Christmas

We did the usual travel for Christmas... off to San Diego! There are perks to being from "America's Finest City"... it's a great place to vacation and visit family! The venture started on the 23rd when we headed to my parent's house and got to have an "adult" dinner (no kids) with our former neighbors and dear friends, Todd and Cara. We have decided to make this an annual event!
Then the 24th was spent with my parents and sisters. We had a great time playing Taboo-- laughing and yelling at our mom for interjecting from the kitchen / cheating-- total kids.
The 25th was spent with Joel's family. We got to see aunt and uncles and great grandparents and everyone under the sun... it was great. We had tacos which is a new Murphy Tradition we all love. Our boys had a holiday filled with cousins, love, a few gifts and most importantly the message of Christ'a birth.
The 26th marked our 6th annual shopping spree with my mother-in-law, Linda and sister-in-law, Jenny. We hit the shops at 7am to find after Christmas bargains. Well, first we hit Starbucks and made it to Target around 8am. We were successful and even had lunch at Mimi's Cafe (our husbands are so kind to watch the kids)!

Todd & Cara

Landon

Cousins on my side- Morgan & Mia

Christmas Morning Stockings

Jenny- 29 weeks, Jeanette- 25 weeks

Cousins on Joel's side- Carly & Whitney

Joel's Side

A Few Rainy Days (how can we complain?)

Here is our attempt to get out during the FREEZING cold rainy So. Cal weather... little boys do not last very long in doors for days on end. Plus, Joel has been out of town, so they are in need of some daddy time!

Even Pepper needed to get out!

Landon and his new scooter (notice the rain drops)

Mama all bundled up!

Birthday Party

We had a great day at Tyson Flaig's motocross themed BD Party... Joel brought his bike and rode the 17 boys and 2 girls around the cul-de-sac. Yes, I said 17 boys. It was a bit crazy, but SO much fun. A boy's dream... bouncer w/ a slide, motorcycle rides and pizza. What a great day!

Disney Magic

There is nothing like going to Disneyland during Christmastime. We went especially for the fireworks, which are set to Christmas music. The castle is lit up to look magical and at the end of the show, it snows on Main Street! We got our usual Calm Chowder in a bread bowl for dinner while we waited for the festivities. Thankfully, the fireworks were at 5:45pm because the Disneyland park was closing at 6pm for their employee party.
We then hopped over to CA Adventure... ate soft serve and had a great time in A Bug's Life land during dark. We ended the evening strolling Downtown Disney and ended up at the LEGOS store... so much fun! Such memories to cherish...

Silly Landon

LEGOS Store

A Fetish

So Landon has a sock fetish... he will NOT wear plain white socks. I would expect girls to be picky about such things, but this is how he has always been-- Check out his latest...

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas...

Hanging the lights and decorating the tree...
Landon was totally into the tree decorating, Parker- not so much. Each year the boys get an ornament that describes what they are currently "into". My hope is that on their 1st Christmas as married men I can gift each of them their ornaments. One of those silly mom things...
Anyway, Landon chose a basketball guy (because of his love for High School Musical and anything Troy Bolton). Parker's is Lightning McQueen from Cars the movie. I mark with a Sharpie their name on the ornament and the current year. I hope this will be a sentiment they will learn to appreciate. :)

Parker "helping" daddy

Wrestling while decorating the tree

Parker taking a picture of me with my camera

Landon's "Troy Bolton" ornament

Annual Ornaments

Thanksgiving 2008

Our family spent the Thanksgiving holiday weekend up at Hume Lake with Joel's family. We had a great time of food and fellowship. The boys had a blast running in the woods with their cousins, playing hide N seek in the dark, riding the Fat Cat (motorcycle) and Quads. We did not et to have snow fall, but we drove to a great spot about 30 minutes away that had enough snow to entertain all of us! Enjoy the pictures...

One of our favorite places in the world...

Parker reading in bed

Joel and Landon

Mama and Parker

Jeanette- 21 weeks, Jenny- 25 weeks

Parker's breathing treatments-- he got a bit sick

Landon & cousin Carly reading

Landon lost a tooth!

Joel and Parker on Fat Cat

Snow Fun!

Snowball maker- who knew??

Landon and Cousins, Carly & Whitney

Landon & Carly