Text on Tuesday

Here's a pic I sent out to the fam. Ruby's finally doing a little better with leaving her pigtails in so I wanted to show off the cuteness. 

 Jonny texted back: BABY GENIUS! :)  

Blake texted: Apple store? 

 Love our baby bros!

Christmas Crafts

Here's some pics of a few of the things I made this year with the help of my handy-dandy cricut! We passed out these decorative plates as neighbor and teacher gifts this year instead of goodies.  Of course my friend and visiting teacher, Tiffany, out-did me and made these as well, but topped it with an array of Christmas cookies along with a homemade cutesy tag.  Oh well! I was just happy to get these made and delivered before we left for Oregon. (:

The sock advent is something I've been wanting to make for years now, after seeing it in Family Fun magazine. I've been collecting socks (after Christmas clearance) and finally, finally made it! We love advents and have the felt tree one I made when K was one, a wood block countdown, and a cute magnet cookie sheet one that Jonny & Dani gave us. This one is special in that I get to master plan our holiday fun with it.  Each day the kids pull out an activity to do as a family, a scripture verse or song to do at our nightly devotional, and I might even throw in a few treats.  Sidenote: I made a smaller version for my cousin Melissa around the 12 Days of Christmas and it was one of my favorite gifts I gave this year.  She could have cared less. :(  I was so disappointed I wanted to take it back and regift her a McD gift card because we would've both been happier, but I didn't.

Next year I WILL make a fabulous snowflake hanging arrangement for over the table/chandelier area.

Wordless Wednesday

CHRISTMAS VACATION

New luggage was their first gift this year. Here we are ready to roll out of AZ at 6 am in the dark!

Notice how the "Golden Child" has a halo of the star above his head.

I've been avoiding this post because we packed in so much fun, I have no idea where to begin! All I wanted for Christmas this year was to spend it with my family and be with my mama during her radiation treatments. And because I'm married to Ben, my wish was granted. We bought tix in early November and I called Mom and sang, "I'll Be Home for Christmas!" The kids and I flew home together a week before Ben could join us, and it was the WORST flight ever. Ruby was such an angel the entire time we were there, that nobody believes me. Let's just say it involved being hit, head-butted, and peed on by our little princess and incessantly annoyed by the flight attendant.

When we arrived, Grandma and Grandpa had the whole house decked out inside and out, but waited for us to put the ornaments on the tree. We had the cousins over and Uncle Tommy & Uncle Jonny were there as well. It was fun to see all our old ornaments we grew up with and how excited the kiddos were to help.

Monday night we got everyone together for ZOOLIGHTS at the Oregon Zoo. We had a group of 16, so all of us except Ben & Greta were there.  It was a very fun, very cold night.  Before hand the bros went in to finish up some shopping & little mama me, told them, "Are you sure you're going to be warm enough?" Sure enough, my baby bro didn't have socks on or a jacket and ended up looking like a crazy homeless person wrapped from head to toe in a random SW print blanket Mom had in the Durango. Haylee loved the performance of the 12 Days of Christmas best. My kids loved it all and I was just glad we didn't lose anyone!

Each day we went into Portland for Mom's treatments, and we'd end up going out to lunch afterward. I was able to finish our Christmas shopping in two trips, one with Mom in town, and one to Fred's with Dad. We went to all our favs: House of Teriyaki, Busters, & the Chicken Bar, to name a few.

Our next big event was decorating Gingerbread Houses.Val texted me before we left AZ and asked if I thought the kids would like to do Gingerbread houses altogether. Sure, I texted back...thinking the graham cracker variety we do at K's school, or the Wilton kits you can buy. Nope, Val made 10 gingerbread houses FROM SCRATCH, and I kinda helped assemble. She even took all our kids (-Ruby) to Winco so they could pick out candy from the bins. It was amazing! The kids loved them, and Grandpa did, too....even stealing candy from a baby!

Throughout the two weeks were lots of play dates, sleepovers, and other such fun with the cousins. Each day we heard, when are the cousins coming over?

Christmas Eve day, Mom and I spent many hours in the kitchen together. We were exhausted, but it was worth it. We made 6 pies, thumbprint cookies, a pumpkin roll, several batches of caramel corn and twice baked potatoes. We were going to make biscuits & sausage gravy, bu had the guys pick up pizza instead. That evening, Ted's fam came over and we acted out the Nativity.  Ben read while I gave the kids parts...K insisted on being baby Jesus and the rest of the kids all wanted to be wise men since we had crowns from BK. It was pretty cute. Then Ted read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and we opened up new PJS. The kids were so excited over their new PJS, I couldn't wait to see their reactions the next morn.

The next morn came way too early....Ruby woke up at 4, 5, and then finally we let the kids get up at 6:30.  Grandma got up to turn the lights on and they found her downstairs and starting digging into their stockings before I was even there! They woke up Uncle Jonny & we waited for Dad to get home from work before starting on the presents under the tree.

Jonny said his favorite part of Christmas was seeing the kids reactions on Christmas morning. I'd have to agree. It was awesome! They are at the perfect age right now where everything and anything is all they'd ever hoped for and more! Kaleb got a Donkey Kong stuffed animal and DS game, Dylan got the Green Lantern cave and monster he'd hoped for, and Ruby girl got a (creepy if you ask Ben) talking Dora doll. They were in seventh heaven! We all got spoiled by each other and received some happy surprises. Ben loved the BEARS themed abstract art the boys made for him and his jersey. I was happy Ben didn't go overboard for me because really all I wanted was the trip home, and Mom & Dad gave us a Kindle Fire. I love presents that I'm not expecting and would never buy for myself, and somehow they were right on with that one!  T & G also got me some awesome new makeup from Sephora. :)

Since Christmas was on Sunday, we went to Sacrament Meeting for both wards, the ward Ben grew up in which Ted's family lives in now, and my home ward. It was really fun to see all the old familiar faces.  Both wards always do a musical type Christmas meeting and so we heard T sing in the choir.  The primary kids sang Christmas Hosanna and D & K went right up there with Haylee & Joey. They ended up standing right by my cousin's children, so that was really neat.  I really wanted to take a picture, but refrained since we were in the chapel.

That afternoon the whole family gathered at Mom & Dad's for a gift exchange & dinner.  We were smart and got the kids fed first while we were finishing things up, and it was nice because all us moms actually got to sit and eat, without the little ones needing us. Later on we went to visit Aunt Carla & Uncle Al, and Grandma. The kids played with all their new toys and had a big old time being "bandits" with the nerf guns & Grandpa's hat. Us older kids watched old school movies and relaxed by the fire with some of Mama's pie.

The rest of the week flew by, but we managed to fit in a trip to the movies and Children's Museum.  Ted & Val took Ben & I out for an early birthday dinner at a new Italian place and Mom and I got to go to yoga and out shopping a few times. The day before we left, we met up with Stef & her cute kiddos at Ruby Cakes which was so much fun, and then headed home to get ready for New Year's Eve. We all made yummy appetizers and desserts, played games, watched more old school movies, and made some really good memories. I will never forget the Twister games the Uncles played with the kids over and over again, and the awkward positions they all ended up in. We had our own countdown at 9 (midnight EST) where all the kids had party hats on, counted down, then kissed a cousin! D just reminded me of this...remember when I kissed Joey on the cousin countdown?  That was silly! Mom made me cheesecake for my birthday and it was the perfect end to a perfect stay. When I tell people I celebrate my birth MONTH, I really mean it! :)

Thanks to everyone for all the fun times we had.  We sure do miss & love you all!

Wordless Wednesday

Text on Tuesday

There were a lot of goodies, but this one was extra special. I texted all my bros, brother in laws & Ben this message:

This am, K said he wanted 2 be a zookeeper  when he grows up & asked D what he wanted to be...he said an UNCLE! Thx 4 being so good 2 our boys. Love u!


Here's what we got back from the uncles:

 Uncle Jonny: This makes me so happy:) oh my goodness that is super cute sis. I love them!

 Uncle Tommy: That just made my day!  I miss you guys.

Uncle Blake: Aww awesome!! :)

Uncle Jared: I don't blame him.  Being an uncle is pretty cool.

Uncle Scott: Thats cool.  Well they make it easy.

That Dylan Michael, sure is a keeper!

Princess Leia in Training

The Uncles would be so proud!

The Original Boys' Club

So Ben & his bros have a football weekend every year to celebrate their birthdays together. This year we had the pleasure of hosting & met our sweet little nephew, Bentley, for the first time.  We're in LOVE...he's such a cutie! We packed as much fun into the long weekend as we could.

Friday, the uncles & Ben brought Subway to K's school for lunch. A few days ago a mommy friend said she was at the school when they showed up, and she thought they were a rock band!  :)  K's def the coolest 1st grader at the school now! That night I made tacos/ taco salad and then the bigs went to K's football practice, while the littles stayed home & had a movie party with me.  I wish I would have been there though because it was the last practice of the year and they played grown ups vs. kids.  Ben, his bros, K's coaches vs K & his friends.  Priceless!

Saturday was Kaleb's last game of the season. He had so much fun showing off for his uncles & little cousin and really did awesome on defense! Uncle Scott had his own game going on at the sidelines with the littles.  Ruby girl was right in the middle of it all, of course!

That night we went to the Mesa Temple lights and met up with my cousins. Ruby & Bentley were in AWE of the lights and kept trying to touch them.  Ruby: Ooooh...pretty! So cute! The weather was perfect, but we were hungry, so only stayed an hour.  Then we were off to Texas Roadhouse where Bentley flirted with all the waitresses & home.

Sunday I braved church by myself with 4 kids! I was a little nervous, but they were angels. Bentley even went to nursery with Ruby for most of the time. The guys went to the Cardinals game & had lots of funny stories to share. I made Kung Pao Cashew Chicken at Blake's request and Wacky Cake because I needed some chocolate in my life.

The next day the uncles watched D & Ruby for me while Jenna & I met Robyn & her newborn babe in the hospital. Then we all met in town for lunch with Ben at In N Out for Uncle Scott. This is a pic of the bros right before saying goodbye.  

 Oh how I love these Murdock boys, the ORIGINAL BOYS CLUB, especially seeing them altogether again! KALEB & DYLAN, when I tell you that brothers are best friends, I really mean it.

Looking 35 in the Eye

and OWNING it! (as my bros would say)

Because a very wise mama taught me, it doesn't matter how old you are, 

you're only as old as you feel.   Surrounded by my handsome hubby & sweet giggling kids who are shouting,

"BEST DAY EVER!"

while riding this sweet bike in the sunshine, I feel like a kid again.

Ruby-girl, if you ever wonder what the milestone of 35 looks like, (I was 13 when my mom was 35 & I really have no idea what she looked like. You just turned 2.) here you go:

35 YEARS YOUNG & ENJOYING THE RIDE.  Every single minute of it!

Text on Tuesday

Two for the past week. First up from my dear friend, Stef.  We go all the way back to middle school and we still have so much in common.

It was so nice 2 see u and ur mom yesterday..u look amazing! (hope you know that) if u want 2 talk 2 about #4...im the one! have a fab flight in 1st class.


Now you know why we're still friends.  This was after meeting up at Rubycakes and she still kept the date even after her dog passed away earlier that morning. Love her!

This is how we roll! 

A text from me to Ben after he got K & I upgraded (for free) to first class while he was in the back with D & Ruby.  We had so much fun flying together.  I slept & read, he played his ds the entire time & sipped on sprite.  He also held my hand, told me he loved me, and played in my hair.  So sweet!

Resolution Revolution 2012

While we were partying in Oregon, Dani was explaining what a resolution was to the kids New Years' Eve.  She said hers was to eat a cookie every day.  Each of the kids piped in and kept calling them revolutions.  K's was to lose weight, D's was to eat monkeys. Hmm.  Here's what we came up with for FHE tonight after a little lesson.

Kaleb: My resolution is to listen to mommy and daddy more better. I want to start reading better so I will read for 20 minutes every day and start chapter books.

Dylan: My resolution is to be big and strong. I will do this by sleeping in my own bed all night and eating healthy food.

Dad: I want to develop habits of balance in all areas of my life.

Ruby: Ruby's mommy wants her to potty train herself and eat more & better.

Mom: My resolution is to talk with a voice of mildness to my children. I will also lose 10 pounds. I want to read at least 1 verse from the Book of Mormon daily.

Our family goal this year is to skype with our far away family every Sunday. :) :) :)