Category: Uncategorized

The Bubblie Bath that is.

One of the happiest helpers of our household is Truman.

He is eager to help, hold and nurture Elliot, he is such a compassionate big brother. One morning, I was trying a new way of giving Elliot his acid reflux medicine, with a little hot water in a bottle. Unfortunately, the phone kept ringing, and ringing, and ringing. As the Relief Society President was sick, the first Councelor was in Las Vegas helping family, and the Secretary was at work, I was fielding alot of phone calls that morning. I was having a hard time sitting down to hold the bottle and take care of Elliot.

Sweet Truman volunteered to help, and he was a great helper, as I sat next to him, taking care of business, he was able to feed Elliot his medicine. Don’t worry, I was by his side, but able to flip through my book and answer phone calls, and I want to remember this sweet little scene.

We’ve had this sweet boy in our lives.

Every day is an exciting adventure to Truman. He makes the world brighter by being in it, and by being the middle child he gets to be both a younger brother and a big brother, which I think he loves.

Born with an low immune system, Truman has had more than his fair share of sickness, and so far our only child to have surgery. He endures these ‘tribulations’ with patience, and even when not feeling well keeps his sweet patient disposition.

Truman adds an important element into our family, he’s like the glue that keeps everyone attached. He loves when we’re all together doing things as a family. But don’t be fooled, he is also content to play his ‘planet heroes’ by himself. But is happiest when having some superhero grand adventure whether he is alone, or with his family.

Thanks for the grand adventures you’ve given us sweet boy! Happy Birthday! We love you!

We finally did it. Got a picture of all 5 of us in it.

Looking at it, you may think, It’s nothing special. But for me, I know that it is special because we’re all there, and it’s the first of many pictures of the FIVE of us. And for that, it’s wonderful.

Thank you for a day that was ‘warm enough*’ to let us have a taste of what was to come, and remember why we love picnics on the patio.

Sincerely,
Emily

*please note, ‘warm enough’ is a realitive term. I was content to eat my burrito and apples INSIDE where it was above 55 degrees, but to my boys, it was heaven. According to Tucker It was so warm, he wanted to eat barefoot, (to which Truman quickly agreed, and took off his socks, but then quickly returned, requesting his coat). I think I am on your side Tru…not quite warm enough to go barefoot AND coat-less. YET.

Valentines day and Presidents day weekend was a glorious one!
We had valentines, our anniversary and presidents day all in one weekend. And if that wasn’t good enough, we were able to share it with a lot of our fam.

Grams and Gramps came down on Valentines, we enjoy a nice dinner ‘in’ of yummy, yummy, thai food.
Then on Presidents day, Grandma and Grandpa Phillips, Cat and Patrick came down too.

I don’t think it could be said enough, I LOVE living close to family!

I think a good gauge of what I am doing and saying in our home is to look at my preschool and kindergartner. Don’t get me wrong, they are still independent enough to display their own likes and dislikes, but their mannerisms, the things they say and do, often cause me to stop and reflect, do I really do that?
After watching my boys, I have discovered something. Apparently I am a photo-holic.
With the purchase of our new camera, we let the boys use our old digital camera. They love it and I can often find them making movies and taking pictures. I just thought, good for them, a fun hobby, and good clean fun.
But at the little moments, like when Elliot is smiling and blowing bubbles, and we’re all gathered around him cooing, now Tucker is the first one to abruptly dash off stating ‘where’s my Camera? or I’ve got to get a picture of this.’

At first I thought it was funny, but then it was time for a little reflection on my part….Yep. I do that. And Yep. I am a photo-holic.

Doesn’t this totally get your ‘inner preschooler’ happy and excited?
(seeing their outfits reminded me of how I used to love dressing as punky brewster when I was kid. Yeah, I totally dig their outfits..)

(I have never heard of this group, but it totally makes me happy!)

And I remember this phase, but had forgotten about it. It’s been so long since Tuck and Tru were this little. They were totally like this–all over. What am I talking about, they are still all over! Only time will tell for Elliot! Makes me happy to remember Tuck and Tru, and happy to think of Elliot growing up big,

The last one is a calming, soothing, happy and good one so, click here. (You’ll have to go to Utube to see this one, I can’t embed it for some reason.)

One thing I have been horrible at, is keeping up with the family birthday wishes, so I apologize, and hope my family will forgive me, in birthday order, I missed the following Birthdays:

AVA and EMILY

Two of the cutest girls I know. Ava is still getting to know us, as we don’t see her as often as we like, but I love the little side glances she always gives her Uncle Toph as he tries to convince her of his ‘awesomeness’. She is a sweetheart, and beautiful too.
And Emily. We share a name, and she is truely one of the most talented woman I know. She can make applesauce like no ones business (my kids LOVE it), she is so easy going, (what kid is not going to love that?), she makes the best playdough (you guessed it, my kids love that too!) and is full of kindness and compassion. And I’ll never forget our adventures as ‘roomies’. Remember those good times Em?

CAT

Is the kind of person everyone should know. She spoils my kids rotten, came to stay with us when Truman was born, to lend a helping hand, is so caring and wants to help everyone. She makes me laugh, and knows me well and loves me, even with all of my idiosyncrasies. She is loving and kind to all she meets.

MILES

Is a handsome little man, and someone that we wished we lived closer too. If you just look at his smile, you just get sucked in don’t you? While visiting this summer, we all fell in love with him and his handsome smile. He’s got a killer laugh too.

MIKE

An amazing man. He and his wife, Becca, have designed their home, and he is going to build it. He can fix things. He raised his own pigs and slaughtered them (that’s huge in my book). He truly is one of those people who you are just amazed by all that they can do. My boys love him, especially because he taught them about Noogies. (thanks Uncle Mike 🙂 )

Happy Birthday Family, I am so lucky to be married to a man who’s family is terrific. Love you guys, and hope your birthday was great, and you’ll forgive me for my belated birthday-ness.

Every day when the kids come home from school, I love to go through their backpacks with them. Here is why…

Tucker is not the type of person who openly gives out information. But when their are ‘clues’ of what he did during the day, it helps me ask the right questions. When the right questions are asked, he just ‘spews’ information about school. But it’s all about asking the right questions.

Truman loves to tell me about the kids in his class, and informs me everyday after school, who had to sit in the thinking chair. Truman has yet to have to sit there, but I’ve hear all about Max and Gabe. Apparently, they are there often. But while going through Trumans paperwork he will share things that he likes and dislikes. He tells me the numbers/letters/colors he sees. The techniques he used to make his artwork, and it is just fun to see him learn and love knowledge.

Lately, I have found a few notes that make me happy. These came home around Valentines,
Trumans

Love is…. Jesus. (sweet or what?)

Tucker

He’s been leaving sweet notes like these around the house lately. So fun to see his little writing.

And this is his letters/sounds/sightwords he’s been working to pass off since the beginning of the school year! He was so excited to bring this paper home! He got stuck on a few words: what, will, and come. We’ve been trying to practice them at home, and it paid off. The smile on his face when he brought this home, was priceless.

By doing this now, I am hoping to set a tradition of coming home from school and talking to me about their day, because I love hearing the things they learned and the exciting moments of their days, and hope it will continue, even into those moody teenage years.