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.

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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.