Oh how time flies!

I absolutely can not believe that my big boy is starting his 4th week of preschool tomorrow. Lots has been going on since we started, but I have never been very good at catch up. So, here's a few pics of the big boy and one of his newest buds. There is this awesome park outside our awesome church and we enjoy spending lots of time there. Bdp and his buddy Jack enjoy everything in the park - but they can often be found riding these dinosaurs (to be honest they need someone a little heavier to make them rock, details, right?).

There is a train track close to the church as well and if you climb to the top of the playset, it can be seen without any difficulty. The boys have spent quite a bit of time this month mastering this cool twisty ladder, but they would do just about anything to see those trains.

The landscapers will be here tomorrow to work on our plantings - we are so close to having the outside finished; I can barely stand it. Can't wait to show you the beds around the house, fulllllll of trees, bushes and flowers. Until then ...

Preschool is So Cool!

Wow! It sure is crazy taking your first child to preschool. We are so excited for bdp to start his first year in preschool at FBC Preschool. This is the cool little guy outside before loading the car this morning. If you look closely, you can see he has his pencils behind his ear (well, that's what his papa calls them when bdp helps with projects around the house!). You can easily see the green one, it's his favorite! Anyway ... he had a terrific day and I am happy to report that I think he will be fine at school on Thursday. Afterall, he has to go back for the "masheen" bubble (bubble machine)!
and yes that is our dead, dead grass in the background.

And for some reason I told you about the tractor ride but didn't post pictures. That is not either of bdp's grandpas, it is Mr. John. He is a grandpa though and bdp had lots of fun kerplunking in the tractor with him!

Stargazing

Tell me you wouldn't just fall in love with the stars in those eyes!!

Caleb, Bryce and I are at home without Daddio this weekend,

but we have had a restful couple of days after a fun week spent with great friends.

I mean seriously, look at that beautiful smile and those eyes. I am enamored by this sweet little boy and all his little moments right now. He is crawling around quite a bit, and he is a BIG eater. He could eat his brother under the table and he doesn't even have teeth yet.

However, this is the sweet boy that I have been stargazing with lately.

I know that the Perseid meteor shower is in all it's glory right now,

and that Mars is going to be making an appearance later this month,

but there are some pretty incredible things going on in this busy guy's world too!

He has had all kinds of diggers in his back yard; backhoes, tractors, cement mixers. And they are building a house across the street, so there has been plenty to watch while sitting on the front porch in his rocking chair as well. But most exciting, last week he got to ride in our neighbor's tractor, after Mr. John finished mowing the grasses

(b/c every knows you don't mow just one grass!).

This is his new Skuut - it has been a huge hit! Not only has he learned to ride it - it keeps him busy for quite a long time and I don't have to worry about him when he's riding; it's very safe! Tonight when we got home, I put brother Caleb in bed and we went out for a little bike riding in the driveway. And wouldn't you know, we watched the moon and the stars too. Time for a little relaxing and star gazing! Love you buddy. Thanks for watching the stars with me.

Simplify 101

So I am attempting to get things done in this new little life of mine ... AND I am employing what I hope are some helpful websites. As you might have noticed, Plan to Eat, is on our sidebar - it is supposed to help with storing and finding recipes, plus sharing them with your friends. It even makes a printable grocery list for you. However, I am realizing that I have a bit of prefectionist in me, which manifests itself as Ms. Procrastination, so I think I have to get organized to do anything (which means that often nothing gets done at all). Add to this, living in a new town with two small people to manage all day, and that is where I am hoping to employ this website's (Simplify101) philosophy.

Aby Garvey, the website author, offers online workshops and she is offering the first week of either of her Fall workshops for free. So I am trying out It's about Time! Check it out and see what you think. I am hopeful that it will help me simplify and get done, what needs getting done.

Transitions

Welcome to the new blog addition for the Phillips Family. I will still probably make the occasional guest appearance on the Daily Davis, but I didn't want to overwhelm the blog with my hopeful journaling extravaganzas.

It has been an interesting summer, nothing I could have prepared for any better than I think we did. May was a month of preparation and sweet goodbyes. June ended up being a month of revision: of a new house, landscaping plans, traveling plans, emotional attitudes, relationships, you name it really! July has been a month of true transition: into a new home, a new job, new roles ... it was a month! And I can not believe it is August. August is a month of promise: we are really enjoying our new church and all of the relationships that are springing up there. Bryce will begin preschool on the 17th - Tuesday/Thursday and it looks like we are going to have friends from church as well as our new neighborhood to see in the carpool line (maybe even carpool with)! As you might imagine it has been quite a roller coaster around here (notice my continual use of exclamations). Mom and Dad have been an amazing support while transitioning, putting the house together, helping the boys adjust ... I could probably go on and on. Thanks mom and dad!

Please let me know if you did not receive our e-card with our new contact info. My email has remained the same.

There is much to come - i am planning to get some of our sweet summer moments up to preserve. So keep checking back!