We Have a New Niece!

Knightley Elizabeth could not have timed her arrival any more perfectly

(though her mom, who went a few days past her due date and labored

off and on for days may say otherwise!)...we were so thankful for when 

she was born because we got to see her just minutes after!

Such a sweet gift for us because there's no way we could have planned

it to work out any more perfectly.

As we pulled out of Waco after swimming lessons to start to head back home

to Tempe, we got the text that said, "she's pushing!".  So by the time we 

got to Dallas she was here!  And we got to see her shortly after.

What a precious gift...

Here is our beautiful new little niece and cousin!

A proud Daddy right there...you wouldn't know he hadn't slept

in a couple of nights!  Travis was thrilled to get to be there 

with his brother for this sweet moment.

Then she got passed down the line of cousins

(Abby and Bret were VERY laid back first time parents to let

a 5, 3, and 2 year old hold their newborn!)

Ellie, being so sweet and careful...as if she's done this a hundred times...

Emmy was very interested and very sweet...as long as it wasn't

Mommy holding the baby that is.  (not a good sign!)

 

All the Phillips grandkids.

Gracie's turn.

Sweet little momma.

And even Emmy got a little "assisted" turn!

A very proud Poppy!

This Mimi was very patient in waiting her turn to hold grand baby girl #4.

I think she would say it was the same as the first...never gets old! :)

I have no pics of the real hero--Knightley's momma!

And no pics of me holding her...but we can't wait to see her

and hold her again soon!!

Welcome to the world Knightley Elizabeth Phillips!

Phillips Family Reunion

Once we got to Waco Travis' parents came and picked up the kids for

"Beach Camp" at Mimi and Poppy's for the week while Trav and I taught 

swim lessons.  They had such a blast...

Mimi and Poppy's handiwork!

They totally transformed their backyard into a beach...

complete with sand and water!

They also took a trip to Rockport one day to see and play at the "real" beach!

So I don't think they missed us too much...no time!

And since Trav and I were teaching 12 hr days it worked out much better for them

to be at Mimi and Poppy's!

I know it was a ton of work for them but we were so blessed and it was such sweet time

for the kids to get with them so THANK YOU, Jackie and Randy!!

After the week of teaching lessons, Trav and I drove down for the a little

cousin reunion.  It was so fun to get to be with everyone--there are more and more

little ones around now to play together!

We missed the first night at Trav's Aunt Linda's but got to join them the next 

morning for horseback riding at the Meeks!

Always a favorite for my girls...especially Gracie...she LOVES it!

All the little second cousins.

Gracie, Parker Pruett, Emmy, Paiton Pruett, Ellie, Gabby Tims

Sweaty, wind-blown little cuties!

Then off to Libby and David's land (where they have a pool!) for same of Uncle Dave's

famous bbq!  Here's the whole crew...missing a few that couldn't make it

(like Abby and Bret who were awaiting little Knightley's birth!).

Then after an afternoon there we headed back to Jackie and Randy's

for more beach fun!

SG and Daddy...she got a nap in the car on the way from

one place to the next and was not ready to wake up yet...

sweet little thing. 

Every "beach" has a slip n slide right??

And then Jackie went all out with the meal...

so fun and creative!

Here were a few of her creations:

A jello beach.

Girls just want to have fun I guess!

Emmy's face--no lack for personality there!

Trav, Dillon, and PawPaw...

good 'ole boys.

We had so much fun this weekend but what I will remember most about it

is that we got to announce to the family--and to PawPaw--the name of our little boy.

It was a harder weekend for the family...

Linda ended up breaking her back while riding a horse, and MawMaw, who had fallen

earlier in the week also discovered that her back was broken.

Not a usual for the Phillips as everyone is usually super healthy so it was hard

on everyone.  But I'll never forget the look on PawPaw's face as he stood 

there behind MawMaw's wheelchair when we told him the name...

his eyes filled with tears and he said, "I can't believe that...really??"

More on the name later...that's a whole post in and of itself!

Another successful family reunion...

so thankful to everyone who puts so much work into making these happen!

We cherish every minute we get to spend with family, especially living so far away.

So blessed to have married in to such a legacy.

Can't wait til next year! :)

May--a FULL month!

Wow--as I'm posting these I'm realizing that there was SO much that went on 

this month.  I've decided sometimes May can be as crazy as the holidays...

with the end of school, end of activities, mission trips, etc!

This one was especially crazy for us because we traveled to Texas (TWICE)

and spent half the month without Daddy.

BUT--so sweet to see how God was with us through it all...

helping us to make the most of every moment.

SO...here's May...ALL of it! :)