TGIF

Corey left today. But, he will return for Lawren and Keirans birthday. I will be looking forward to that. He is so much fun to be around.

It's Friday. I haven't been able to get online in a few days. I am using my sons laptop. I think I may have to go over to Best Buy and purchase a new computer. I don't think I can go a day without blogging. It is so much fun. My kid's tell me that blogging is for old people, myspace is better. Well, I do qualify for senior discounts now, so blogging works for me.
We spent the day after Christmas at the Mall. I don't think anyone had to work that day, they were all shopping. We did manage to buy a few things on sale. Corey got a GQ jacket, Ryan got a hat and Shelly and I bought some matching sneakers. I have pictures of them but that will have to wait until I get my computer fixed or buy a new one.
I am so glad today is Friday, I only have to work until noon. Our celebration for the holiday's are not over. After New Years, we look forward to January 4th., Kathleen's birthday. Next is January 18th. Ryan's birthday, then we have January 20th. when Keiran will turn 5 years old. After that Lawren celebrates her very first birthday on January 21st. So you see, we still have lots of celebrating to do.

Christmas was Great!

Here we are all together. This is what Christmas is about to me. Being together and sharing in the joy of watching the little ones. We had a wonderful time. The weather was great, the food was good and the laughter we shared was worth it all.

Lawren with her dolly that Uncle Sean and Auntie Alana got for her. She loves her dollies.

Lawren with her new pony. I asked her what the ponies name was, it sounded like she said "Alice", so we are sticking with that name until she decides to change it. Alice is a cute name for a pony, don't you think?

Keiran on his quad. At firt he was a little intimidated, as soon as he got on it, he stepped on the peddle and it took off. He stopped, hopped off and said "yep, it works." He finally got the hang of it and drove it until the battery went dead.

The little ones enjoyed listening to their Auntie Shelly read them stories.

Lawren looking out the front door through the wreath looking at the lights on the porch.


Here is Corey just sitting back and taking it all in.

I Gotter Done!

Yesterday, I had so much to do and so little time. I can't believe I got it all done. First thing to do was, head to the church and help distribute food baskets. As you can see, the bags are full of food and goodies. The deacons at our church decided to put food baskets together this year. Usually our community services group handle it, which is me, so this was a big help in my department. So, we headed out to our destination. First stop, The Afganistan family.

Here is a picture of the Afganistan family. They have lived behind the church for several years. We go over there every year with a food basket. They are a family with 9 children. Only six of them are in the picture along with Andy, Linda, Bill Cozzi and Scotty.

The Witherspoon's stopped by for a visit. They were headed to Modesto to see her mother-in-law. Helen Ida lives all the way up in Oregon. Helen Ida with her baby boy, who is 6'5", and her hubby Gary.

I managed to pick up a tree, get the lights and decorations on it, make a carrot cake, get all the bedding changed, all before we headed to the airport to pick up Ryan and Shelly. It's all done. Now, I wait for the boys and Shelly to get up so we can head up to PUC and join Kathleen, Jeff, Lawren, Sean, Alana and Keiran for Christmas day. Tom made homemade waffles for us too, I think I will go wake everyone up. Merry Christmas everyone.

A Hummingbird Sabbath

As some of you know, I love hummingbirds. I have a couple of feeders around my house. One on my front porch, the other in my back yard. I hadn't filled the one on the porch in a while. Tom hung up our Christmas tree lights on Monday, we both noticed the hummingbirds flying up to the orange and red light looking for nectar. I felt bad that they weren't getting any so I decided to fill up the feeder. I no sooner put it out and there were two of them fighting over the feeder. I decided to get my camera and sit out there and see if I could capture them eating. I was able to take several pictures. I even got a video, I just need to figure out how to load it. Anyway, I think these are the precious species of birds God created. So, enjoy the pics. I forgot to mention that you can double left click on any photo and they will enlarge.

Almost Ready For Christmas

I haven't got my Christmas tree up yet. I know, only three more days til christmas, what am I waiting for.( Maybe I will get a good deal?) Well, this year we are going to spend the holiday with our daughter up in Angwin. But, I know my boy's will be here Sunday night and will expect me to be in the swing of Christmas. But I needed to get my carpets cleaned first. Last night we cleared out the rooms. I had some help tho, getting ready for it. Thank God I have such wonderful and loyal friends. I had to clear out my living room and one bedroom. I piled everything into the front bedroom. It is such a good feeling when you know things are clean.

Susan and Teena clearing out the bedroom. They had so much fun, I think they would make great professional movers, and they work so cheap. Before we got started, I had to feed them. I fed them pizza and water. Yea, no soda. I quit drinking diet pepsi AGAIN.

I think deep down inside Susan would like to be a singer. Looks like she has some hidden talent.

Teena flexing her muscles. I have to tell you, she is strong like bull. She practically picked our couch up by herself. She looked just like SUperman did when he would pick up a car.

All done. We managed to pile it all in one bedroom. Kind of reminds me of the back of Bob and Cecelia's pick up when they would go to Redwood Campmeeting. Cecelia took everything but the kitchen sink up there. I really miss those days.
So, I will be ready for Christmas. Can't wait to put my tree up now.

Dore' Has A Blog Now

Dore' just made her very own blog. Aren't we all getting so smart. As I type this, Teena is working on her blog too. Soon I will have lots of blogging friends. This picture of Dore' was taken while we were in New York. We were visiting the first church built by Seventh-day Adventists. The original pews and pulpit remain inside and are still in use.


The Roosevelt Adventist Church was erected in 1853.

Happy Birthday Christopher

Today is Chris' birthday. Chris has been a part of our family for 27 years, or more. He has been a great friend to Corey and Ryan. He is very special to my family. (He flew out to Texas this year to be in Ryan's wedding.) He is like a son to us. You couldn't know a greater guy. Chris we love you!!!!! Happy Birthday!

I'll Be Home For Christmas

Ryan and Shelly get to come home for Christmas. Praise God! I thought they wouldn't be able to make it this year. I was so sad but understood the situation. So, with a lot of prayer and patience, I was able to find a great deal on priceline.com. You can actually put the price you want to pay and submit it. They will search for an airline to accept your offer. If they find one, whola, you get it. We are going to have a great Christmas with all four of our kid's together...and grandkids.
It's a wonderful life.

Out Trip To Lawren's House

Lawren is helping her mommy make us waffles.

Grandpa and Lawren in front of her Christmas tree.

Kathleen had asked us to come up and babysit while they went out to dinner. So while we were there, she was able to take advantage of the babysitters. She hung their Christmas light. While they were at dinner, Grandpa and I decided to take Lawren out on the front porch to see the lights. We weren't going to be out there very long, so we didn't dress for the occasion. I think it was only 30 some degree's. Grandpa did think to put his stocking cap on, I wrapped Lawren in a blanket and I went out there in my socks with no jacket. We took the pics and headed back into the house to find that the door was locked. Tom is still talking about the look on my face. While I was holding Lawren, he went around to see if the back door was unlocked, it wasn't. He went back to the detached garage to see if he could find a screw driver or something, it was locked. We checked all of the windows, double paned, they were all locked. So, I put his slippers on and made my way over to the neighbors. By this time my feet were starting to freeze. I had such a desperate feeling in my heart. How in the world are we going to get in before Jeff and Kathleen get home to find us all frozen on their porch. I knew exactly what I was going to tell the neighbor. I was going to explain what happened and ask to borrow a screw driver or a gun. If the screw driver didn't work, I could blow the door open. Remember, I was desperate. Well, of course, the neighbor wasn't home. So I trucked back over to the house. Tom went around the house again and found a used sprinkler with the stake attached to it. He pried and shoved on the door for a few minutes, but to us, it seemed like hours. While he was working on that, I was offering up all kinds of prayers to God.
After a few shoves and digs, the door flung open spraying wood and plaster all over the entrance. But, we were in the house. Thank you Lord.


The door jam. Well, what's left of it. The good thing about it all is they were going to get a new door anyway. Just not this soon.


This is what Keiran is getting for Christmas. I had asked him a few weeks ago what he wanted, all he ever says is a "battery operated quad." I said to him, "don't you want some Lego's or something like that", he replied, "well you can get me whatever you want to, I will like it." He is such a little gentleman. Of course we had to get a quad. So Auntie Kathleen picked one up for us at Wal Mart. Grandpa and Auntie assembled it.He is going to be so excited.



The Quad



This is what we got Lawren for Christmas. I can't figure out how to add a video, but we took a video of her riding on Grandpa's knee. She has a Leap Frog that plays farm music, when she hears the music, she will get on your knee and start riding "the horse". We discovered her love for horses while we were in San Antonio a few months ago. We visited the Towers of America, there was a horse ride that she just loved. When her mommy tried to get her off of it, well, she cried. So now we know she is going to love her horsey.


Lawren's Dolly Collection. She loves her dollies. They sit on top of her Amour in her bedroom. When she goes in there, you can ask her where her dollies are, she will look straight up at them. ( She is so advanced. )



This is her newest dolly that I got while in New York. I got it from an antigue shop. She is from West Germany, a "Gotz" doll.



As you can see, Grandpa Murphy was plum wore out.

Christmas Countdown

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Leave Me A Gift

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A Birthday Wish

I had a birthday last month and my very good friend, Ann, surprised me today with this present. These are Homer Laughlin Blue Bird teabag dishes. I will use them for lots of things.

I have wanted a dish with Blue Birds for a few years now. While in New York, I purchased a Blue Bird House from a Minnonite Store, I think it was built by an Amish gentleman. So, I finally got my wish. Aren't these just the cutest dishes. Every time I try to bid on some, on ebay, I get out bid. They are really hard to come by.

I love em!

My New York trip.

I forgot to mention that I went to New York a week ago and stayed with a very dear and precious friend. Some of you know her as Cecelia, I call her momma. She chauffeured us all around. We got to go to Amish Country, which I have a lot of respect and interest in their lifestyle. This is an Amish house with the laundry strung from the house to a pole. They don't use electricity so this is how they dry their clothes.

We visited Amish Country and stopped by a farm that had a little shop with quilts etc. While we were there two young ladies road up in the buggy. They do not like their pictures taken but allowed us to take this.

Our beautiful daughter-in-law....Auntie Shelly

Shelly is from Keene, Texas. She is a High School Spanish teacher. She has many talents, one in particular, she sings like an angel. She lived with us for almost a year. I discovered that we have a lot in common. I am sure she is going to take good care of my baby, now he is known as her baby. Isn't she gorgeous!!!!

Ryan and Shelly got married.

Amber & Lawren Mr. & Mrs. Murphy

The Flower Girl

This is my precious granddaughter. She is only 10 months old in this pic. Her Auntie Shelly loves hydrangea's. Auntie's wedding had lots of beautiful hydrangea's. Gorgeous wedding. We just wish Auntie and Uncle Ryan lived in California. Maybe next year.

Keiran

Here is my sweet sweet grandson who is about to turn 5 yrs. old. He was the bible boy at his Uncle Ryan's wedding.

Some pics of my sons

These are my three sons, beginning from right to left, Sean, the oldest, Ryan, the youngest, who just got married and Corey, the middle son. Aren't they handsome.

Let The Fun Begin

I am about to create something I hope I will have time for. They say that you have time for what you really enjoy. We will see.
I was at a friends' house a week ago, visiting in New York, she has a blog and I became addicted to her site. I read it everyday to see how things are going. So, here I go. I am doing this without any help, which is a big deal for me, I am not too computer savy.