M.O.T.H.E.R

Another Mother's Day come and gone... It's not been my favorite holiday, but I am realizing how important it is to my kiddos! I decided it's all in the attitude!

It was a busy weekend, as always, but just to acknowledge the women in my life:

Here's my mom with my nephew. I appreciate and love you so much mom! Thanks for all you continue to do for me and my family. Sniff. Sniff.



Here is a group on the Murphy side celebrating with my mom in law! I appreciate and love her for all she does too! I consider myself pretty darn lucky to have such a great mother in law as well!



I loved the notes from my kids, breakfast in bed, the homemade cards and pictures....I mean how can you not? After all...I am a mother.

Track

Keaton decided to go out for Track at the middle school. Although we do live in a very moist area, we were excited to see what this brought. The team is huge--180 kids and it is quite the even when a Track Meet takes place. This is where Keaton has loved to be because while you're participating you get to wait in line, visit, see your friends...well, you get the picture. And if that's not social enough, well let's just say that half the town is spectating.


Keaton decided to do Shot Put. This is such an interesting concept; pick up a metal ball and lug it as far as you can to land in the sand. Um, awesome.









So here he is showing his fine form.




And here he is AFTER chucking it. This picture makes me giggle.

And there is the discus; you spin yourself around and the HUCK a heavy frisbee as far as you can. Let me tell you that there is a REASON the spectators stay BEHIND the gates. There have been a few close calls, none of which my son is responsible for....yet. Actually he's doing great and I don't expect any mishaps. If so, we've got insurance.

Winding up for the toss.

And there she blows....!!

There you have it our Spring event for our #2. All those kids talking and waiting and acting as middle schoolers do, why it's been a fun and educational experience. I've enjoyed watching our once-shy Keat try new things and learn about himself while adding on to his social calendar. And for that, why, we know this kid is always on track!!

15

No, this is not a break for the local Army Recruits...this is McKay's 15th Birthday gig. This is the third year running that he has wanted to have an 'airsoft war' to celebrate. The weather held out for the most part and so it was a go! After getting their supplies ready and set up, we fueled them with the food that anyone would want to insure a good performance: Pizza. ick.

After loading up on carbs, the boys get out to do what they came here to do....

Luckily my sister and her husband have 5 acres of property and few neighbors. I am pretty sure that if we did this in our little neighborhood that the local police would've thought they hit the jackpot. Of course, they'd have to leave the Dairy Queen to come check things out. Yeah, I said Dairy Queen....it's a small town for cryin' out loud!

Menacing right? Uh, right. Makes you tear up.

And here they are tired of posing and ready to get on with it!

Can't keep serious for long! Plus, look at their baby faces! So funny!

Someone had to 'monitor' the goings on. I, uh, needed to tend to the kitchen, oh and the television.

McKay and his bud Max several months ago constructed a 'Potato Cannon'. Did you get a good look at the length of the barrel on this thing? We tried to get launching pictures, but it they didn't work out. Now remember I said my sister's property is 5 acres....it's a good thing because this puppy can seriously LAUNCH! Can you say 'fast food'? Okay, not so funny. I'm not going to quit my day job--don't worry.

A fire was started before dark so it would be blazing for the s'mores!

S'mores always manage to hit the spot.

Here's Max & Hyrum loading up on marshmellows.

Charles wrapping up the final touches.

Januaria taking pictures. Caught ya!

I'm the 'marshmellow supervisor' and my sister's hubby Scot is working the assembly line.

What a goofball McKay! Geez...where'd you get THAT from?

Max & Charles representin'. Legit.

The most important part of the s'more? Yeah you got it. In fact, screw the marshmellow & graham cracker....just chocolate please.

Opening the gifts wrapped with duct tape, electrical tape, pink wrapping paper, flowers...you name it. Funny stuff boys!

Wrapping up the evening and seeing what they can burn in the fire.

And we manage to escape with no 9-1-1 calls and no injuries. Uh, that we know of...

And total props to Sophie who is surrounded by all this testoserone every minute of her life. It's no wonder her stuffed animals are loved so dearly. Uh, and are flown around in Star Wars ships.

Now, McKay was gone all day on his actual birthday sooooo.......while he was away, there was some fun had with his room!

He loved it of course!

Since he's 15 what else would he want for his birthday? Cash of course! But we did get him something small in addition.

Yup, a razor! A passage into manhood. He can now shave the 10 hairs off his upper lip! SWEET!

Sophie being herself!

So classin' it up, I realized I had no candles. Classic. Thus we have a number 4. Awesome.

I cannot imagine my life without this kid. He makes me laugh and he's a great older brother. It doesn't get much better than life at 15.