HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ASHLYNN!

This cute girl got to celebrate 

two birthdays this year.

When we were headed out to Idaho she was upset

 that her older siblings were going to miss her birthday again this year. 

With siblings leaving on missions, and going to college, the older kids seem to keep missing her birthday.The fact that her siblings are growing up, and moving away does not seem to satisfy her as a logical reason for them to not be around on her special day:).

I decided we would need to celebrate twice this year, that way Alyssa and Riley could attend.

Celebrating is a BIG deal to this girl!

Alyssa made her a big fleece blanket for her eighth birthday.

Ashlynn has used it everyday since. I was very happy when Ashlynn opened a

NEW fleece blanket, made 

with LOVE and CARE, from Alyssa!

The other one was getting pretty ragged looking.

An added bonus to the day was 

having cousins to celebrate with. 

HAPPY #11

Wow, I can't believe this girl is 11.  How do all my kids 

keep aging when I don't, LOL.

This year she wanted stilts for her birthday. 

She begged for months for her own pair of stilts. 

I thought it was somewhat of a weird request. The day before her birthday

 she had a meltdown due to the fact that she was sure dad had not had
 time to make them. I told her to not freak out about what
she was not getting until after her birthday:). To her surprise,
 JD had made them and she was the happiest kid on the planet.
She has used them non-stop and is incessant that
we notice how skilled she is becoming.  
I love this girl.

Ashlynn adores Paris. Anything and everything that involves 

the topic of Paris is a delight to her.
 Macarons are a favorite of hers.
I decided to try my hand at making a macaroon cake for her.

NAILED IT;)

Ashlynn gets so excited to run downstairs on her

 birthday to see what her cake looks like.

 I was a little worried about what her reaction would be. 

 SHE LOVED IT!

Yesterday we tried out this kit.  

CAN YOU SAY MAJOR MESS!!!

What was I thinking?

I was thinking...Ashlynn LOVES projects and crafts of all sorts. 

As the saying goes being creative is NOT a hobby it is a way of life.

She is continually coming up with new recipes for slime, baking, painting...

I am pretty sure of all her projects the bath bomb kit takes 

THE CAKE, in the mess department. 

 If I had to find two quotes to help describe 

Ashlynn's personality, these are the ones I would use.

Her craft room is her bedroom:).
(along with our entire house)

She loves unicorns.

I have noticed recently, she does not 

want kids at school to be aware of this fact.

The last few weeks she has been wanting STARBUCKS.

I have never bought anything for myself from starbucks, I am

 unsure where the sudden interest has come from.

For her birthday she was excited for

 her and Britton to have starbucks.

She really wanted some unicorn frappuccino?

They do not carry it any longer.

We picked her and Britton up early from school 

and went to the movie.

We went to, A dog's way home.

She loved it. 

I am unsure how that is possible.

HA HA HA

She was set on Buffalo wild wings for dinner.

Ashlynn, we love you.

Thanks for the beautiful 

blessing you are 

to our family !

Party time with the Phippens!

One of the highlights of family visits is when 9 siblings, 

with crazy schedules, and different zip codes, all

 manage to get together for the evening. 

Without children:).

 We all had such a wonderful time visiting 

and being together as family.

 PARTY

These are the three handsome musketeers 

all born in the same year.

 The family has gotten so big that we decided to meet 

at the church for the holiday festivities this year. 

 Everyone LOVED all the "minute-to-win" it games.

 Games and cousins are the 

greatest combination!

 In this game you had to blow up the balloon and be the

 first team to get all the cups off the table,

using the air from the balloon.

I feel very blessed by all the hard work and

 effort that was put into putting this day together for 

all of us to enjoy. 

 As you can see, this game is not only good for

 bringing people close together,

 it is good for the lungs as well.

I love these adorable pictures of Granny helping all the little kids. 

 We all know, Grannies are just mommies 

with frosting.

 FAMILIES THAT PLAY 

TOGETHER STAY TOGETHER!

 I LOVE how Alyssa is trying so hard 

to keep all the cups on the table.

 As I look at these pictures one of the thoughts 

that come to my mind is how amazing Erin is.

She was a month away from delivering a BABY and as you 

can see, she participated in everything, is in great shape, and

 is the most adorable pregnant person ever!

 We will call this game, "shake your butt."

 It had everyone laughing like crazy! 

 As the saying goes, "Being a family means you are part of

 something wonderful. It means you will love, 

and be loved, for the rest of your life."

 How blessed we are to have 

this group of people to call 

family!

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2018

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

It was so indescribably glorious to talk to Daxon this year. 

 I loved that I had all my other kids with me this year.

 I loved that we were in Idaho.

 I loved how magnificent Daxon looked and sounded.

 He spoke some Farsi to us all and mentioned he

 misses some of his hobbies but not us too much.

I think that makes me happy, LOL . 

I am thankful for the blessing it is to be a missionary mom. 

 I really struggled when Alyssa left. I actually remember a phase at 

the beginning being very angry that she was gone.  It is surprising to 

watch how with each missionary family member that goes,

 your testimony grows. 

BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER!

WE love you DAXON.

I LOVE the joy that fills this little girls entire

 being, when it comes to the holidays.

This year her time is often 

consumed with baking shows.

Ashlynn monopolizes our 

kitchens time, with her baking projects.

She was not disheartened when the

majority of her Christmas presents involved baking gifts. 

Riley felt the sting of being an adult this year. His mom

 told Santa to bring him practical gifts for college.  Pots, pans,

 place settings, Knives, bedding, ya know all the things boys love to receive LOL

Britton and JD have been loving the shooting 

pass and ammo santa brought them. 

Britton displays real talent when

 it comes to using firearms:).

JD claims it is because he is the teacher.

Jake bought Alyssa this foot spa.  Ashlynn was

 pretty sure santa forgot to bring her one also.

Britton was beyond happy to be given the new Madden game.

I really do not love the Xbox and I have tried to get rid of it many times. 

In fact, I told the boys I did not want them to have the XBox one.  

They did not like that answer. I picked Britton and Daxon up from the mall 

one day and the two of them had bought it. I am pretty strict about the games they play and the amount of time they are on it.  The boys assure me, I need to lighten up.  Studies show the smartest people play video games and that they are great for improving homewark skills:). 

Britton and Ashlynn were in heaven about the fact 

that Jake went outside to play the snow with them.

The day after Christmas we all headed to

 Scott's cabin in Island Park.

Without exception the cabin will inevitably bring

 joy, happiness and a good times to everyone. 

Scott and Raelynn are so thoughtful and generous to 

let us all enjoy being together at the cabin. 

Playing Nertz is a favorite pastime at the cabin.

Eating is a 24 hour event, that we all love!

Going on walks in the winter and the summer

 is also a favorite pastime at the cabin.

It was fun watching Mark toss

 Alyssa in the snow this year.

One of Alyssa's favorite 

things to do is go for walks. 

HA HA HA

Grant is so cute.   

It was fun to be at the cabin in the winter.

I loved the way it changed the dynamics.

In the summer you don't see much of the younger kids. 

They are outside and on the go.

In the winter everyone is inside a little more.  

It is fun to witness all the little personalities.

Tired or not, we all get up for  breakfast. 

It is delicious, everyday! 

One day Scott tossed Ashlynn in the snow, she had is coming!!!

 I was beyond impressed with the fight she gave him.  

That girl is tough as nails. 

As you can see they are still friends:). 

Gotta love pictures of cute kids and snow.

Owen is such a little love bug.  Always grinning 

from ear to ear. He is so tender and sweet.  

I love this picture.  

Everyone was at the 

cabin this year, except Travis, who is on a mission. 

I feel very blessed that I get 

to be a part of this group!

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE!