pink pig

One of our new favorite Christmas traditions is for my dad and Jen to take Evie to Macy's Pink Pig at Lenox Square Mall. She looks forward to it SO much! This was our third year doing it and it is just always so much fun.  The tradition is as old as my father and it is such a fun way to kick off the holidays.  Avett and Kate were so obsessed with Priscilla that we kept thinking they were lost only to find them trying to get back on her lap after we took the picture.  We rode around yelling "Bacon!!" at the top of our lungs and the kids all got a kick out of that.  

I just love making memories with my family! 

a southern summer saturday

A couple of weekends ago my sister was here with her babies and my father came to the house to see everyone. It was one of the most charming and perfect Saturday's I've had.  

Ma father came in with Chic-fil-a for everyone and it was a lifesaver as my sister and I are learning that cooking, serving, feeding, and cleaning up after 4 children and 4 adults is quite the commitment!

Afterward we all went to the living room where Evaleigh and Parker took turns alternating putting on ballerina shows and ninja shows.  It was one of the first times our children have ever performed for us like that and all of the sudden I just felt like such a mom beaming at Evaleighs every move.  The had the perfect flick of her wrists and her movements were just so natural.  She got up on her tip toes, in her hand me down ballet slippers from ruby, as good as I've ever seen any ballerina do!  She extended her arms and looked over her should with drama and poise. I was so proud to be seeing this for the first time and to watch my father take it all in with his laughter about it all.

Then the children got restless and antsy inside so we moved the concert out doors. We drug out the patio furniture, plugged in the sound system and it was the perfect back drop for the rest of the sunny breezy afternoon.  

Everyone just played their part perfectly, john threw discs around the yard and the children went in and out of running the find them and following him around. Evaleigh continued to dance on the porch.  Joe slept on the couch inside. Avett fed the cows.  Rebekah and I talked while dad pulled the kids in the wagon, drove them around in his car, and just simply observed the memories in the making. The kids all had Popsicles on the porch and was just as summer Saturday's should be.

I'll always cherish that day.

having babies together

(They lined themselves up like this on their own...in birth order.)

Having babies with my sister is the best.  She and I have always been close but bringing our babies in to the world together has taken sisterhood to a whole new level.  Evaleigh and Parker are 3 months a part and Avett and Kate are 3 weeks and 3 days a part to the minute.  

3:23pm: how did we do that? 

I love being able to talk to her about teething and attitudes and sleep schedules.  Going through this stage of life while she is doing it too is pretty special.

At this point we think it would be weird to be pregnant without each other, so babies # 3 will probably take some strategic planning.  

We're so grateful that our husbands are close.  Sometimes she and I worry they are a little too close, perhaps they'll run off to Mexico together someday.  

It's a really cool thing when your family turns out to be your best friends.

a revival of an old favorite and a pretty darn great weekend

This was just about the best weekend I've had in a while.

Friday my sister and her husband came over and we all stayed up talking til 1:30.  I love them and I am going to miss them so much when they are in Augusta (good luck on your interview Joe!)

Saturday I got to take a two hour nap with my little and then we all showered up and went to see The Avengers at the dollar theater (well they all did, I had a wiggly baby so I went to Goodwill and bought a few blazers.)

Then we went to the fair.  It was SO much fun.  Daddy won a bat and a little dolphin for EJ. (We won't go in to the humiliating details of the basketball game that Mr. Murphy played.  Those carnies will get you every time.)  We had foot long corndogs, a deep fried Snickers, and an elephant ear in all of its fried glory.

Then Sunday after church we brought to Fender system and guitar outside on the porch and soaked in the fall wind and played music while eating chips and salsa with my mom and watching Evie roll around on a blanket.  We also layed out under a tree in the front yard and watched the hummingbirds enjoy the last bit of the feeders.  They will be migrating in a week or two.

After EJ went to sleep Mr. Murphy and I caught up on some of our favorite shows and then played "1-2-3 Come and Jump on me!".  It was a revival of an old favorite.  I love that man and our amazing weekend. 

weekend picnic

This weekend we met up with my dad at a park near the house and camped out under some tall oak trees for a few hours.  We played with the babies, had watermelon rine chucking contests, and ate subs and hummus.

Here are Evi's baby blues.  Don't mind my snaggle tooth in the next picture.

Dad was trying to get this baby to stand.  I'm not ready for that, my heart can't take it.  I let her suck some watermelon juice off of my finger and I swear I didn't think I was going to leave with all of my fingers in tact, she loved it.  Bekah brought her baby boy and I can't get enough of him.  I love seeing the babies together and imagining them being friends.

Evaleigh turned 4 months last week, I am working on her video.  I can't believe how fast the time is going!

He's here!!!

Welcome to the world little Parker. I love you so much.

Born to my sister and Joe on May the fourth.

I am so proud of my little sister.  She is a mother to a son.

Meeting him was pretty incredible.  My uterus burst into a tiny million pieces of hearts and flowers while my ovaries were exploding in to chants of "more babies more babies more babies!!!".  

I want more babies...now.

Its so crazy how quickly you forget how tiny they are.  My rotund baby looks preeeety huge next to Mr. Parker.  

Now is when the really fun parts of life start to happen.  I am so looking forward to watching our babies grow together to be friends.

there are 5 people in these pictures

Congrats little sister (& Joe!).  

We can't wait to meet your baby boy in May.

It's a.......

Yesterday was magical to say the least.

We found out that we  are going to be parents to a daughter.

We are completely overwhelmed with JOY.

I will never forget the moment that Shannon, the ultrasound tech, said, "Alright Mom and Dad, are you ready to know what your child is?"  Then, "It's a girl" popped up on to the screen and I began to cry.  I looked over at my sweet John and he was smiling ear to ear.

We left with the biggest grins on our faces.  My cheeks hurt like it was our wedding day all over again, I couldn't contain my joy.

We made dozens of phone calls and sent texts and spread the news of our daughter.  She is already loved by so many people. The blessings that we are receiving through her are amazing.

I went to work and taught for 4 hours and could hardly concentrate I was on a high from the whole day.

When I came home my mother and sister surprised me and John with a beautiful dinner complete with everything pink! My mother set the table with a full vase of pink gladiolas.  We sipped on Raspberry Gingerale and talked about our new little person who will be joining our family in just a short time.

My sister used the linens that came from the old Oat House on The Murphy Ranch.  My MIL Kathy gave them to me last time we were down there.  They must have been 30 to 40 years old and in beautiful condition.  They were all pressed and ironed as perfectly as can be, my guess is that Granny Joy got a hold of them one day.  I can't wait to use them for parties and in my home someday.

Our little girl is coming to join us in January! We cannot agree on how to spell her name so for now we will call her Baby EJ.  I can't wait to kiss all of her fingers and toes.