An August Day and Night

At the top of my thankful list this year is that we were able to spend time with all of our grandparents this summer.  We made the most of every moment we could with people dear to our hearts.

This was a late summer afternoon in my grandmother's front yard where there was always a Thanksgiving day game of football on the perfectly flat lawn when I was growing up.  Rumbling thunder in the distance made us stop and listen because it's a rare thing to have thunder in England, especially the continuous kind common to an Alabama summer.

We're still trying to wrap our minds around the fact that KJ broke his ankle while we were home.  It seems like a crazy dream.  We visited my grandmother about a month before her 93rd birthday.  That number of years feels like a badge of honor, especially when you still look so beautiful.  

We ended this day by driving to my brother and sister-in-law's house for the perfect end to a hot summer day with grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and a campfire.  But first, coffee.  Coffee in the only kind of mug I'd expect to drink out of at my brother's house.  I love the Murphy homestead.

I feel like the boy needs a dog, but I'm not sure I'm ready for the responsibility.

Ella and Aunt Sandy made cookies and collected an egg from one of the girls while James helped Uncle Jesse gather sticks.

 

The s'mores were perfection.

We had a late-night viewing of Savage Sam, the sequel to Old Yeller, which I highly recommend.  It was one of our favorite movies when we were kids.  It's so much fun, and spoiler, the dog doesn't die in this one, so it's a win!  Old Yeller is just painful.

Remembering

What's your favorite memory at this house, James?

"When Judson bought me that gun and we sat in the floor and shot it at the fridgerator."

I really love my brothers, and it makes me happy to see my kids love my brothers.

Caleb's 1st Birthday

One year and 5 days ago (I think. It could have been 4 days.) KJ was in Cuba, and I had gone with the kids home to my parents' house for a visit.  Ella and James were already in bed, so it was definitely after 8 p.m.  Mom and I were chatting on the couch in the den when her phone rang.  It was my brother, Josh, who was in the middle of a job transfer and move across the state, and he and his wife just got a call that in 5 days, they would be parents.  My mind went into overdrive, so I'm pretty sure their's did, too.  Times a million.  

And just like that, with trying to sell a house in one city, living in a furnished apartment in another, with Nicole scheduled to report to her new job that week, they became parents.  We're so thankful for Caleb and the girl who chose life for him and Josh and Nicole to be his parents, so thankful to the Lord who orchestrated it all.

He was such a beautiful baby from the very start.  I adore his newborn pictures.

But to the matter at hand, Caleb is ONE today!  And we celebrate you from afar, sweet boy! 

Nicole wanted to have some pictures in a baseball outfit since that was one of the outfits he wore for his newborn pictures, and baseball is a big thing in the Murphy family.

What a precious boy he is.  I know this is birthday picture overload, but you only turn 1 once. Caleb is sweet and happy (with the occasional one-year assertiveness of opinion, of course), and on-the go.  He likes Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, loves the hot dog song and dance, and his daddy's guitar-playing.

 Then came the fun...

And after it was all over, a much-needed bath.

Summer!

It is hard to comprehend that summer is really here.  I guess it's not official until the Summer Solstice, but we're gonna just stick to summer starts when school's out.  It's easier.  So...summer!

Last week we finished up school, with a lot of extra help from KJ.  I've been looking forward to a break from school because it's hard to keep these two away from each other.  James distracts Ella when I'm attempting to teach her Math, and Ella gets distracted by any fun preschool activities I try to do with James.  I'm hoping some planning on my part and more growth and maturity in James over the summer will make that dynamic a little easier next year.

 Last Day of School

Everyone should wear their P.J.s the last day of school, right?

We celebrated on Friday with some outdoors time in the late afternoon.  That is one good thing about the south:  it's never too early to begin water activities.

I just think there's nothing cuter than that blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy in his baby blue swimming trunks.  

We also celebrated with a free movie rental from the Redbox, given to KJ for his anniversary.  We were so astounded, trying to figure out how Redbox knew it was our anniversary, when KJ read the e-mail a little closer.  It was the anniversary of his first Redbox rental.  Obviously that coincided with our anniversary.  I wonder what we rented 4 years ago on our 5th anniversary?  I can't remember.  I just remember I was pregnant.  2009 = Pregnant for me.

Yesterday we had a relaxing time with family at Jesse and Sandy's homestead, as KJ likes to call it.  It's a great place, and we enjoyed one another, great food, and pleasant weather, so thankful for our nation, and those who have died in her service.  Especially after our visit to the D-Day beaches two weeks ago, our minds have been on these things.

 Aren't Sandy's hydrangeas lovely?

The kids held an old-school Nintendo controller for the first time and enjoyed the front-porch swing.  Ella was really excited to figure out that the Habrials were part of our family.  I don't think she'd put that together before, but she's happy to claim them.

I meant to take a big family picture before my parents left, but I forgot.  But here's one of the girls...and James.

And our gracious hosts for the day:

 Silly Pack.