What has two thumbs and Sassy McSassypants? This girl. (Pictured here with one of her two loves.)


I am amazed every day at our 2 year old daughter. She is no longer a baby that does whatever mom says. She is a toddling one that does what she wants and nothing less. Here are some of her antics from this morning.

Exchange #1
Mommy: Parker, come on, let's get you some clothes for you to get dressed.
Parker: Um, no thanks mom. I'm fine but you go get dressed and brush your hair.

Exchange #2
Parker: Mom, can I have some juice?
Mommy: Yep, go get your cup and I'll get you some juice.
Parker: Thanks mom. (She turns to walk away and sees Cooper hijacking the puzzle she was playing with) Mom, could you do something about that?

'Tis the Season

Christmastime is in full swing at the house of Murph. We decked some halls, trimmed a tree, greened the ... things needed greening. Busy times. I am realizing I get wound up easily and it doesn't take much. Perhaps some may say high strung. It has been absolutely nutso around here. The list is still long of things needing done but and here is my new philosophy, it'll get finished or it won't.


So my pledge for the next 6 weeks is to relax, calm down and enjoy this time. My new mantra came to me when were unpacking all of decorations and I was so afraid the kids would break something that it became very unfun for everyone. So I walked to the other room and decided it really doesn't affect one part of my life if one thing breaks, if it breaks, we will clean it up.


I am deciding to make good, fun, healthy memories and let the kids be kids instead of making them think things are more important than them. I want to encourage creativity, I do not want them to fear mommy being angry because a $3 silver star is broken. I want to encourage risk taking, I want to encourage chance taking, I want them to experiment with their lives. We will be here as a safe landing pad full of encouragement when they fail but I'd rather they risk and fail rather than be fearful, timid, or safe players.


This is of course until tomorrow when I blow a fuse.

I never really knew why Thanksgiving hopped around the November calendar the way it does. My Thanksgiving knowledge consisted of knowing it usually fell somewhere around the end of the month and I like the food. Well this year my 8 year old told me it is the fourth Thursday in November, the first one was in 1620, something to do with Myles Standish, half of the 102 people who made the trip died plus a ton more I have already forgotten.

We all survived our trip to the capital of Ohio, land of the Buckeyes and home of the majority of the Murphy's. The entire Cincinnati contingent was not present, had they been, the day would have been perfection. We had great food, lots of games and fun being together. On the way home, Sean and I dissected every minute of the day and realized it wasn't really that different than most of the other times we are with our family but it was one of the best times we had. It was just a great day, I would say it ranks in my top 5 favorite family days. I really don't know what it was, it was just great. So thanks Columbus Murphy's for making Thanksgiving '08 super great.

The littlest of Murph's...too pooped too party.

In case you are looking for a Friday full of funness, the come here to see these guys. They're pretty funny. And one of them is super cute.

-

The deets...

Friday, November 21
Ballet Tech Cincinnati
8:00pm
$5
6543 Montgomery Road
Cincinnati, OH 45213

Every once in a while, I get puffed up and feel very important. Like I have done something not one other person on this earth could do. I was created for this moment and this moment was created for me. Only my certain skill set and talents and abilities could forge together at this time in history for this day alone and avert a crisis that will save the world.

Today I had one of those moments. I, and I alone, removed a Lego sword from the printer that has been mysteriously jammed for 12 days. Twelve long days of thinking, I wonder what is wrong with this thing. If only someone could be a hero, come save the day and fix this intricate piece of machinery.

Thank you (I am bowing).

All is right with the world. Buddha is married, Griffin is 8 and Sean is home! He drove 18 hours and one half to get home last night. So great. While our hearts ached that he was gone and he was homesick, we all had great weeks. And he arrived home with souvenirs, Longhorns shirts, pens, armadillos and puppets.

We got to have a birthday celebration for Griffin but before a day of bowling, sugar and games we got to unveil the surprise. He and Cooper have shared a room since Cooper was brand new. Grif has been very interested in a room of his own for many moons and we have debated for about that long. We don't necessarily feel like every kid needs their own room and there is so much good that can come from having a roommate. But we finally decided to let the boy have his own space.

We thought and rethought and decided and changed our mind several times on how to fix up the extra bedroom into a cool place for an 8 year old. So the plan is set into motion, the gathering of supplies, the mapping of the room, the hiding of the key on top of the door frame. I could not figure out how he didn't know, not the ridiculous amount of time I was 'cleaning the closets' in there, the noxious paint fumes, the door being 'broken' for two weeks.

Saturday morning Griffin watched the video Sean sent that said his present was in the extra bedroom and to run up and get it. Off he goes and Aunt Peggy and I await his thunderous footsteps with cameras rolling. This may or may not be the same Aunt Peggy who called my daughter Peg Bundy for the day.

I think he loves it. He spent 20 hours and 50 minutes of the first 24 in there sleeping, investigating, Lego building and hanging out.


He asked if schools give a new bedroom day off hoping he could stay home today.


At one point he said, "Kendrick and I saw the skateboards and stuff in there and it was a mess, we just didn't know what you were doing." And I said, "How'd you see that stuff? Did you look under the door?" And his answer, "No Mom, we just got the key and opened the door."


So much for a surprise.

Today is the anniversary of the day I became a mom, some may call it Griffin's birthday. We are revving up, we have lots going today. But I know there is lots in store for this guy, he is destined for greatness. Kind, smart, fun, loving, obedient, funny, and one of the three best kids ever. He is truly amazing.
Happy Birthday Griffin!!!!

Well I have some great friends. This week they have proven themselves S-U-P-E-R, super is what they are, super, super great.
It has been a hard week but good. I do know I will be very excited when a few more tomorrows become a few more yesterdays. It terrifically painful for me to be in Ohio and not in Texas...my heart doesn't want to go into that right now.
For now I will introduce you to my besties for the week.


Israel's wife knocked on my door holding my love language...ice cream. Not much else needs to be said.


Later that same ice creamed afternoon, this one brought me some coffee. Not just coffee but she knows my favorite kind and spent her hard earned job that she works at money to buy it for me. Then our four little arms carried a 357 pound desk from them basement to me secret project (more on that to come). Our gigantor muscles are still shaking.



These two made dinner for my littles and I, pizza that was YUM-MY. Not only were there individual pizzas for all but knowing how I love them, there were green olives for the crowning glory on my deliciousness. But who are we kidding, one was really the dinner maker, one was the playmate for my boys. As Griffin shared on the ride home, he was running on the treadmill in the basement that the non dinner maker would turn up faster and faster until he flew into the pile of pillows they stacked up. Safety first!


I finally got to chat with this old gal. Not old chronologically but old friendologically. As we talked about Griffins 8th birthday, we realized we have been friendly for more years than that, she was the first friend to hold that little boy when he was brand new. She also told me I should go quickly to the doctor to get my splinter infested finger flushed and sutured as it is infected. OK she said none of that but she did say to maybe put Neosporin on it. And a band aid. It does hurt. And its purple, sort of. And you can kind of see the hole.

YAY FRIENDS!

I have an idea. I think it is pretty solid. I am in the middle of swapping Cooper and Griffin dressers. That's what I have always called it but I have heard it called many a thing, a bureau, chest of drawers, wardrobe, highboy but the one I understand the least is chester drawers.

Anyways, my plan is this. Since I am switching all their clothes and I am in the middle of doing laundry, why don't I just continue to use the dining room table as a giant dresser for everyone until every piece of clothing is out of the boys drawers and then it will be super easy to just put away all their clean clothes in empty drawers.

I think its ingenious.

Yesterday wasn't quite the day movie makers dream of. Unless it is a movie about a girl who stabbed herself with scissors, whose daughter is convinced she saw her dad in the rain drops, whose son pooped on the floor and she didn't know it was poop til she picked it up, whose son super glued his fingers to his shirt, who has no ice cream in her house, who got a shiner from her daughters teeth connecting squarely on her cheekbone, whose son left the water in the bathroom on all day, whose kids stayed up way too late despite the extra cuddles and kisses, whose daughter told knock-knock jokes for 17 minutes straight which doesn't seem that long but consider hearing in a big man voice from a two year old a one person narrative of who has come over.

Ah well, its not so bad, the trash made it out to the curb, everyone slept well, kids made it to school, the grocery store will get gotten too and the sun is out.

Happy Monday.

We are quickly approaching being 4/5 of a whole Murph. I haven't thought about it much yet but I do know I will not like next week, not one bit. I know he'll pick up a twang so get ready for the ya'll that's coming back to the OH. And the cowboy boots. And hats. And the belt buckles. Everything southern + Sean = Love Love Love

Here are some other things I know I don't like...
-Being one short of a quintet, we aren't the same without a soprano
-SMM being in Texas
-Having Texas so far away
-Me not being in Texas
-Birthdays with out 5 people
-Missing a husband
-15 minute phone calls to catch up on a whole day

The Murphy's have mowed their last lawn for '08. I am the mower of the lawns in this house and couldn't be happier about it. I know there are those who think its a mans job but for 65 minutes once a week or every 4 days or every other week depending on what season it is, SMM and I turn our nose up at gender roles and I mow the grass and he is the primary care taker of the littles.

I feel like that is a little chance that I have to think and be by myself and not worry about anything but running over my own foot. Of course there are times someone needs me and I throw my hands up, shake my head and yell, "I CAN'T HEAR YOU, THIS MOWER IS LOUD. YOU'LL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL I AM DONE MOWING THIS WHOOOOOLE YARD, THE WHOLE THING, AND I JUST STARTED AND I MAY DO THE NEIGHBORS TODAY TOO. SO GO BACK INSIDE AND TELL DAD THAT YOU NEED YOUR DINNER MADE, HELP WITH YOUR HOMEWORK AND THAT YOUR BROTHER HIT YOU BECAUSE I CAN'T HEAR YOU, I'M MOWING THE GRASS."

Well last night was a battle between light and dark. I started with what I thought was just enough to finish before the sun went down and I just happened to be wrong this time. We played a new game at breakfast, Fruit Loops and Crop Circles.

So goodbye lawn mower, goodbye gas can and goodbye nasty green shoes, I will see you after this crap called winter. For now, I am off to repair the damage of the dark and I must do it now, for I only have one more hour of sunlight today.

We had a great weekend. Cute kids with cute costumes and lots of candy and pencils. Pencils? Sure we need writing implements but boy are we set.

We had a weekend that felt right, it felt like it should. It felt like community, like fun, there was lots of laughing with lots of people that I like having around. And my to-do list is getting shorter, slowly but it is.

Since I am not much for writing, I'll go with my normal psychosis that people can read my mind so now you know how my weekend was.

The cookies were made with lots of left overs!!!!

And the teachers aren't striking.

So two down...

I worry. I am a world champion worrier. I worry for pleasure, for fun, for sport. I am the Greg Louganis of worry.

Here are my latest go rounds with worry...I will not explain why each of these worry me because then I will worry that I am not explaining myself adequately. And that leads to a big old bunch of nutso that makes me think that people think about me as much as I think about me. For each one of these there are 47 more.

1 -Lakota schools are thinking of striking.

2 - Coopers preschool sent a packet on the upcoming flu pandemic and how the bird flu may mutate and humans may get it.

3 - Grif's birthday will be here shortly and bedrooms don't redo themselves.

4 - There is an apple border in the kitchen that has stared at me for years doubting my resolve to take it down.

5 - Cookie Monsters famous cookie dough cut into ghost shapes frosted in white with chocolate chip eyes take a long time to make.

6 - North Carolina and Pennsylvania and Texas and Maryland and Colorado are far from here and I like people that live in those places.

7 - Vans don't usually make weird noises.

8 - Time goes too fast.

9 - My nose is stuffy and I have a weird cough.

I often have a hard time separating all the jumble that is my brain. I wish I had a red record button right above my left ear that I push when I need to remember something and every time I hit the button it added 15 minutes to my day so I could think through why I hit the button. It would be 15 extra minutes that don't count against me in any other part of the day, they just add to the end.

During that 15 minutes, my brain is programmed to only think of the reason for the button pushing and I can't move on to another 15 minute segment until the first thought is complete and I'm satisfied. But if I finish the thought before 15 minutes is up, the extra minutes don't carry over, I loose them.

If I think there is a subject I need to discuss with myself that may take more than 15 minutes, at the moment of the original button pushing moment, I can hit the blue button beside the red button and that adds 5 minutes to my 15. The blue button can only be pushed 3 times in one day so I have to use the extras wisely. If the original 15 minutes is up and I still need more time that wasn't blue buttoned, I can red button the subject but will have to come back to it at the end of my time.

Until that day, weekends are good stuff when they come in the form of my friends...

She is feeling better...

and that makes me happy.

We have a sick little girl. That makes for a worried, tired, nervous, anxious mother bear. Medicine and tests and extra kisses are helping. I am thankin' my lucky stars she is on the mend...and she is still sassy.

Da da da da...there is a new Smiley baby!
Congrats Paul and way to go Carrie.
Now there are two Levi's we love.




And the Steelers are 2-0
(zip it Brad)

Not only is there a 2nd grader in the hizzowse but a preschooler as well. And apparently, we just have kids that get excited for school. Cooper was swept into Griffins excitement tornado and could not have been more excited to go to school.
What a day...

1 - 0

A second grader now lives in this house. We watched him board the bus like an old pro, find his seat with Kendrick and start greeting all of his old friends.

I have a lot of friends who have kids that were not so excited for this day. Griffin on the other hand could barely sleep last night. He went to bed almost shaking with excitement. He slept with a smile on his face and woke up giggling. He told me last night before he fell asleep, "The suspense is killing me! It feels like Christmas is tomorrow!" I want to bottle that excitement just in case he doesn't feel this way in 10 years.

Conversely, I have not been excited for this day. I could barely sleep because I was nervous about second grade. I don't know why and I realize it is ridiculousness. This year he is a little fish in a big pond. Second to sixth grade seems like such a huge age difference. I am worried he won't be able to find his class, lose his lunch box, someone will be mean, he'll get lost finding the bathroom. And the whole time, I will be at home, unable to swoop in and save him.

My swooping days are coming to an end...

Setting: Fixing breakfast, everyone in their PJs, a sweet morning in the Murphy kitchen


Sean: Cooper, who has the prettiest mom in the world?
Cooper: MEEEEEEE!!!!

Sean: Parker, who has the prettiest mom in the world?
Parker: MEEEEEEEE!!!

Sean: Griffin who has the prettiest mom in the world?
Griffin: Me? You don't mean right now do you?

Is using the turn signal too much to ask? Maybe someone has thought it through a lot more than I have and can explain the not using of the blinker. But to me it seems like it is in a fairly convenient spot and pretty easy to operate. So come on, can we just be a people that scooch our little hand over to the lever and let the world know, "I'M TURNING LEFT, YAHOO!"

Saturday was Parker's flower girl debut. If you are wondering who can do flower girling better than anyone, its Parker. She was wonderful, walked down the aisle holding her princess wand perfectly. She even tried to coax the ring bearer who cried and wouldn't go. If you are in the market for a flower girl, she's your best bet. The bride was just about the most gorgeous bride I've ever seen. I wanted to high five her husband but I thought that may be inappropriate.

The whole day gave me hope for my family. These two families are amazing pictures of what love, commitment and parenting can do. The two that got married are awesome. They are committed to each other, to their Jesus, to their friends. They also wrote notes to their parents saying they wanted a marriage like theirs, I feel like that is a pretty big deal coming from people who have seen those marriages every day.

It was a great day but better than that, a great start to Ross and McKenzie's journey.

And Parker was cute.

Summer is closing down. With that, our free entertainment is over and I don't get to see my bf Fridayly.

But this Friday, I get to watch this little girl practice for her first flower girl roll...

Get out the tissues.

Disclaimer: I LOVE THE OLYMPICS

Last night we sat down to watch the games of the XXIX Olympiad. And of course after a rousing Trampoline competition, we were hunkered down for a ping pong match. And what a match it was. I couldn't believe the athletic prowess of those gentle giants. They were nimble like cats and ferocious as ...
OK, really?
It isn't even called ping pong. It is apparently called Table Tennis. The table is in the middle of a huge empty room so Griffin is convinced the table is smaller than the one at Peggy's house. They hold their paddles in an odd way and do fancy throwing up of the ball (if that's what they even call it) before they serve and I even heard grunting.
Now the table tennis ball, they only use one. They don't even have someone to shag it for them after each point, they have to run and get it themselves. Even at Aunt Pegs there is a bowl of extras. Those guys look like morons as they chase a mini bouncing ping pong ball around a huge empty space. I think I'd complain.
We watched for a couple of points and finally Griffin said, "I can't believe this is in the Olympics." And I must say, I agree.

And P.S. There was a North Korean shooter that got 2 medals taken away after he failed the banned substance tests. Seriously? Shooting a gun and banned substances? Isn't that Oreos and water?

I miss my friends. And Parker is having withdrawal. (I wasn't going to use this picture but she cried when I deleted it.) Aren't you sick of $17 diet cokes yet?
Mice.

Happy ___________!!!!!

'Tis a big day in the lives of people I know and love...

Happy Birthday to Katy...
The first person to hold our daughter. I love Katy, I love her laugh, her loyalty, her heart, her guts and that she now loves diet coke. Would you believe at one time she didn't?

Happy Birthday to Liz...
My Wooster connection. A lot of our lives are more similar than I would have imagined. I love her brain processing, I love her competitiveness, I love her commitment to change and I love her sister.

Happy Birthday to Mel...
My favorite friend that lives waaaay too far away. I dream of the day we can be next door neighbors. There are few friendships that are as easy as mine with Mel. I miss her.
And Happy Anniversary Bleah!
How lucky I feel that we are friends. I tell Sean every time we hang out that I love being with them and I wish we could hang out more. And I'm afraid I love them in a creepy, stalkerish way.

HAVE GREAT DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had a etymological surprise yesterday. I was talking with a girlfriend who used a phrase I had never heard before.

In an ideal world, Sean and I would be leaving Sunday to go visit her and her husband and do some work with them for a couple weeks. But sigh, that's not the case.

She told me "it is bucketing down." Any guesses? All I can hear is the brogue and it makes our non plans for next week sadder. Apparently it is raining cats and dogs and we would have needed raincoats. Ah well, at least it should be sunny in OH.

PS This is also the friend that Griffin said of her husband, "You didn't tell me he'd sound like a leprechaun."

Why won't this girl sleep?

Mommy's tired...

The feel of today...

Yesterday there was a tootsie roll in the dryer. With my clothes. On my stuff. Then my kids colored with tootsie roll flavored markers today. If you know me at all, you realize the nightmarish horrificness of this.

It is like those little brown demons are coming after me. To destroy me. Their plot to rid the world of AMM is subtle but it is there and very real.

I thoroughly dislike birds. They scare me, they flutter and are unpredictable. And as much as I have been told they aren't dirty or crazed, I choose to believe Hitchcock.

And who uses a bird as their cute little know-it-all that is really a condescending, arrogant, candy-stealer? The tootsie roll.

Watch out you small, brown, gag inducing nastys, I will get you. All of you. And that daggone owl.