Catch up!

The newest edition to the household, thanks to Santa...Jezebel (helping me take down the tree).

Miss M relaxing in her new chair and ottoman after working tirelessly in her new kitchen (dryer and iron included)

Sam in a dreadful T jersey, he asked Santa for that too!

Jezebel on Christmas morning, inside the tree.

My little elves

She was not even scared of him.

While I was working hard on decorating for Christmas, this is what S gets to do... PLAY!

Oh how I love them!

Ok, Ok, I know I am not the best blogger in the world but I really try. First, I am loving facebook and I don't have to type so much. But I do love sharing my pictures of my kids. That is what this post is all about, catching you up. So if it bores you, you can leave now. Thanksgiving came and went and Christmas came and went even faster. It was a great Holiday season, we all stayed healthy for the most part. Me, 2 weeks before Christmas, was bedridden for 2 days due to a weird stomache thing. Had lots to do before the kids were out of school but it got done somehow. We have been so blessed in 2008 with health, happiness, and love. Hopefully, the new year will bring us more of the same.

Miss M and Minnie

She did not even mind her Minnie Mouse tutu dress, really, she loved it.

Anxiously awaiting present time.

The whole family enjoyed Minnie at Miss M's party.

Miss M, posing by her adorable cake (please notice her high heels)

Miss M on her actual birthday, just finished singing Happy B'day to herself

I've been somewhat emotional for about 1 week now. Miss M turned 2 on October 29. Just seems like yesterday that S and I were heading to the hospital wondering what having a little girl was going to be like. Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever dreamt of how much joy, laughter, smiles, and drama a little girl would bring to all of us. Not to mention she is the last baby in our family and my immediate family. Needless to say she is rotten. I remember saying with the other pregnancies that I would just as soon have boys that I thought they would be easier. But with the third "unexpected" pregnancy I secretly hoped it would be a girl just for something different and the hopes that one day I would have a best friend in my daughter the way my mom has one with me and my sisters. My hopes came true but even after the level 2 ultrasound and the tech saying its a girl, non-chalantly, I still could not believe it.

We proceeded to expect a girl and the house began to look like a pink monster had thrown up all over the place. We were so excited about having a little girl that we just couldn't stand it. Not to take anything away from either boy-they had fulfilled every little boy dream we

could have ever had about them seeing that they are both 110% boys. I was loving the idea that all the shopping would be totally different. I had grown tired of passing down little boy hand-me-downs to little S. I was ecstatic about all the bows, frills, and girly stuff that I could, until now, only admire. Also, the fact that I had saved all of my dolls, barbies, dance costumes etc. I now had someone that may love them and not wonder why I had saved them, not to mention the wedding dress we had preserved ( I know, what are the chances of her wanting to wear the white dress, but maybe she will just like looking at it)and all the little girl things I had saved. Big S was ecstatic because everyone had told him that he would have a "daddy's little girl" not that the boys were not totally in to him, he just knew how boys love their moms.

Well, 2 years into raising a little girl she is all that and then some. Miss M is ALL girl and I love it. I still have fears that since she is a younger sister to 2 strapping boys that she may grow up to be somewhat a tomboy but I still hope that she is just one tough girly girl. She loves shoes, especially her new "Minnie Mouse" high heels, loves her fingernail polish, however,she does not like bows. She has the sweetest voice ever, just the other night at 3am she was singing "Twinkle, Twinkle little Star" and I think S and my heart swelled twice its normal size. The boys adore her and she adores them. Whenever she gets hurt or in trouble, she wants J---or "boys" (she doesn't call him S-- but boys). They watch her like little men and do not mind having her around. Its easy to say we love her like crazy.

This year we celebrated Miss M turning 2 with her favorite thing in the whole world. We visited Disney in April and ever since then she has had a love for Minnie. Well, Minnie visited Miss M at her party and she really enjoyed herself. T your the best and such a great sport for helping us out. Miss M had no idea but we will tell her when she understands and she will love you all the more. Happy Birthday Miss M, thanks for all the joy, love and drama. One day I will let you hear your recording of your sweet self singing happy birthday to you. As daddy says, you are "Babylicious"!

God always knows exactly what we need. S and I had thought we were finished having children and He knew we needed Miss M. Through circumstances (we may discuss the sowewhat miraculous conception at a later blog) God gave us this sweet little girl. She is such a blessing, as are the boys, but just knowing she was not planned for and how God gave her to us at a perfect time just proves to me all the more that everything He does is always for the good. Thank you God for allowing me to be the mom to Miss M, S and J. They are the light of my life and I am getting to do what I always wanted to do...be a mom.

Ode to a much needed break

Fall break has come and gone and I am sad to see it go. This was the first year that I have experienced the beach in October and it was great. We all (family of 15) got to experience it together. It was a Shannon Family lock-in. We rented a great house in St. George (first time for all of us to visit) and we cooked, vegged on the beach and let the cousins enjoy every minute of it. Most days consisted of a great breakfast ala Mimi, then lunch, then great evening dinner and when you eat with the Murphy's I do mean evening. No wonder S and I feel as if we have gained 5 pounds each just from our trip (not to mention Mimi's homemade chocolate chip cookies). We got to experience seashells in an over abundance (instead of stepped on a pop top blew out my flip flop, stepped on a seashell and said "whoa, that felt swell" sorry couldn't resist). The kids got to really enjoy the ocean one day it was like a lake it was so calm. Everyday from early morning to late afternoon we had a dolphin show that seemed like it was just for us, as well as the beach, hardly anyone in site. It was MAGNIFICENT. I got to enjoy a sunrise with Miss M and a sunset (albeit we did have to trespass on some great property but it was worth it). J found a hermit crab on the beach and, well, Hermie did not like Georgia and according to Jake was so homesick he has already passed on. The best part, though, was spending time with Mimi, Poppee, Jamie, Robin, Shannon, Asher (got to celebrate this little man turning 7 while at the beach), Terry, Trace, Ty, Talyn, S, J, little S, Miss M. We had a great time and surprisingly got along grand. Its so rare that all of us are together that I treasure each time we are. I love you all and I feel so blessed that we got to experience one of God's greatest gifts together as a whole family. Can't wait to do it again. I feel like J did the day after we got home, with big tears in his eyes he said "I miss the beach, but I miss my whole family even more." I do too, J, I do too.

The Hood

the boys eating breakfast while their buddy eats his on his front porch.


I always love to see Fall of the year. One, its my favorite time of year, seems the beginning of the "holidays." Second, I start staying outside more. I was born and raised in the south, but I tell you, hot summers just about make me melt (not to mention what it does to my hair). In my neighborhood when you are outside it takes about 5 minutes before you have a yard full of kids (even girls now, since Miss M is so irresistible) then soon after a yard full of parents. Just this afternoon we spent about 3 hours in or near the road talking with our neighbors and one very special neighbor that has moved away, surprised us by pulling up today, here in town for the weekend. Just this morning sweet S said "I sure do miss Mr. Scott, we're going to have to find someone else like him," then lo and behold he drives up this afternoon.



Our neighborhood is pretty tight, we pull together during sickness, births, deaths, everything. It is like extended family. Big S and I have a piece of property that we are waiting on the right time to build but living in this neighborhood makes me not want to build. On one hand I would love a "new" built just for us house, but on the other hand, I can't stand the thoughts of leaving this place. Some of my dearest friends live a stones throw away from me. We have lived here for 5 years now and in 5 years I have gained about 4 "sisters." Its funny how neighbors are sometimes people you would have never thought would end up being your friends. Different backgrounds, different social circles, its great how God puts the right people in your life at the right time. I love them dearly. Besides, this is where my 2 boys met their first "best friend." And there is something to say about having an extra set of eyes always watching out for the kids. We may not live in the most affluent neighborhood but I say you can't beat it. This is one place that is so dear to my heart. It truly makes one of Gods commandments easy 'cause we do love our neighbors.

Kids

I have just now learned how to put pictures with my blog so here are a few of my favorite things.

50th Wedding Anniversary

Gosh, been a long time since I have posted. Its been a crazy few weeks. I have been busy with my mom and dads 50th wedding anniv/renewing of vows. They secretly eloped August 30, 1958. They had another couple with them and traveled to Buchanan Georgia. They were married by the Hon. Rufus T. Brown while his kids watched Perry Mason on tv. They were married on Saturday night and she started her senior year on the day after Labor day. And the rest, as they say, is history. I have always loved their story of secretly getting married and not telling their parents for 1 whole year. I can't imagine. Of course, tongues were wagging when people found out they had been married for a year (suspecting a baby on the way). Nothing like that, just a love for each other that they could not stand not being married I guess. Over the years I recall looking back on how much they really do love each other. They have given me such a model marriage to follow. In this day and time, there is not many that can say they have been married 50 years. That is more than half of their lives. They have both loved each other through him working a hard job, (shift work no less), raising 3 girls (some of us not so easy to raise -Rob), surviving prostate cancer, loss of parents and dear friends. Through it all, they have always turned to each other and I have never doubted if they loved each other.

Planning this ceremony was such a joy to me. We wanted to make it as special as possible since they did not have a "wedding." Needless to say, you really don't need all of the pomp and circumstance to say your married, all you need is God, and a love for each other. Anyway, just being able to sit there and watch my parents profess their love for each other, yet again, was the most amazing thing. One of the highlights of the evening was the Perry Mason theme song playing as they left the church and another was the video of their lives together from various pictures. The pictures were from their childhood to present day and everything in between. I was never more proud and neither were they. It was my dad's idea to renew their vows, which coming from the non-romantic, was pretty great. Of course, mom being humble, never wanted it to be "showboaty." It was an amazing Saturday evening with lots of close family and friends and lots of stories. My sweet S the day of, said "I've never been to a wedding, and my first one is Mimi and Poppee's." That is pretty special for my children, their grandchildren, get to see them get "married.""They are still talking about it. Dad gave mom a Journey necklace for her gift, and what a journey they have been on. It is truly a love story that I never want to forget.

Mom & Dad, I love you, and you will never know how grateful I am that you 2 love each other the way you do. You have given all of us so much in life but your love for each other and us is the best thing a mom and dad can do for their children. Happy 50th. XOXO

I don't mean to be a blog tease its just that I have been busy running 2 little boys that don't know poison oak from an oak tree to the doctor, administering steroids and applying calamine lotion to all parts (all) parts of their 8 and 5 year old bodies. I shall return, hopefully as soon as I can get my pictures to the blog, with lots of pictures with their distorted little faces.