Happy 2007

Happy New Year to all. I wish you all a very blessed, prosperous and happy 2007.

Today, the last day of 2007, was quite a day. We cashed in our coin jar and got a whopping $34. Enough for a movie or dinner or just fun money for whatever we want. Actually, the kids have been begging me to buy Chicken Invaders, so will do that as a surprise. And also need to renew our Club Penguin memberships.

Evy got a Limited 2 gift card from Grandpa Dale and Grandma Renee for Christmas. After we packed up (an organized) most of the Christmas decorations, Evy and I took off to the mall. Evy got a super cute cropped jacket that I know I will have to pry off her in a few days to wash. We got our See's Candy samples, browsed through the Disney Store, shoe stores, American Eagle and just had a super Mom/Evy afternoon.

Tom and Greg took off for Lake Mission Viejo for an afternoon of fishing. Greg loves to fish and can outlast anyone. They got home hours after we did with 5 huge trout that are now sitting in the fridge. Greg sure smelled like fish too as he helped Tom gut the fish. Kaydee forgot about Cracker and Roxy for awhile as she followed Greg around sniffing him. (Yes, Kaydee still wants a Roxy-Cracker and I find her in one of the kids rooms staring at the birds)

Dinner was chili that was cooking all day in the crock pot. Yum-O! Then we all settled in by the fire to finish watching the Everest Expedition marathon on Discovery channel. We all got hooked on that show after learning there was a LA City fire fighter on his second attempt at Everest. There was also a double amputee on the expedition. He was incredible and made it to the summit! 4 of the 7 made it to the summit. That is not on my list of New Years resolutions!

We watched the ball drop in Times Square with about 1,000 questions from Greg. Greg and Evy and Tom went to bed shortly after. I ended up falling asleep in front of the fire and woke up in time to hear the few bangs of people ringing in the New Year. Seems to be the trend for the last several years.

We had several tentative plans but, as usual, opted to stay home this year. I enjoy spending the last day of the year with my family. As for resolutions, well, I don't make them. I just plan to make the most of every minute of every day.

My plans for January 1 are to lounge around all day, watching the Rose Parade and napping.

The kids are off school for another week. We will see a few more movies, hang out with some friends and just enjoy the time off. Then it is back to the business of school and up the coming baseball season.

It is now officially 2007. Hope to see you all this year!!!

La Brea Tar Pits

Friday, December 29. We took a learning adventure day trip to the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. My mom, brother and nephews Jake and Nathan came along with us. Greg has to do a dinosaur report so we thought it would be fun, and educational, to go to the Tar Pits to see some real fossils. Actually the bones found in the tar pits are from the Ice Age. The dinosaurs were long gone.






We also went to the Page Museum to see replicas of the animals found in the tar pits. The kids enjoyed looking at the bones, but I think had more fun running, and rolling, down the hill. It was neat to see pictures of old Los Angeles before all the sky scrappers and paved roads.






We drove to The Grove and had lunch at Farmers Market. Yummy! It was crowded but sure a lot of fun.




The kids enjoyed seeing the super huge Christmas tree with Santa and the 9 reindeer flying overhead. Greg made sure to count to make sure there were 9.

We had such a great time on our day excursion to Los Angeles! We even made it home early enough that I was able to spend a night scrapping with the girls :)

Cracker gets a friend...Roxy

Evelyn wanted a bird too. So, I told her that we had to clean her room before she could. She is a certified pack rat. But her room is nice and clean now and we even made it to the Good Will to drop off bags of donations.

Then it was off to the pet store where Evelyn got Roxy. Roxy is white while Cracker is blue. We have to be able to tell them apart.




We got the cage all set up and Roxy into the cage. Then we introduced Cracker to Roxy and it was a happy reunion. The birds are singing to each other and already playing in their new play yard. Poor Kaydee really really wants a cracker. She is standing guard outside Evelyn's door waiting for a chance go get in.

Cracker Day 2

Greg was up very early this morning to hold and talk to Cracker. He had him out of the cage and was walking around with Cracker on his shoulder. Greg was just thrilled about this. Cracker spent a good part of the day with Greg and Evelyn, and me. Sitting on our shoulders or hand. Greg built a play yard for Cracker and made a perch so Cracker can sit on top of his cage. That seems to be his favorite place.








Greg had a play date with his good friend Josh who moved to Texas last summer. They have been friends since kindergarten and had such a great time today being boys. Evelyn went to her friend Lexi's house and had fun away from the boys.

Pictures of Cracker

Well, I did it. Here are the pictures of Cracker and the kids. Also Kaydee feeling a little left out I think.

Greg and Evelyn are both working with Cracker to get him to sit on their fingers. He is already doing a great job and has been outside of his cage.







Everyone is fast asleep now. Kaydee even calmed down. Not even a peep from Cracker. Wonder when he will start to talk....

And if you are wondering, that is a poster of a very large shark mouth on the wall behind the poor bird cage. Greg's room is supposed to look like he is under the sea.

My first entry the day after Christmas

Welcome to my blog and my first entry! Bear with me as I get things started and get all the pictures on.

We had a super day after Christmas. Greg rode his bike and practiced his jumps on his new bike ramp and also gave us preformances on his new guitar. Evelyn took videos and pictures with her new digital video camera. She has already learned how to download the pictures to the computer and edit the pictures with color, frames and shapes.

The kids both got some money for Christmas so Greg wanted to take a trip to the pet store as he had his heart set on a turtle. Well, those little things are expensive when it is all said and done. So, Greg ended up getting a parakeet which was given the name "Cracker". Cracker is already sitting on our fingers and will let us pat him. Kaydee is all worked up over another animal being in her house. So, for now, Cracker is confined to Greg's room until K gets used to the fact that she is not the Queen of the house.

Evelyn has her list going and wants to have a day to shop tomorrow. She is also talking of a parakeet. The Murphy zoo keeps growing. Dog, fish, frogs and now birds. Oh My! As long as the kids take care of them.

Tonight our neighbors came over for an after Christmas cookie fest and marshmallow roast. We recently got a nice fire pit and enjoyed our first backyard fire on Christmas day. Tonight we roasted marshmallows and made s'mores, had cookies, hot cocoa and hot cider. Some how I even managed to catch the grass on fire. Tom got to play fire man and put it out with the garden hose. Now we have a nice round burnt spot on the grass. Well, grass grows back.

I am off work until January 8, 2007. Yea! The kids have some play dates planned, we have a few outings planned, have some things to do around the house, but mostly just time to hang out and have fun.

Thanks for stopping by and reading my first entry :)