she's two...

Happy Birthday Hazel Jayne!

Birthdays are my favorite thing. I love the excuse to be completely and ridiculously spoiled, to be with friends, eat countless cupcakes, open presents, play games, and just be deliriously happy because its the one day that you get to celebrate YOU. My mom made sure that my birthday parties were the best growing up; not that we went all out with expensive bounce houses or catered meals, but they were always creative. I remember games she invented, unique birthday cakes she created, and homemade wrapping paper with love notes on them. One of my parties was held at a huge park so in order to keep track of our group, my mom had all of us wear headbands with sparkly star antennae shooting out the top. I'm sure the boys loved it.

Needless to say, I have a lot to live up to. But luckily I LOVE every bit of it so Hazel's 2nd birthday party was a blast to plan and prepare for. We had a fish party with fun fish games and food. Don't worry, it was all well-documented, so here you go.

We had to wake Hazel up a little early from her nap for the party, thus the glazed over look in this picture. She's with our neighbor, "Grandma Norma." Hazel LOVES Norma. When I walked her outside, she instantly went to her and planted herself on her lap.

So I have amazing neighbors. My next door neighbor, Adry, is an artist and she painted this bean bag toss for me. Isn't it fabulous!! I also have to give credit to my husband who cut the holes out (thanks honey). I made little bean bag fish that I have yet to get a picture of.
Hazel with her cousin Carson.
I was so excited about this treat. If you can tell, they're little rice krispy fish! The twizzlers were supposed to be like seaweed coming out of the bowl. Well, it lasted in its glory for about ten minutes before the bowl collapsed from the heat and it became a huge mound of rice krispy mush. A little kid came up to me and asked quietly, "Um, how do I...I mean are we allowed to...what IS that?"

Little fishy cupcakes.
BIG fishy cake.


Happy Birthday song with the starring voice of our babysitter, Becca. Thanks Becca for filming!

Want some?
This was taken in the midst of all the present-opening. She looks so overwhelmed. Mission accomplished.

We were SO excited to give this kitty to Hazel. The poor thing had a very long day, but he paid us back with a very long night and little sleep.

So Hazel is now TWO. This past week she buried her feet in the cat litter box and kicked the kitty litter all over the floor; she poured her juice all over Charlotte, soaked her hair and face with her orange juice AFTER her bath, took off her diaper and pooped in her bed, and threw the kitten in the bath with her...twice ("kitty swimming!"). Yes folks, we are officially in the thick of the terrible two's.

Hazel bean WE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU.

family nite

On May 18th the Utah Old-Time Fiddlers visited our local library and put on a show that we attended for our family night. We brought blankets and snacks and found a spot on the grass next to some friends from the ward. As you can see in the video, Hazel enjoyed the music and was showing off some dance moves she picked up from her dad. There's nothing too spectacular about this night, but for some reason it really sticks out in my memory as one of those times when things just feel good and right and I'm so thankful for my little family.



(Please just turn your head a little to the side when you watch this clip because I sometimes forget I can't turn the camera vertically when filming...)

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?!