lessons in family ties

On the way home from Warner Robbins tonight:

Mom, who is Pawpaw's mom?

Grandma, the woman we were just with. Her name is Cynthia. 

Ohhh, now I get it now I get it. 

Grandmaw and old Pawpaw (evies name for him, not mine) had 3 children and one of them was your pawpaw, my father.

Oh, who were the other two kids.

Cynthia Leigh and Edward.

Oh! I love that name.  I don't like my name anymore I just want to be called Cynthia Leigh now ok? 

Ok, I'll think about it.

tale as old as time

Two weekends ago Evaleigh and I got to go to the Fox Theater with my Dad and Grand-Jenny to see Beauty and the Beast.  She was transfixed the whole time.  She dressed up in her Belle princess dress and felt so special.  We ate at Mary Mac's Tea Room.

I am so grateful for our children's grandparents and the time they take to make special memories with our children.  My father always made special memories for my sister and I growing up.  He took time to teach us about the arts and creativity through giving us opportunities to see performances and I've never forgotten it.  The magic of those nights lingered for a long time and it is where my love for music and performing began to grow.  I know Evaleigh will remember this for a long time. 

When it was over we asked her what her favorite oart was and she said, "Everything!"

It was so fun to see her feel special. 

a little date with a little girl

This past weekend Evie got to go on a special date with her Pawpaw to the Georgia Bulldogs football game.  She was so excited and wouldn't stop talking about it all week! We pumped her up by watching a couple of YouTube videos of GA football.  Pawpaw showed up with a little tattoo for her to wear and one for Avett too. She left out of here in Pawpaws bright red convertible with the biggest grin on her face, I know she felt special. 

They went to the Varsity before the game and by 9:45 she had already eaten French fries! They went to the dog walk and Evie got a pompom that she wore on her wrist all day.  My dad said she was pretty much perfect, with the exception of one little meltdown the first time GA made a great play and my dad cheered (yelled) it scared her.  After an explaination that it was because he was happy and excited she calmed right back down.

I'm so glad that she is getting to build memories like this with her grandparents. She is already taking about wanting to go again.  Thanks Pawpaw!

(Also I came across these pictures of Evie in a UGA cheer outfit from when she was probably 8 months or so. My how our sweet girl has grown!)

oh bill

There is something pretty important that Evaleigh doesn't know yet.

We are getting new member of the family, and he's coming on Saturday.

Let me explain.

Yesterday while doing some Christmas shopping I got a phone call from my Pawpaw.  He is the cutest and sweetest Pawpaw there ever was.  Here is how the phone call sounded.

"Hello?"

*just a imagine a really southern old man's voice* "Hey Rachel!  How are you?"

"I'm great Pawpaw, just out doing some Christmas shopping, you?"

"I'm doing just great, is Evaleigh around?"

"She sure is, I have her right here on my hip."

"Well I want to make sure she can't hear me.  I want to tell you what I got her for Christmas."

"Ok, I'm pretty sure she can't hear you, what is it?"

*in the most excited voice possible* "I got her a puppy!"

.......

....

...

"You aren't serious.............WAIT, are you?"

"I am sure am!  I want to give her a puppy!"

***TIMEOUT***

First off let me say that I think its absolutely precious that he wants to give her a puppy.

Secondly I am a lady that literally NEVER thought I would own an animal.  Sure maybe when the kids were old enough to help out and share the responsibility and if they begged hard enough we would maybe think about it....maybe.

  I am allergic to pet fur.  

Their hair laying around grosses me out.  

And I can't stand the eye boogers and slobber.

And third I just have no idea where he even got the idea to get us a puppy with out any prior conversation about it but he was just so happy and excited all I could do was shake my head and laugh.

***TIME IN***

"Well, do you want to call John and talk to him about it?"

"You bet I do!  I'll call you right back."

Talking to John was just about as easy as could be.  He said it was ok!

So Saturday we are meeting the new 10 week old member of our family and Evaleigh is going to flip.  She is obsessed with dogs, I mean look at her face at 00:32 in this video.  I can't wait to watch them wrestle on the floor and take baths together every night.

As soon as we decided to do it I was equally excited and terrified.

We are going to name him Bill.  

After Pawpaw.

Oh Bill.

a cough and a toot.

At the end of this week our beauty will be one month old.  I literally CANNOT believe it.  Here are some clips of the first month of her little life.  And yes, that is a toot at the end, I'm a proud momma.



Dear Time,
Please slow down.
Love,
The Murphy Family


(music: little sack of sugar by elizabeth mitchell)

advice.

I had a tender moment a week or so ago that I want to write down before I forget.

My grandparents came over for Thanksgiving and I was so happy to see them here because we weren't sure they were going to make it seeing that my Pawpaw had just had neck surgery.

After Thanksgiving lunch I had a moment outside on the porch with my grandfather.  I was sitting on the coffee table and he was in a little chair in his usual position with his skinny chicken legs crossed.  We were talking about EJ coming and all of the sudden he got a little quiet and he looked up at me.  He said, "Rachel, you don't know it yet but you are about to enter the happiest years of your life."  I had to hold back the tears. 

There is something really sweet and tender to me about advice from him.  I trust his words so much.  They are filled with life experience and knowledge from all of his years.  He worked hard for his family to give them the best that he could and provide for them.  I am proud to have come from him.

He went on to tell me, "You know the golden years aren't so golden sometimes.  Most of the time it feels a little bit more like rust.  Your body starts to give out and it can be very frustrating.  So, enjoy these years of your life now for all that you can.  But one thing that will make these years golden for me is meeting my first great-granddaughter.  She is going to be such a beautiful little girl."

I hope I can remember not to take these years for granted.  I am so grateful for the sacred blessing it is to become a mother.  I think it will be the hardest and best thing I will ever do.

Here are just a couple more picture from Thanksgiving.  I'm sharing them fashionably late since I just got them from my sisters camera.

we are practicing our labor faces

Ok, on to Christmas...no more talk of Thanksgiving, for real this time.
Can't wait to share our Christmas tree tomorrow, its pretty fan-dan-tastic.