It seems a little silly that I have this blog or even a blog. I enjoy this one and this one and this one and this one. And I think half of those may be the readership of this bi-yearly publication. I should just pull the plug on this and decrease the stress it gives me when I see it unupdated for months at a time. It seems a little silly that something like a blog that I do absolutely nothing to would give me stress but I tend to get stressed about really silly things.

For example, Sean recently went to an out of town conference for with a large number of his co-workers. He needed to be at the meeting place by 7:30 am, they'd board the chartered bus and they'd depart promptly thereafter and he was explaining that he wanted to arrive early and what time he'd be home and that he'd miss Griffin's baseball game and my incredulous response was, "Do you know who you are going to sit by on the bus?" Apparently he and I prepare for out of town trips differently.

Happy Happy Birthday PB!!!

I love you as much as I could love another person!

My sweet girl is here...

And Dan too.

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Today could not get any better.

Happy Birthday Suzer!

We love you more than you could ever know!

I realize she is mine so have have a ridiculously biased opinion. But I do think that if I saw Parker walking down the street I would think she is a pretty cute little thing. However, we are having a battle for independence.

For example, when I dress her...

So cute, regardless of the tattoo.

Notice the brushed hair.

This was recently.

And this was yesterday...

I think I am losing the battle.

I feel like in the training of the new employees, it would behoove certain establishments to bring in outside training help. Like me. SmalWarts (named changed for anonymity) could hire me to boost their crapful image.

I would go slow with them so I wouldn't disrupt their perfect storm of horrible service, dirty stores and rotten produce.

Day one would be pretty low key, not really very informative, perhaps just a little practicing here and there. After a quick session 1, we'd break for lunch then be done for the day. Sort of like this...

"Hi, I am Annie Murphy, you've probably heard of me. I worked in retail for quite some time but won't bore you with the details. Your new employer has asked me to give you a few pointers that will enhance your work experience and make people not hate coming in here.

Number 1. You must smile and say hello, not mumble or mutter but speak. Loudly. So other humans can hear you. Then you mustn't act like you hate the person approaching you making them wonder if you are packin heat, want to slit their throat with the machete you stole from the hunting section of your superstore then put the homemade shank in them you crafted in your downtime of standing around not helping other customers. That's all."

Today is a confessional of sorts. I don't usually take to the internets to air my laundry but today is the day. I am putting it out there and I don't care who sees it. I am comfortable with myself and in the areas I'm not awful. I do worry a little about the fallout of this admission. I think it can only get better if I say what I need to say.

I am a bad driver. I am. I wanted to write about the day that I was on autopilot and backed right into Sean's car that was parked right behind me. Then I opted to stay silent. Then I thought I'd write about it again, the second time I did it. Or the times I have forgotten to put the car in gear and forgotten the emergency brake and it has rolled into the street. Or the times to mirror has folded up when the basketball hoop kisses it.

Today is a new day though. Today we left to go to the library, we piled in the mv and backed up. Right into the trash cans. I think the trash man put them directly behind me on purpose. I stopped running them over pretty quick and moved forward and got out to wheel them up to the house. Good thing I am spry because the car kept rolling forward because I think I forgot to take it out of drive. Ah well, tomorrow will be the new day.

They say things left in the dark continue to grow but exposed to the light, I hear it gets better. Although I think this being in the light will now just make more people able to see my minivan coming and take cover.

Just cuz they are cute...

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear the greatest mother-in-law that I am so lucky to also be friends with
Happy Birthday to you


I really am lucky, my mother-in-law is kind, generous, funny, smart and a great listener. I am so grateful to have in-laws that I would pick as friends.

We love you Grandma Connie!

OK I know I have shown this pic before...but not with this story.

Last night I was laying Parker down and we were talking about her day, I didn't see her much for it was a busy one. I was asking her what she wanted to do today. She doesn't have friends over to play much because, actually I don't think she has any friends. Sure she has us and our friends and her brothers and their friends but that's kind of it. Which is one of the 1852 why she is super excited to start school Wednesday.

So here goes.

Me: So Park what should we do tomorrow? (In the sweet rocking chair last minutes of the day)

Parker: Momma, Can I have a friend over? (Very sweetly)

Me: Sure! Who do you want to have? (Excited because of above reasons)

Parker: Well I saw my best buddy today.

Me: OK do you want to have her over? Who is it? (Having no idea who she is talking about)

Parker: Brad. Call him please.

I love this face...I wonder how much I could love it before my heart explodes.

This is the power of my amazing husband...

Today is my mom's birthday! We don't get to see her today, not til next weekend, so bummer. She is the same grandma that my daughter asks to call everyday and whimpers and cries not understanding some people have jobs and can't talk about butterfly wings and strawberries and wearing dresses all day.

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My mom is my kids grandma, she has worked hard to make memories for my kids, to treat them to things and teach them about things of which I have no idea. She is doing things Grandmas are supposed to do, and she is great at it.

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Happy birthday Mom, we love you!

Ready or not world here I come! I make my actressing debut today!

I can't believe that I am actually doing this but more so that I am actually nervous. I have never been in any kind of acting thing except at the Art Center at The College of Wooster when I was a child and couldn't object, as a little old lady that knitted and rocked in her rocker and said, "Woe is me". I have a tendency to get overcome by nerves and my body kind of revolts. IE fainting three times in two weddings, that's right, twice in one, throwing up the first day of 7th grade, in homeroom. Kids are cool by 7th grade. Needless to say I woke up with (and went to bed with and for the last week have had) some anxiety.

I do feel like there is one person who is sort of already looking out for me though, preemptive calming my fears. Sarah, the make-up gal, told me dirty hair styles better than clean hair. She was talking right to my heart, even if her hair creation will be splattered on the pavement when I realize the camera is on.

Ode to a sweet face

She is just cute, she can't help it...

We had such a good weekend. It came on the heels of a crazy busy week so I think that made it so much more great. It was just a weekend full of friends and being together and laughing and talking about nothing and talking about everything.

I have realized that I have sold relationships short. I just thought I/my fam could exist as the Murphys with some friends on the side. Over the last few years I have found that there is something so huge to being with people who know you and that you know and you still all like each other anyway, your whole fam knows their whole fam, they can give you the business if you need it. There have always been pockets of people in my life that are the good ones but moving back to the Cincinnati has taken me some time to get there with people. I sometimes think in our parts the assumption is that we are in relationships with people and they are all good, healthy relationships that don't require a lot of work. It took us a long time to find a batch of people that felt good and easy.

Blah blah blah, I just love these ones...

Cincinnati looks good on them.

The Murphy household had a rousing game of 20 questions last night. Cooper doesn't quite understand it yet or has it way figured out.

Sean: OK, I am thinking of an animal.

Cooper Question 1: What is it?
Cooper Question 2: Does it have 18 tails?

I could not be more excited for today. 'Tis the start of a busy weekend, 4 baseball games - which only seems right as it is Lou Gehrigs birthday today, some family coming to town and a blind date Sunday night. I think Cupid is in the air and I enjoy helping him. I may have a problem with thinking about fixing people up but this one is going to be good, I'll let you know how it goes.

There will be some celebrating...many moons ago on this day the Statue of Liberty was delivered to the USofA. Of course its Fathers Day in a few as well. I dare you to find a better father, a more fun dad, a better encourager to his kids, a harder worker, a funnier, a more patient, kinder dad than this one.

He also happens to be having a bday today. I think this is the first birthday of his in the entire time I've known him that he isn't at a camp of some sort on this day. And I love, love, love it. But today its work and games instead. I think I may pretend its raining, pretend games get rained out and pretend he and I get to hang out. We will try but how can we pretend that the real reason of our joy is not that he shares his day with the one and only Miss Paula Abdul.

The cutest girl in the history of girls has a birthday today. It is her Golden Birthday, she is turning 3 on the 3rd. So far this morning, she has asked for birthday cereal with birthday milk, her birthday clothes, some birthday juice and asked for the birthday sun so she can play outside. I like to refer most of my emotions to Kelly Clarkson lyrics. My life would suck without her.

Don't forget to reserve your tickets for the hottest show in town. June 7th, 5 funny boys will be funny at Riley's in Springdale. You can pick the 5 pm or the 7 pm show and pay $15 for either. That's for dinner and everything. Hit up 771-3361 and tell them your coming. I think they are slated to be funny about Lake Erie. And there will be back bends.