Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Happy Birthday Samantha!!
I can hardly believe it's already been a full year since my precious baby girl was born. I thought being home full time would make the year go by slower - not faster! I feel like I blinked and Feb 1st rolled around again!
What a full year it has been. Miss Samantha Grace has certainly brought a much needed softness to our home. This house that was once filled with sports, action figures and light sabers now has its fair share of baby dolls, tea cups and hair bows... not to mention the girl has twice the amount of shoes that I do!
But along with all of the pink toys and darling clothes, Samantha has brought so much laughter and love..
She laughs heartily at her big brother Christian's antics, and loves cuddling her oldest brother, Jackson. She blows kisses, plays peek-a-boo (while half covering her eyes with her chubby little hands), and enjoys swinging at the park. She already flirts with all of her brothers' friends when they come over by smiling and coyly cocking her head to the side. Samantha loves bubble baths and chocolate as much as her mama, and (violently) rocks her baby dolls to sleep. She loves dancing, and crawling as fast as she can to visit her brother during his time-outs. She gives (painful) kisses thanks to her two new teeth and hates to nap. She loves greeting her Daddy when he comes home at night with a big smile and a "Hiiiiiii Da!!" She not only answers to Samantha, but also JuJu Bee, Lovey Lulu (often shortened to just 'Lu'), Sissy, Sam, Sammy, Samalama, Princess and Angel. She fills our home and our hearts with so much love. She is our precious gift from the Lord and we look forward to many more years of loving our little girl...
Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!!!
What a full year it has been. Miss Samantha Grace has certainly brought a much needed softness to our home. This house that was once filled with sports, action figures and light sabers now has its fair share of baby dolls, tea cups and hair bows... not to mention the girl has twice the amount of shoes that I do!
But along with all of the pink toys and darling clothes, Samantha has brought so much laughter and love..
She laughs heartily at her big brother Christian's antics, and loves cuddling her oldest brother, Jackson. She blows kisses, plays peek-a-boo (while half covering her eyes with her chubby little hands), and enjoys swinging at the park. She already flirts with all of her brothers' friends when they come over by smiling and coyly cocking her head to the side. Samantha loves bubble baths and chocolate as much as her mama, and (violently) rocks her baby dolls to sleep. She loves dancing, and crawling as fast as she can to visit her brother during his time-outs. She gives (painful) kisses thanks to her two new teeth and hates to nap. She loves greeting her Daddy when he comes home at night with a big smile and a "Hiiiiiii Da!!" She not only answers to Samantha, but also JuJu Bee, Lovey Lulu (often shortened to just 'Lu'), Sissy, Sam, Sammy, Samalama, Princess and Angel. She fills our home and our hearts with so much love. She is our precious gift from the Lord and we look forward to many more years of loving our little girl...
Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!!!
Friday, January 27, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Sweet Tooth
Samantha enjoying her first famous Richard family oatmeal chocolate chip cookie.. And the aftermath! 
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Family photo shoot ~ 2011
It's finally time to update our family portrait over our fireplace. This year, I went with our good friend Mindy Newton and was so so pleased with the results. Head on over to her website to check her out!
We had too many good shots to choose from, but here are a few of our favorites..
We had too many good shots to choose from, but here are a few of our favorites..
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| This will be our new one over our fireplace, LOVE IT! |
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| Two blue eyed babes sandwiching the brown eyed boy |
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| My all time favorite |
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| Me and my honey |
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| Last pic of the day and she was D-O-N-E, but I just love this one! |
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| My sweet fam |
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| Just us girls :) |
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Perspective
It's Wednesday and I'm wading through piles and piles of laundry accumulated during last night's hourly barf fest courtesy of my 3 year old. What's more ironic is that last night just after the last child had closed their eyes, Mike and I sat down on the couch and I said aloud how nice it was to have all the laundry done, the house cleaned and the children in bed. About 30 seconds after that comment we heard the wretching screams of a vomiting child and ran upstairs to confirm our fears. And so, we partied hourly throughout the night. Blah.
As much as I abhor cleaning up vomit and trying to keep sick kids isolated - God has used this time to remind me to THANK Him. Yes, even in vomit stained pj's..Thank Him - even on 2 hours sleep. Yes, Thank Him - when the sick child purposely spits in the healthy baby's face. Yes, THANK HIM.. Do I sound crazy yet? Let me encourage you that this is how we're supposed to react to life's inconveniences. Sure, they are annoying and cause us to groan. But how can we be truly thankful in times where things go outside of our own plans?
Just Monday I had the honor of meeting an incredible woman. A mother of three, like myself. However, this mom of three cannot hold her sick child. When her child vomits, she has to put on a mask and go in another room - or she'll likely be hospitalized. That's what happened the last few times her kids got sick - she caught it and landed in the hospital. In fact, she spent most of this last October hospitalized. At only 37 years old, this mom - no different than you or I - was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. Her chances of survival are slim according to the doctors. In her words, she needs a miracle. As we talked, her eyes filled with tears as she pointed out the 60+ young moms filling the room, "I was just like all of you," she told my friend and I. "A busy stay at home mom of three kids...And I'll never be that carefree again." I felt like I had been punched in the gut - and was instantly convicted of all of the stupid complaints I make..I never have enough time, the kids never pick up after themselves, I'm in my car more than I am my house etc. etc. etc.. all are so disgustingly petty and irrelevant in the face of this sweet woman's REAL life gripping issue.
So this morning, as I hold my sick boy and wade through vomit - I am painfully aware that I am blessed, so blessed to be able to care for my child and comfort him in his sickness...THIS is a gift, if we choose to see it that way. I know Angela would give anything to be able to do the same.. Please remember my new friend in your prayers and count your blessings TODAY, NOW, wherever you are, for EVERYTHING you have and EVERY circumstance you find yourself in at this very moment. Someone else would give anything to trade places with you.
As much as I abhor cleaning up vomit and trying to keep sick kids isolated - God has used this time to remind me to THANK Him. Yes, even in vomit stained pj's..Thank Him - even on 2 hours sleep. Yes, Thank Him - when the sick child purposely spits in the healthy baby's face. Yes, THANK HIM.. Do I sound crazy yet? Let me encourage you that this is how we're supposed to react to life's inconveniences. Sure, they are annoying and cause us to groan. But how can we be truly thankful in times where things go outside of our own plans?
Just Monday I had the honor of meeting an incredible woman. A mother of three, like myself. However, this mom of three cannot hold her sick child. When her child vomits, she has to put on a mask and go in another room - or she'll likely be hospitalized. That's what happened the last few times her kids got sick - she caught it and landed in the hospital. In fact, she spent most of this last October hospitalized. At only 37 years old, this mom - no different than you or I - was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. Her chances of survival are slim according to the doctors. In her words, she needs a miracle. As we talked, her eyes filled with tears as she pointed out the 60+ young moms filling the room, "I was just like all of you," she told my friend and I. "A busy stay at home mom of three kids...And I'll never be that carefree again." I felt like I had been punched in the gut - and was instantly convicted of all of the stupid complaints I make..I never have enough time, the kids never pick up after themselves, I'm in my car more than I am my house etc. etc. etc.. all are so disgustingly petty and irrelevant in the face of this sweet woman's REAL life gripping issue.
So this morning, as I hold my sick boy and wade through vomit - I am painfully aware that I am blessed, so blessed to be able to care for my child and comfort him in his sickness...THIS is a gift, if we choose to see it that way. I know Angela would give anything to be able to do the same.. Please remember my new friend in your prayers and count your blessings TODAY, NOW, wherever you are, for EVERYTHING you have and EVERY circumstance you find yourself in at this very moment. Someone else would give anything to trade places with you.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Whatever You're Doing by Sanctus Real
It's time for healing time to move on
It's time to fix what's been broken too long
Time make right what has been wrong
It's time to find my way to where I belong
There's a wave that's crashing over me
All I can do is surrender
Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos somehow there's peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
but I'm giving in to something heavenly
Time for a milestone
Time to begin again
Reevaluate who I really am
Am I doing everything to follow your will
or just climbing aimlessly over these hills
So show me what it is you want from me
I give everything I surrender...
To...
Time to face up
Clean this old house
Time to breathe in and let everything out
That I've wanted to say for so many years
Time to to release all my held back tears
Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but I believe
You're up to something bigger than me
Larger than life, something heavenly
Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but now I can see
This something bigger than me
Larger than life something heavenly
Something heavenly
It's time to face up
Clean this old house
Time breathe in and let everything out
Monday, October 10, 2011
Thankful..
We had a crazy fun weekend around here. On Saturday, J had a double header with the first soccer game at 10am and the second at 5pm about 30 minutes from home. In between the games (which he ROCKED, by the way!) He made two header goals (For all you non-soccer fams out there, that means he actually made a goal by hitting the ball with his head!) and got nice and dirty. In between games, Mike and I thought it would be a fantastic idea to go clothes shopping for the kids..and WITH the kids. That was a painful event, with one 8 month old who was darn tired of sitting in her stroller and a 3 year old who desperately needed a nap while the 11 year old got veeery brand specific on us and had us running from store to store to look for the perfect outfits. We ended up having to leave before we were done because we were time crunched and he was super super picky. I thought only teenage girls acted like this! With this child, I find myself caught between getting irritated and trying to explain to him that his friends won't really be checking the tag on his skinny jeans for the brand, and also remembering what it's like to be in middle school and how I felt about what I wore. I digress...
Sunday, we were up with the sun thanks to one cute lil' baby girl - and then off for church and some fun up at Apple Hill. We head up there every Fall to pick apples, pick out pumpkins and enjoy all of the fun Fall festivities.. the kids especially look forward to warm apple donuts every year. This year, my incredible husband packed a picnic lunch for the family. We had lots of goodies and enjoyed our time together. Mike and I were talking about how we strive to make little trips like this - little memories for the kids to look back on when they're older. We want our kids to have traditions that they remember doing every year, like going to Apple Hill in the Fall or cutting down our Christmas tree after Thanksgiving.. playing cards together or having hot chocolate after school on rainy days. But this time we were laughing because of the simple struggle of getting to where we were going - dealing with the baby crying and the toddler screaming..sibling spats and missed exits off of the freeway... we parents work so hard to make sure our kids have these memories - and I saw so many other parents out there doing the same thing. It's so easy to get flustered in those little moments and to forget the big picture.. but it's all worth it. Every moment - even if you do have to clean up a diaper explosion in the backseat of your car. Mike and I regularly laugh in the middle of these moments and remind each other that SOMEDAY we will miss this and we'll retell the stories of when our kids were small.. and beg our adult children to let us come to Apple Hill with them and the grand kids for the day..
TODAY I am thankful for..
Brief moments of perspective - of seeing the bigger picture rather than getting wrapped up in the little messes of the day
Baby giggles and coos
Picnics in Apple Hill
Brothers loving on baby sister and each other
Children who openly praise Jesus
A husband who loves me even when I'm lacking sleep, makeup and sanity
Fires in the fireplace all day long
Sweaters, boots and coffee
Breakfast with friends
Baking sweet treats
New friends that strengthen and challenge my faith in Christ
Neighbors who love my kids as their own
HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!
Sunday, we were up with the sun thanks to one cute lil' baby girl - and then off for church and some fun up at Apple Hill. We head up there every Fall to pick apples, pick out pumpkins and enjoy all of the fun Fall festivities.. the kids especially look forward to warm apple donuts every year. This year, my incredible husband packed a picnic lunch for the family. We had lots of goodies and enjoyed our time together. Mike and I were talking about how we strive to make little trips like this - little memories for the kids to look back on when they're older. We want our kids to have traditions that they remember doing every year, like going to Apple Hill in the Fall or cutting down our Christmas tree after Thanksgiving.. playing cards together or having hot chocolate after school on rainy days. But this time we were laughing because of the simple struggle of getting to where we were going - dealing with the baby crying and the toddler screaming..sibling spats and missed exits off of the freeway... we parents work so hard to make sure our kids have these memories - and I saw so many other parents out there doing the same thing. It's so easy to get flustered in those little moments and to forget the big picture.. but it's all worth it. Every moment - even if you do have to clean up a diaper explosion in the backseat of your car. Mike and I regularly laugh in the middle of these moments and remind each other that SOMEDAY we will miss this and we'll retell the stories of when our kids were small.. and beg our adult children to let us come to Apple Hill with them and the grand kids for the day..
TODAY I am thankful for..
Brief moments of perspective - of seeing the bigger picture rather than getting wrapped up in the little messes of the day
Baby giggles and coos
Picnics in Apple Hill
Brothers loving on baby sister and each other
Children who openly praise Jesus
A husband who loves me even when I'm lacking sleep, makeup and sanity
Fires in the fireplace all day long
Sweaters, boots and coffee
Breakfast with friends
Baking sweet treats
New friends that strengthen and challenge my faith in Christ
Neighbors who love my kids as their own
HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Beaches!
I've been falling behind on blog updates! Somehow Facebook is just much easier to maintain. I don't have to get too wordy and can leave a quick blurb or photo using my handy dandy iphone. Not so simple with Blogger.. well, actually, I've heard you CAN update your blog from your phone but I'd rather not venture in that direction because then I would have a million typos!
With this new role of sahm, I really thought I'd have more time to blog, clean, run, sleep.. {fill in the blank} .. but much to my horror, I actually have LESS time. This is hands down the hardest job I have ever had. Back breaking work, I tell ya! That's another post for another time.. ha, yeah right, as if I have TIME. Maybe when Samantha can entertain herself for more than 30 seconds!
In July we took a trip to San Diego for Jackson's soccer tournament. We ended up staying the rest of the week in Capistrano Beach..with a stop in Bass Lake on the way back..
With this new role of sahm, I really thought I'd have more time to blog, clean, run, sleep.. {fill in the blank} .. but much to my horror, I actually have LESS time. This is hands down the hardest job I have ever had. Back breaking work, I tell ya! That's another post for another time.. ha, yeah right, as if I have TIME. Maybe when Samantha can entertain herself for more than 30 seconds!
In July we took a trip to San Diego for Jackson's soccer tournament. We ended up staying the rest of the week in Capistrano Beach..with a stop in Bass Lake on the way back..
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| Road Trip!! |
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| Jackson receiving his medal after their team won the Albion Tournament in SD |
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| Phillips girls at Capistrano Beach |
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| Toes in the sand |
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| Laguna Beach |
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| San Clemente |
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| Sand castle time! |
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| Me and my little buddy |
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| Corona Del Mar |
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| Time to upgrade to a bigger car!! |
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| Bass Lake (we stayed there on our way home to break up the drive) |
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| Cool kid |
Thursday, September 08, 2011
Lane Change
I've traded in my suits for spit up on my shoulder, my 6am international conference calls for 5am feedings, coffee breaks with colleagues for one cup that I'm constantly reheating as I manage the chaos of the morning...
Oh, but is it ever worth it.
I actually never thought I'd do this. In fact, this was simply supposed to be a trial, since I was soooo sure I'd absolutely hate it..which I did, at first. {Keeping it real here, k?} There were many days that I called Mike and threatened - no, promised - that I'd be back in the office by the following Monday morning. But then I'd see this..
Or catch Christian "doing Jackson's hair"..
Or see my sweet baby yawn..
Or pick Jackson up from school to see the fun surprise they passed out to the boys in the health class..
I'd picnic at the park for lunch..
And catch my 3 year old nursing his Mickey Mouse doll with my own nursing pillow..
And then it hit me.. all of these moments I am getting to witness are going to be gone before I know it.. and I don't want to let go.. not yet, not now. So much to the surprise of both myself and EVERY.SINGLE.PERSON.WHO.TRULY.KNOWS.ME: I am really enjoying this whole stay at home mom business. It's not at all what I thought I would be doing right now, but man, I really love it. It's crazy hard - much more difficult than I ever cared to realize before - but so gratifying. I don't get breaks, or uninterrupted phone calls. Heck, I'm lucky if I get to eat lunch without a 20lb baby on top of me - but I'm loving this season of my life and am so grateful to God for blessing me with the ability to slow down and savor these moments.. because before I know it, they'll be gone.
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