The Piepers... Typical and Anything but Ordinary :)

Friday, May 6, 2011

Tutu Cute:)

Maybe it's because I have boys at my house and I'm trying to over compensate, or maybe it's because almost everyone I know has had a baby girl in the past six months, but I have becoming a Tutu making queen! They are fun, simple, and easily embellished. These are my first three... Appropriately for Macy, Adrie, and Emry the sweetest little nieces who just happened to have birthdays while I was experimenting:) Apparently they are very well loved and worn to pieces, just as I would want them to be! Enjoy girls:) And stay tuned...

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Some of the Girls

I know everyone teased that I was going to take this photo home and blog it... Well, I did. Couldn't help it:) In case you didn't know, I live in a house of boys. All boys. And me. I'm a girl. So, after 2 years of dental school and 3 boys 24/7, I think when a girl time arises, I just might jump on it. Ok, it happened more like this... Natalie, my dear sweet, very pregnant friend (above, in white) is about to pop. In an effort to keep her mind off the ensuing popage, she invited a bunch of us to go see the new Jane Eyre with her in Scottsdale at Fashion Square. Hehe. When I asked Ben about the idea, he insisted I go. I think it was in an effort to a.) not have to go with me to Fashion Square b.) not have to see Jane Eyre and c.) not have to eat sushi. Well, I guess we both won:)

I have to say, I love my family. I love doing things with those crazy boys all the time. But, after an afternoon away, I think I appreciate them more. So, if it's been awhile since you have "taken a break" as it was for me, I highly recommend it:)

P.S. These girls are fabulous (we missed you who couldn't come)! We had a great time. I love Jane Eyre, but I would've gone with these girls to see most anything just to be in their company! They are amazing wives and mothers and I think I'm a better person just for knowing them:) Thanks girls (and thanks to my boys for being ok without me for a few hours).

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Easter FHE Resurrection Eggs

I saw these last year and just HAD to do them this year:) For Family Home Evening Monday before Easter, our family spent some time opening the eggs, numbered 1-12, finding the symbolic little item and looking up the scripture associated with it. I think it left a huge impact on all of us in reading specifically about some of the things Jesus Christ experienced the last week of His life on earth. We are so blessed to know what we know and to have this peaceful time in our lives to be able to reflect on Him and His mortal ministry. I love Easter because it gives us a chance to rejoice in our Savior overcoming sickness, sadness, sin, and all the world for us so that we could live with Him again! What more is there than this?

Here is the lineup for the eggs:

Message -- Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. The people waved palm branches.
Passage -- Matthew 21:1-11
Item -- Piece of palm branch
Message -- Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus' feet.
Passage -- John 12:2-8
Item -- cotton ball with perfume on it
Message -- Jesus shared the Last Supper with His disciples.
Passage -- Matthew 26:17-19
Item – a piece of graham cracker
Message-- Jesus suffered for our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane
Passage-- Item-- I printed a small picture of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane
Message -- Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
Passage -- Matthew 27:3
Item -- 3 dimes
Message -- Jesus carried His own cross.
Passage -- John 19:17
Item – I fashioned a cross out of toothpicks and hot glue
Message -- Soldiers placed a crown of thorns on Jesus' head.
Passage -- John 19:2
Item -- thorny piece of our bush
Message -- Soldiers parted Jesus' garments and cast lots for His coat.
Passage -- John 19:23
Item -- a small die
Message -- Jesus was nailed to a cross and pierced in His side.
Passage -- John 19:18,37 & John 20:25-29
Item -- A nail
Message -- Jesus' body was prepared and wrapped in linen for burial
Passage -- Matthew 27:57 Item -- small piece of linen
Message -- The stone covering Jesus' tomb was rolled away.
Passage -- Matthew 28
Item -- A small, flat, round rock
Message -- Jesus has risen! Passage -- Matt 28: 5-8

Monday, April 25, 2011

A nutshell:)

happy 31st babe... who made that deliciousness?!

Ike becoming quite the custom architect:) this I believe was a temple

Daddy's architecture

playing cowboy dressup

Astronauts preparing for takeoff in my closet

wild astronaut :0

Ike takes all of our old cords/electronic gear and uses it to build astronaut equipment.

the very hungry caterpillar

Monday, April 4, 2011

Just Sayin...

Tomorrow (in a few hours) is Ben's 31st Birthday! I really can't believe we are "old!" Sometimes I look at him and think, "how in the world did anybody allow us to have children?" "Are we really old enough for all of this?" We got married when Ben was 23 and I thought that was SOOO OLD and MATURE! I guess now we're geriatric:) Anyway, it's crazy how time flies and how much fun we have along the way...

Since Ben never reads this, I think I'm safe in sharing this too... Ike and Zach both are so in to Daddy's Birthday! We've been talking about it for the last week... what kind of waffles and ice cream to have in the morning, what kind of decorations, what gifts to give... Well, we decided on hawaiian waffles with coconut buttermilk syrup and vanilla ice cream (bluebell or course), and blue and white decorations (b/c that's what I have on hand... and BUTLER plays for the championship later... two birds. one stone.) Anyway, I also got Ben a pair of shoes to wear with his scrubs when he starts clinics (who would trust a dentist wearing nikes?) Anyway, when we got home from DSW, the boys were soo excited, and I made sure to tell them, "now, don't tell daddy about his surprise!" So, guess what the first thing Zach says to him is... "Dada. PRIZE (means: surprise in his language). Shoes! Buh-thday." Well, the cat's out of the bag. Too cute anyway and I'm not sure Dada was quick enough to pick up all those words and put it all together:) Happy Birthday babe! We sure feel lucky to have you!

Monday, March 28, 2011

Reunited and it Feels So Good!!

Last year we had the PERFECT set up! Literally, I do not know how I could have adjusted so well to Arizona, having a new baby, no friends, no husband, etc. Without WONDERFUL friends! It just so happens that three of those wonderful families that we became so close to moved away last May/June. What kind of sick joke is that?! I guess it gives us the opportunity to have friends all over the country AND chance to get together, reunite and DOTE on each other:) We had two such opportunities this spring!
    Ike's best little friend who is a boy, was able to come visit (no pics, I know... lame). But, I didn't want the event to go unrecorded! Cohen and Isaac are great little playmates who spent an afternoon here in Phoenix going from one thing to the next to the next as they rekindled their friendship. I think they'll do the same every time we get together! It was so fun to see them fall back into their same little groove and get along as if nothing ever changed! They played farmer (and pulled some weeds, yay!), then they played fireman (and watered the weeds...) then onto trains, cars, astronauts, etc. We LOVE little Cohen, and of course, his sweet family! Please guys, come back and visit ANYTIME!! Maybe next time will have to be in Chicago...
     Our other reunion was with the Stumpe family. Chalece and I shared newborn baby/husband MIA/active 3 year old last year while Mike finished up Pharmacy school. We did almost everything together because, well, Chalece is just THAT enticing! We went on walks, worked out, let our kids play, made dinner, went on any random excursion, etc. together:) So, when the Stumpe's moved, they left a huge hole in our hearts. You can imagine our elation at the news that they were going to spend a week in Southern California during part of Ben's spring break! You guessed it, we jumped at the opportunity to hang out again!
     Since our budget didn't really allow, we didn't really tell Ike about Disneyland. We stayed at a hotel literally steps from disneyland and so he may have gotten the idea he went there... What he really did was spend a few days with the greatest friends chillin' in Orange County. What a Great time! Someday, we'll take him to the real disneyland, but for now, seeing these two reunited and spending time together with our "BFF's" and each other, THIS was the happiest place on earth!