~Brittany Rachelle Phillips Tobiasson 
                            Happy-Birthday-Blog  2013 !~

Awwwwe!!

We were so stinken excited to get a girl! Two boys first and then the cutest little girl! All girly and dainty. We spoiled you. Gramma spoiled you, the boys spoi..... well they did from once they got the hang of it!!. Jacob was happy to be a big brother to a girl, and once Gabe got over the fact that you were a girl..... he was a protective and loving big brother too!

You guys did everything together, and you just hurried to keep up. They could even translate your language for us. You'd squeltch a sound out and they'd know you wanted... more ovaltine, PLEASE!!

Dad and you at a fair in Bangor, Maine

1st BIRTHDAY

Camping Trip to Escalante, UT

An early love of chocolate !

Provo, UT

Mt Timpanogos Cave

Maine

Maine

Maine Easter Morning
photography torture!

I'm pretty sure you were still asleep when we took this. We woke you up and just propped you against the pillows and put glasses on you...then on the boys so it looked intentional.  Ha Ha, these early days of family 

 Look!!  Jewie is holding your hand. 

Hand made costumes Thank you!! You guys all won an award at the city Halloween party :)  Only Gabe was mad about his costume. 

YOU TOOK CARE OF ALL OF YOUR SISTERS!

Northern Maine Coast

Your dancing debut!!  And finale. You just didn't love it!

You loved school, except when we moved you into another school, you cried and cried..... but you were a little girl  :) And as you grew you got brave and outgoing. You were a great student and your teachers loved you.

Remember when you wanted to not keep this picture because of your pearly spaces.... And I said you'd love it later in life?  Don't you love it?

American Fork, UT

Vernal, UT

Wyoming

Mt Timpanogos Temple

Hurricane, UT

Hurricane, UT

Spanish Fork, UT

Salt Lake Temple

Hurricane, UT

Easter 2005

We loved getting into the Holiday spirit!  You were fun to dress up and fun to watch as you chose your own costumes. And sometimes you had to wear the ideas I came up with, or your brothers had used.... in a pinch we were ready! Being the first girls you had a little     better chance of getting something new!

Pocohontos

 A Queen 

Pumpkins have been a priority for a long time. We free handed those, I'm pretty sure.

Not sure what we were going for this year!!  Ha Ha :)

The Sports thing was awesome!

 

Powder Puff

And our own version of Sports~

You got into soccer and we loved that you found something you loved doing.

We spent years enjoying you play soccer. The girls on the team became like family members, and we loved getting the chance to watch you develop your skills and juggle the sports and school thing. You were a great soccer player and we were very proud of your dedication and your team-manship. And your sportsmanship.

Rexburg, ID- Cousin Schofields

You were so fun to think of things to do with your sisters. From picture taking to little plays, to making a library and a dr office, to athletic events in the living room. You were a director and helped develop their creativity!

Yes.. that's you. You have a microphone and you are still upright!!  You were so scared to give this part of the program thinking you would faint, or worse.... CRY!  I'm glad to say you did a fine job and look.... you've grown up to be the girl who could. You overcame a huge fear and benefit all who hear you now.  Thanks for pushing through the pain on that one. I think that 's awesome.

You always looked for ways to get more out of life.

You thought of fun ways to try to incorporate things other people said were fun!  Like Mass shopping.

And having a big group of girls over for a birthday bash.  You didn't always love these things :) But you were willing to find out!

But you did love family outings, activities, trips, and get togethers, and just being together!

FHE

Snow in the Hills

Grandpa's BagPipe Party

Christmas at Gramma Phillips

Never too afraid to make use of the vaulted ceiling.

Lake Powell

 We've been on some wonderful family trips. You'll never forget the "boat" that took us across the country to give you a taste of America. Those are special time for me and I hope you will continue to look for beauty and new ways of doing things as you discover the world. There is much to see and do!

Van- USA

Nauvoo, IL

Adam Ondi Amon

Niagara Falls

Sacred Grove, NY

San Diego, CA

Carthage, IL

Nauvoo, IL

Zion National Park

Corpus Cristy, TX

KOA-Missouri

You loved Christmas and Birthdays and Holidays in general!

And I'm pretty sure it was you who started the picture mongering of self portraits!  Hasn't that been a treat on our computer? 7000 pictures of my girls. In every possible smile they could imagine. And some not smiling ones too! 

Cousins

And sisters

And trips to Vegas.... just the girls!!

And Temple visits and photo shoots

And "oh it's been a while" photo shoots!!

 And capturing once in a lifetime (probably) events!!
 And looking for seasonal opportunities :)

And awkward family shots.. Jk lol!

I treasure the pictures of happy people I call family!  What beautiful people inside and out!!

Some Fun things at School

Spring Fling

Exec Council

Sports Tournaments

Youth Link in Mexico

Don't forget one of the most painful health things you tackled~  THE EXPANDER!!

AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED AFTER IT WAS ALL OVER!

You grew up and it seems like a dream. How could you have become a woman so fast?

Your Graduation

Gabe is home

And then the day came when you met a boy!! That you brought home for keeps :)

And our family grew !

Beautiful day. Cute kids!!

And Here we are continuing to make memories...which we have a lifetime to do!!

Accomplishments anyone?  She just keeps going.....

Brittany

Protector. She who defends in quiet ways, who sees the needs of others and finds the best way to respond. She is trustworthy. She is purity; her desire is for light to fill her. Beautiful inside and out. She will sacrifice to obtain, she will deny herself to overcome. She has committed herself to the Lord, and fights her weaknesses. She finds humility in her imperfection, and strength in bettering herself. She is a light; radiant from within. Sweet and bright without.

Our Kids Save Us

We’re supposed to be the guide, the one who teaches and pulls aside, who leads with confidence. As parents we want only what’s best for the child, growing ourselves..our weakness are revealed.

We bring them into this world, hoping on prayer we can do them some good.

We visualize what we hope they will become,We worry over poor choices we make-fearing their lessons might push them away, or worse... that our guidance leads them astray.

They come so innocent, so pure, so clean. Needing us in every way. Smiling upward-their whole soul alive! Shining eyes undaunted by fear, untainted by failure. They trust and believe, trying to make sense of the things we say and the messages we intend.

They skip without care, play with peaceful minds. They laugh and it pulls us in, when we are open. They are grateful. Aware of the magnificence of life and all it’s glories. They express amazement and look for the good all around. They are full of curiosity and thanksgiving.

They grow, with us alongside them stretching under the pressure of teaching, not sensing that they are guiding us. We have it all wrong.... our kids come to save us.

In their innocence they remind us of hope, their understanding well beyond their years. They seek to make us happy.  They worry when we aren’t at peace, offering hugs to bring us out of our sadness. They laugh with us to build our confidence. They cry with us to ease our pain.

They inspire us with their choices, many we wonder if we could make, as they require a strong heart. They guide us with questions and reminders of what we ought to do.They pull us into playtime to rejuvenate our soul and ease our troubled minds.

They delight us with their abilities, and surprise us with their creations.They love without question and often without reason, They hold to us and believe in us and expect there will never be a day that they can’t! The pressure that we may disappoint them is always in the back of our minds, but their forgiveness helps us to keep trying.

And all the while I thought that we were leading them......

a work to be continued

Diana Stoller Phillips

Thank you Brittany for who you are! I love you for who you are and for what we've experienced. Know that you were such an integral part of our families success. You helped me in so many ways. You were a comfort and filled in when holes appeared. You helped cook and clean and nurture, and you didn't have the need for drama or problems, and that kept me available for the other kids and church callings.  And with that.... you were available without me asking or demanding you pull my share. Know that because of your help I was able to serve in heavy callings and the family still functioned. I don't know if I ever fully thanked you for being so responsible and filling in for the rest of the family. That means you also helped every person I touched or helped as I served!!  Also, and on a personal note.... you also were a tremendous comfort to me. You knew when I needed a break, when I was sad, when I felt lonely, when I felt picked on.... when I needed the house to be cleaned!!! you always knew and you found ways to lift me. I was not very good at thanking people then... I'm not as good as I need to be now... but I know you have no idea how thankful I am that you were in my life, willing to help me/us, and able to look outside yourself to give. You were wise beyond your years and willing to help when you had other things to do. You were so thoughtful and loving!! Writing it now just makes my head spin, most early teens are pills and you were there for me..... for years. I hope to someday repay you for that.  (I hope it won't be that you have to wipe my bum and feed me baby food when I get to that stage...! You tell the others that it's there turn!!! ha ha)

Britt, thank you. NO gift could compete with what you have given me as a wonderful child and part of our family. But I still am thinking on a gift...... any ideas??  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!