Sometimes a Picture Says . . .

Sometimes A Truce

If you have spent any time in our household you know that Mia and Sebastian just do not get along.  I'm not talking about sibling rivalry.  I'm talking about the sole idea of co-existence.  Both of them, live to annoy the other.  Mia in her little sing-song voice will greet Sebastian in the morning with "Oh Sab, you're a baby." That simple, although loaded phrase, skyrockets the entire day on a path to destruction.  Believe me, Sebastian has many, MANY ways to volley the ball right back at her.  Curt is beginning to despair about the hours and minutes chipping away at our lifespans due to high blood pressure.

However, every once in a while, during a full moon - they get along, really well.  We went to the Orange County Fair a few weeks ago.  I had promised, Mia especially, that we would go all week.  Of course, several hours before, it rains, really rains.  Both kids are distraught and I can't believe my luck.  So, we head out anyway.  The fair was an interesting place to say the least, when we came home and Mia told Curt she saw a kangaroo, he looked at me and said fact or fiction?  Nevertheless, they had a HUGE bouncing castle and maize.  They both were dying to go on it, wet and all.  I told them to go for it, with one condition - they could not let go of each other.  Sab, if you ever read this blog, know that you were a GREAT big brother that day.

Here they are:

Sweet right?

Mia at the end of our night, riding a train pulled by a quad runner.  Sab rode too, but I wasn't allowed to photo.

Sab going down the slide.  See Mia in the corner watching?

A massive bubble blower



 Sab helping Mia up the slide, at least 20 times.  You could hear him over and over again saying ,"Seriously Mia, that's all the faster you can go?"

I know my pictures are out of order, but please know that I organized a few of my kitchen cabinets with the extra time!

Where to start, where to start?!?  The last post was Easter egg coloring.  Oh, gee, I'm really sorry Mom.  These will be really out of order but who cares?  I'm not one to embrace order.  Look at my tupperware drawer.  My oldest sister is very orderly and truly I admire that.  No, I'm not saying that because her birthday is quickly approaching, but because it is one of her talents.  I often wonder if she feels peace from that order.  For example, Christmas Eve I'm still wrapping gifts, yelling at Curt to put toys together, everyone is distraught, stupid Santa.  My sister has everything assembled, loaded with games, alphabetized, annoying package straps snipped, it's amazing to witness.  After, my blog catches up, I'm going to try a life of order - I know, we will see.

Mia, age 3, is funny, mischievous, curious, TALKATIVE, and growing much too quickly.  I don't want her to reach the stage where we do not relate.  Sometimes, you get so caught up in daily rituals you forget how special life is and each day could be your last.  It's deep, dehydrated pool time and a rum and coke will do that.  Long story short, Mia and I had our very first official Girls Day!  We had some photos taken (soon to be posted), went to Build - A-Bear and went to Snip Its for her very first haircut.  I know, I know, 3 years old and a FIRST haircut!  Anyway, see below, these are a few of my favorites.

Making our new friend Fluffy Bunny.  Giving her an air bath to be fresh and ready.  She told Mia she prefers to be naked and her tinkerbell dress and jelly heels were too poky.

Big girl stuff.

A lot of doubt.

This is the end product and a certificate to boot.  They asked Mia what she wanted, a bow, butterfly or fairy dust.  She answered Yes.  Who wouldn't want all of that?

Eggtastic and A Lot of Brown

Each year since Sebastian was old enough to hold an egg, I have found myself buying stock in PAAZ!  I am completely amazed at what you can do with an egg these days.  When my sister (Tat-where you there?) colored eggs we excelled at blue, yellow, a light pink and green.  Sometimes we were really crazed and half dipped creating a special two dimensional egg or we just threw the egg in a bunch of different colors to create a mud puddle.  NOW - you can have Tye dye, marble, sparkle, stickered, crayons - it's egg art.  My table shows the signs of egg art and so will my fingers for a couple of days, but what can you do?  As soon as they spot Easter grass it's over, "When can we color?", "We promise to wait patiently while you boil eggs!", "Who will make the best egg?(Sebastian always competitive)."  So last night was the magical evening and I can tell you that Mia continues to open the refrigerator, look at hers and stick a random sticker now and then.

Our faithful friend Londie Bondie.  She just wants to rest.  It's so hard when she has to sleep with one eye open to make sure she's not under attack.

Ahh geez, why does she have to touch me.  Please God do not let my friends see this.

Really concentrating.  He used the marble kit which required a lot of stirring.

HAPPY EASTER!



Great Things in a Nondescript Package

For those of you who don't know - Sebastian is a cub scout.  And most things related to this club are completely over my head.  The first time we went to the boy scout store (there really is such a thing!) I asked for the cute little scarf and was quickly informed that the term is neckerchief.  Well, I won't make that mistake twice.

Sab accepts my limitations as a "boys mom" sometimes very graciously, sometimes not.  All was status quo until the discussion of the Pinewood Derby came up.  For some reason I pictured card board boxes with chalk drawings on the side.  Well boys and girls I couldn't have been more wrong.  During our field trip to the fire station (now I know how to correctly use a fire extinguisher) our scout leader distributed the pinewood derby kits.  And by kits I mean a block of wood with absolutely no shape, some wheels and a couple of axles to boot.  Good Lord.  The following Tuesday there was an entire presentation on this endeavor including all the ways you are not permitted to cheat - CHEAT - I knew we were in trouble.  Sab looked over at me very wisely and said, "Mom, are you getting any of this?"  It just so happened that we were showered with books, advice, and a visit from my parents.   I gave my dad one of my pep talks - let him know that the pressure of being Sab's mom is immense.  We had to build this thing regardless of the toll on our family :)  My dad visited Virginia's finest hardware stores twice that week.  He did an enormous amount of work (due to my pep talk I bet) and left us in a good position.  The act of finishing fell on Curt's shoulder.  Uh oh.  Should I tell you that the night of the test and tune - he glued the wheel axle closed, no movement, 9:30 p.m. the night before!!!!  Let me share the photos of this remarkable event (this being said in all seriousness) and then the results - stay tuned.

This is the top of the track.  This baby was three lanes wide, three heats for each car, computerized standings, track records . . . big time.

Sab with his friend Tanner.  No pressure for these boys - they are watching Garfield on my Ipod.  You can see Sab's NECKERCHIEF poking out of his fleece - tee hee.

Can you guess which one is ours?!?  Think of the title, think of us, yes - there's the black widow right by the PENCIL car!  Dad - do you see these?

Mia's bears in attendance.

Enough suspense sports fans?  Look at Black Widow's time!!!!  This bizarre little car won three FIRST places today.  Honestly, I almost fell off the bleachers.  Even Curt was awed.  People were picking this baby up to find out the secret - hmm, just cluelessness folks, pure honest miracle!

What's wrong with this picture?  Let me help you with this one - At the very beginning of the race, Scoutmaster Stakem made mention that it is quite possible to win all of your heats but not the overall trophy. Guess who that happened to?  You betcha - Sab!  Look at the face!!!  He missed third place by less than 2 seconds.  He couldn't get what a miracle it was that this thing actually ran - let alone WIN?!?

How about them apples!  Counting them folks - sorry, competitiveness even at the Derby - it is a sickness.

Dreams really do come true folks :)  The camping trip will be any day, I know it.

The First Snow!

This post is for my mom and her LOVE of snow.  Last year, it honestly did not snow much in Virginia.  Pennsylvania was pounded.  So in honor of her we decided to take advantage of today's snow and build her a snowman - Mia calls it Nannie.

Snowflakes on her tongue.  I had to drag her back inside after an hour and a half!!

Here you go dad - scenic shot for you!

Took his glove off to form a better snowball to throw at his mother.  Ahh the love.

Her snowballs were lethal because they had so many sticks in them.  Luckily she couldn't form them so it was random snow flying in the air.

They said this was for their Nannie.  The snowman pic didn't turn out because my camera froze from being outside SOOOO LONG.

There is our afternoon of snow.  I would be perfectly content without any more :)

Christmas - Where did you go?

Our Elf on the Shelf flew in, saved me from a lot of yelling and now is gone!  I need an easter bunny elf?  Maybe a magical egg?

These are a few of my favorite photos:

When my middle sister and I were younger, we constantly redecorated my mom's tree!  It drove her crazy.  We loved throwing candy wrappers and all sorts of things in there.  Because really it took a whole month for my mom to discover and we didn't have to walk all the way to the garbage can.  You know what they say about payback right?  Inside this tree behind Mia was a princess crown, a whole tea set, a roll of gold ribbon, seven necklaces, a teddy bear slipper, minnie mouse ears - just to name a few things.

If you read this blog - DON"T TELL CURT HE IS ON HERE.  Goodness, soooo private.  Anyway, my two guys at the first Phillips family Christmas.  We had a Christmas party for the four of us before we headed home to PA.  Everyone was so excited - I will need to put more time into this in the future.  Anyway, at Sab's school they have a Santa workshop where you can buy your Christmas gifts.  He bought Curt a Harley Davidson dogtag necklace.  If you know my husband enough said?!?  He hasn't worn it since, I'm a little disappointed.

Do you see this?  What is more incredible the grip on his ear or the look on her face?  Curt and I fear for her future husband all the time.  She misses the cutie pie girls in this picture.

All she asked for from Santa was the dog on the right.  She calls him Purple Doggie and talks to him consistently.  She would have been perfectly content had we not bought her anything else.  Purple Doggie and Scout (featured on left) are best friends.  They are often on my naughty list because they SING during bedtime.

There is much talk about this robe.  Hugh Heffner - is the phrase I most often hear.  This is London opening a Christmas present.  This unusual kindness was such a shock to London, poor thing.

We had a GREAT Christmas - hope you did too.