Baby Michael Hawk

Michael Hawk joined our family on June 16 at 7:11 a.m. He wieghed 9 lb 12 oz and was 21 3/4 in long. He was a big boy and I had a very quick labor and delivery. Mark and Aunt Kim were there for the birth, Lizzie arrived to see her brother about 2 hours later, with Bella, Markie and Ben visiting later in the day. I am starting a new blog in honor of our new family addition, and plan to publish a hard copy of this blog. We are adjusting quite well to our new family size, which let me to the title of my new blog for our new adventures, "party of six".

A poem I found in Lizzie's end of the year work

I am creatie and funny
I wonder why there are stars in the sky
I hear butterflies giggling
I see little sparkling people on each star
I want to be able to fly
I am creative and funny

I pretend to be an Olympic gymnast
I feel that aliens are weird
I touch purple people
I worry that my dogs will get in a fight
I cry when my favorite animals run away
I am creative and funny

I understand that miracles can happen
I say that ducklings can talk
I dream about trains that are powered by bubbles
I try to do excellent in gymnastics and softball
I hope I could live foreer
I am creative and funny

Age 9
Grade 4th Lizzie Phipps

Splash Pad

Summer has arrived. School's out for summer. We headed over to the Tempe Beach Park Splash Pad for a little fun on this great Friday morning! Thought I should get the kids out while I can!

Markie turns 7

Markie turns 7. This was a great birthday for him. He wanted an XBOX 360 for his birthday, so he got that instead of having a big birthday party out somewhere, instead opting to have a few friends and neighbors over for a water balloon fight, make your own pizzas and cake. His cousin, Bobby and Nick got to spend the night too. The party was a compromise to save money for his game system, but turned out to be a lot more fun than his party last year at bowling or the year before at laser tag. He was very gracious allowing both his sisters to attend with Bella even crawling inside her sleeping bag next to his friends for part of the night.

Things about Markie to remember as he turns 7
1. He can read a 170 pg book in two nights.
2. He takes a half bologna sandwich with mayo for lunch every day to school.
3. He likes little league baseball and can hit the ball quite well.
4. He loves to play with Bella the most at home, Lizzie sometimes too.
5. Ben Moore is his best friend.
6. He likes a "full" bedtime movie every night, although he doesn't always get it.
7. He loves to sleep in sleep palnts with no shirt.
8. He would love to have his own cat.
9. He loves to swim.
10. He loves cheetos and oreos.

Bella and Princess Dance

Bella took her first dance class through the city of Mesa. Princess dance. She liked it so much she did two sections in a row for about 12 weeks of dance. She had a blast. She had two different teachers and loved putting on her dance leotard every week and tights and shoes. She always ran right into the class without a backwards glance as to where I was, and for that alone I was thankful. I would sit in the hallway with the other mommies for 45 minutes and wait. First time in a long time I was kidless while waiting for a kid's activity and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Bella would sometimes get to show off what she had learned with the other girls at the end of class, and she always loved that. She can't wait to take more dance and asks for gymnastics a lot too, which we haven't ventured into yet. Bella, heres to many more years of driving you to whatever activities you choose!

Lizzie tries minor league softball!

Lizzie decided she wanted to try softball this spring. She asked about it quite a few times, and so we got her on a team at the last minute for spring little league. She is a minor and is on a team called the mets. She had her first practice last night. The team had already been practicing for a couple of weeks, but Lizzie fit right in. I only watched half of practice because it was freezing out there last night, but she seemed to enjoy herself and has quite a nice swing for her hitting. She had a great opportunity to learn how to swing at a clinic on Saturday with the Dobson High Softball team and coaches. She can't wait for her next practice on Saturday! She is still doing gymnastics, just wanted to try something new!

Markie in Flag Football

Markie played his first season of flag football this Jan/Feb. He had begged for football for a long time, I was hesitant to start him in tackle football, so was thrilled to find a well established co-ed flag football league. He really enjoyed his season, he practiced once a week and had games every Saturday. Markie was sometimes dissapointed he didn't get the ball more, but he did well for his first season. His coach wanted him to move right into another season of it, but with baseball starting, we decided to wait til maybe next winter to try football again. Markie is really enjoying his sports, he is looking forward to some type of basketball camp I hope to find for him this summer, and is planning to play soccer in the fall. Markie likes pretty much any sport we put him in!

Bella, my chocolate milk gal

Bella and I are having a great year home together. I am not doing any organized child care this year, so I only use a sitter when I am working. I have chosen not to do preschool with Bella either, so it is the two of us, every day the older two are in school. Bella is an interesting gal. She really does not eat much, she doesn't ask for much, she is happy just watchin mornin tv, then pulling out toys and board games through out the day and either playing them with me or by herself. The one thing about Bella, is she loves her "chocolate". That is what she calls chocolate milk. She only likes it already premade from the store, she can instantly tell the difference when I am out of chocolate and mix my own out of white milk. So needless to say, I rarely run out of chocolate milk. I really think Bella could live on "chocolate" alone!

Firsts in 09

Lizzy's firsts:
Competed level 5 in gymnastics
Bought her first pair of skinny jeans
Was in her first school spelling bee
Swam in her first swim meet
Got her first cell phone
Made her own brownies start to finish


Markie's firsts:
Rode his bike wthout training wheels
Played his first season of little league coach pitch
Got his first pair of slip on vans in black, and discovered he loves black socks
Had his first practice in flag football
Discovered legos and loves building with them
Developed a love of reading and is into the Diary of a WImpy Kid series


Bella's firsts:
Got her first big girl Dora bed
Started sleeping in Mommy and Daddy's big bed
Got her first scooter she picked out at Target
Got Aunt Kim to be an official babysitter while Mommy works
Discovered she loves making funny faces
Went to open gym at gymnastics as a big girl

Out with 09, in with 2010.

Here comes a new year. They are flying by at the speed of light with the kids growing so much. This past year has brought us lots of growing up with the kids. Bella is now a full blown little person, with thoughts and opinions all her own, and you better not leave her out of anything the bigger kids do, or she'll notice and let you know. Markie goes back and forth, little kid with Bella, big kid with Lizzie and Ben. He is very sensitive and nurturing with Bella, and even surprised Kim and I a few times with unexpected kindness to Alex. Lizzie is turning into a tween before my eyes, although she has an unanticipated fondness for littlest pet shop which I allow her to indulge, it may be the last "toys" she enjoys. Clothes and lipgloss are taking over slowly. Justice is her favorite store now. Mark completed two ironmans in 09. His first year for two, with his second beating his fastest time by over an hour and a half. Way to go Mark! I found myself embarking on a new, slightly unexpected journey as I am carrying our fourth child, that has consumed me for a few months as it has zapped my energy and patience. we also lost Zelda this year, she fought for a while, but finally we gave up together and let her go in peace. I will see her again I know. We welcomed Rascal, although she proved to be too much for our family and poor Millie, so out when Rascal. In came Tater, or as I call him, Tater tot. Weighing already 60 pounds at 4 months, she is a great big boy full of love and play, we hope Tater will be around for many years!

As we begin 2010 I know there will be more changes, adventures and challenges as we will go from a family of 5 to a family of six, and my blog will have to end this year as I will no longer be a mommie of three, but of four! I am thinking of a new, public blog since I only have a handful of readers on this one, more to come on that. Bella wants to start gymnastics, watch out team, here she comes! Markie will have his first flag football game next week and plans to resume baseball in the spring. Lizzie continues gymnastics and all the challenges level 5 has to offer. We are always proud of all three in all of their endeavours. As far as Mark, his fitness goals will shift to accomodate his busy schedule, and his focus will be off the ironman distance although he will complete one more ironman in June. Yes, the same month we are expecting number four. Should find out boy or girl soon, although I am thinking girl and already have the name picked. Here we go 2010, no written goals for the year for me, lets see what life shall bring as I will continue to try to be a better person, mom, wife, friend, etc. etc. etc.

Christmas 09

Christmas was great fun. Kids all were thrilled for Santa to come! My parents ended up making the trek from Yuma, which was great for everyone! We had a great La Fonda Christmas Eve dinner after a very crowded mass at Resurrection. Christmas morning did not dissapoint. Brunch at Kim's was fabulous, back home in time to have the neighbors over for a late night movie to cap it all off. It was a fast holiday, seems like it was over before it started. Very fun though. The pics are various ones of Christmas day, the one of the three cousins in matching sort of pajamas was during break when Ben had a sleepover. The kids have had a blast over break, lots of sleepovers, fun, bike rides, trips to the park, movies. I have to say this was one of the funnest breaks I can remember.