The Murphy

Yumm.

2009-12-18T11:54:00.001-08:00

Go Here

2009-10-14T11:20:00.000-07:00

she is giving away tickets to the best halloween train ride ever!

hmmm....cloth?

2009-09-09T15:16:00.000-07:00

I really really want to try cloth diapers with the new little one on the way....so wouldn't it be wonderful if we could try them for free!!!! Go Here!

Little Conductor Boy

2009-06-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken at Murphy's daycares' sons' birthday party. It was at a train park where they had an actual train that would take you around the property. As we are getting ready to eat here comes the birthday boy on a tiny little thomas train on the track - so cute. So of course Murphy had to take a turn - though he was actually too big for the battery to make it run, but he had just as much fun just sitting on it. When he got off of it and more little kids took a turn he turns to me and says "I AM TOO BIG FOR THAT TRAIN BECAUSE I'M FOUR"!

Kickball Anyone????

2009-06-15T15:36:00.000-07:00

Registration is open for our team "the pink flaming-bongs"...let me know if you want to join! We play Thursday eve's starting July 16th!

Birthdays...

2009-06-15T13:55:00.000-07:00

my adorable friends set up an evening with me in mind for my birthday. all zen, all yoga and yummy yummy snacks and cafe rio to round out the evening. in truth it ended up more like binging on snacks being way too full for yoga and watching "house bunny". Seriously if you have two hours that you are looking to kill and want absolutely nothing in return this movie is for you. thank you so very much. I am so honored to have such amazing cute people for friends who will totally let you veg out with them for a night of uninterrupted bliss. Oh and I forgot to mention the "hot" tubbing - mmm.

Hee hee.

Kickball

2009-04-21T14:11:00.001-07:00

We have joined the spring season of kickball which has been so much fun. Murphy is our little cheerleader :)!

It's washable, right?

2009-04-10T08:52:00.001-07:00

God must love us...

2009-02-24T10:06:00.000-08:00

...because he created skiing, right? I LOVE to ski - but haven't been up on the mountain nearly as much as I have craved to be just because once you have littles, you seem to make these things less of a priority. Well unless you just include them in it! I started Murphy in ski lessons a couple of weeks ago and I can't even express what a joy it has been to see Murphy love something that I love so dearly as well. We went up last week to Alta and shared the most incredible bluebird day together skiing down the mountain. Murphy is a natural. Now we just have to get Daddy back up the mountain!

What I'm about.

2009-02-24T10:02:00.000-08:00

This came from www.wordle.net which is a site where you type in your blog and it spits out an image with words from your site. Total love - though I think if Christmas and lights weren't my LAST post maybe it would be less Christmassy :)

Reindeer Really Do EXIST?

2008-12-11T15:41:00.000-08:00

I apoligize in advance for these photos - they are from my phone and really fuzzy.

On to the story! We took Murphy on the Polar Express train ride a couple of weeks ago and as part of the experience Santa boards the train and gives each child a bell from one of the reindeer's harness - just like the story in the book goes. After this an elf comes by to tell each one which reindeer their bell came from. So they were walking through the train car telling the kid two seats down that his bell came from Blitzen and the next that his came from Donner and she turned to Murphy and told him that his bell was from Rudolph. He turned to me with the biggest eyes and says, "he's real?"

Christmas Magic. Love it.

Tree Cutting

2008-12-09T15:13:00.001-08:00

We have been so lucky for the last two years, we have tagged onto one of my dearest friends' family Christmas Tradition and been able to go with them to go cut down a tree. My family used to do this sort of thing when I was little and I love being able to pass these fun things onto Murphy. So here is what we came away with - it is seriously just perfect.

Photos by Trina

The poor thing has fallen down not once - but twice since putting it up a couple of weeks ago, but it is still pretty as can be (after we tore all of the ornaments off and re-trimmed the tree). I think that we have figured out the stand - but then again it is still three weeks until Christmas.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Zoo Lights Rock

2008-12-09T15:05:00.001-08:00

We took Murphy to go see the zoo lights with his little friend Ali. They had sooo much fun looking at all the lights! Well worth the price of admission. Though the kids were a little worried when we couldn't see Nelman the Zebra because he was sleeping - but the cheetah was more than happy to to us and looked as though he was ready for a late night snack!

More talent in her little finger...

2008-11-06T09:06:00.001-08:00

Go check her out - she's amazing.

Do it.

2008-11-04T09:05:00.000-08:00

Words you'd rather NOT here when you are going to get your eyebrows done...

2008-10-16T14:50:00.000-07:00

...(heavy Persian accent) you lay down here - you're here for the bikini wax, correct?

NO - just eyebrows thank you very much!

So I just had my first experience with getting my eyebrows threaded, which is where instead of wax they take a really long piece of string fold it in half and twist it into your brow pulling out little hairs in its wake. CRAZY!

As I lay down on the table to get my brows whipped into shape, the lady hands me a kleenex saying, (heavy Persian accent) "this is for you!". I asked her if I was going to cry and she told "you may!". And I did.

But it was so worth it! What is it about having clean brows that just boosts your confidence level???

The funny thing was after we were done was when the lady asked me what my name was and if this was my first time - so the conversation I thought we would have instead of the "you here for BIKINI wax"!?

Halloween is coming...

2008-09-29T10:15:00.000-07:00

...and Murphy is counting the days.

It's Official!!!

2008-09-11T15:03:00.001-07:00

I'm official! No we didn't just get hitched - but I haven't been able to wear my gorgeous wedding ring that we got when we got married due to skin sensitivity to white gold. So my adorable hubby suggested we get one in platinum that I could adorn my cute little hand with. I went to pick it up today and could not be happier - it is so me. Simple and beautiful. Thanks Baby!

Seriously - I couldn't make this stuff up.

2008-09-02T15:14:00.000-07:00

Today I decided that I would run a quick lunchtime errand, to get my brakes checked on the car. So driving over there I notice that my cell phone is dead. Well, I am waiting to see what the verdict is on my grinding brakes and they come in about 15 minutes later, call my name and tell me that I need new pads and roters on the front. Sweet. And it will be two hours...

Ok, I need to get back into work, problem is I haven't made any previous arrangements to be picked up, I don't have a cell phone and I don't have any cash (buses don't take credit cards do they?). Side note here I have only ridden the city bus once - and that is because it causes panic attacks - I never know if I am going to pull the cord at the right moment etc etc.

So I head into a Walgreen's and ask if I can write a check for over the amount of my purchase, and the guy looks at me like I am living in 1980 (who writes checks and for OVER the amount?). He tells me the only way to get cash is to use a debit card - well I would happily do that except I have been waiting over 20 days to get my new debit card in the mail because the previous one was compromised (are you getting the part where I just couldn't make this stuff up?). Some days I should really think a situation through before heading out on my "quick lunch-time" errands.

Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas Anymore

2008-08-07T15:54:00.000-07:00

So I am not home right now, in fact I am in Denver at a business conference. One think with business travel is nothing ever goes just right. You either bring the right clothes and the wrong shoes or you don't have a car at the airport in your name etc. But I have the right clothes with the right shoes and i even had a car at the Hertz waiting for me. I also had to ride 20 minutes in a shuttle bus with a stinky scout troop who was on their wait to some scavenging outing in the middle of nowhere complaining about how there was mandetory showers - everyday. Are you kidding me? Serioursly these boys hadn't taken a shower in a few days just in anticipation - I could SMELL them.

So anyway, I get in my car drive the 20 miles to downtown, get to the hotel lounge for a bit and head to a Rockies game - in a suite! - and guess what. It got rained out - no game - not even a snippet of one. Oh and come to find out all of the poeople that weren't at the game two blocks away were told the couldn't go ANYWHERE because there was a threaght of tornaodos ripping through downtown. Yep I was outside in Coor's field when I should have somewhere very dry and enclosed.

This should be a great trip.

Mommy & Me...

2008-07-25T08:44:00.000-07:00

Murphy, my little man, thanks for yesterday, I had so much fun with you. There is nothing like waking up with you and slowly starting our day with watching episode after episode of the crazy sponge in square pants. Walking hand in hand to the local aviary and having you be absolutely ecstatic at the fact that the parade floats will still meandering by while trying to find their was home was adorable. The perfection that can only come from a park stand cafe was wrapped up in your grilled cheese sandwich (which you will still talking about this morning). I think that we both enjoyed the ferris wheel immensely and I loved when you looked over at me with that cute smile and said "this is scary"! I think this picture pretty much sums it up - lets do it again next year!

Funniest moment of the day was when I was asking you to drink some water so that you didn't get dehydrated and you turned to me and told me that you weren't DEHYDRATED you were FRUSTRATED and that you were going to have to put me in timeout when we get home.

WE ARE FAMILY!

2008-07-16T09:19:00.000-07:00

Cute pic by Lacie Mae

Okay so I am hope that song is stuck in your head - because it is going round and round in mine.

On another note: We just weighed in for the biggest loser contest here at my office, and though my weight stayed exactly the same (seriously two days ago I was down 5 up 2 yesterday etc etc), anyway I have lost INCHES people INCHES! An 1 1/2 off my waist (bye bye sucker) and 2 inches off my butt (can't miss ya till your gone) and 2 INCHES off my thighs!!! I could run around the office jumping up and down, but instead I chose to post it here - don't you feel lucky!!!

So now the next thing - I am training for a marathon...kidding I'm not, I will leave that to my crazy gym lovin sister. But I do feel like we started down a road with our little family of being just a little bit healthier with our eating and I have started making it to the gym on a regular basis which is incredible for me. Here's to the FUTURE!

Oh BTW my cute handsome hunk of a hubby lost 11 LBS!!!

So what can you eat?

2008-06-26T15:54:00.000-07:00

We are into day 3 of our fast/cleanse/diet/new way of living thing. And after two days of being completely tired, cranky and having horrible caffeine withdrawal headaches, guess what? I am actually enjoying this. I feel better now (after the headaches have gone away) and I don't always feel like i am looking for the next caffeine boost.

We are eating things that I have always been too afraid to try!

We have also been getting the amount of fruits and veggies that we should be - not that we were doing bad before but I definitely wasn't getting my 6-9 servings of those things EVERY Day. Now we are - I have had strawberries, peaches, pineapple galore and I have not felt this good in a long time.

I made tempeh (google it), we are making tofu tonight - yea! I don't think that we will continue like this forever but it is really nice to have cut out the vices (coffee - me) and just eat things that are healthy.

Quantum Wellness - Day 1

2008-06-23T10:24:00.000-07:00

We have decided to take a quantum leap, we are reconnecting with our food for 21 days. We (Josh and I - I am sure that Murphy will still sneak in some chicken nuggets) are giving up all animal and animal by product (CHEESE!!!), gluten, sugar and caffeine.

Wish us luck! Day one, going well so far. We had soy yogurt and fruit, something vegan for lunch and then summery quinoa for dinner. Yum!

The reason for this cleanse isn't nessesaryily to loose weight, but more to refocus on what we are really eating. I don't know what is in a box of mac and cheese - and I probably don't want to. Do you know what goes into a hamburger?

The other part of this cleanse is causing no harm - that means no harm to animals, fish etc. Something about that speaks to me, I have always been an avid fan of the farmers market, believing that if you buy closer we are all better off.

By the way - I really miss my coffee.

My little man...

2008-06-19T16:18:00.000-07:00

Please ignore me in this pic - but isn't he sooo adorable!!!!!

...woke up this morning and as he was sitting on my lap waking up with a few cartoons. He rubs his eyes and asks me "mom, do I get to stay home the whole week now"?

So adorable, because every Saturday morning Josh and I excitedly tell him that he gets to stay the WHOLE weekend with us (no daycare), and he woke up hoping that this morning was Saturday.

Cheers to Saturday mornings.

What do you get for three hours at the zoo?

2008-06-12T16:14:00.001-07:00

It was members night at the zoo last night which I thought meant would be a nice quiet almost private tour of the zoo. Boy, was I wrong - way wrong. Turns out almost every family in the state is a member of the zoo and decided to take advantage of the so called private tour.

We arrived at the zoo at a little before six, just in time to wait with everyone else and their siblings - great start. As soon as we get in the zoo Murphy notices that the TRAIN IS RUNNING!!!! So we must ride it asap - which is actually smart because since it is an old train you never know when the sign that says "Train Closed Check Back Soon" will go up. So we ride the train which seems to have a new engine that actually turned the 5 minute ride into a 2.5 minute ride - blink and your done.

So we meandered down the path to where the new carousel ride was, stopping along the way to see the white crocodile (very cool). When we are hit with more people than be in one place - seriously probably 100+ people waiting in line to get tickets for the carousel. Whew - well instead we decide to check out the bird show that is about 15 minutes away from starting and just happens to be next door. Murphy is getting really fidgety about this time I mean who comes to the zoo to SIT? So the show finally starts and they announce that because the birds (people eating hawks) fly really close to the audiences head that you should NOT stand up. Ok we can handle this. We are sitting there about 5 minutes into the show when Murphy starts dancing - the potty dance. So we walk really lowly up the steps to the back so as not to get eaten when the nice gentleman guarding the gate tells us that once we go out we can't come back in (because of the whole people eating hawks thing) so I wave Josh out since we won't be able to go back in and am explaining to Murphy as this is happening that we won't be able to go back when tantrum ensues - big tantrum with big tears tantrum - starts yelling about how he can wait to go to the bathroom after the show ends (only problem is we are now outside the magic gate that the nice gentleman is guarding with no way back in) 10 minute tantrum and potty break later we finally meet in the middle with watching the rest of the show outside the gate.

So of course there is still the matter of the carousel ride and the very long line. So Josh the fantastic dad that he is waited in line while we finished watching the bird show from the outside. After the bird show ended we walk over to see how much longer dad has in line just to find out he has a LONG time left. So Murphy and I walk over to get some food which took at least 45 minutes and two tantrums. Walk back just in time to jump on the newest kid magnet at the zoo and find our perfect seats (Murphy a Large Gorilla and a small rhino for mom - and dad stood to make sure that Murphy did not fall off the large gorilla). And guess what - the carousel went around 2 times - probably less than 60 seconds and the ride was over.

Wow three hours and two very tired parents. I think we might skip the exclusive members night next year and opt for any given day of the year instead.

When is Barney actually cute?

2008-06-05T07:38:00.000-07:00

Oh sure I am with you I absolutely cannot STAND the purple monster - seriously did they create this thing thinking ha ha! parents will HATE this!

Last night my heart was softened towards Barney, as I was trying to get Murph to go to sleep and he was desperately trying to procrastinate closing his eyes, he turned to me and said "mom, sing the I LOVE YOU song". And then after I would sing each line Murphy would repeat it in his sing song voice.

I love you - you love me - we're a happy family. With a great big hug (gives me a hug) and a kiss from me to you (gives me a kiss). Won't you say you love me too (I love you mom). This is what heaven is made of I am sure of it.

Daddy...

2008-06-03T07:31:00.000-07:00

Murphy wants you to know - we miss you.

He doesn't understand why you couldn't just build your bikes here in Utah instead of traveling all the way to California for a week | and the fact that you aren't going to pick him up from daycare today is just beyond what he could hold today. Next time if you wouldn't mind - just tell work you'll have to stay here because Murphy needs you to pick him up, sometimes mom just won't do.

love,
mom & murphy

Mommie's Day

2008-05-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

Wow I have been in the "Mommy Club" (the really fancy one, where you initiation gift is a certificate for a guarantee that your purse will forever be full of milk/juice crackers etc. long after the bottles have left) for three and a half years now. I know I haven't really been that good at documenting here what has transpired, but maybe you've gotten a glimpse of how much fun we have. Murphy has changed our lives into something magical (believe me it isn't all magical, the tantrums and being screamed at by a toddler don't really fit into that area - but it's like birth, somehow even through the pain you know you would do it again {given the chance - ahem Josh}) every day with the little monkey we "discover" brand new things - did you know that worms are all related and should be put in a pile so that they can be acquainted with one another? Me neither.

I just want to say to all of you lovely women out there (some that I know and many I don't) Happy Mother's Day, may your journey down this road be full of wonder, excitement & love.

And to Murphy my love - thank you for making me a part of this day, you make me giggle and look at things completely different than I would have ever thought to.

Hey babe, don't worry I didn't forget you - thank you for creating our family - I love you. We joke a lot that we don't have "movie love" - but i don't think anyone in the movies has what we have.

Oh and lastly, Mom (of course I saved the best for last), Happy Mom's Day. You have shown me a shining example of what a mom should be, you have been there through every thing in my life whether you knew how to be or not - you were always there. Thank you - I love you.

So I really shouldn't but I really can't help myself...

2008-05-08T10:03:00.000-07:00

email exchange between the hubs and myself this morning:

me: so we are ok with never sleeping for the rest of our lives right?

josh: No. No I’m not... I let Fozzy out and he peed and then started to run around. I fed Baxter 2 cups and Fozzy half his old and π of the new food. He then walked over to me as I was changing and started dropping a load. I had to run out sans-pants and drop him off in the gravel. I then ran downstairs and threw on some pants. Fozzy was waiting at the step where he had taken his crap.

me: I seriously just spewed my licorice nibs - thanks for the visuals.

josh: I didn’t tell you the best part. I had on my arm warmers and my knee warmers only. So picture that.

me: wow. classy. welcome to the neighborhood.

We have an announcement...

2008-05-07T10:10:00.000-07:00

We are going to add another member to our family today - no Josh and I haven't been practicing (much to the chagrin of some). We are getting a little labradoodle to add to our brood! We are really ~~out of our minds~~ excited!

MEET FOZZIE

Cute Tidbit

2008-03-04T10:04:00.000-08:00

So the other morning Murphy was directing me from the back seat on how to get to his baby sitters house and I was really impressed he guessed three left correctly! So the next turn was a right and he again told me to go left so I asked him what left meant and he answered a corner all matter of fact like.

Such a cutie!

Sneak Peak...

2008-01-21T09:44:00.000-08:00

Somebody's Turning Three.

Photo by Simplicity Photography

Hello...hello...tap-tap...anybody there?

2007-12-05T12:55:00.000-08:00

So I have sort of slipped off this side of the planet and let moving into our new house and trying to keep a d+ average in school get in the way of blogging. Such a slippery slope the space between a d+ and d-.

Anyway two more weeks of school and then I promise to update all on our crazy life.

p.s. our dog has anxiety - separation anxiety and is now on doggy Prozac. Can owning a dog get any better?

Christmas Questions

Wrapping paper or gift bags? I am really into the clear plastic stuff tied with a bow (don't be surprised if your gift comes wrapped in a see-through package)
Real tree or artificial? 100% Real | We had a tree cutting day with some friends this year and i don't think I will ever do a lot again.
When do you put up the tree? Day after Thanksgiving this year (thanks to cutting the live tree!)
When do you take the tree down? New Years Day - that when my mom always did it
Do you like eggnog? Usually no too thick!
Favorite gift received as a child? Cabbage Patch dolls and dresses
Do you have a nativity scene? We do, its a tiny little ceramic set that Grandma bought and Murphy carries it all around the house. It is currently residing in his room.
Hardest person to buy for? My parents.
Easiest person to buy for? My~~self~~ son.
Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. Hmm that reminds me!
Favorite Christmas Movie? White Christmas
When do you start shopping for Christmas? After Thanksgiving.
Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Probably, but I can’t think of any specific instances.
Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Lefse.
Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear.
Favorite Christmas song? Oh, Holy Night. My dad always insists that I play this on the piano
Travel for Christmas or stay at home? Home. When Murphy gets older I would love to do a vacation to somewhere new each year instead of gifts.
Can you name all of Santa’s reindeers? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph.
Angel on the tree top or a star? Star.
Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? One Christmas Eve - Rest Christmas Morning
Most annoying thing about this time of year?Malls decking the halls before Halloween is over!

Who is running this blog anyway?

2007-10-15T16:06:00.000-07:00

I had such good aspirations of updating this neglected blog. I have been on break from school for the past week and a half and one would think that there would be penty of time to get caught up, but somehow that time slipped away into games of hide and seek and a scary train ride on a historic train that was filled with ghosts and goblins.

We were laying in bed the other night and Josh turns to me and says " you really need to update your blog", lets see is that in between washing your underwear fixing your dinner and caring for our toddler and finishing school that you would like me to do this?

That isn't quite fair as he does do some of the dishes.

Whose Dean?

2007-09-18T09:08:00.000-07:00

As many of you know I have been back in school for almost six months now. Any of you that have gone back to school as an adult know what a daunting thing it is to return to school while keeping normalcy in all of the other areas of life (not always completely possible though a fantastic goal).

It is an incredibly personal decision to put yourself out there with the huge possiblity that you might not be able to pull it off. I started in college in my late teens not sure what I wanted to be when I grew up - a peds doctor was my first choice and then after a stint at Primary Children's as much as I loved helping people I realized that it might not be the life choice for me, I then sort of just wandered through undergraduate studies without a real passion or drive not know which direction I would end up. I found the love of my life four years ago and we settled down to have our amazing little guy ~ Murphy ~. College took a back seat in my life though I knew it was always something I wanted to finish.

Since then I have continued my career in Marketing and have realized my passion for it - everything about it from the people interaction to being able to create things and work in a team environment. I kept thinking "when Murphy get older I'll go back to school" and then it hit me - what exactly was I waiting for or was it really just another form of procrastination. So a really long story long - I took the plunge with my husband holding my hand being the most supportive partner and Murphy helping me do "homework" and I just found out I made the Dean's list. Wow - I guess theres a first for everything.

Why must they grow so fast?

2007-08-30T13:51:00.000-07:00

"mom"?

"yes".

"I leabe (leave) you when I get bigger"?

At least he is still little enough to want to snuggle every once and a while...

Music I am Loving...

2007-08-09T09:31:00.000-07:00

Peter Bjorn & Jon = the whistling song.

Why do you Blog?

2007-08-06T13:52:00.000-07:00

Interesting Question - I read this post over at a design/mom blog I had ran across where she give the a beautiful response to this question.

As for myself I want to use this to celebrate my life - the life of my family - A Celebration. To put some of those good moments down that if they aren't written somewhere they are at risk of being forgotten. Life can be found in so many places - we just have to look for it!

Why do you blog? I tag:

Trina

Lace

Kim

Marci

Singin' in the Rain...

2007-08-04T14:08:00.000-07:00

The weather around here has been really cool lately! (Though not so good for the forest fires) Every afternoon there has been thunderstorms, a little muggy but really neat with all of the thunder and lightening - as a friend put it "I love this weather and and yet am a little afraid of it all at the same time"...

Project Completion

2007-08-04T13:48:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my friend Ash I made my husband wonder "who in the world is this crafty woman at the kitchen table?" I seriously do not do anything crafty but this project made me want to do more. In fact it inspired me to make magnets for my fridge! The first project was the one we did at Ash's house which was painting wood blocks and then adding letters to them to create a word. Murphy has his in his room and loves them - he points to them and tells us "that says MURPHY". Thanks Ash!!!

The magnets are very simple, they are glass pebbles and then I used the scrapbook transfer stuff for the words and then glued on the magnet on the back. FUN!

July 24th - Food Fun & Fireworks

2007-07-27T09:56:00.001-07:00

Murphy and I took the day to go down to Liberty Park for the Utah Pioneer Day, we went to the Tracy Aviery and then into the park where the festivties were aplenty! Murphy ate corndogs, nachos and candy - mmm healthy. On the way out of the park we had them paint a snake across Murphy's face - it resided there for three days until we finally washed in off!

He said...

2007-07-26T14:33:00.000-07:00

So I would like to announce.....drumroll....Murphy is POTTY TRAINED (+ or - a couple of accidents). We are so proud!!!

So I have to share something he said while he was sitting on the pot...

He tooted and then looks down and says "bless you my pee-pee" in the most serious voice (as though it had sneezed)... I am seriuosly laughing while I am typing. You have got to love a two-year old's point of view.

2007-07-15T21:15:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to a really cool personality test. Instead of the standard multiple choice format, you get to use sliders and quadrants and other nifty ways of rating yourself on a continuum. A much more realistic way to assess yourself. It's fun! Try it here.

My Result was a free-wheeling creator! I love it!

Mad Hatter Hats

2007-06-25T20:28:00.000-07:00

We went to the Art's Festival this weekend, it took an hour and a half to wait in two food lines and the beverage line for water - I was about worked at this point. We were walking through the displays and there was a children's booth where you could make "Mad Hatter Hats" so we asked Murphy if he would like to make one and very excitedly went to pay for the pleasure of pasting glue and paint all over a paper bag - lady behind the counter "we're closed" no emotion (I get it long day etc etc), but but there are people right their painting their bags!!!! So I get down on little Murph man's level and tell him how sorry I am but they are closed - sadness! He was such a big boy and we made a pact that we would make Mad Hatter Hats at our house, I think that it was a success!

Where are you???

First Fishing Lesson - Catching Grass Like A Pro

2007-06-25T20:21:00.001-07:00

Big Kid Bike

2007-06-25T20:11:00.001-07:00

Murphy is such a big kid now! He received a treasure from his eight year old cousin - his big kid bike! Zach has been hanging on to this bike even though he grew out of it many years ago - for one purpose...Murphy's First Bike. He loves it (can't imagine where he got that from...)

Props to the Tan-Man love his wheels!!!!

Happy Father's Day

2007-06-17T14:15:00.000-07:00

Baby you are the most amazing father, the love you have for your son shows in everything that you do, from playing with the Murph man to being the tough guy. We love you so much.

Too. Much. Fun.

2007-06-11T13:34:00.000-07:00

We went up to a cabin this weekend with some friends, Murphy was the only kid there and he was doted upon by all. There was a tepee outside of the cabin, and he and I would go in and "pretend" to have a fire and roast marshmallows and cook bananas, seeing him use his little imagination is so cute, I remember playing pretend when I was little being able to lose yourself for hours playing whatever came to mind, I am so glad that I can do it again for a second time.

Murphy has a new toy; a bicycle. It is pretty cute to see Josh sharing the love of his life (not me - bikes) with his little guy. Josh put some training wheels on Murphy's bike and helped him maneuver all over the dirt road - ultimate happiness for both.

Bikers

2007-06-02T12:40:00.001-07:00

Memorial Day Weekend - CAMPING 07

2007-06-02T12:27:00.000-07:00

We went camping this last weekend down by Price in Hunnington Canyon - really pretty national park. It was FREEZING the first night. We of course put all of our extra layers on the Murph-man so he wouldn't be cold, when he woke up in the middle of the night calling for mommy - you better believe I high tailed it into his sleeping bag - it was toasty warm in there! When we got up the next morning there was frost all over the car and it was 32 degrees out!

Murphy had so much fun having our undivided attention for the weekend, he was helping Josh split wood, throwing rocks into the river and generally getting dirty.

Tagged - Eight Wierd Things

2007-05-30T15:47:00.000-07:00

Now if you asked my dear husband he could probably come up with many more than just eight weird - I mean endearing - things about me. But since I am supposed to come up with them here we go:

1. Nails being clipped - I absolutley can't stand to listen to other people click their finger/toe nails creeps me out! Funny thing is that it doesn't bother me to hear mine being clipped at all.

2. Forks making that weird scraping sound on a plate - I will seriously have to run into another room if someone is doing this on purpose.

3. Drinks in glasses - I always leave about 1/4 to 1/2 in of whatever liguid I am drinking in the bottom, I don't even think about this I just don't EVER finish what is in a glass, I also have to get a new glass almost every time a get a drink if the old glass has been sitting longer than a few minutes - You said weird right?

4. OCD + Undiagnosed = me (cleaning, on-time etc etc)

5. Leftovers are not for eating!!!!! I have a 24-48 hour rule on leftovers, if they have been in longer than that/or you can't remember when they were cooked they are not edible.

6. Shopping - I am the most undecided shopper you will meet, I don't know how many times I have stood in line to checkout only to get to the cashier and decide that I don't really need said item and put it back - irritating!

7. I don't like to be splashed with water especially if I am not in a pool aka doing dishes or bathing a child and husband thinks it would be funny to splash water on wifes face - I don't know if it is mental or not but it makes my skin FREAK OUT!

8. I am a freak about Christmas - I am getting better so that they people that live with me don't go insane but I used to start listening to Christmas Music sometime in Oct (you only get to listen to it once a year right) Now I am forced to wait until after Thanksgiving - PURE TORTURE

Cute Comments from a two-year old...

2007-05-05T14:10:00.000-07:00

Murphy and I were enjoying a lazy Saturday morning in our pajamas watching cartoons, and when I asked him if he wanted to go help fix breakfast - he ran to the door and started yelling Mommy coming too!!!! I think that we go out to breakfast a lot on the weekend - this little guy knows the routine even if that wasn't what I meant.

After breakfast I told him we needed to the bird feeder store, and as we were driving there he told me "we're going the eat bird store!"...

Over breakfast we discussing how we needed to get Mother's Day presents Murph got all excited and said "and CAKE"!

EAT. THAT. MOMMY.

2007-05-05T14:04:00.000-07:00

Eggs in the City

2007-05-05T13:51:00.000-07:00

Forever Friends...

2007-05-05T13:36:00.000-07:00

I know Murphy won't remember this trip - but at least we have pictures. Murphy adored this little man - he is such a sweet caring spirit, as we ate dinner the last night Malik got really quite and seemed like something was bothering him - we kept asking and he would just say he was fine, but come to find out he was so sad inside because we were leaving the next morning. Family - Forever.

Carmel Valley Beach

2007-05-05T13:24:00.000-07:00

Murphy was not nearly as comfortable at this beach. The waves were crashing in much more fervently and he would hardly leave my arms. My mom used to ride her bike to this beach every morning and swim in the ocean on the way to school - the water is ABSOLUTELY freezing.

From this beach so can see Pebble Beach golf course all along the side. Wow.

Are those not the cutest shoes you have ever seen!!!!

Grammy...

2007-05-05T13:17:00.000-07:00

This beautiful person is my Grammy, it was amazing to go back and revisit places that I remember from being and child and now being able to share them with the Murph-man.

The Monterey Beach 2007

2007-05-05T12:49:00.000-07:00

Good. Green. Earth.

2007-04-30T09:46:00.000-07:00

I finally made the phone call to inquire as to how one gets a recycling can and the guy told me that the city council decided to deliver recycline containers to anyone that didn't already have them this summer! Yea!

Funny the things that make your day.

--What makes yours?--

Home Sweet Home

2007-04-08T20:45:00.000-07:00

Wow we have been home almost a week and not a single post...seriously a blogger looser, will you all forgive me? Please??????

Here I will give you a little teaser of the posts to come (only because you have already given in and forgiven me)... :-)

These pics are Murphy and M playing in Grammy's front yard - almost an acre of the most beautiful hillside in Carmel. Deer coming up ten feet from the house to graze, not to mention the most heavenly smell from the wildflowers that were just beginning to bloom.

And then there is the beach....more to come

Cali = BEAUTIFUL...

2007-04-01T09:25:00.000-07:00

Hi all! Murphy and I are having a blast, we went to the beach in Monterey yesterday and had a picnic. I have the most adorable pics to post when I get back. He was rolling around in the sand and then would try to get the sand out of his mouth with his little sand covered fingers. So cute!

After that we walked around on the warf and watched the sailboats come into dock. Murph stayed in the backpack for a good couple of hours and wow am I feeling those shoulder muscles scream at me today!

We are visiting family out here and Murph has become the shadow of his cousin Malik. It is so adorable to watch him watching M and then imitating him.

Miss you all and can't wait to talk to you when I get back next week!

Leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again...

2007-03-29T20:40:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I do know when we'll be back - it's next tuesday. I am being somewhat spontaneous and taking my little 2 year old to see his great grandmother in Cali. I am so excited and so nervous all at the same time! Me, a two year old and an international airport - nothing could go wrong.

I hope to have lots of pics and plenty of stories to share when we return, to my dear husband that we are leaving behind to slave at the grindstone - know that you will be missed every moment; during the Monterey Bay Aquarium venture, the warf and the sea otters, and the beach etc. etc. you get the picture.

Love you!

Spring is here...

2007-03-23T07:58:00.000-07:00

So first off, I have no pictures to post with this, but I had to write down the memory while it was fresh. We took Murphy and Bax down to the park last night, it was so amazing to sit from a distance and watch Josh and the little man feeding the ducks with the sunset in the background (I know I know Kodak moment). I am so glad that the weather is starting to warm up again.

Murphy's newest thing is after he asks you a question he pauses and then says...k?

...murphy shoes off....k?
...murhpy change diaper...k?

It is adorable, man I love him so much!!!!

But my hands are DIRTY!

2007-02-27T20:41:00.000-08:00

So it took Murph a good FIVE minutes to realize that it was ok to get his hands all dirty and we didn't have to clean them up right away (I have no idea where he gets that), well as soon as he understood that this was good clean fun - he jumped in with both hands.

It's a dogs world....

2007-02-27T20:37:00.000-08:00

So many of you probably don't know who I am, I am the Parris's Baxter - yep that's what it says on my little doggie birth certificate. So I am not sure exactly what I have done wrong, but today I started obedience school with my parents. I mean seriously, what a little chewing, escaping and not listening ever hurt anybody???? Well wish me luck, I do strive to be the absolute best dog in school - almost all of the time...

Little Snorkler

2007-02-27T20:22:00.000-08:00

Getting Murph ready for snow shoeing, he decided that he wanted to play with the camelback (water container) - and he obligingly posed for the camera! He is available as a instructor on how to use these devices (for a small fee of course).

Hmm...Any similarities?

2007-02-20T15:31:00.000-08:00

My two monkies!

No words needed...

2007-02-18T12:20:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day = Take-out, Play-doh & FUN!

2007-02-18T12:15:00.000-08:00

SNOWSHOEING

2007-02-12T12:36:00.000-08:00

We went snowshoeing this weekend, sooo much fun!

Murphy was wearing my hat and could hardly see

because it kept falling down his face. What a trooper!!!

One more...

2007-02-07T12:38:00.000-08:00

Picture by Lacie
Please forgive me, one more of Murphy's birthday, this one
caught that special light in my little guys' eyes. Thanks.

Friends

2007-02-05T13:46:00.000-08:00

Balloons

2007-02-01T14:02:00.000-08:00

More of the Murph-man's Birthday and the dog.

Handsome Little Man

2007-01-26T14:46:00.000-08:00

Wow, 2 years ago this little man came and stole my heart. It is so amazing how much they grow and change every day.

Murphy - you are such a special person, Mom & Dad love you so much! Never forget who you are - always know you are loved.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

1.25.2005 = SQEAKERS BIRTHDAY!

2007-01-26T14:37:00.000-08:00

Can you guess who in the picture turned 2?

Hard to tell right?

A Day at the Zoo...by the way its freezing this time of year

2007-01-23T14:26:00.000-08:00

No matter what you do make sure its the opposite.

We found a sibling for Murph, we're just waiting
on the paperwork.

Large Shoes to Fill

2007-01-22T10:37:00.000-08:00

Wow...

2007-01-18T12:28:00.000-08:00

His eyes say so much...

Peanut Sauce...Mmm...

2007-01-15T12:14:00.000-08:00

Discovering Snow

2007-01-15T12:10:00.000-08:00

Murph discovered how much fun snow

is this weekend! He loved walking

aroundin his little snow boots...

Daycare Woes...

2007-01-12T09:44:00.000-08:00

Murphy had such a hard time this morning, well every morning. He cries from the moment his socks go on because to him that signals that we are going to be leaving and headed to daycare. He cries for the ten minute car ride to daycare, calling for Dad because he is the "safe" one who never takes him to daycare, he only picks him up which makes M incredibly happy.

Most mornings I can just brush it off knowing that he calms down within minutes of me leaving (I know this is true becuase one morning I had forgotten to give something to my provider and walked back in and the was not a single cry to be heard), but this morning I cried on the way to work. I know, I know you are saying to yourself - why doesn't she just stay home with him? This is my dream and goal, it just isn't in the cards at the moment.

I know he does have fun, because each night we talk about what he did that day - played with toys, the kids at daycare (he knows them each by name) ate good food etc. etc. And he seems totally happy to talk about it.

Well there is a bright light - tommorow is Saturday and there is no daycare.

Eyes

2007-01-11T08:02:00.000-08:00

Murphy does this really cute thing showing you

his eyes. He squints his eyes and sticks out his teeth.

Gingerbread Cookies...

2007-01-10T15:10:00.000-08:00

2007-01-10T08:23:00.000-08:00

My LIttle Man

2007-01-10T08:19:00.000-08:00

Brownies..Mmm Good...

2007-01-09T15:30:00.000-08:00

The Instigator

2007-01-09T15:25:00.000-08:00