I love birthdays

Well I've been away for a while, but we're back with lots of fun pictures and stories to post about! The weekend of May 15th we celebrated David's dad's birthday up at his parents' house in Liberty. I love it when we all get together up there because we always play fun games, the cousins get to play together, and Vicki always has incredible food for us to munch on. Can't beat that.

While we were up there, Vicki had the boys help set up this playhouse she got for the grandkids. Don't they look excited to help?

Grandpa Phipps cheering them on.

This is a little random but while we were there Charlotte had a blowout and I had to give her a bath. I've never bathed her in the sink before and I thought it was so cute. I have a picture of myself at this same age in the sink...but I won't post that for you all.

Sam and Hazel LOVING the watermelon.

Ah yes, the real reason we all came.


Happy Birthday Kevin!

good reads

so does anyone else secretly get annoyed by those friends on goodreads.com that post a new book like every other day? and on top of that they're mothering a few kids and working on the side and making dinner every night and keeping their house clean and organized (well, I don't know for sure that they're doing all of those things on a daily basis, but I imagine they also have a life to keep up with??). how do they have all that TIME?

Well, I do have some good reads to share--good enough to make a whole post about, but know that I've read them over a longer span of time or on days that I just decide to let my house go to pot and make microwave meals for the fam. Here they are:

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult: so well-written. great plot, interesting characters, and a nice surprise at the end. loved it.

Positive Discipline by Jane Nelson: this book has helped my understand the mind of my little toddler which has given me more patience with her. Dr. Nelson shows you how to be kind but firm and to redirect their attention to what they can do instead of all the things they can't do. Great read.

I love to read. In fact I love it so much that I almost feel guilty every time I sit down to do it because it is so pleasureable and my mind reminds me of all the other things I SHOULD be doing. It's such a nice escape and it makes me want to write so badly.

(for those of you who fit my earlier description--reading a few books a week while balancing your other responsibilities.....*sigh, I don't hate you. I admire you. I think you stink, but I do admire you.)

girls' nite

So ever since David got called as presidente of our elder's quorum, he's pretty much never home. Most evenings its just me and the girls and this little video clip is a great example of the daily adventures I face once that five o-clock craziness kicks in. (what was I thinking giving her red jello?)

mothers

This mother's day I found a very creative way of giving my mom, grandma's and mother-in-law a corsage without worrying about it wilting...They are called fabric corsages and you can find the easy-to-follow pattern right here. I'm so grateful for creative women who take the time to share their ideas with those of us looking for last minute gifts. I decided to do roses instead of carnations and they turned out to look like this:
I had to include my grandmother's buttons in one of these pictures because each corsage had one of these special buttons in the center of it. I don't know why, but I love buttons and the fact that I have my grandmother's small collection is priceless.

Hm, you can see a slobber spot on my shirt from Charlotte too...

Happy Mother's day to the wonderful women in my life.
I must also express my thanks to my hubby who got me an "at-home" massage, made me my favorite dinner (chicken parmesan), and made me waffles the next morning. amazing.

charlotte

a few things i love about this baby...
1. she's a cuddler. hazel was always independent but charlotte is only happy when you're holding her, looking at her, or cuddling up with her and a good book. she just likes to be with you.
2. she giggles. this just started about two weeks ago and now I live for it. full on, open mouth, from the gut giggles.
3. she stares at you. don't babies usually stare off at nothing? charlotte will tilt her head all the way back until she can see me and she'll just stare, like she's studying me.
4. and lastly...i love this reverse cul-de-sac she has going on...

where did all of her hair go?!

Backing up a wee bit...

On April 18th, we celebrated Earth Day at the Nature Center here in Ogden. We watched their bird show and got to see these amazing birds. Each one of them is handicapped or injured in some way, so they've been rescued and brought here to live.

Hazel's favorite was this small owl (I forget it's proper name...).

This was the bigger one. Could you imagine running into him at night?

My personal favorite. So incredible.

Hazel with her cousin, Carson.

They had an entire trail lined with birdhouses created by different people and elementary school classes. So fun.

Happy Earth Day!

The Chopper Caper

I'm proud to announce that my grandfather and dad have recently been published! My grandfather, who passed away in March, worked as a mailman for most of his life and as he walked from house to house, he began writing this book in his head. He wrote most of it down eventually and then tucked it away in a box. Well, about seven years ago my dad decided to dig it out and finish it with him. With their friend, Dr. Ron Moore, they polished and completed this novel called The Chopper Caper. Here is the synopsis they gave of the book in the press release:

An armored truck with three million in cash is traveling through Oregon and a pair of Vietnam War combat chopper pilots plan to hijack it in George Dorsey and Ronald D. Moore’s The Chopper Caper. Pete Placker, a hell-raising Fresno State football player who dropped out to become one of the best helicopter pilots in ‘Nam and Cecil Clanner, a stockbroker who got drafted, team up after they return from the war for what they think is their payday. They commandeer a CH-54 heavy-lift helicopter for what seems a simple heist. But when the hijacking turns into a bloody shoot-out, they find themselves in unknown territory. Now they have to contend with the Oregon wilderness, two unexpected hostages, one infected eye and their own darker sides.

Some reviews:

“Great read with authentic combat sequences. The hijacking is shades of D.B. Cooper.”
Robin E. Scott,
Major General, U.S. Air Force (Ret)

“A real page-turner. It’ll make one helluva movie!”
Ruben A Cubero,
Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force (Ret)
Former Dean, USAF Academy

My dad worked so hard for all those years to get The Chopper Caper published while my grandfather's health continued to decline. The day before my grandfather passed away, my dad received the good news that the book was printed, a hard copy was on the way, and it would be available to the public within the month. My dad and his parents celebrated their great accomplishment that evening and early the next morning, my grandfather passed away in his sleep. We love you grandpa George and we're so proud of your now published book and the legacy you left along with it.

So you may wonder, have I read the final copy?? Not yet! But I will venture to say it's worth your while. I will be ordering my own copy HERE so I invite you all to check it out as well!

You can also check out their webpage at:

www.eloquentbooks.com/TheChopperCaper.html

Good work Dad!