Saturday, April 25, 2009

Federation 2009

Abbie and Avery had the opportunity to participate in Federation this Saturday.  The National Federation of Music Clubs holds an event each year at the U of U for violin students (and other musical instruments) to perform and get critiqued by judges.  This was Avery's first year to participate, and we are so proud of her.  She is our shy little girl and was very nervous.  When it came her turn she asked politely if she could go last. She then was only motivated to play her pieces when her father mentioned we would be going for ice cream afterward.  I guess after he mentioned ice cream she popped right out of her seat to the front of the room and played really well (she is definitely her mothers daughter). Avery did such a great job, and received a Superior rating, which is the highest.

Abbie also received a Superior rating for the 3rd year in a row.  She will be receiving a trophy this year for her three Superior ratings.  Each year I usually sit in as a judge, and love watching the children perform.  At the last minute I was assigned to Abbie and Avery's room to judge.  It was so great to be able to hear them perform.  Don't worry, I did not critique my own children and that's why they did well. They were rated on two judges critiquing rather than three.  We are all relieved to have Federation behind us for another year. Congratulations girls!!!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

I need your help!

I need some advice.  We decided to move Aliza into her "big girl bed" a few weeks back.  We made the decision to move her because we are taking a vacation without the kids in a few months and wanted her to be comfortable sleeping without her crib.  So, for her birthday Grammie and Gramps Phillips gave her this cute bedspread and we made a big deal of switching her into the "big girl bed".  Going to sleep at night is working great.  We have had a few nights of having to put her back in her bed, but for the most part she is doing good.  The problem is nap time.  For some reason when we lay on her bed to read books before her nap it winds her up instead of down. Then she is completely wide awake and will not stay in her bed to nap.  What do I do?  I know I'm not the only one that has had this problem.  Help!!!

That's not our only problem.  Now she is getting up one or two times per night and wanting to drink milk and lay in our bed.  Yes, I let her the first couple of times (bad idea) but she was just getting use to her bed. Now I am stuck getting up every night with her.  Not only is it a bad habit of getting up, but she doesn't need milk in the middle of the night. She can really throw a good tantrum in the middle of the night. Our family that she is staying with while we are gone would not like to get up with her crying in the night.  Any suggestions?

Monday, April 13, 2009

Easter 2009

Easter is such a great time of year. The countdown to Easter started about a week ago and we just couldn't wait to spend time together as a family.  Our wonderful Easter weekend always starts with coloring the eggs. Of course no one ever really eats the eggs at our house, but they look beautiful. Abbie discovered this year why we use that little dipper thing to get the eggs in and out of the cups.  For some reason it didn't click until her fingers were all different colors and she couldn't wash it off.
Aliza was right in there with her big sisters dipping the eggs.

These are some of Avery's favorites.  

We have a tradition in the Phillips family of an annual Easter egg hunt. We all look forward to it every year because it's not like your traditional egg hunt.  Micah's parents are kind enough to hide eggs with money in them for an adult egg hunt.  It's kind of a funny sight because the kids do their hunt first, and while they are looking at their eggs the adults literally run around the yard like crazy hoping to find some big money.  It stayed pretty calm this year, but in past years there have been injuries. I have been literally taken out, and pushed out of the way quite a few times. We take it very seriously.  In the end some of the older nieces and nephews joined in on the adult hunt and all took home the big bills.  I don't know how they all scored that one.  We decided they need their own hunt next year.  My eggs always end up being the one dollar bills rather than fives or twenties, but I'm definitely not complaining.

On your mark, get set, GO!

They were all kind enough to let Aliza have a bit of a head start.  She was so excited that she just ran around the yard screaming instead of picking up the eggs.  We all got a good laugh.