The boys went to church today while us girls stayed home. Ruby's nose just won't stop a runnin' and I had an upset tummy. So when the boys came home from church SO EXCITED, I could hardly believe it. They were proud as puddin' to show off their gift from the Primary Presidency: their VERY OWN Book of Mormons. Kaleb immediately labeled the inside of each "Kaleb's Book of Mormon" and "Dylan's Book of Mormon." They were so stinkin' cute about it, it made me wonder, why hadn't I given them their own earlier? (In my defense I HAD thought about it, especially since Kaleb has started REALLY reading and we'd been having him read a verse or two during our family scripture study, but just hadn't done anything about it yet.) The rest of the day they kept asking to read them and anytime they'd catch me reading (Jacob Have I Loved) they'd say, Are you reading your Book of Mormon, Mom? Hmmm... Mom might need to work on that.
We also started learning a primary song each month during our nightly devotional. Last month we learned I Know My Heavenly Father Loves Me, and this month we're learning Scripture Power. Admittedly sometimes we just have to get the kids to bed and settle for family prayer, but I love it when we get all three in (song, scriptures, & prayer). I can really feel an increase in the Spirit in our home and love learning from the example of our sweet, innocent children. Life is SO good. We are SO blessed!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Taking Our Lives Back!
The plan began on 12/26/10 with goals to go out at least once a month with my husband, and to spend more one on one time with my kids (so I don't feel guilty for the rest of my awesome plan). I am happy to report that we have been on two kidless dates out, and one kidless movie night in. SO FUN! I forgot how nice it was to relax, cuddle, and watch a movie without kids, laptops, and other distractions.
Then my birthday rolled around and we started our Fitness Challenge. We are almost 3 weeks in, and it's been such a HUGE blessing in my life! I have been sleeping for at least 7 hours (almost every night), exercising for an hour a day (almost every day), eating healthy foods, and drinking tons of water. I try to eat 3 fruits, 4 veggies, no processed/packaged snacks, no sweets, and no soda. I have lost several lbs. so far, have so much more energy, and have developed some really good habits. My hungriest time of day is always from 4 to dinner time, so now I pack the kids in the double stroller, K gets on his scooter, and I rollerblade them to the park. Hunger gone! Ben has also gone down a belt notch....woohoo!
(Rollerblading with the kids would've been a better picture, but I'm feelin' sassy tonight, & don't have any of me in my blading glory. Which btw, K told me today I needed knee & elbow guards...thx for the tip, son!)
I crave exercise now, the kind that has me dripping with sweat & pushing myself really hard. The kind I haven't had consistently since I was in high school. I'm lovin' it, and if Ruby girl has to fuss a little while in her highchair eating breakfast with her 3 yr old babysitter & the TV, so be it! If we're having fish for dinner or any other meat or veggie combo that the kids don't love, it's take it or leave it time, baby! We are taking our lives back...the year of Ben & Sara is in full swing and we are not backing down!
For a related, but much funnier view on parents taking their lives back, watch the 1/6/11 episode of The Middle. You'll laugh, I promise!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
I'm a Big Kid Now!
Dylan loves to do everything that Kaleb is doing, and so when he started to mimic what Kaleb was saying about his day at school but adjusting it with his friends' names & preschool, I knew it was time. Lucky for us, Carrie, mom of D's new friends Blake & Alli, wanted to start a joy school. Here he is with his own big boys "dragon winged" backpack, ready for his first day of preschool!
He loves everything about it and is the first one dressed and ready on preschool days. D shows us his crafts and reports about his friends all day long. It's so stinkin' cute! So much for keeping him little...his little world has grown leaps and bounds this week: first preschool, then tiny tots sports, and hopefully Sunbeams on Sunday. More pics and posts about our big boy to come.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Ringing in the New Year
On New Year's Eve, we spent the day together at Sea World.
We LOVE Sea World! I was worried about the weather because it was freezing & raining the day we left in AZ, but it was great. Just a jacket and we were fine.
We saw the SHAMU show, Santa's Workshop, a Christmas Pet Show,
the stinky penguins,
baluga whales, sharks & a new dolphin show.
The kids were really into it and even Ruby had a great time!
That night we ate at Chili's and then headed over to the cousins. We just relaxed while the kids played until 9 (midnight EST) and then found the countdown on TV. The cousins all counted down and we had our sparkling cider. Cheers! After a month of Christmas pics, we were kind of over it. Sorry!
New Year's Day in the Murdock home always consists of football & appetizers, all day long! The guys watched the games & kids, while Babs & I snuck away and did some shopping. So much fun! I set resolutions for the boys this year: saying please & thank you without being reminded. It's really beginning to drive me nuts! I also convinced almost all the adults there to join me in the 10 week fitness challenge. Jared gets a pass since he's in grad school. :) They convinced us to stay an extra night, and the boys had their first cousin sleepover. So cute!
We feel truly blessed for all the blessings we received in 2010 and can't wait to see what 2011 brings. We are especially grateful for our little family, friends that feel like family, family near and far, and our Savior. Happy New Year!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Happy Birthday to Me!
So this year for my birthday, I decided to give myself what I wanted most...a new & improved me! Ben, Mom, Val, Babs, Blake & a handful of friends are in on the fun. We started a 10 week fitness challenge complete with diet and exercise goals, journals tracking everything from water & food intake, hours of sleep, amount of exercise, and POP challenges to keep us on our toes! It's intense, harder than I thought it would be (I've completed 2 days thus far), but it will be worth it. Here's a link to our blog, FITNESS CHALLENGE '11, if you'd like to cheer us on!
Bringing out the vibe!
And we're off!
Being goofy for our BEFORE pics.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
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