Christian Leonard Phillips

We are happy to have a little angel newborn in our home!  After the best labor and delivery ever (regular contractions 10 min apart around 1:30 pm, arrived at the hospital at 5:40 pm and was between a 6-7 with contractions every 7 min, received epidural and IV at 6:20 pm, started pushing at 11:00 pm, baby born at 11:18pm!), we are happy to have Christian as part of the family.

Christian Leonard Phillips

Friday 4/4/14  11:18 pm

8 lbs 6 oz

20.5 in

Devon brought the kids up to the hospital Saturday morning to meet Christian.  Upon returning home, they had popcorn and played bingo while watching General Conference.

Grandma Phillips came on Saturday night.  All the kids had been anticipating her arrival.  Carter was especially anxious because we told him she would come in April, and starting on April 1st, he would ask everyday if this was the day she was coming.  

Winter

I wish we could say, "It is over!"  But, I guess, that would be wishing for too much.  Winter is still here.  We are surviving.  We are going to have a new baby in a couple of weeks!  Yay for spring!

Here is our winter summary:

Faye's 5th Birthday!

Great Grandma Carter gave her an American Girl Doll.  Faye has been dreaming of one for months.

She named her Ruby.

Displaying her birthday balloons while wearing a new apron made by Grandma Phillips and new clothes from Grandma and Grandpa Schiffman.

Friends for a party.

2013 Christmas at Granmda Phillips' house with the results of the annual Gingerbread Contest above.

Thanks Aunt J for a great American Girl Doll party.  Aunt J brought all of her old dolls for the cousins to play with.

This winter has been a cold one!

A snow fort has been the most successful outdoors accomplishment this season.

Carter lined up all his "friends" for a movie.

I hate to point out his mismatched pajamas,

but those jammie pants are bonafide sewn-by-Mom jammie pants!

Our winter has consisted of homeschool, visiting the Children's Museum, playing at Eagle's Nest, playing at the gym at church, friends over at our house to play, playing outside (when weather permits), outings to the library, taking Faye to see Frozen, taking Edmund to see Peter and the StarCatchers, ballet class for Faye, soccer for Edmund, family movie nights, watching the Olympics, and visiting the Phillips and Carters for Christmas.  We are almost done with this winter!  Yay!

Carter

When I asked Carter to wipe off his forehead, he said, "Where is my five head?".

Fall

Like most kids, ours resumed school this Fall.  However, unlike most, I am their teacher!  We have had a good time with school thus far.

Our first field trip was with two other families from church that also homeschool.  We went to and RV dealership.  Hilltrop Trailer Sales to be exact.  I wasn't expecting much.  I mean, an RV parking lot?  Boy was I surprised.  All the kids had a great time!  The man giving us the tour let the kids explore several RVs.

Field trip number two was at Minnehaha Falls.  There are a number of LDS families in the area who homeschool.  As a tradition with one of the families, they visit Minnehaha Falls on their first day of school.  They invited everyone in the facebook group to join them.  So, we went and had a great time.

Edmund has really enjoyed creating some artwork to go along with the history units we study.  Here are a couple pictures:

Egypt (left) and Joseph's coat of many colors (right).

Edmund lost his first tooth!

When Faye has an idea, there is no stopping her.  In September, she taught herself how to ride her bike without training wheels!  She just kept trying and trying until she did it.

Carter's 3rd birthday!

We celebrated all day.  His birthday was the same day as the Saturday General Conference sessions.  We let him open his presents in the morning.  Above, he is enjoying his breakfast in his new cup and bowl.  Below, we had pizza and cake for dinner.

Halloween fun:

Trick or Treat?  Lots of candy this year!

Pretty colors!  The kids nicknamed this particular area of our complex "Leaf Island."

Devon and I went to the Bootlegger's Ball held at the Minnesota History Center.  We had a great time!

Summer

You were really good to us.  Lots of laughs, sunshine, family and friends.  Carter eventually learned he didn't need his coat on every time he wanted to go outside.  All of the kids learned how to take daily "foot baths" to wash the dirt away before treading it all over the house.  We started out our summer fun by flying to Utah.  The plane ride was a huge hit with everyone!

Waiting at the MSP airport for our flight to Utah.  Every airport should have a play place!

Hogle Zoo with the Schiffmans.
Thanks to Aunt Rachel for riding the carousel with the kids -- a job I wasn't quit up to.

Fireworks with Family H.  

Carter Family Reunion in Bemidji, MN.  

We had a great time at Finn'n Feather the Carter Clan.

Downtown Bemidji.

Kids with Nicole and Babe the Blue Ox.

Headwaters of the Mississippi River in Itasca State Park.

 Below, fun with Family S.

Party at the Scera Pool.

A day trip to Interstate Park led to a 7 mile canoe ride down the St. Criox River.  As neither Devon or I had a watch (or a phone with us) to keep track of the time, let alone a way to keep track of the distance, we were overjoyed when we asked a fellow canoer "Are we there yet?" and he pointed to a landing spot within eye shot.  We successfully navigated our little canoe with all five of us down the river without tipping over!  

Roasting marshmallows before our canoe trip.

A typical day outside at Como.

Each of the kids got to choose a special outing during the week leading up to school.  Edmund choose lunch at Burger King.  Edmund invited Joseph, a new friend, and this trip has been ingrained as part of Carter's heritage.  "Remember when we went Burger King with Joseph?" he'll ask at random times during the day.

Faye choose Eagle's Nest, an indoor playground.  Pics below.

2013 Minnesota State Fair

Family First Saturday at Walker Art Center with a good friend we met in Madison during our single years.

We took Stephanie across the Stone Arch Bridge to the Mill City Museum.

There we are!  All of us still beautiful but not single!