Three Years Old, Hot Dog!

It's true that your youngest child gets stuck in baby-dom.

This little monkey probably gets away with a lot more than she should because "she's just so cute!" my husband and I gush to each other as we have turn our backs to a boundary-testing temper tantrum or are fighting to hold back even the tiniest grin as she stomps her little foot in defiance. Yet, even in the throes of two-dom, Kendall's still as sweet and genuine and cuddly as ever. 

With her birthday being so close to Christmas and all of the craziness that's been going on here at the house lately, we celebrated a week early with friends and family at the park. Alex has been swamped with work, so he wasn't able to make Kendall an elaborate cake like McKenna's princess castle from a couple of month's ago, but the birthday girl was just as happily satisfied with a Princess Tiana sheet cake, sub sandwiches and Doritos that she picked out from Publix.

Love her sweet soul. I still can't believe she's three!

Still Here!

Holy moly, where has the time gone?!

Here's a breakdown of what's been going on in the Murphy household these past couple of months:

August

As you know, McKenna started school

McKenna's First Day of VPK, 8/25/14

And she's still loving it and doing so well! Daddy was able to go into work a little late on her first day so that we could all walk her up there together.

She was so excited while we were getting ready that morning and did GREAT at drop off. (Mommy did, too, if you were wondering! ;-)) After visiting her classroom and teacher at Open House that evening, we headed over to our favorite ice cream spot, Del's Freez, to kick off our back to school tradition with THE BEST soft serve ice cream around - YUM!

We closed out the month in Orange Park celebrating my Dad's 51st birthday.

It was a pretty great weekend just kicking back with the family :-)

September

Kendall and I have been enjoying our one-on-one time together

But do I dare say that it is a little too quiet around here now during the day? We've been keeping ourselves busy with lots of MOMS Club play dates -- On September 11 for our Fall service project, we headed up to the fire station with a pot luck lunch to thank the firefighters for all that they do for our community; we were able to tour the station, the fire truck and shoot the hose!

At the end of the month, we found ourselves back in Orange Park for my Mom's 51st birthday, Brew at the Zoo, and a family photo session (our first ever!) with Pink Pelican Photography.

That's my talented sister-in-law behind the camera! I couldn't be more proud and excited for her as she so fervently pursues her dream in photography. Check her out, Jacksonville!

October

October was ca-razy busy!

I opened up a little handmade card shop on Etsy called Cards Luv and Happiness :-) I casually expressed interest in card-making to Alex one weekend, and a couple of days later he came home with a Cricut that he found from someone on Craigslist and a TON of craft supplies began arriving in the mail after he was up late one night doing some pretty in-depth research into my new hobby. I'm so grateful for a husband that supports and encourages my creative whims!

Then there was the MOMS Club Annual Halloween Party and Open House event, volunteering in McKenna's classroom, another trip to Orange Park for Jotoberfest (my MIL'S annual everything-pumpkin birthday bash),

And finally we had a Halloween Party of our own here at the house with friends.

It was hectic month, for sure, but a fun one!

November

Alex was out of town for the majority of September and October, and had only been home for a few hours on the 1st before I was on my way to the emergency room with McKenna - she had a fever of 104.6! It turns out that she had PNEUMONIA (!) and was admitted to the hospital for four days.

I felt like a  t e r r i b l e  parent for sending her to school that entire week and having our Halloween Party, but other than a lingering cough from a cold that we both had caught the previous weekend, she was fine - no fever, lack of energy, shortness of breath; nothing at all until that Saturday...

I'm so grateful for all of the wonderful nurses and doctors who took such good care of McKenna in the hospital... And that Alex was in town and able to stay home from work to take care of Kendall... And for my mother-in-law for putting her life on pause for a few days to come down and help out around the house (she bleached my bathrooms, you guys!)... And for all of the kind words and thoughtful gestures from all of our family and friends. It's a scary thing being in the hospital with your child and we were all so touched by those that reached out.

The following couple of weeks, we were in and out of the vet with Hanley - he was completely immobile for a few days and blood test results showed that his liver enzymes were 3 times higher than normal. He's on medication and a special diet now until at least the beginning of January with a bill upwards of $1000 already, but his health has seen a major improvement and he's back to his goofy ol' self - thank GOODNESS!

On the road again at the end of the month, but this time it was Georgia or bust! It was a short, but always sweet visit with Alex's Dad's side of the family in the Brooklet and Statesboro areas for Thanksgiving.

Thirty-seven people - all family - made it for dinner this year. I look forward to this trip every other year (we alternate spending Thanksgiving in Orange Park and Georgia) and I really wish that we could make it up there more often; things are so laid back and peaceful there, everybody is incredibly warm and welcoming; you can really feel the love.

December

We found ourselves in the pediatrician's office everyday for the first three days of December - both of the girls had double ear infections and then they got pink eye! We had to keep McKenna home from school again today as she woke up with a really bad cough. She seemed to be feeling better by bedtime, but I am sooo tempted to start our Christmas break a few days early -- I really miss mornings like these:

No alarm clocks, no place for us to be at a certain time; simply enjoying the day as it unfolds before us. Coffee and crafts, just like the good ol' days before school started :-)

Alex found a cute bedroom set for the girls at a garage sale that we just couldn't pass up, so we decided to redo their ENTIRE room (much to his chagrin).

Bye, bye nursery yellow! My "Coral Passion" was outvoted 3 to 1 for this "Hint of Cherry," but after a couple of coats and drying, I've gotta admit that it's growing on me... We're Alex is still working on refinishing the furniture, so the girls have been bunking with us at night. I don't mind the slumber party, though; I'm really loving the snuggles! Hanley and Baloo usually end up in bed with all of us by morning, too, so talk about mommy heaven!

I was able to escape for an evening with some of the ladies from MOMS Club for our holiday party and White Elephant Gift Exchange, followed by drinks and dancing downtown - what a great time! Then, last weekend, we celebrated our sweet little monkey turning THREE (!!!) with friends and family at the park and I got to host the always epic Cookie Day again at our house this year.

Right now, I'm working on finishing up my last special order of the season for Cards Luv and Happiness, and then this momma's going on break, too!

Wordless Wednesday - Mom Life

<3 <3 <3

Mommy & Me Hand Prints Craft

I had to bust out the mini M&M's for this one.

Kendall wasn't feeling well on Mother's Day, so she was on the couch with Daddy while McKenna and I did our arts and crafts.

Her project has been looking a little lonely on the fridge by itself all week as Kendall has just been plain uninterested in doing hers. 

I would ask, "Kendall, would you like to do your arts and crafts project?"

Kendall, in her cute little pipsqueak voice, "No."

Me, "Let's do it so we can hang it up on the fridge with McKenna's!"

Kendall, "No."

Then she toddles off in her Strawberry Shortcake dress to finish playing "Princess and Beast" with big sister. Same scene Tuesday. And Wednesday. And this morning. Strawberry Shortcake dress and all. I really didn't want to have to resort to bribery, but I also didn't want only one set of Mommy and Me hand prints to make it to the memory box either! Enter leftover mini M&M's from Easter.

Here's what you'll need:

Construction paper

Washable paint

Something to write with

Mini M&M's optional ;-)

Wordless Wednesday - A daughter is one of the most beautiful gifts this world has to give.

-Laurel Atherton

<3 <3 <3

Mother's Day Lovin'

It was a really great day. McKenna and Kendall slept in an hour later than usual and then Alex got up with them to do the breakfast thing so that I could stay in bed a little longer. Once I moseyed into the kitchen, they had my yoga stuff out on the table with a homemade "Happy Mother's Day!" banner; 5 weeks of yoga classes! Woop! Yoga is one of my favorite things in the whole wide world and while I've been doing it here at home, I really miss the atmosphere of a class in an intimate little yoga studio. I'm pretty excited to finally take the tags off of the matching tote that I got for Christmas a couple of years ago, too.

Kendall has been feeling a little under the weather these past few days with a slight fever and tummy ache that comes and goes, so she and I stayed at home to cuddle on the couch and watch Frozen while Daddy and McKenna went to the beach as planned.

On the way home, McKenna asked Daddy to take her to get some flowers for me for Mother's Day and for Kendall, too, so that she would feel better.

:-) Heart, melted.

My friend Beth biked over to our house on her sweet new Mother's Day ride to give me a bottle of wine that I had mentioned in conversation the previous week. (I was at the grocery store with it in my cart, but put it back on the shelf because while it was on the list of 'wants', it wasn't on the list of 'needs' and we were getting close to hitting our budget for groceries.) She made a mental note of that and picked some up for me the next time she did her grocery shopping! How awesome is that :-D The wine was delicious, and I was so touched by her kindness. I'm really going to miss her when their family moves up to Pennsylvania next year!

I got out of the house for a bit by myself this afternoon while the girls were napping and then came home, did a little arts and crafting with McKenna,

talked to my Father-in-law who so thoughtfully called to wish me a Happy Mother's Day, had pizza for dinner per my request and then it was a smooth and cooperative bath and bedtime for our little hooligans. All in all, a very happy Mother's Day indeed <3

Resolution, TBA

I felt so unprepared for 2014. Everything has been so chaotic, though not entirely un-enjoyable, since Thanksgiving that the new year just crept up on me...First with finding out that the owners of the house that we currently rent (and love!) want to sell, then getting approved for a loan to buy the house, hoping family will follow through on their offer to help out with the down payment, spending two weeks with the girls in Orange Park and visiting with my Grandma from Maryland (she met Kendall for the first time!), Alex "relapsing" to his poker playing ways and being secretive about it, uncomfortable conversations with my parents about religion and gay rights, Turkey Day drama, heated arguments, hurtful comments, name-calling, Cookie Day, birthdays, short visits, major car trouble, stressful Christmas shopping ($$$), obligatory travels, a much-needed Movie Date with my sister-in-law, more hurtful comments, tears, heartbreak, therapy... Then Kendall winds up with an awful stomach virus on New Year's Eve that lands us in the emergency room with her hooked up to an IV as the ball drops. Since then, Alex and I have been cleaning up puke for days as the mountain of reeking laundry makes its way into the house from the garage and this thing continues to make its way around the family. All week I feel like I've been floating in the twilight zone.

Ugh, my heart. :-(

Thankfully, my Little Monkey is doing much better and other than nursing sensitive tummies, we're all finally on the mend. For now, I think that's the only ambiguity that I'm going to clarify... I'm tired. Drained. It's nearing 3:30 AM and if I hadn't had that Frappuccino for dinner instead of the leftovers that I heated up for everybody else, I probably would've been passed out in bed hours ago. I'll pay for it tomorrow, for sure, but I'm enjoying the peace and quiet right now while I gather my thoughts, easing back into reality.

So, what is my New Year's resolution? Well... I have a general idea? I want to be happier, healthier; all I can think is, "Me! Me! Me!" but that sounds a little selfish... I can be more patient with the kids and less nit-picky with my husband, sure, but all of that will follow suit once I take better care of myself, right?

"Happiness, Health, Myself."

...It does have a nice ring to it.

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

Holy crap, it's almost November! We've been quite busy this past month; month and a half, rather.

Alex headed to Pensacola and Mississippi for work stuff mid-September, so the girls and I drove up to Orange Park to stay with family like we always do when Daddy goes out of town. I'm so glad that we live close to family and are able to spend so much time visiting them. During dinner one evening, McKenna said, "I'm so happy that we are here, Mom!" Nana and Papa were beaming.

On the day that we arrived, the girls and I went to the Jacksonville Zoo with my mother-in-law for her work's Employee Appreciation Night.

Neither of the girls had taken a nap that day and the event started at 7PM, which is their normal bedtime, so I was prepared for a meltdown... And boy, did Kendall deliver! The zoo was packed and she refused to stay in the stroller and wanted absolutely nothing to do with hand-holding, so, after the most epic, ridiculous fit, she and I ended up in the car for the rest of the event.

Meanwhile, McKenna got to feed the penguins with my sister-in-law; she's a keeper there!

On the 18th, my Mom turned the big 5-0 and we were there to help celebrate, of course.

I had no idea what I was going to make for her that was going to be on par with my Dad's "50 sucks!" bouquet . After browsing Pinterest for "50 and Fabulous" ideas, I decided to go with a mini wine bottle bouquet because... Booze ;-)

Here's what you'll need:
Desert foam
Spanish moss
Flower basket
Artificial flowers
Wooden dowel
Mini wine bottles
Wine charms
"50" candles
Hot glue

First, cut the wooden dowel into four parts of equal length and hot glue them to the mini wine bottles. Then, stuff the basket with the desert foam, Spanish moss and arrange the flowers. Add the wine bottles, "50" candles and attach the wine charms to the rim of the basket and voila!

My Mom loved it, even though I totally got her birthday wrong. Like posted on my Facebook, bought the cake, shouted the big "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!" on the wrong day kind of wrong. Made plans for a night out with my friends, leaving her to tend to my hooligans alone on her birthday kind of wrong. Ughhh.

For months leading up to her birthday, I thought that September 18th was on a Tuesday (and no one ever corrected me! Thanks, guys.), so my Mom got a bunch of phone calls and texts the day before her birthday because of my embarrassing little faux pas :-\ Oops. I'm blaming it all on mommy brain. Better the day before than the day after, though, am I right?! We... Or, I... just pushed everything back a day and all was well. Thank goodness.

Also while we were there, we went to the beach, I had a couple of margaritas with my Gomer, and Kendall went pee-pee in the potty for the very first time! Woo hoo!

Two weeks after that, we were back in Orange Park to celebrate "Jotoberfest" - my mother-in-law's everything pumpkin/Fall-themed birthday get-together with family and a few close friends of hers. I had so much fun planning and putting the party together with my sister-in-law. I'm already looking forward to next year's celebration!

There was also Brew at the Zoo, a Jags game (0-8 so far this season, woh woh) and some grown-up Halloween fun with our grown-up friends.

Whew. Alex left for out-of-town work stuff again this morning, but I decided to stay home this time. It's nice to have all of the extra help with the girls and to visit with everybody in Orange Park, but... I do start miss our routine here at home. I miss our friends, I miss the peaceful solitude at night after the girls turn in, drinking wine and watching chick flicks all by myself while the Mr. is away. I miss my bed...

Slumber party! :-) Gooood night.