Seven

Where does the time go? Sophie, our baby, turned seven today and she is everything we thought she'd be-- and then some. She has "kissed the concrete" more times than I'd like, yet gets back out there so she can keep up with the boys!

Sophie is also very helpful with her younger cousins. She is very nuturing. And while my niece is going through the vampire stage, biting everything in sight while teething, Sophie is taking her mind off of it. (Even though the sounds that come from a recorder make me want to gauge my eyes out and my ears bleed.) Plus, she is encouraging Kirsi to crawl, roll, creep....anything! The "Infant Whisperer".

And even though she loves her Star Wars figures and bug vacuum...she has a special place in her heart for her stuffed animals. Rarely is she found without one. She is also very kind and loyal to her friends.

And when the day was done, as on other days, our not so dainty princess falls asleep. Proving that she will always show the side of a girl who has older brothers, she was found sleeping with a stuffed snake and chicken. Um, how cute!

Gimp

Keaton wrapped up the Murphy's Legacy at Cub Scout Day Camp this last week. 5 years of attending with both of our boys--it is so bittersweet. I guess our water bill will go down as well as our laundry soap and shampoo budget. I could've raised up my front yard a good 2 feet with all the extra dirt Keat was packing. At camp, The Trading Post is the hot spot of course, and I got a cavity just looking at all the Airheads Keaton bought. Even so, the majority of his cash went to purchasing the materials to make Gimp or as it is often referred to as--Boondoogle. It takes a special love of this lost art form to appreciate the beauty and hard work used to make keychains and accessories. I truly appreciate the art form myself, because it is unbelievable how quiet the minivan is when 7 boys are concentrating on weaving over and under and twisting and threading through. I am hoping that like Deb from Napoleon Dynamite, Keaton can save up for college by selling them door-to-door. And as you can see, with Gimp, the possibilites are endless.

Motivated

Scott was on vacation last week and what did we do? Did we go camping? To the beach? A road trip? No, with Cub Scout Day Camp and lots to do, we are striking while the iron's hot (and the weather is gorgeous) and getting things done at home. Unfortunately, the previous owners of this place and the neighbors behind us were not the best of friends. We don't know the whole story yet, but, there are a few clues; a broken fence, a row of Arbor Vitae trees planted, and several words exchanged that would warrant a bar of Dove for anyone's mouth. The fence was replaced within weeks of us moving in. So, two shovels later, Scott managed to dig up all 24 plants and transport them to Woodland to a deserving home. You can also see our playhouse given to us by our friends. We will be painting that as well. Keaton noted that the color of the door hurts his eyes! Our whole family spent Saturday digging, weeding, and raking all the bark strewn about everywhere. We wanted a bigger yard, right?

Sand

My sister Kelsey, Scott, myself and our kids were
looking for some summer fun on Saturday. (That's my nephew Brogan on the left) So, we decided to venture to downtown Portland's "Sand in the City". We have a beach a mere 2 hours away, but where else can you walk through a bunch of sand sculptures and then cross the street to pick up a pair of flat-front, no wrinkle khakis at the Gap? Not to mention they were giving out free banana smoothie samples from Starbucks. (Way to reel in those Mormons!)

The kids enjoyed the sand sculptures and playing in the huge sand pit. Scott, Kelsey, & I enjoyed people watching. I know I am getting old because hanging out downtown used to feel so much cooler. Now I worry about where we are going to park our car and whether or not I am going to need to gather my children quickly and run from the questionable teenager who has a rat climbing all over her and is sucking on a pacifier. We still had fun. Gotta love the city.

Keaton filling up his bucket

This is the beginning stages of McKay's metropolis complete with tunnel.











Sophie is perfectly content with just being happy & making something happy.

Thrilled

Here's my niece Kirsi. Thrilled to be wearing a white sunhat. Thrilled to have SPF 5,000 Sunblock slathered in her soft-serve thighs. Thrilled to be in the stroller. Thrilled to be under the watchful eye of Aunt Carrie who loves her little niece. Her face shows it all.

Sunriver

1. Our trip to Sunriver was one to remember. And that is not even because on our way I saw sparks in my rear view mirror! (Where McKay and Scott's bikes had hit the pavement while climbing higher and higher in the thick, green Mount Hood National Forest.) Luckily, the bikes did not hit any other cars. Lessons learned: Speeding in the minivan is not a good idea AND a bike rack's lifespan is approximately 16 years. So, here is the sweet digs that Grandma and Grandpa Murphy rented for the whole Murphy/Beem Clan. Plenty of room to eat Otter Pops, play Banangrams, & drink Fromade!
   
   
   
   
   Of course what else would we be doing but kickin' it at the pool? Cousins Sophie & Noah are so over the Paris & Nicole thing.
   
   
   
   
   
   And dude, isn't Keaton
   totally rocked out?
   
   
   
   
   
   And then there was hiking at Lava Lands National Park. And the once active volcano was so close, you could throw a ....well you get the point.
   
   

And here are all the cousins together rarin' to go!

And lastly, what else would you want to do to unwind when you're in the beautiful high desert of Oregon? Relax in a hammock? Read a good book on the deck outside? No, play Ninetendo DS of course! We definitely had a great time and we are so lucky to have had such a chance!

Payback

I'll admit it, we've got 3 great kids...but they aren't perfect, nor do we expect them to be. And I truly appreciate the teachers my children have had this last year for all of the time, energy, and patience that it takes to have a class of 23 of sweaty, active, and quirky children the same age as my own kids. So, that being said, the last day of school for teachers is really a fun one. I honestly believe that these teachers have been hoarding every single sheet of college ruled paper that may have the smallest speck of handwriting on it. And then there is the paper mache lifesize-twin depicting the central nervous system of their own body. Who could forget the wire hanger mobile of the life cycle of a salmon? Not to mention the monthly "journals" my kids have written in since last September--all of this coming home on the last day of school. And somehow, managing to still stand upright while carrying twice their body weight in their Jansport backpacks, my children descend off of the school bus steps wishing they could run...but they cannot. And this, is only a small taste of what came home. And somewhere in Camas, their teachers are giggling to themselves. Payback.