My new site

I am not very good at computers, so the easier the better for me. Mac has an easier way of posting things...so I switched. This way, I might post more entries because it is easier!!! Anyway here is the new site:

http://web.me.com/phillipsphamily/Site_2/PheeFam/PheeFam.html

I am the biggest slacker!!

Even Adam has commented on my non-blogging attitude lately. I didn't take a lot of pics when I was away this summer, so I am waiting for my sister and sister-in-law to send pics that they took. But we are going to Maine this week and I will definitely be taking photos, lots of photos then. I will have  a post with pictures when we get home. Hope everyone is having a great summer.

What we have been up to...

We have been out in Utah for almost 2 weeks. I can't believe how fast it has gone by. Rachel (my sister) has gone back to work to finish teaching the school year. I have had the privilege of watching my little niece, Mabel. She is such a good baby. I has been so much fun to hold a newborn. We have just visited with a few friends and our family since we have been here. We are going to be staying here at least another 4 weeks. Adam and I are going to Spain together in June. My sister is going to watch my kids, I hope she survives! Anyway, here are a few photos of what we have been up to. I need to be better about taking more.

Our friends the McOmbers who we know from PA, have moved out to CA and are visiting their fam in UT. It was so nice to see them. Elle and Annie have been best buds since they were 5 months old. They love each other so much. The top pic is of Annie and her new little brother, Will who is about 5 months. You can tell they are related. I am so glad we were able to see them. 

This is Ava feeding Mabel. The girls some times get jealous of the attention that Mabel needs, so I try to let them participate so we don't have too many fits during the day. 

Ava was checking to see how much Mabel had drunk. She kept saying "Oh Mom, she drank another 12 pounds..." It was cute that Ava was pretending to know what she was talking about. 

Call me crazy, but I brought my dog too. Adam works a lot and travels a lot too. It was cheaper to bring her than to have to pay for boarding every time we needed it. Rachel has a Westie too. Most of the time they play like this, but when it comes to food. All bets are off. They will fight to the death for Ava's ham or whatever she is eating. Poor Ava always has 2 dogs following her around waiting for her to drop her food, or take it when she is not looking. 

Just cute pics of the Girls

I has been really nice here and everything is in bloom. Here are just a few photos of the girls enjoying Spring.

My new haircut

What I wanted and what I got...
I love the lady who cut my hair. I think she is really good and she is cheap. But my hair isn't exactly the same. I knew I wouldn't be, but ya know, you always hope. I think I might need some highlights and I definitly need to use more product. I hate product, but I should use more of it. I think it is cute anyway. Adam hasn't really said much, but that is typical of him. What do you think?


I took a 110 pics on my own that this is the best I could get:)

Longwood Gardens

I know that I have already posted a previous trip to Longwood, but this is mostly for my Mom. Longwood Gardens is one of her favorite places. We went one day to see their new tree houses. As always, it was beautiful and refreshing to see the beautiful scenery.

Our Fancy Nancy Soiree

Today Ava had her birthday party, that she has so patiently been waiting for. Her favorite books is the Fancy Nancy collection by Jane O'Conner. If you haven't read them, and you have little girls, you need to get them. Anyway, she wanted a Fancy Nancy themed party. It was so much fun to watch her! When she was opening her presents, she kept repeating, "Oh my goodness!!" It was so cute. The girls made purses, and necklaces, and played like fancy girls should.

Babe-a Ava's 3rd Birthday

I don't know who was more excited Ava, or Elle
Elle didn't seem to understand it wasn't her birthday

Case in point...


Good thing Ava is such a sweetheart.
We love you Ava and we are so happy you came to our family 3 years ago. xoxo

The best brownies ever

So, I was looking through Cooking Light looking for healthy recipes and I came across this recipe. I couldn't resist trying them. How cruel though, tempting people like that! Anyway, it was Ava's birthday, so I had an excuse to make them. They are wonderful! They do taste better completely cooled however...Enjoy!

Ooey Gooey Chocolate Marshmallow Peanutbutter Brownies

3/4 cup fat-free sweetened condensed milk, divided
1/4 cup butter or stick margarine, melted and cooled
1/4 cup fat-free milk
1 (18.5-ounce) package devil’s food cake mix
1 large egg white, lightly beaten
Cooking spray
1 (7-ounce) jar marshmallow creme
1 cup peanut butter chips

Preheat oven to 350.
Combine 1/4 cup condensed milk, butter, milk, and next 3 ingredients (batter will be very stiff). Coat bottom of a 13x9-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Press 2/3 of batter into perpared pan using floured hands; pat evenly (layer will be thin).
Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.Combine 1/2 cup condensed milk and marshmallow creme in a bowl; stir in chips. Spread marshmallow mixture evenly over brownie later. Carefully derop remaining batter by spoonfuls over marshmallow mixture. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Yield 2 dozen

A Yummy Spring Salad

I started a recipe exchange in our ward and we met for the first time on Tuesday. It was a lot of fun to just sit, eat and chat with friends. Every recipe has to be healthy-meaning, as little processed food and sugar and saturated fat as possible. Our theme this time was spring salads. One of my favorites was this one that I want to share. It is a hardy salad, so even the males in our lives will enjoy it, and it is a one-dish dinner-which I love. Enjoy!!

Warm Chicken & Asparagus Salad -Sis. Shaw
-12 baby red potatoes
-6 bonelss half chicken breasts
-1/2 tsp ground pepper
-1/2 tsp salt
-1/4 c chicken broth or white wine
-1 tbsp minced fresh basil
-1 tbsp minced freash parsley
-1 bunch of asparagus (I also use TJs Brittany Blend of beans)
-2 c mixed greens or spinach

DRESSING
-1 large shallot minced
-2 cloves garlic minced
-2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
-3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
-3 tbsp rice vinegar
-1/4 c olive oil
-2 tbsp white wine (cooking type is fine)
-2 tbsp fresh dill
-1/4 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 325. Put chicken in a baking dish, season with salt and pepper, add wine, basil, and parsley. Bake for 30 mins. Cut breasts diagnally making 3 slices

Cut potatoes in half and put in a large pot to steam over boiling water until tender (about 30 mins) Drain and transfer to a large bowl. When dressing is done-pour 1/2 of dressing over potatoes and let marinate.

Meanwhile, cut 2 inshes off the bottom of the aparagus stalks and blanch in a pot of boiling water until tender. Let sparagus cool and when room temp, cut in half lengthwise.

Whisk together all dressing ingredients. (I sometimes blend once to get shallot and garlic small enough.) Arrange all salad components on a bed of mixed greens with an additional tbsp of dressing drizzeled over the dish

Mabel is here

After 12 long hours, Rachel (my sister) gave birth to Mabel Cate Bott on March 23rd. She was 7 pounds even and 20 inches long. I am biased, but I think she is beautiful. Everything went fine and Mom and Baby are doing great.



She has her mother's lungs!

Happy St. Patricks Day

Yesterday, I tried to take the girls' 3 and 5 year photos. Ava thought that the light was too bright so she wouldn't open her eyes all the way. Elle is very used to me taking pictures all of the time, so she was very cooperative. The good thing about taking their pictures myself, is that I can try again and again if I need to. They had a fun St. Patricks Day- even though they thought the holiday was about Patrick the starfish in Spongebob. They couldn't figure out why we had to wear green and not pink. But they loved our tradition of eating corned beef and cabbage.

Ponies, Pancakes, & PJ's

This is your childThis is your child on sugar...any questions?

Elle didn't want cake this time, she wanted pancakes at her party, so we did. It was a nice change.

More kids on sugar

Elle had plenty of help opening her presents. She loved all of them.

Happy Birthday Elle, we love you!!!

What to do, What to do...

I really want to cut my hair in a funky way. I found this pic in a magazine and I loved it. But for those of you who know me, know that I can be very indecisive, so I want to know what you think, should I cut it this way?

Elle's Birthday Bash

Elle woke up on her birthday with gifts (which looked like Christmas again, thanks to all her fam that sent her gifts!) waiting for her. I took a pic of a few of them. The Eye Clops, was one of my favorites. Those things are cool!
Thanks Mimi for the horses and the Aristocats, and oh, and the Polly's- we don't have enough of those!
Elle had ballet, lunch with friends, Chuck E Cheese, and a pizza party with little cakes. I think it was a fun-filled day for her. Yes Ava is naked in this pic, because Ava is always naked after 3pm.
Ava, Elle, and our friend Olivia.
Ava was not happy that it wasn't her birthday, and continually asked where her gifts were!
Horse PJ's for her Ponies, Pancakes, and PJ's party
Thanks Gram for the dresses, I love them!

Cure for the Winter Blues

It has been cold and we needed something to help with the winter-time blues. We took my friend Katie's suggestion and went to Longwood Gardens. It was exactly what we needed. 

















Elle and Ava potted rosemary, made necklaces, saw real lizards, and watched a dinosaur musical show. We also went out to eat at a cafe in for breakfast and then Adam spotted a mexican place to eat for lunch. It was a great day.