Going "Home" with Little Mama

Since Mom & I hadn't been back to the mountains where she grew up in several years, we decided we better make time for it this time around. We left Sunday morning with backpacks full of books, toys, and electronics to keep the kids happy.

Ruby & her seat pet from Grandma & Papa.

Entrance to Dad's uncle's property

There was also a promise of swimming at the hotel pool that kept everyone happy.  Mom & I had a fun time chatting it up and enjoying the drive & the kids were really good. We made it to Show Low in time for lunch and went to Subway, then we headed to Aunt Theresa & Uncle Keith's.  The kids LOVED it there, just playing in their huge side yard, and enjoying nature.  While Mom & Aunt Theresa were catching up, Uncle Keith drove me & Ruby-girl to Dad's property. He was really nice & told me a few stories about where they used to swim, ride horses, and work. We fond the "Old Homestead" that's on Dad's property & picked up lots of white quartz.  I love the distinct smell there, a mixture of cedar, dirt, pine, and I don't know what else. I always feel like I'm coming home when I'm there, I guess just because it's where our roots are.

The Corral

Uncle Keith

The Old Homestead, I think Dad's grandparents lived here at one time.

I think this is the top of the "root cellar."

Later that evening we stopped by the Show Low cemetery and left some flowers & petrified wood on Grandma & Grandpa Stock's grave. I was able to drive right there. Then we had a nice swim and dinner before we crashed for the night.

Fool's Hollow Lake is literally a few minutes walk to Dad's property. This is where we camped a few months ago & froze!

Dad's family used to own all the property from Old Linden Road up to the lake.

The well

Jack rabbit

  
The next day we went by to visit Aunt Geannie, Grandma's only living sibling. She's just older than Grandma, and she looked really good. She had babysat her great grandchildren the night before for a few hours and has a son come over for dinner every night. In some ways, she seemed in better health than Grandma, at least mentally. After our visit, we drove to Snowflake, where Mom was raised and had lunch at the ball fields. We played tag, then drove by her home, schools, ballfields & buildings Grandpa Branson helped make, and then the cemetery where he is. We walked and walked and placed flowers by our relatives graves. Mom said, "Love ya, Dad!"

 Snowflake home Mom grew up in.

 Building near the high school Grandpa helped build.

Grandpa's resting place in the Snowflake cemetery.

Ruby's Finally Four

Ruby girl has been counting down her birthday since Kaleb's. So it's been a while. We went to Disneyland for Kaleb's 8th, so she said at the time she wanted to go to a hotel for her birthday. We started by picking up Grandma at the airport on the way to Ruby's zoo field trip. None of the kids knew she was coming, it was pretty great!  It was a perfect day at the zoo, with beautiful weather & lots of fun animals. Heidi brought a zoo animal scavenger hunt & Ruby was loving it. 

Mom helped us run around, clean & get ready for a day or two beforehand. She also made Ruby a dress to match the ballerina barbie she brought for her and went to Ruby's dance class.
Super Grandma!  On Ruby's birthday, Dad went for doughnuts, and she had chocolate milk with the pink frosted & sprinkled doughnut.  We opened gifts & she was spoiled, of course. The boys each gave her a prince to go with her castle & princesses and even played with her that morning. She also got a Maximus horse from Rapunzel, and some cute clothes, of course. 
The boys helped with the balloon decorating & Kaleb dressed up like Flynn Rider. Then it was time to get ready to party! Ruby helped plan her Rapunzel party & it was so much fun! We invited all the friends from her princess preschool & her cousins, of course. Ruby & I dressed up like Rapunzel & the
mean mom, Mother Gothel.


We greeted our guests & started off by painting our own canvases on the back patio.

 
The weather was perfect!  We played Princess Rapunzel, What Time is It?and we got tangled up in Rapunzel's "hair," that was a hit! Maximus loves apples, so we had the kids bob for apples, which was really fun.  My favorite was the pinata. The girls each took a swing with a frying pan (who knew, right?) and I think the big boys busted it open. We ended the big day with oreo cake, Ruby's favorite, and opening presents.
 
Even Gramma-Gramma, Miss, Uncle Ron & Uncle Roger showed up.  We also let the kids decorate crown sugar cookies. Ruby especially loved her palace pet from Uncle Rog & Aunt Judy, her Lady from the Sherwoods & her little pink rolling suitcase from Grandma.

The next day we put all her favorite toys in her little pink suitcase and headed to Show Low & Snowflake for a few days. It was a BIG weekend, for my beautiful girl.

Ruby's favorites:
swimming
puppies
playing with dad
dad's tickles
playing with mom
playing with the boys
playing at Paige's house on the trampoline
dance class
spaghetti
pasta
lasagna
chocolate
oreo cake
Reese's peanut butter cups (the BIG ones & the tiny ones)
watermelon
cherry candy'canes
chocolate milk

regular flakes (Special K cereal)

ice cream sandwiches

tropical punch Kool Aid

root beer

Cinnamon Toast Crunch

 Our Super Girl

 costume sent by Aunt Dani & Uncle Jonny.

 It was the

Text on Tuesday

From Babs, my wonderful SIL: (We'd been texting about how inadequate we feel at doing everything all the time).

"We need to organize not only our homes but also our time. Some women spend too much time keeping their homes clean and organized. They need to learn how to spend less time on housework in order to spend more time being with their families, developing talents, and serving others. Housework is important, but it should not take away from more important things. Having a clean home should not be our main goal, it should be part of our goal to be happy and have happy families. We need time to develop our talents and learn to live principles of the gospel. We should have time to serve in church positions, help our neighbors and those in need, and be good missionaries. When we keep our home clean without spending too much time on housework, we are free to spend more time in family activities and to do other important things." -Brigham Young

It was so nice to bond with my sister and know that I'm not the only one that struggles with these things. She'd just given a lesson on this in RS & shared the above quote with me. I feel like my house is rarely clean...esp all at the same time, but my kids & Ben know they are loved, and my friends know they can count on me. Heavenly Father has blessed me with wonderful people in my life and He gives me encouragement when I need it, through them. (I've been in a bit of a funk lately.) Here's another gem from earlier in the week from my bro, Jonny.

Remember dad's face during that movie your last night here? That image makes me happy:) love you!

Me: One of many great memories!!! That face & that belly laugh. :) just watched the sandlot with the kids for the first time. K, "that was the best movie ever!"

Yes!! I love it, and that movie is goodies! Your a great mama sis!

It's nice to hear every once in a while. Ben & the kids tell me too, but you know how the ones who love you most think you can do no wrong? It feels mostly like that when they tell me. Plus Ruby & Kaleb have both gone through stages where they tell me in the sappiest voice, "You're the best mom ever!" along with a big hug & kiss several times a day. I love it of course, but when you hear it all day and see a dirty house, a huge to-do list, & on occasion get grumpy with your kids, you tend not to believe it. Being a Mom is the hardest, yet most rewarding "job" ever. I feel so blessed and lucky to be able to live my dream of being a stay at home mom to our three amazing kids.

Dylan's 6!

Last day as a 5 year old.

Early morning gifts.

Thank you hugs.

Dylan's special day was tons of fun!  Dad surprised us and took the fam out for doughnuts before school.  We went to Dunkin' Doughnuts which was fun b/c we often call Dylan, DD. They have the same nick name.  Ben took him to school with doughnuts for his class and I met him for lunch & stayed for recess.

Super Murdock Bros

DD

My handsome lunch date.

Silly Dilly!

He's a free flyin', big smilin' swinger now!

I love technology....always & forever!

It was such a great mom moment to see him confident at school, doing exactly what he should be doing, and listening to his teacher. He was so proud to show me how he learned to run & hop on the swings to start & pump all by himself. We even taught his buddy Ian how to do the same. I came back a little later to volunteer in his class and help in the computer lab, which is now our weekly date. There is a special place in heaven for kindergarten teachers!

After school we had Ayden to play and for dinner. We had Dylan's favorite, spaghetti & shrimp.  We also had rootbeer floats to celebrate.  D received a Super Mario bros tshirt and very soft blanket for his bed. He also got new super hero action figures to go with the batcave and a new star wars leapster game.  His favorite by far was the wii Mario Smash bros game.  Grandma & Papa sent him a package of candy & Battleship which has been a lot of fun, too. Aunt Dani & Uncle Jonny sent a great Waldo travel book & star wars pancake molds, the Stock cousins sent a Diddy Kong guy & Mario checkers game, Christensen boys sent a light up lego set & sticker book.  He was spoiled!

While the boys are away at school, Ruby will play. :)

Pool Party!

We had Dylan's birthday party on Saturday afternoon/evening because there was a primary talent show.  All his neighborhood buddies and the cousins came over to swim, eat pizza & cake & play. The kids decorated the house with their Mario drawings & we had mustaches everywhere.  We played Super Mario, Super Mario, What Time Is It? (After Dad tried to play 500 w/ them & tears ensued).  We ended with a scavenger hunt to find their gold coins and goodie bags. It was a hit!  

Bowzer captured Mario, Luigi & their gold coins.  The kids had 6 clues to find them.

Their loot.

Mario & Luigi staches on straws & pixie stix.

The clever clues.

Goodie bags & thank yous!

Dylan is turning into such a great boy. I'm so impressed with the way he's handled going to school all day. He's been chosen as Student of the Week already, and his PE teacher let him get water first for doing so great last week.  He always tells me the stars on his papers mean "he's awesome." And I'd have to agree.  He's really been doing a great job of minding the first time and getting his homework done quickly & without complaint. Dylan AWESOME Murdock, that's my boy!

FAVORITES:

Pirate School books

Swings

Mario anything, but esp. Smash Bros now

Where's Waldo books

Tickling

Cannon balls & belly flops into the pool

Shrimp

Soda

ZOYO

Wild Kratts

He wants to be a deep sea diver when he grows up.

Super Dylan!