Fun filled weekend!

My weekend started off with a fabulous date with my husband! He told me earlier in the week to get a baby-sitter so we could go out to celebrate by B-day. I was excited, thinking we would do dinner and a movie, which is great! While we were sitting in P.F. Chang's happy hour (which is the BEST!) I asked Kent what time the movie started. He let me know that we weren't going to a movie, we were going to do something else downtown. I was shocked and amazed. Granted, Kent is the best secret keeper that I know. (He didn't even tell his mom or best friends that he was going to propose to me.) BUT, he does not like surprises. After me playing a game of 20 questions I finally figured out he bought tickets to the Jason Naldean/ Brooks and Dunn concert! It was great! It was so nice to sit there and listen to the music and know every single song, and just be able to enjoy it! Thanks Kent, I love you! After some errands and a short nap on Sunday, we had a "party" at our house. It's always a party when the Phillips' fam gets together. Thank you to everyone, it was a great day!

Me and all of my helpers, Owen is watching with Kelly.

Another fabulous surprise! I am going to be RICH! Sandy and G & G Petrousek got me an espresso machine! Can you believe it? I am beyond ecstatic, I am going to save so much money and be soooo happy with all that caffeine at my disposal! Thank you, thank you!

(This uploaded out of order)

Sunday morning we got up (on my actual B-day) and headed to Bloomsday. This is a 7.4 mile race in Spokane that people come to from all over. It's a little bit crazy. It starts at 9am. and when we were finally able to cross the start line at 9:20, 16,000 people were already in front of us. This may surprise you, but we did not win the race. But as I told our kids, we won the race because we finished it! It was a beautiful day and we were able to jog/walk the whole way and just take in all the people around us. This is the place to people watch; kinda amazing, yet scary. The funniest thing I saw was a cute-petite girl's T-shirt that said on the back: 'I am regretting the Taco Bell that I ate last night.' I saw many things that just made me laugh out loud. (Besides just the normal Spokane peeps).

This is quite a lovely shot that my MIL took, (she stayed with the kids, Thanks Sandy)! I think I had been awake for approx. 10 minutes. Kent usually wakes me up when he is done showering, but for some reason that didn't happen and I slept in. Lookin' Good! Ready to run!

5 more days until we board the ship for our cruise! Megan, our fabulous baby-sitter gave me this idea. I went to the dollar store and got gifts for each of the kids for each night that we're gone. Most of it is arts and crafts and stuff they can do with my sister while we're gone. There will be little notes too, so they know we're thinking of them. I am excited to hear how it goes with this fun idea!

Ahh, tidbits

I have really missed my therapy sessions with you and my keyboard! I have a few random thoughts I want to put out there before my kids find me. (They are upstairs playing nicely for the time being. I told them if they can be nice they won't have to rest today. Think it will work?) First thing:

As we're pulling out of the bank today onto Sprague, Dani looks up and says, "Look Mom a picture of you." I am thinking, 'what are you talking about.' Then I look up to see the Union Gospel Mission billboard with a lady and her child. I didn't quite know what to think. Granted this girl is about ten years younger than me, BUT I like to think she has had a much harder life than me and it really shows on her face. (I know my life has been wonderful and I am very grateful, but does this mean maybe I should start wearing more make-up and put myself together a little better?) I didn't quite know what to think, I did laugh, because if I didn't I would have probably cried..... granted when we got home Dani went straight to time-out (for other reasons) and I went straight to the bathroom and got ready for the day. :) If you're wondering which billboard I'm talking about it's the one by Pines and Sprague, take a look, you'll know I should be feeling very sad and offended, oh well.

Thought two:

All this billboard converation took place after we left the gym this morning. I am feeling pretty good because for the first time I actually did all THREE sections of my triathlon in one day. I was in no hurry to pick up the kids from day care. :) I figured today should be the day that I do it. I ran 3 miles, biked 11 and swam 1/2 a mile. It took under two hours, with transitions and talking and visiting with friends. I am thrilled to know that my body can even do that, even if I do look like a Union Gospel Mission mom. :)

Hhmm, there were some other thoughts, but that's all that is coming to me right now. I am hearing loud thuds from upstairs.....soon I will figure out my new scanner/printer and get some pics. on here! :)

Have a good weekend! Kent and I are doing Bloomsday, wish us luck!

I am back!

Really quick I wanted to update and let you know that I am still here! My computer caught a very bad virus and got destroyed. My computer is 7 years old and the guy at Best Buy literally laughed at me when I took it in to get it fixed. :( His first question was, "When are you planning on replacing this?" Apparently sooner than I planned. That being said, I am now typing on my very own lap top! My first ever. It's amazing what can happen when you just hand over that little plastic card! GREAT things come your way FAST!

I feel like I have missed out on so much in the last week or so. I did not take notes on my darling children, although I really should have. A few things are popping into my mind, but I will have to post those later. It is almost 6, I just finished work, and we haven't eaten dinner yet! Can you hear the children screaming??....

Is it Really getting easier?

As I sit here trying to type out a quick post I am second guessing myself. You would think my kids haven't eaten in four days. It is 4:45 and they have each asked me 5 times when dinner will be ready, they are hovering, waiting and waiting. Meanwhile Dani has taken off and is shoving toilet paper down the toilet and flushing and flushing, it will go down if you just keep shaking the handle right? ....Please hold.....Can I just type something real quick?? We shall see....

I initially wanted to write about how my life is getting easier (ha ha). My darling children are now getting up in the mornings, around 7 and playing nicely and/or watching TV!!! This TV watching is a new thing because we have not had a remote for years, therefore, Brayden couldn't reach to turn on the TV. My TV, circa 1995, finally went out and we were able to splurge and buy a flat screen WITH a remote! B is quite proud that he can work it all by himself! I know, what a thing for a mom to brag about, but it gives me almost 30-40 minutes of extra sleep time in the mornings! Oh sure, I can hear them laughing, screaming and yelling, but I get to stay in bed a while longer before the day begins. Not being a morning person AT ALL, it is a little piece of heaven.

As I staggered out to the living room yesterday morning I bent down to get a kiss from Ellie and she said, "EEWW, your mouth smells like poop!" Yes, I'm sure it does, thank you for letting me know, I will go brush my teeth right now.

Easier and easier right? Dinner MUST be served NOW!

Egg hunt fun! (?) AND 200th post!

We attended an egg hunt at a church down the road. They had a bunch of games and activities set up inside before the big hunt. All was well until this guy showed up: He totally FREAKED out my kids (and me for that matter). He's a little scary, don't you think? He also had a carrot with him, which was cute. BUT he also had a huge guy dressed up as a parrot (am I missing something?).

Creepy bunny trying to get some love from our kids. No such luck!

Kent in deep conversation with Ellie and Ally, perhaps strategizing?

Dani

Owen

Brayden

Ally

Ellie Keegan

Ally and Dani ready to race!

Our friends, Stephanie and Keith and Kent.

Owen freezing, waiting to race! I am used to rain during egg hunts (being from the 'couve and all), but the huge wind storm and 40 degree weather was a bit much. I guess it beats the snow we've had the last couple of years.

Dani still screaming because the Easter bunny was 500 feet away. It would have been much more fun if that dang bunny wasn't wandering around. All in all it was kind of successful. Brayden got about 8 eggs, Ellie got 3-4 and Dani got 0!

* This is my 200th post*

I wish I had something wise to say, or something cool to giveaway, (like all of my crafty friends) but it's just the same old stuff. I hope you had a good weekend! :)

Spring Break 'Couve trip!

We (myself and the children) headed to the 'couve for Spring break! Brayden rode back with my parents the day before, so it was just us girls on the way there. I have to say, they did a great job! Right after we got out of the tri-cities Ellie said she had to go potty. This is a part of the trip where there is NOTHING for at least 30 miles. I told her she could tinkle in her diaper (I put one on her just for this reason), and she refused. I remembered the baby potty was in the back of the van. I pulled over to the side of the road and let Ellie sit. I was shocked when she went right away! The funny thing was, 2 minutes after heading down the road she said she had to go again! She thought it was great fun! I didn't fall for that trick though.

You can't tell by these pics. but this was during a dance party where we were all shaking our bums. Yes, I took these pics. as I was cruising down the freeway, not too bad huh?

We finally arrived at G & G's and played and played. These are a few shots of the Wii. We don't have one, so the kids were thrilled to shake their bums with G & G.

Dani girl.

Ellie

We made a trip down to Albany to visit Great-Grandma Wagener. It was so nice to see her and play with her and she took all of us out to lunch!

My Aunt told us about a cool craft project. Peel the paper off of crayons, then melt them in the oven and you will have rainbow crayons. It was all going well until we tried to get them out of the pan.....when you first take them out it's a liquid, and if you wait until it's cool it just sticks in the pan. I need to get more detailed info. from her on how to complete that project......

It was fun making it though.

The 'Couve girls! We were all going to go visit our friend Kathy, who had a new baby girl 5 days before, but Kathy's son was sick, so we met at a restaurant instead. We missed you Kathy! Sarah, Jocey, Lindsey, Meghan and me! What fun, it was so nice to sit with the girls and just laugh and chat for hours. It's always fun to see the kids, but way more enjoyable to just hang out as moms/girls!

Thanks girls, it was such a fun night for me!

We also visited two of my friends from college, and hung out with Cousin Sarah, but I didn't take any pics. of those fun activities....I'm so bummed. Thanks everyone for making the time to see us during your busy week! We had so much fun! We'll be back soon.

All the way home it was rain/snow mixed on the roads. Spring break/snow/rain/wind/3 children/ screaming = good times!