one uno game away from going loco

I love my kids. But, if I have to play one more game of Uno, I will go insane. ;) I'm kidding, of course! I have enjoyed {most} of our together time.

We've built legos for hours...literally.
We've fixed Mommy's hair and made her beautiful.

And we've had some pretty intense games of Kerplunk.

This is Maggie when you tell her it isn't her turn yet.

And then, this is her when it is her turn again. Oh the drama.

I even got booted out of a game of Hungry Hungry Hippo tonight because I didn't know how to play right. Wha??!

So, Mags and I just watched and did our own thing! ;)

And, the last few nights, after the kids have gone to bed, I break out my guilty pleasure....

YES! My parents got me a Kindle for Christmas and I.am.in.love. I love it!! I love reading and this makes it even easier for me to do so. Ahhhh!!!...

I do have to confess that I am a little bit ready for school to start back next week! It will be nice to be back into our routine. The natives are restless around here!!! :-)

the christmas gift that deserves its own post

After all the Christmas festivities, I got to meet up with Gretchen on Christmas night to chat and exchange gifts!! {Yes, we met at McDonald's. It was open. I'm not by any means endorsing businesses being open on Christmas Day, but when you need a BFF fix and she lives out of town, and you get a bonus diet coke, it's all good!} I'm sure we looked like two little crazy ladies, sitting in the corner of the restaurant with gifts, laughing our heads off. Loved every minute of it!

Exchanging gifts!!!
When it was my turn, I opened a box to find this...

...at first, I was like....a laptop? Why would she buy me a laptop? But I quickly saw that it was made of paper. And it contained this...

Yes, blog peeps, that is an AWESOME calendar that she created out of pictures of us! Oh.My.Word. The pictures. Let me tell you...this was a stroll down memory lane!!! There were some awesome pictures. I won't show them all to you, but here is one of my favorite pages!

Top left: G was with me when I ate my very first Big Mac.

Top right: Maple Syrup Festival...I don't really know what I was doing to that flute...

Bottom left: Gretchen has a love-love relationship with CROCS!

Bottom right: Nights Before Christmas Tour of Homes in Madison

As we were dying laughing over my "flute" picture, we got to talking about when we became friends. We started strolling down memory lane. It is truly amazing how our lives twist and turn and take these unexpected detours. Yet, friends remain. Friends are there with you at the highest of highs...when you don't think things can get much better. Friends are there with you at what seems like the deepest depths of despair. When your world is closing in around you, friends sit silently, not knowing what to say, but knowing that somehow...because of Christ...it will be okay. Friends hug you, make you laugh out loud, cry for and with you, tell you the truth, know you almost better than you know yourself, rejoice in your blessings, listen to you, give you space, crash your pity party, speak encouragement to you....and all this in just one conversation. I love it when God ordains a friendship.

One more calendar pic for you. :) This was a fun night out at Joe's Crab Shack... I love memories.

And I love this girl. :-)

Christmas 2011

Another Christmas has come and gone and I wish I could hold onto it for just a little longer! My babies are growing up way too fast and each new holiday means they are just that much older. Tear...

I do have to say that I am glad to move past the stomach bug! I appreciate so many of you who commented and texted me to say that you were praying no one else got it. Unfortunately, I did. :( I woke up Friday morning sick as a dog. I had all these big plans in my head...Friday was supposed to be spent cleaning, baking and cooking, but instead, I spent it in bed all.day.long. Eric took care of the kids and I was finally able to move to the couch around 5pm that evening. Thankfully, I was much better by Saturday morning and Eric and Levi steered clear!

Saturday morning, we headed to my parents for their annual Christmas breakfast! We usually do it on Christmas morning, but since it was on a Sunday this year, we decided to do it a day early. We all took turns reading the Christmas story out of Luke before breakfast. My mom and dad fixed their usual biscuits and sausage gravy, bacon, sausage, waffles, fried potatoes, eggs, and of course, our staple...chocolate milk! My tummy was very thankful for a little bit of food. I was able to have some of Dad's potatoes and biscuits. They were sooo good! The kids all giggled and talked about important things like burping, things that stink and what Santa was going to bring them. ;) Their convos are hilarious!! I think this year, they only asked 42,389 times if it was time to open presents. They were staring hard at great-papa who was the last one still eating!! Grammy told them "as soon as we're all done!" I left my camera at home {WHA?????!!!} so I will have to rely on my sister and Jenny for pics! But, my parents spoiled us all, as usual. Love you!

This year, Eric and I hosted the Reid Christmas at our house. He helped me kick things into high gear and get ready before our guests arrived!! I fixed white chili and his brother brought his "put hair on your chest" chili. Then it was time to open more presents. {I tell ya, these kids are spoiled!!} Have I told you before that Maggie loves her papa's??!
Megan helping with Maggie's gifts :)

This little girl got TWO babies and did not let go of them!!!! So sweet!

The three amigos!

My sweet mother-in-law :)

Amanda, Alan and Emilee

aren't we cute? ;)

Emilee and Maggie...and of course, her babies!

I am sad that I didn't get a family picture of us on Christmas Eve before we went to church!! :( But, I do have to tell a funny story! {It wouldn't be my blog if I didn't, right?!!}

We sat in the back row because you never know when you will have to leave with the kids. The first song started up and we were all singing and just enjoying the music. Maggie sat down and started to play with my purse. I figured it would keep her entertained. A few moments later, I looked down and she had one of my tampons out, gnawing on it. Yes, gnawing!! Like it was beef jerky!! She was ripping the paper cover off with her teeth. Oh my goodness. Did I mention our music minister's husband and his family was sitting beside us?! So, AS THE SONG IS ENDING, I reached down to take it from her and she screams, "Nooooooo!" I grabbed the tampon, threw it in my purse, snached her up {as the tears started rolling...}, and took her out of the service. It was quiet and she was screaming, "Nooooooo!" It was the most awesome moment of my life. ;)

We finished the evening with dinner at my parents and then sprinkling reindeer food on the lawn. Love, love, loved this!

Christmas

I love my family!! We took a self portrait right before heading down to open presents!

I took so many pictures, but decided to just post us each with our favorite gift! This is Levi as he saw his BB gun from Santa!!! Love his excitement...

Maggie and another baby!

You'll shoot your eye out!

Yes, my favorite gift was my slippers from my babies!! :-)

And, Daddy got a gun safe!

We fixed some pancakes...

...and then settled in for some much needed play time!!

After playing, and more playing, we headed to lunch at my aunts. Maggie got in more papa time!

Levi got MONEY from his great grandparents and he loved it! All he can talk about is wanting to go pick out his gift.

And, let me tell you, he loves his cousins! He follows Blake around and wants to do everything like him! And, bless his heart, Blake lets him! :)

My grandparents :-)

Bless your heart if you stuck with me and read this whole post! I just decided since my brain was so fried from being sick, that it would be best to do one long one. ;) We had such a nice Christmas and I am loving this week of family time. I love watching my kids play all day long! I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas celebrating the birth of our Savior. What an incredible blessing.

i love my washing machine!

Eric is officially off work and school until the second week in January. Do you know how happy this makes me??! I don't have to be a "single parent" for the next three weeks. Ahhhh. So, how did I spend my first day of freedom? I.went.shopping. I had a few things to finish up for Christmas so he kept the kids and I headed out at 8am! I went to McDonald's and got my diet and then just went to a ton of stores...just because I could! Sometimes I would hear a kid crying and it would just make me smile because I knew it wasn't mine! Or I would see a kid throwing a tantrum and kind of give that sympathetic "I'm sorry" look to the mom and be merrily on my way because I didn't have to deal with it. Love my kids...more than anything...but I love me a day out by myself too!!!

I also got a mini date with Eric. We went to WalMart and Bass Pro...neither were my choice, but we were getting some boy/gun/target/scope stuff for Levi. And since I know nothing about guns/targets/scopes, I had to go with the flow. It was still nice, though, to walk along, hold hands and talk without little interruptions. ;)

However...
Around 10pm, I heard the sound that all parents hate to hear. Maggie was up and she was sick. :( She threw up and then I heard screams, followed by "Uh oh..." I immediately knew why she was saying "uh oh". I threw her in the bath and Eric {bless his heart!} cleaned up all the mess. This is where my washing machine comes into play. We had to do 4 more loads. Poor baby girl. Around 2am, Mags finally fell into a deep sleep {while I was watching the last episode of my One Tree Hill Marathon!} and she slept soundly until this morning.
She has done great today! She has guzzled some awesome "fruit" flavored Pedialite {gross!!}, eaten some applesauce and toast and is very playful. She hasn't had a fever and she took a normal nap. Yay! {She didn't seem to notice that Doggie didn't make it through the devastation last night...Bear seemed to do the trick. Yes, our animal's names are very unique.}

Everything is washed, sanitized and now we wait...

I constantly think "is Levi next?" "will Eric or I get it?" "will we be okay for Christmas?" Oh the joys of the sickies!!! :-)

christmas cards...yay or nay?

I say YAY!! This is another blog off topic from Jaime Mac! Love it. :-) Do you send Christmas cards and if so, why....or if you don't, why not?

I have always tended to send out Christmas cards because I love them! I like funny ones, religious ones, fancy ones and now that I have children, I love the photo cards where you can obnoxiously show off your kids! I guess the main reason I like sending {and receiving!} Christmas cards is because I have a lot of family and we are all spread out. Texas, Minnesota, Florida, Illinois, Alabama, Virginia, and, yes, even Kentucky! ;) So, it is a great way to keep in touch with your relatives...to see how their kids are growing and changing and vice versa.

A big OOPSIE happened this year, though. When I quit my job to stay home with Maggie, I NEGLECTED TO COPY MY CHRISTMAS CARD ADDRESS FILE FROM MY WORK COMPUTER. So, I had to try and go by memory on who I sent cards to last year. I'm still working on my list {yes, I know it is a few days until Christmas!}. So, if you are reading my blog and usually get a card from me and haven't gotten one yet, forgive me! {BTW, I got a card today from our old neighbor - well, former neighbor...she isn't old!! - and she said she reads my blog every week! Jennifer...your card is going out tomorrow! Ha!}

So, I guess all this to say YAY for Christmas cards! But, you are still my friend if I don't receive one from you. ;)

random

Well, hello, blog world! :-)

It's been a while. I've missed you. I have several things to write about, so I am doing it all at once {even though we know Jami doesn't like that! HA!} ...

Speaking of Jami, look what was on my front porch on Friday afternoon. Yummy in my tummy!! Love me some puppy chow.

I also love my little boy. He came home from school on Friday with a present for Eric and me. He said "Mom, be careful. This will break." Guess he heard that a time or two from the teacher! When I opened it, I seriously cried. Yes, cried.

It is one of those gawdy ash trays that you make in art class! {Sorry if I am offending any art teachers!!} But, I thought it was THE most precious gift I have ever received. He said it was for us to put M&M's in. Love that boy. He was so very proud of it!

Saturday night was the annual Murphy Christmas Party!! Woot! This is my date.

Yeah, he was awesome company. He listened to a lecture for school the whole way there. Each time I would say something to him, he would look over at me, dramatically take out his earpiece, stare at me and say "What?" It became quite hilarious to me! ;) In all seriousness, though, I am thankful he is such a dedicated student.

This little fella was sleeping when we arrived and I wanted to scoop him up! Jami and I held him the majority of the evening and I told her I was gonna title my post "Jami's ovaries". We all kept telling her she was going to get baby fever.

One of the tables...so pretty!!

Me & Jami

And, sadly, that's when I laid my camera down and didn't pick it up again!!! BOO! I guess that's because I was holding and snuggling with Aiden. It really was such a fun party and I enjoyed just sitting back and talking, laughing {you do that a lot when Steve Lee is around!} and eating!

But, praise the good Lord above that Steve wasn't finished taking pictures! He was nice enough to post this for everyone on facebook to see.
I look absolutely horrid but could not stop laughing! I'm so thankful for my friends! I just wish that one more friend could have been there... :(

derby dinner

I am so sad...the pictures that I took on my camera disappeared. I don't know what happened. They were there yesterday afternoon, but when I went to blog last night, the pictures weren't showing up. :(


Levi had a field trip to Derby Dinner yesterday and it was the first time I got to go with him!! Yay! He talked about it for weeks! Here are the shirts they made to wear...adorable!!

We saw The Velveteen Rabbit and it was really cute. I think I ended up watching Levi's face more than I did the actual show. ;) He wanted to sit in my lap {WHICH I LOVED!!!} and he held my hand the whole time. I love that boy so much!!! After the show, we ate at King Fish. For some reason, I thought it was funny to take 4 Kindergarten classes to King Fish!! But, hey, who doesn't love a hush puppy??! It was such a fun day with my little boy. I'm trying to cherish these moments with him because I feel like his days as a little boy are dwindling down and that makes me very sad!!! Next thing you know, he will be asking for the car keys to take a girl out! Agghhh!!! ;)

magical

Levi had been looking forward to the Polar Express for weeks, but once we arrived and he saw the trains, he started to get nervous. He said he didn't want to go. :( I'm thankful all of his cousins were there to distract him.

Maggie was precious. Ooohing and Ahhing at everything she saw. She just kept staring at the train ready for a ride!! ;)

Once we boarded, the fun began! What I wasn't prepared for was one of the most magical nights I've ever had...I got to see a small part of Christmas through the eyes of my children and it was breathtaking. So, if I had to pick one word that described our night....it would be magical.

Seeing them full of excitement blessed my heart.

Seeing them mesmerized by the dancing and singing gave me chills. Seeing them squeal with delight over hot chocolate and cookies made me giggle!

Seeing them enjoying their cousins filled me with joy.

Seeing their grandparents beam with love made my heart burst.

Seeing them all giddy was precious.

Seeing them make others laugh filled me with happiness.

Seeing them dance and sing to help us get to the North Pole faster made me "Believe"!

And seeing my son's face light up when he finally saw Santa made me cry.

We had a truly wonderful trip to the North Pole and I'm so thankful for our experience.

You know it was a good night when this happens before you leave the parking lot!

Too bad!! Cuz she missed out on this...

...and this!