Phipps Family Reunion, Part 1

And here we are at the Phipps! It is our annual Phipps Family Reunion for the 4th of July and we all agreed that this was one of our very favorite reunions we've had so far. Vicki had a HUGE schedule taped up in the kitchen for all to see and we had great activities planned every day. In fact, we had so much fun that I have to post about this reunion in parts...

 

Sometimes I have to make elephant noises to get my girls to look at me, but then they end up making elephant noises too and this is the picture I get. Cute jammies though.

 

Here are the two new grand babies: Eli and Edison.

Charlotte and Henry: Little did we know what trouble these two were capable of making together...

On Saturday morning (June 30th), we took the kids to the Treehouse museum and that night we headed up into the cool fresh air for "Music in the Mountains." Needless to say, it was amazing.

But what really made the night was this little monster.

I'm kind of obsessed with this O ball. His little baby hands will grasp onto it and hold on forever! Love it.

On Sunday afternoon, Gram brought out the bells and the kids played a few songs for us all. 

I love these bells!

Grandma and Grandpa Phipps

This new play set has been a great hit. Talk about a great view too! 

The older kids set up a tent and slept out here.

On Monday we had the privilege of going to Julie's house for horseback riding lessons.

We are so grateful to Julie for not only taking us ALL in at 3 am when Kevin and Vicki's house caught on fire, but also inviting us back every year to enjoy her wonderful horses.

I still remember this little one when she was barely two and riding this same horse for the first time. She loved it so much that Julie let her stay on and ride the horse back to the barn.

And now she's three and a half and still cute and tiny and spunky as ever.

My handsome men.

This horse is getting a good sniff of Eloise.

So Hazel has been gravitating toward her older cousin, Kate, but we've noticed that she and Sam always wind up next to each other, having a grand time.

On Monday afternoon, we started crafting! We made rockets and paper fireworks for our trailer that we'll ride in the parade.

I really do love crafting with kids.

These two again. So cute and innocent looking.

The kids played bells again for us on Monday night for our Family Night lesson on liberty.

We are so lucky to have such a great Gram.

Chris, feeling the spirit.

Vicki and I decided to try a very difficult activity with little ones and make family flags with hand prints and footprints. So tricky, but in the end, worth it.

Decorating our trailer for the parade.

Oh how I love naked babies.

More coming...(not naked babies, just the reunion).

Joy School Graduation

June 22nd

(yep, same day as the MUD escapade)

We are proud to announce that Hazel and Charlotte have graduated from their first year of Joy School. We have LOVED this program and the values it teaches and the interaction with other moms and a great group of kids. All around, I've loved it.

They each earned their "report cards" with a sticker for each unit we've studied. The units are: Obedience and Decision, Spontaneous Delight, the Earth, the Body, Sharing and Service, Order and Goal Striving, Interest and Curiosity, Trust and Confidence, Honesty and Candor, Relationships and Communication, Imagination and Creativity, Individual Confidence and Uniqueness, Family Security, Identity, and Pride.

They got graduation certificates that were rolled up and tied and all of the moms got teacher appreciation badges.

We've had a great year and we'll miss this group!

MUD

Enjoying these summer days together. I knew coming into it that this just might be the most challenging summer of my life, having four under the age of five 1/2 at home with me all day. But to be quite honest, it's been pretty doable so far.We're being blessed every day.

View from the hammock.

And water from the kiddie pool, mixed with dirt makes....

Mud!

Of course they worked together to get as much of their bodies covered as possible.

Charlotte eventually got cold and rinsed off in the kiddie pool and then helped Hazel cover every last inch.

I locked them out until they had rinsed as well as they could. 

This was their sign to me that they were done!