The Phillips Family

I love Sam's hair. It is so fluffy and adorable and forms the perfect faux-hawk after a bath. He looks like a white version of Mr. T. I love it.

After breakfast we usually head outside to play. Aiden LOVES the snow! He will try every chance he gets to run outside, whether he's wearing clothes or not. After playing in the snow for a bit, he came inside and we began to take off all his snowgear. Once it was all off, he turned around and ran outside again... no shoes, no socks, no coat... he didn't care! He just loves to be outside playing. Sam is getting the hang of his jumperoo horse. He's starting to be more interested in toys more and more, which makes playtime with him last longer. He is such a sweet little baby. He is so content just watching all the chaos going on around him and simply adores his big brother, even though Aiden is anything but gentle with him. Once when I went to get Aiden out of his room from a nap, he walked right out with his cowboy hat on. I don't think he slept much, but boy was he cute! He kept the hat on most of the afternoon. And at the end of the day, I get to bathe my bo...

is digusting!!! I forgot how slimy, sticky, gooey, and gross starting solids can be with a baby. Especially if your baby prefers to sit on your lap while eating. By the time we're done, I'm just as white and sticky as Sam is. But that's not the point of this post... the point is... HOORAY FOR SAM!!! He has started eating solids and LOVES them!

I am the ward organist at our church. Because of this, I am up on the stand for half of the meeting. It's a great view of the congregation... especially the pew where Rex, Aiden, and Sam "sit." This is a typical Sunday for us: While I play prelude music, Sam sits quietly - even happily - in his car seat on the front row. Meanwhile Aiden is running in and out of the pews as people file in. Rex follows close behind. As the meeting begins, Rex firmly sits Aiden in his lap while Aiden squirms and screams his disapproval. Rex pulls out a quiet activity, such as coloring, books, or small toys. This works until the opening hymn begins. As I'm playing, I see a coloring book go flying across the chapel. Aiden screams. Sam starts to fuss as it is time for his bottle. Rex gives Aiden some fruit snacks and a sippy cup while he gets Sam's bottle ready. Third verse begins. Now I see a sippy cup go flying across my peripheral vision and I hear Aiden much closer to me ...

I just want to know one thing... Is your house ever fully organized, clean, tidy, and decorated just the way you like it? As soon as I complete my "Procrastination List" (odd-ball things that I put off until I can't stand it anymore) there's always one more closet that needs to be sorted though, more pictures I find to hang up, more spots in the carpet that need to be scrubbed, more junk to take away, etc... I keep thinking that some day the house will be just the way I want it and the only chores I'll have to do are the regulars. So that's why I need your opinions and advice. How long does it take to really settle in? Is there a time when your house feels "just right" or is it a continual process until the day we hire a maid? Please... just make it stop... whimper... whimper

Who could resist taking pictures of such cuteness? Sam has started laughing (a lot!) and is such a ham already. He's getting stronger and stronger every day - no one can tell that he was a premie now! Happy 5-months, Sam the Man! We love you!

Who's the drooliest one of all?? You are!

I walked downstairs the other day to find this. Both boys watching Rex play RockBand with complete awe. Then Aiden decided to suit up and join Daddy. M - M - M - MY SHARONA!!! Sam drooled his approval. Aiden was in heaven. Rex was one rockin' Dad. And I'm in love with my boys.

Daddy and Aiden getting ready to head out trick-or-treating! (Notice the snow? Yeah... we'll get to that in a bit.) Aiden had the best time trick-or-treating! Rex said that whenever people opened their doors to give him candy, he'd try to walk inside every time. He ran around in circles a lot. Laughed. Squeeled. And ate lots of sugar! And this is what these poor Coloradoans had to trick-or-treat in. I took this picture the morning of Halloween from our back porch. It's beautiful. But WRONG.

Watch out boys. There's a new Sheriff in town... and he's come to eat your CHILI. This is what Rex spent most of the night doing - containing the wild child, commonly known as AIDEN. Funny story. After we took Aiden through the "Haunted House" (really the Haunted Hallway at the church), he was suddenly very calm and happy to be in Daddy's arms. If only they kept it up for Sundays... Doo doo doo DOOT-Da-DOO! It's SUPER BABY!!! What a great activity for a hyper and ambidextrous toddler. He ran up and down this long sheet of paper making his mark KNOWN. Isn't he CUTE?!? One day he'll grow into his sleeves... (I pinned them up later. I'm not that irresponsible of a mother...he's lucky to get safety pins and not the usual staples!) And all of Rex's hard work making his own chili powder paid off. HE WON!!! Like Father, like Son... SUPER!!!

Love, Hattie

PIT - Torrie Style For those of you who are not familiar with this card game, this is how it goes. 1.) Deal eight cards to each player and sort into suits. (This is a farmer's game, so instead of spades, diamonds, and hearts, you have wheat, corn, oats, etc...) 2.) After the dealer says, "Pits open," everyone begins trading suits. 3.) For example, "Two, two? two..." (meaning I want to trade two-of-a-kind cards with someone.) 4.) Then the yelling begins. "Three! THREE!!!! THREE!!!!!! " 5.) More yelling, cursing, and threats ensue. 6.) This continues until someone collects all the same suit and yells, "CORNER!!!!" 7.) Losers pout like little girls and blame others for holding onto their barley or whatever. 8.) Wash. Rinse. Repeat.