A Year in Review...

You know, the last few weeks or so.

Cutie!

Snuggle Bug

Dylan is talking more and his shining personality keeps us smiling all day long! He keeps on getting cuter by the minute! He loves to give hugs and kisses and makes a "MMMMMMMM" noise when he's going in for a kiss (closed mouth now). He's also in the fun Mr. No stage. I think all kids do this... Do you want a cookie? No! Do you want some milk? NO! Do you want to go outside? NO! Do you want a million dollars? NO! Dylan will shake his head no with a huge smile on his face, and say no, no, no matter what you ask, even if you know it's really yes because it's his favorite. Just last night Ben got him to shake his head YES and he looks like a head banger. Hilarious! Favorite words/sounds so far: no, mama, dada, bubba, dog, ruff-ruff, choo-choo, car, Jesus, too (I love you, too), cheese, tickle-tickle, aah-aah-aah (monkey), baa, whoa, uh-oh, and bye-bye.

A boy and his dog.

Baby friends...D & Bubba.My Handy Man

Kaleb has figured out life's not fair. Man, it's tough being a 3 year old these days! Not always, but often when I ask him to do something he'll say, "It's not fair!" Funny how he never pulls that out with his dad. Life for Kaleb revolves around his friends, family, and Handy Manny. He loves working on projects and using his tools with dad, and painting or coloring with Mom. We were able to meet up with our dear friends, the Thomas's, and went bowling for the first time with the boys and had a blast! He also is obsessed with the time and will ask about 83 times a day what time is it. This year he started Sunbeams at church and gets to go to Primary with the big kids. He loves it, already memorized the first Article of Faith, and gets to go to his first Primary Activity Day tomorrow.

Kaleb & Winston

2 Peas in a Pod

Woo-hoo!

My Babies

Proud mama showing off her babies: Dylan, Kaleb and newest addition...Kohler!

Facebook Friendzy!

Well, another addiction has begun. After much prodding and poking from friends and family alike, I joined the world of Facebook...not really knowing what I was getting into. In under a week I have somehow managed to become "friends" with 66 people. Seriously? I didn't think I even knew that many people.

Although I'm not entirely sure I'm loving this whole Facebook thing, nor do I even understand half the things you can do on it, I am loving catching up with old friends. I've found or been befriended by people I grew up with, roommates from college, and even a long lost dear friend who lives halfway around the world!

Overall as Jenna would say, "I'm feeling uncomfortable referring to myself in third person." It reminds me of a Seinfeld episode and seems a bit ridiculous. But you'll still find me online, friending & having fun!

Confessions of a Sick Mama

So the boys and I got the junk from Ben...again! Three ear infections and a sinus infection later and here are my confessions:
1. Fruit snacks for breakfast...sure!
2. McDonald's for lunch...why not?
3. Driving Dylan to sleep...we had to get out of the house!
4. Holding Dylan for 3 hours while he continued to nap...he is my baby and is growing up way too fast!
5. 32 oz. of Dr. Pepper/Lemon Berry Slush from Sonic a day for the past several days... whatever it takes to make it through the day, right?

Can you imagine what would be going on around here (not to mention how HUGE we'd all be) if there was something seriously wrong with me? Heaven help us!!!

A Happy Day!

I typically try to forget that it's my birthday, because, well they're just not as fun as they used to be. I do really look forward to getting phone calls all day(btw ALL FOUR of my brothers called/texted me with out any reminders from mom...a small miracle!) and start anxiously awaiting the cards coming through the mail, but other than that I have one requirement...no cooking dinner!

For so many reasons this birthday was extra great! It started with sweet snuggles from my boys, phone calls from friends, and then a playdate (with chocolate-thx Bobyn!) at the park in the Arizona sunshine. We headed home and I received the BEST package ever from my mom, dad & the boys!!! It was chuck full of everything a girl could want, including purses, make up brushes, giftcards, & a vintage dress. It was the dress my mom wore to the temple on her wedding day, but not her wedding dress, and I just can't put into words how much I LOVE it!

I did have to go to work for a few hours, but found a great new babysitter out of it...yay! I checked the mail when I got home and had 3 cards from Aunt C (they're always hilarious, and this time was no exception) and a package from Gramma. Then we were off to Valle Luna for my favorite Mexican food....chicken fundido and DP. Delicioso! We topped off the night with a trip to Target to spend the gift cards on a fancy-schmancy food processor and cute black sweater to wear w/ my mama's dress. (The picture just didn't do it justice Mom, I'll try again later...sorry!)

Oh, and did I forget to mention that Ben bought me a PIANO for my birthday!?! He arranged to buy my Aunt Judy & Uncle Rog's piano that I fell in love with over Thanksgiving when they told me they were wanting to sell it. It's the same brand as my parents' that I grew up playing, so nice, and means so much to me. Such a keepsake! I used to think my love language was Words of Affirmation (Gary Chapman's The Five Love Languages), but after today I might have to change that to GIFTS. I was truly gifted and spoiled all day long and it was a very happy day!!! Thanks for all the love and attention from everyone... I guess a girl is due at least once a year!

Made with Love

Well the best gifts I gave this year would probably be the ones I made....advent calendars for us and my two married brothers. These are an updated version of an advent calendar we grew up with. Even though the kids are all grown, my mom still hangs hers every year. We just loved this thing...it was our favorite decoration by far.


After finding something similar in a few of my magazines, I decided I could do it. I've wanted one for years now, and Kaleb is really understanding Christmas more, I just had to give it a try. Three may have been a bit much to tackle for a beginner, but I was happy with the results. Personalized ornaments included stockings with initials for each family member, Elmo for the babies, a pig for my SIL Terra, a Wii controller for Jo, a Y football for T & V, and then some of our old favs from our childhood.



Some of the fav. gifts we received this year are also homemade. A sign made by Blake & Mandy's Wall Candy that reads: Murdock, There's No Place Like Home, a large tile that says Our Family is raised on LOVE with a cute border, and a small tile with Pres. Hinckley's Be Virtues. Thanks Blake, Shannon & Babs! The best goes to Aunt Carlybell though...she always outdoes herself and somehow she did it again! She made 3 sets of postage stamps for us: one with my fav. snap of Dylan of all time, another great one of my surfer babe, Kaleb, at the beach, and a priceless pic of Aunt C, Mum, Tommy & me at the airport where our goofy dress up tradition all began. LOVE, lOvE, LOVE it... you're the best Aunt C!!!

A BIG Texas Christmas

We spent 10 days in Texas with the Murdock side of the fam. We packed a lot into those 10 days and so I think I've hit a blogging wall and can't seem to get the motivation to catch up already and get it over with! Here goes nothin'.

I was the only sib not in OR this year for Christmas with the Stock side, so I was trying really hard not to have a blue Christmas. They however had a very white Christmas without me, with records of 18 inches falling and staying for over a week in our little hometown of Newberg. This amount of snow is unheard of, I have never seen the likes of it, that's for sure. All we saw in Texas was typical Oregon weather: rain and overcast skies, with a touch of humidity.

Anywho... here's the high & low lights of our trip:
*Flew in on Sat. and the boys were backyardigans w/ Grandpa Murdock. Made up a new game called Officer Murdock.
*The stomach flu finally caught up with Ben and me. We were kind enough to pass it on to Ben's entire family over the next week.
*If you're ever in Houston, check out the Children's Museum. Great price for a great day of FUN!
*Christmas traditions old and new: tuna fish & hot chocolate a la candlight Christmas Eve dinner, family program including Luke II, duet from Mom & Dad M. by flashlight, & short stories by the fire. Christmas morning we were beckoned by Bing & his White Christmas. Christmas gifts were exchanged one by one with Scott playing Santa this year. A few days later the kitchen was transformed into a gingerbread village. So sweet!
*Trip to the Houston Aquarium with the fam & Holbrook girls. Good times had by all! We all loved the train ride under a shark tunnel, the bubble inside the stingray bay, and the white tiger feeding. Dylan was so cute and excited...pointing and yelling FISH the entire time. He also love, love, loved the carousel, so we went on it 4 times in a row. :)
* Mom taught Aly and I to crochet. It was really fun getting to know Aly better. Let's see if I can remember how on my own!
* Ben and I were able to sneak out to 2 late night movies after our boys were in bed, once with his brothers & their girls. Bliss!
* Kaleb had fun with the girls & his uncles & Aunt Aly. They loved playing kung fu and animals together.
* Trip to the Galleria Mall and Dylan's Candy Bar.

* Blake was ordained an Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood the last Sunday we were there. So wonderful that we were all there as a big happy family as Kaleb would say. A Christmas miracle! ;) Love you, Blaken!
* Pedis & lunch with the girls...such a treat!
* Ben installed hardware on his parents' kitchen cabinets... a Christmas wish fulfilled.