7th Folder, 7th Picture

Ahhhh. Let me introduce you to an important member of the family. This is Squishy Bear. Squishy Bear joined our family when Grandma and Papa Macdonald gave him to Kate for her first Christmas. And he has been a constant companion ever since. Okay she doesn't carry him around, she is 8 you know. But when she was younger he was certainly a good buddy and still is her main squeeze at night. There was only about 2 months when they were seperated. We accidently left him in Utah and we had to wait a bit to pick him up. You should have seen the reunion this was. I hope she misses her Mom that much when she leaves for college. :o) But he is famous and we had him "pose" for a picture for a school project. So here he is in all his glory. Isn't he cute? And now my "tagging" is complete. And what a fun way to document a treasured childhood friend for Kate. Thanks Carla!

Watch out Mommy!

Today Ellie was pushing the stroller at the girls' school. She believes the stroller is for her to push NOT ride in. Anywho, we started to walk over a huge drain that was covered with a grate. Ellie looked down and started to get worried. She gingerly walked over the grate and said, "Be careful Mommy. Don't fall down. Don't fall into the pot."


Oh no, we don't watch movies with princesses, mean step mothers, apples and pots. Never.

Speaking of Wishes

You will never guess what I got for my birthday. (NO CHEATING! Don't scroll down and cheat. Just guess!) Clothes? Shoes? Jewelry? Breakfast in Bed? Good guesses. And a few of those really did happen! (I even had my order taken for breakfast. YUMMY!)

But this is big. I mean BIG. Not a little gift. Not your ordinary gift by any means. Now as I say all this I hope none of you get offended. Your birthday presents, cards and well wishes were extremely thoughtful and super appreciated by me. I said on facebook, that I had never gotten so many birthday wishes before. I mean it! It was such a fun day. But back to the guesses. I mention this gift because it goes above and beyond nice. It was super generous!!!!! My sister Jill and her hubby Colter won something in a raffle. They were so excited! I mean how many times do you win a raffle? Once in a lifetime? ANYHOW, they could have taken what they won and sold it. Colter is in school still, they could have used the money.

But this shows the class of people that they are.

They sent it to me for my birthday.


Jill wanted to make sure it was okay with me, so I did know it was coming, but I kept it a secret from Darin and the girls. I had Darin open it. I have never been so excited to have someone else open my present. :o) We are in the car at the post office. I just couldn't wait. Someday I'll get the video on when I figure out our camera. Kate was screaming, I was excited and Darin was shocked!

Jill, Colter, Grant, Clark and Cora, Thank you so much. We have had so much fun! And what a truly charitable thing to do. We love it. Love it, love it!! We had wanted a Wii for so long! You made our WISH come true! You are like the fairy godmother! Biddi Bobidi Boo! THANK YOU!

Can you see WHY I had to mention this particular gift??????? I knew ya'll would understand.

Wishes

I have to say that I am a huge fan of wishes. Love them. I love throwing coins in fountains and making wishes. I still remember always wanting to throw coins in the fountain in the center court of Westridge Mall. You know all you PHX 21sters, the old fountain in center court. Ah those days. I don't do it as much. Mostly because I don't run in to many fountains and secondly, I need every penny I can save to scrounge together just enough to buy a Whopper Jr every six months. But my feelings for wishes still exist. I am big on candles and wishes at birthdays. Once a year, you get to close your eyes, make a wish and then blow like crazy! How fun is that? I love granting the wishes of my family when I can. There is something magical about it. Now that I am older, wishes kind of mix with prayers. Wishes are your hopes for something. And when I wish it tends to run into prayers. Who else grants us our dreams, but a loving Heavenly Father? Well I know they are often granted through those around us, but aren't our hands His? And who else but God, helps us so fully when wishes don't come true exactly as we had planned? And who else but Heavenly Father helps us to see that our wishes came true in ways we couldn't see on our own?
I have a few of my wishes to share, I hope you don't mind. I wanted some of you to know that I have a few wishes and prayers for you!
-For Colter, my hard working BIL. Prayers for you as you finish your dissertation and as you seek a position somewhere across this great nation. May you have guidance from above! And may my secret wish for family to move closer come true!
-For my nephew Kyle. He was baptized on Saturday. I thought of you all day Kyle. I should have called. May you know you are loved by us, and may you always remember your very special day!
-For my young women. I don't think any of them read this. But there are a few of you that I know need extra prayers. My wish is that you know you are loved.
-For my Abby. She once told me that noboday likes her. May you always know sweetie pie, that you are oh so loved by oh so many. Hang in there! You are a beautiful little lady.
-Birthday wishes for Bob, sorry we missed your day. Did you hyperventilate trying to blow out ALL those candles? Hee hee!
-Wishes for my sister Shelley and her hubby Darren, as they go to sell their home. MAY IT SELL!
-Prayers of gratitude that you weren't hurt Darren!
-One last wish. for greater patience. I hope someday that I can say I am doing better. Even if just a little.

Love to you all, those who read and comment and even wishes for those who don't. :o)

Are we funny or what?

Sarah, loves the movie Annie. I let my kids watch it a month ago. I hadn't watched it since I was a kid. I walked in during one of the times they were watching it (AGAIN) and was surprised that I didn't remember how racy it is! But I have to say, it still has incredible songs! Anyhow, Annie often says "Leapin' Lizards" in the movie. One night, I told Sarah a story and her reaction to the punch line was "Leapin' Smokers!" :o)

We went hiking for my birthday and had a great time. We managed to forget the hiking pack to carry Ellie. But I think it would have been a waste anyhow. She was all about doing it herself! (No surprise there eh?) Here are some of our favorites from that day.

Ellie:
"No Daddy don't help me. I a hiker."
"No Mommy. I a good hiker. I go hiking!"
"Help me Daddy. (her rare request for help) Thank you Daddy. You a good man."

And other cute sayings:
Ellie: "Daddy you a man."
Daddy: "Yes I am. What is Mommy?"
Ellie: "Mommy not a man. She a woman."

After waking up from her nap, Ellie found Kate in her room after coming home from school.
Ellie: "Katie! You came back! I love you Katie." A big hug followed!

Ellie: "I am go to school too. I be an owl too."

Other quick notes of interest:
Kate had her first piano lesson. She was on cloud nine. She was so excited the she practiced as soon as she got her hands on a piano, which happened to be at the Church while I set up for New Beginnings! Not once, all week, did I have to ask her to practice. YES! Love it!

Abby prays everyday for rain. It is so cute. She gets so excited when her prayers are answered!

Sarah and Abby went to the dentist. NO CAVITIES! Yipppeeee! What made me laugh though was they got battery powered toothbrushes for Christmas. They got cheapy ones from the dentist. They came home and THREW away their nice toothbrushes. I was like WHAT??? Abby, "Well we got new ones." I made them fish them out and we washed them. I know gross. At least the garbage had been emptied. There was no way I was throwing them away!LOL!

Sarah loves butter. I just found her with the whole tub. She had knocked it off the counter accidently while trying to eat it. Butter everywhere. GRRrrreeeeeeasy! Ewww! Why???? Tell me someone. I want to know.

Abby and Sarah both wanted to know how old I turned. You should have seen their horrified looks when I told them. What are they going to say when I turn 40? :o)

Okay I'll quit. I just want to remember so much of the everyday. What life was really like. And now for the answer. Are we funny or what??? It is WHAT for sure!

Can it Be?

I shouldn't complain. I read other blogs where people are suffering from burns, children needing heart transplants, cancer etc etc. But, can I complain a little? I just did our taxes for last year. We spent $9,024.53 on medical costs last year. Can it be? 9 thousand dollars gone. I guess I can be grateful that we are alive and kickin'. What a blessing health is. But what an expensive one. Healthy, but poor. That's what we are. :o)

A Powerful Bond

Sarah and Abby

Don't these pictures just make you smile? I didn't even pose them. They were doing whatever they wanted. It was so funny. I hope they will forever feel this way about each other and their other sisters. I know that I cried on the way home from the airport after dropping Emily off. I love my sisters SOOOooooooo much. I miss being with them. One of my life wishes is that Kate, Ellie, Abby and Sarah feel that same bond. Families are what it is all about!

Now don't let me leave you out Seth. Thank heavens you were in the mix. Who would have protected us? I still remember when this big old huge boy liked me at school. He was TALL! I am sure my memory makes him even taller, but I do know he was double my size. I was scared of him. I was a first grader and you were in sixth grade. You told me that you would protect me from him. I think you even went up to him and told him to leave me alone. I still remember he was waiting right by the old crosswalk by the bike rack and you were there with me. I never forgot that. Brothers are so important too. Now that I am sitting here reminiscing, maybe we do need a boy in this family after all! Errr, um, maybe Darin/Daddy will have to do. :o)

Back to my other thoughts from two paragraphs ago. I love my twins. We went to Walmart and every corner we turned, people made comments. Every once in awile that drives me insane. Yes they are twins. Yes that is why they are dressed the same, look the same, act the same, and no I didn't have two children so close together that they look the same. LOL! But yesterday was one of those days that it just made me smile. And say a few thank yous to Heavenly Father for sending them, each one and yet, at the same time. What an experience it is. Aber and Sarah Jane - You are loved!

Auntie Em, Auntie Em

Looking gorgeous wouldn't you say?

She's ready guys! :o)

Aunt Em, how we love you so
You make us smile and laugh
Our hearts are fuller
When we are near to you.
Oh how we miss you so!
Adventures we had with you,
Ones we won't soon forget.
What an example you are to us
For your heart is as pure as can be
Thank you for coming
For bring such light and happiness
Our days were brighter while you were here
And now we send our love to you
While the miles keep us apart.

We love you Emily!
We can't wait until we meet again . . . .

A New Girl

So Kate came home one day and told me that she had failed the vision test at school. I said, "Kate have you had trouble seeing at school?" "Yes" says Kate. OKAY that would have been very good to know! But we took her in and wa la- she is blind. :o) She couldn't see anything! I felt terrible. So we went in and started looking for just the right frames. I was surprised by what we ended up picking. But she looks DARLING in them. And NOW SHE CAN SEE! She was floored by all she could see. For days that is all we heard. "I can see that now. I can see that now. Wow look at that. Mom can you read that? I can!" She was reading every street sign as we were driving. It almost drove us bonkers. (in a good way.) We are so glad she can see. That same day she also got her ears pierced. She really is a NEW girl. You have to look hard to see her ears, but here she is. Oh and at the last second I decided I would try to put on some video. I don't know what I am doing so here goes. If you see video it worked. If you don't well, that means there is little hope for this technologically challenged woman.

A Christmas tradition

Grandma and Papa Phippen brought a gingerbread kit with them so the girls could do one with them. I think they did a superb job on it. Grandma helped, but Kate really did great with the frosting. AND Sarah and Abby even held back on eating all the candy so that there could actually be candy on this gingerbread house! It has been touch and go in the past. You all will not believe me when I say that I didn't even mean to dress them the same that day. Really it wasn't just for the picture with the gingerbread house. Promise. muchos gracias Papa and Grandma

Merry Christmas

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! And that you party it up this New Year's Eve! :o) Ya know, Mormon style.

Christmas 2008

Our tree this year:

I would be lying if I didn't admit two things about Christmas this year. It was Grrrrrrrreat! It was wonderful to not get in a car and load the presents both for family and for kids, the stockings, the snacks, the clothes, the mittens, the gloves, the coats, the kids, the pillows, the sleeping bags, the diapers, the wipes, the EVERYTHING but the kitchen sink. That was one of the really great things about Christmas. I know our families are deeply offended by this. But WAIT. My next admission will make it all better. The LAME part of Christmas was not getting in the car and seeing family! We missed you all terribly! We missed the UT snow, the AZ sunshine and clear blue skies, we missed aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters and parents. We missed my Mom's homemade soup on Christmas Eve and the beauty of Mt Timpanogos in falling snow. Now don't get me wrong, like I said we had a wonderful Christmas. It just would have put an extra sparkle on the day to have spent it with family. We are very grateful that Darin's parents swooped in and saved the season by coming to visit us on the 29th. We had a mini Christmas again the night they came and it really was great!

One of the highlights of December for us was doing a 12 days of Christmas for a couple in our ward. I don't mention this to make ourselves look good, instead I share it because it definitely made Christmas SO FUN. We chose a couple that we love so much who are amazing. They weren't giving each other gifts at all. They were taking the money they would have spent on each other and spent it on a family in need. So we decided to give a little cheer to them. The kids had a blast taking turns ringing the doorbell and running. In fact, Sarah asked me today if we could do it again tonight. I hope this will be a tradition we ALWAYS do every year.

Other highlights of the 2008 Christmas Season:

1. Darin's work party at the Lamplighter Inn. It was actually fun this year. And we went to see Twilight afterwards. I LOVE DATES WITH DARIN!

2. Making granola. We had fun delivering it this year to friends and neighbors (although they fall into the same category).

3. Eating all the goodies. Especially Taija Stagg's plate. It is something to look forward to all year.

4. Abby and Sarah's Christmas parent day at kindergarten. Darin got to go!

5. Shopping at the last second. I got myself a douzy of a kidney infection right before Christmas. So I was just getting to my shopping two nights before Christmas. It is a highlight only because I want to remember to never, ever wait that long again. :o)

6. Grandma and Papa Phippen coming

7. Getting Christmas cards from family and friends. Wahooo! Great job everyone, especially those we haven't heard from in years! We won't mention names of those we STILL haven't heard from. LOL!

8. The Christmas tree remained standing. Although the poor thing was torturized this year by little girls building tall slides with the couch cushions while Mommy read "The Host" in bed on a Sunday afternoon. We won't mention that Daddy was snoring in the same room and didn't hear the poor tree moaning as it was the designated home plate. Duct tape and super glue might be the only way it still stands next year.
9. Christmas Eve and the story of Jesus Christ's birth.

10. Caroling with Ellie. She said, "Merry Christmas" so CUTE this year. And one night in the car while we were looking at lights she said, "Santa says, Ho Ho Ho!" It was darling!

The gang waiting to see the Christmas tree and presents on Christmas morning.

Santa really did come!

Sarah and Abby are sporting their capes that their cousins sent. Sarah and Jill, you are so creative and talented!!!!! They are so dang cute.

We hope your Christmas was just as eventful and just as fun!

Eeeee Gads!

Holy cow! Holy cow! Holy Cow! How did it become December? Yikes! (that is one too many exclamation points in one line, but hey I FEEL the exclamations!) I am not panicking. I am not panicking. If I say it one more time does it work like it does for Dorothy?

Last night was our Young Women in Excellence. You can tell from the way my house looks that this event has consumed us since Sunday. It would appear that either A) a bomb went off B) the washing machine exploded C) a tornado ripped through D) all of the above It is definitely D! But hey at least the clothes all over everywhere are mostly clean. We just get dressed out in the living room every morning instead of our rooms. Who needs clothes in dressers? I was so grateful for the help of all of the young women leaders. I feel so much support from all of them. It feels so good to know that we can call on each other at anytime. What a blessing! Heavenly Father really knew what he was doing when he formed presidencies. And I truly feel that the Lord inspired these certain women to be leaders for these girls in the Visalia 1st Ward at this exact time. They are amazing women. The night went well. We had all but one girl bring a project to display a value experience they accomplished. I was THRILLED. It took a lot of reminding and work to get these girls to be prepared, but in the end they all came through. They are fabulous girls. Their projects were varied and so awesome. I forgot my camera so I hope that a father with a camera will remember to email me pictures. We even had a laurel get her young womanhood recognition award too. We had her last YW president speak about her, we gave her a picture of the Fresno temple, and then the bishop awarded her the medallion. She then spoke. What a great job she did! I don't know how her parents contained their pride, because I felt so proud of her! All of the speakers did great and WHAT A RELIEF to have it done! Now on to New Beginnings. And now maybe I should focus on my family. I still don't even have a tree up!!!!!!!! This is totally going against all Amy rules. I am fanatical about holidays and decorating. I feel tired this year. I need to snap out of it. My kids are going crazy that we are not decorated. I don't blame them one bit.

Thanksgiving was one of those I don't want to forget. We so enjoyed having Darin's sister's family here with us from Heber City, UT. They have 6 of the most fun, well behaved, kind, helpful and sweet kids ever. Our kids are still lamenting their departure. We really enjoyed talking, playing, visiting and of course EATING! I was impressed that we actually had dinner only an hour later than planned. :o) It was delicious. I dare say that I have never heard of the turkey being cooked like the Rhees family cooks it, but it was darn good. A new turkey tradition! I have yet to download pictures so look for some.. . . . .later. And yes we did hit Black Friday. We had to! We didn't have hardly any presents yet for Abby and Sarah! And Black Friday was their birthday. It was crazy, but not too bad. We mostly bought clothes. I know, boring. But we can't go around naked can we? Well Darin wouldn't mind if one of us did. Hee hee. (he is going to kill me when he reads this! Ha, we'll see how long it takes for him to read it. If I die soon you'll know why!) And by the way, all my racy comments are for you Darren. Well not for you, but in honor of you. I learn from the best.

Well this has been super duper quick. Homework has got to be done. And dinner. If my kids have to have soup again for dinner there might be a revolt. They love soup, but even they can hit overload. Someday I'll read all your blogs too. I am light years behind. I miss you all.
Take care!!!

Birthday Fun Times TWO

Having twins is a phenomenon. It is fascinating, inspiring, exhausting, troublesome, fun, exciting, worrisome, indescribable and most importantly it is a job that is doubly rewarding. I hope that Sarah and Abby or Abby and Sarah (I have to say it both ways, since they both want to be first) will always love being a twin. They love it now and I hope we find ways to help them always love having a sister so close in so many ways.

It is hard to believe that 5 years ago today I was in Phoenix, Arizona, laid out in a bed dying. Okay not dying, but well yea kind of dying. I had gone into the hospital on November 26th for a routine stress test. It was the day before Thanksgiving and I had left the house in disarray, but with plans to return, make my portion of Thanksgiving dinner and enjoy the holidays. Well I knew something was uncomfortable, but at that point I was uncomfortable all the time. I felt so TIGHT. There seemed to be no way my stomach could stretch anymore. Abby and Sarah agreed! I was contracting every minute and dilated to a 3. I was told there was no way I was leaving. Sarah was breech and Abby was transverse. No hope for a regular delivery for me. I was on magnesium immediately. There is nothing else like it either. For 48 hours it was pure torture. Nausea, vomiting, double vision, blinding headaches, loss of appetite, and complete loss of motion. I was a beached whale. I couldn't even lift myself to turn over. Darin sat in the corner freezing to death (magnesium makes you HOT!). It was funny Darin ate dinner with the family at home and then ate my Thanksgiving dinner at the hospital! He had to do something besides roll his wife over and over. Oh and well try to help me use the bed pan! Can you imagine??? I couldn't hardly lift my arm, let alone my gargantuan belly and bum! LOL! By Friday evening, my body was at toxic levels of mag. I couldn't process it out fast enough. There was nothing to do but take me off. It was the most peaceful hour of sleep I had. And then BAM, we were having an emergency C-section. I was contracting too fast and too hard. I can still remember lying on the table contracting so hard I was involuntarily moaning. At 9:39 and 9:41, the most beautiful babies were born. I was so relieved to hear crying! Sarah came first, weighing 4 lbs 13 ounces. Abby came next. She was NOT happy to be taken from her nice warm home. She scowled! But it was a good thing, she was small at 3 lbs 10oz. We needed her to be a fighter! I got to see them and then off Darin went to be with them in the NICU. I felt so much relief. And so excited to have them out. We were blessed to bring them home just two weeks later. They were 6 weeks early and we didn't have to intubate them or even do oxygen cannulas. It was still a little scary at times, but all in all we felt the Lord's blessings flow without end. And to this day the love we feel for these two beautiful girls is without end.

Our Sarah

1. Loves to smile

2. Loves to shake her hips (she has some moves! I am not scared. Yet.)

3. Loves to write and read

4. Loves to wear skirts
5. Loves school

6. Loves markers

7. Loves animals

8. Loves soccer

9. Loves Jesus

10. Loves food

Happy 5th Birthday Sarah! Hugs and kisses for you! We love you so very much!

Our Abby

1. Loves to ask people their names

2. Loves to answer the phone by saying "I'm Abby what is your name?"

3. Loves to read

4. Loves to smile and giggle

5. Loves dessert. Loves dessert. Loves dessert

6. Loves to get in bed with Sarah or Mom

7. Loves movies

8. Loves to be friendly, even to perfect strangers. (I am AFRAID. :o))

9. Loves to dress up

10. Loves Jesus

5 Big Birthday hugs and kisses for you Abby on your 5th Birthday! We love you so very much!

Good Article

Do I know how to do this? My Mom sent this to me and I wanted you all to be able to read it. So here it is:

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