I'll Be Home for Christmas

This year with little Ruby being so young, we decided to stay home for Christmas. It was just the 5 of us, and although we missed being around family, it was really nice to be home. And maybe for the first time ever, it felt right not to be in the home that I grew up in, but in the home Ben and I made together. Time to start our own traditions. Nice to wake up in our own beds. Great not to travel.

On Christmas Eve we started a new tradition of having Italian food by candlelight. We then read the story of Jesus' birth and the boys were excited to act it out. Kaleb and Dylan decided early that morning that Ruby would be baby Jesus and they were pretty cute planning it all out. We had hot chocolate, cookies & Panettone for dessert, and wrote down a gift to give to Jesus this year. Afterward we opened 1 gift each...the kiddos each had special pj's made by Grandma Stock and we changed, set out cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer, and then were off to bed. Unfortunately we didn't stay there long, as Kaleb got some type of flu and threw up throughout the night. He was fine the next day, but Ben and I got sick as well. This is 3 Christmas vacations in a row that we've been sick.

Aside from that, it was really nice. The boys loved their gifts and we were all thoroughly spoiled. Wii played, we slept, we ate.

We love Christmas, such a special time of year to really reflect on the life of our Savior, and our efforts to be more like him.

WISHING YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS!

BOYS CLUB

While I was in the hospital with Ruby, Ben & Mom swapped a night and she stayed with us, while Ben stayed with the boys. When us girls came home, we found out that we were NOT a part of the newest, coolest club around...BOYS CLUB. Proud members include Big Daddy, Captain Kaleb, & Silly Dilly. They have their own BOOM-BOOM-POW secret handshake, a field journal, and big plans to travel the world!

Secret missions thus far: going to the movies, helping with yard work, being nice to Mom & Ruby, making forts, trips to McDonald's, helping put up and take down Christmas lights, and finishing dinner.

Being a part of BOYS CLUB is a BIG deal to these boys of ours, and it is very motivating! They love spending special time with their dad. I'm so proud of Ben for being such an amazing father. He always makes time to teach our boys and knows how to balance having fun with lessons along the way. Here's to many years of Boys Club fun...boom-boom-pow!

1 Month Ago Today

We met you for the first time and fell hopelessly in love! Details we don't want to forget: your newborn smell, your cute coos and sighs, the way you fit on my chest with your small little dark head nuzzled into my neck, your girly little cry, the amazing way you wake up every once in a while and just play in your bassinet without crying, your beautiful blue-blue eyes, how you get the hiccups ALL the time!

Already you've changed, your rosy red cheeks have faded, you are holding your head up at times, and respond to our voices with a smile sometimes. You've outgrown some of your newborn clothes and are now 9 lbs. 4 oz., 21 1/4 inches long. Your head is in the bottom 25% and most of your head bands just slide right off... I have some tailoring to do.

Nicknames: Baby Sis, Ruby-girl, Baby-girl, Pretty-girl, Honey-honey...more to come for sure!

Life with our Little Lady

So many people have asked how our boys are doing with their new sis, that I wanted to record a bit about our transition. For the most part, they've done amazingly well. They love, love, love her and want to show her off and hold her all the time!

Dylan did go through a couple of rough weeks where he was really a mama's boy. Surprisingly enough, Grandma wouldn't do, he only wanted me. He was also sick at the time, and 2, so that might have been part of it. Since Ruby's been born there have been quite a few tantrums and independent streaks that have to be dealt with just-so to keep him happy. Kaleb on the other hand, has noticed a significant damper in his social schedule, but otherwise has been great. I think he's learned to take advantage of mom's less than watchful eye. ;)

The boys have this cute curiosity about our Ruby. They both talk to her in this high pitched little voice. Dylan runs to her the minute she makes a peep and announces: BABY RUBY IS CRYING! He loves to kiss her, hold her hand, and run his cheek along her soft hair. D's observations: She's in our house! Her blue eyes are open. She's holding my hand! She smells like butterflies. Kaleb loves her to pieces as well. He could hardly wait for his friends to meet her, and loves to hold her all by himself (with the help of the boppy and Mom right next to him). He can't believe how little she is and that he was once that size. Kaleb thinks she smells like flowers and loves it when she has a bow or flower in her hair.

We feel so very blessed to have each of these sweet ones in our lives and can't imagine life without them! We also feel blessed & grateful to have such amazing family and friends to help us during this time. Mom stayed for a month and went above and beyond to help us during her stay. She became such a part of our lives that after she left, Dylan kept asking where she was, like she would walk through the door any minute now. We have so many friends who've brought us delicious dinners, arranged for play-dates & carpools with the boys, called at just the right time, and helped in countless ways big & small. Thank you for keeping us happy & functioning during a somewhat sleepless & crazy time in our lives. To steal a saying from Shannon, MUCHO HEART to all of you!!!

Sneak Peak

http://bowbeniephotographie.blogspot.com/

Ruby's Blessing Day 11.29.09

Pretty baby girl!

Last Sunday we were able to have Ruby blessed (similar to a christening) in church by her loving father. It was a very sweet and special day! Ruby Abigail Rae Murdock received many wonderful promises in her blessing. The ones that stood out to me were that she'd continue to have her calm and peaceful demeanor, that she would develop a compassionate heart, and that she would prepare herself to be married in the temple to a worthy companion. Besides her father, my Uncle Terry was able to stand in the circle and help with the blessing, as well as Br. Parham & Bishop Jones.

My mom made this dress many moons ago! 4 Generations: Grandma Barbara Rae, Ruby Abigail Rae, Sara Rae, & Gramma-Gramma Ray

Gramma-Gramma sure loves this baby!

Ruby looked so beautiful, all dolled up, and wearing the gown my mom made for me when I was blessed as an infant by my father many years ago. Her vintage look was topped off with an over-sized ivory flower headband, a pearl & crystal bracelet, and a special blanket trimmed in pink scallops, crocheted by her Grandma Murdock. (Can you tell I've been watching Project Runway this fall? ;)

Afterward we headed home for pictures and brunch. All the boys wore their pink ties in honor of their new sis. We all love our Ruby so much and feel so blessed to have such a special baby girl in our family!Pink tie-guys! Can you believe how HUGE Dylan looks now?!?

Our precious Ruby