with a guy.
Here is Trus note:

He asked for a Lightening McQueen, Robot, and Candy.

On Saturday Night, was the Ward Christmas Party. I was in charge of the food portion, and I really wanted to see the kids sit on Santas Lap, luckily, there was a break in the food about then, and I was ablet to watch them as they sat on Santas Lap.
Are they cute? Truman ran right up to Santa and gave him a Huge hug. He was so cute.
Tru (asked Santa for 2 Lightening McQueens, 2 Maters and 2 RaceTracks):

Tucker (I didn’t hear What he said, but I think he asked for a Robot):

This Santa Clause was SO nice. He read them a story afterword, and even sang Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer with them.
What a good time!
Here are some Santa Quotes that have brightened our day!
Tucker said:
Why does Santa have a mustache?
Why doesn’t he get a hair cut? He needs one.
What if the elves couldn’t find Santa. How would the toys get here?
Truman and Tuckers Conversation:
Tru: “Is Santa Daddy?”
Tucker: “NNNNNNOOOOOOO WAY! Santa is way better than Daddy!”

(So I already posted about this, along with the million other things I posted last night, but for some reason it didn’t show up, so lets try again!)

The bookfind is Phillips Family tradition like no other. I have never heard of another family with a tradition like this. It is pretty awesome, and if you would like to know more, you’ll have to take a look at my sis-in-law Emilys Post HERE.

Here are a few shots of the finding of the books:
Grandma handing out the wrapping paper:

Truman found his book behind the Curio Cabinet:

Tucker found his behind the Curtains. Mine was under the carpet by the front door.
I don’t know where Tophs was…Post please honey, so we can remember where yours was hidden!
Once everyone has found their books, then we open them. Youngest to Oldest:

Truman opening his book:

He got a pirate book: (Which we have read almost daily since then!)

Tucker opening his GIGANTIC book:

It was not what he expected:

But after looking at the pictures, he began to change his mind:

Here is a picture of Dallin Paul with his book:

Here is Patrick with his Basketball book:

Toph unwrapping his book:

He got a Gardening Book, which is MUCH needed at our house!

I think that one of the best parts of the book find is watching Christophers Parents, as they spend HOURS picking out just the right book for each of us.

I am glad to be part of the Phillips Family and therefore included in their Traditions.

An important Hunsaker Tradition that our family does every year is Gingerbread. I love making gingerbread, I love how it tastes, I love cutting it out, and baking it, and of course decorating it.
I never thought that anything could make gingerbread better, but watching the children having that joy, made our gingerbread making a fanstastic, memorable adventure.
Last Friday, my boys, Andy and I spent the day, beginning at 8 am until 7 pm in the gingerbread process. The Process: Go to the store to buy Molasses, make the dough, refrigerate it, Roll it, cut it, bake it, cool it, make frosting, frost and eat.
(by the way, take a look at my STYLISH son Truman, he has taken to layering his clothes. This day, I am especially fond of the stripes/plaid combo!)









I love Gingerbread. It tastes like Christmas.
I love traditions and I love Christmas.

Holiday Time is Family Time. On the way back from Logan after Thanksgiving, we stopped over and stayed a few days at the Cabin with the the Great Hunsakers. The Thanksgiving Celebrations were just ending as we arrived. So it was only Ry, Tiff and the kids and the Great Hunsakers for most of the time. It was a fun weekend.
Of course we enjoyed hiking around on the Cabin Trails, up to the Beaver Pond (and the new cabin being built there). Here are some fun pics from our ‘walk’ :
Tucker in Grandpas Canoe:

Greenes on the Iced over Pond:

Following Aunt Tiff:

Hiking Cousins:

Just ‘da boys at the Beaver Pond:

Dad and Tru:

Belle and Ry:

At the beaver pond, of course the kids wanted to throw things in, Truman really wanted to throw BIG things in. As big as he could hold. Then he would say, “Help me please!” as he would find large massive boulders that he would want to throw in. Silly Boy.



A few closeups of the kids, while they were tossing things in:
Ikey-

Tru-

Tuck-

This was Good Company and a Good Place.

Anther important Phillips Family Tradition. The day after Thanksgiving is Tree Day.
The Phillips Family always head up to Idaho, up Strawberry Canyon to be exact, and hike up the mountain until we find the perfect tree, cut it down, and bring it home.
This year was no exception.
WE had a wonderful time, and got some fun pics too of course.
Toph and Tru fell asleep:

Tucker with his new loader:

Geared up and Ready to Go:

Hiking:


Cutting the Tree:

The Cut Tree:

Tuck Sliding down the mountain side:

Cold Cheeks!:

The Evelyns:

Cat and Madalyn:

Truman just decided to run to Toph and give him a huge hug, as a parent, these are the things that melt your heart:

Handsome Mikey:

Tucker and Truman had a great time. While we were hiking, we crossed over a river that had frozen over. Tucker made a funny comment. As he was walking across, he exclaimed, “Look at me, I am like Jesus. Walking on Water”. We didn’t quite know exactly how to respond to that comment. But we are grateful that his thoughts are on our Savior.

I love “Charlie-Brown Trees”, so I am always satisfied with our tree hunt! 🙂
And of course after the trees were found, loaded in the truck, we enjoyed Chili and Cinnamon Rolls at the River. Delicious.
Here are some silly faces in the car on the way home(not the best shot, but a good memory):

The past few years, In an attempt to stay ahead of the Christmas Season, I have started a Thanksgiving Eve tradition. This day is reserved for our family, making our own Turkey, and putting up the Christmas Decorations. (all except for the live tree of course)
I find it a wonderful way to get in the holiday mood, and refreshing to return home to a clean Christmas Home after attending the Thanksgiving Celebrations at our parents homes.
This year was no exception, a wonderful day.

Here is Tucker and Truman in front of “their tree”. Tucker was thrilled about putting it up, and putting it together. He really got into the Christmas Spirit, and had so much fun putting this tree together, and later decorating it.

My mom gave us these plastic ball ornaments a few years ago, they are great, because they won’t break, and if any of them get ruined, I don’t care 🙂

It was so fun to watch Tucker put the balls on the tree. Most of the ornaments ended up right next to each other on the same branch, but Tucker enjoyed having a tree to decorate.


Truman on the other hand was more interested in pretending to a pirate and playing Firemen than decorating.

We had our own little Turkey on Thanksgiving Eve, Here is a picture of Toph Carving the Turkey.

It was yummy delicious, and we had a great time, kicking off the Holiday Season.