6 Years! Guess what our New Year's Resolution is?

That's right.  To see a whole lot less of us in next year's photo! This will be the year when we're both in shape . . . at the same time!  

Here's to eating like rabbits, sweating like fugitives, and continuing to be super awesome all around (but maybe a whole lot less round).

SIX YEARS!  But it seems more like that best kind of forever-always.  Six years, four kids . . . and zero (0) moves.  Talk about icing on the cake.

Today we were going to go out to dinner, then instead lunch, then instead I was having one of those days when I just didn't want to leave the kids . . . Phil got take out.  We're having a quiet evening with champagne from my dad, and just sort of reveling in the fact that we've gotten at least ten years worth of blessings all squashed into six years.

Here's an abridged timeline:
2006
7/21 We met for our blind (hiking) date, which turned into dinner at a restaurant (lest you think it was a picnic)
7/22 Phil was pretty sure that he probably wanted to marry me
7/31 I got off the phone with him and told my summer roommate, Lisa, "I think that's the man I'm going to marry".  She asked laughingly, "Do you love him?" and totally implied already.  I was feeling all shocked at my realization and said somethings along the lines of how freaked out I was that I respected him so much.  Where is my head-covering?
. . . days, weeks, months go by . . .
11/11 Phil proposed! He had waited until he had both a) met my best friend, Leezers, and b) let my sister feel me out on a thousand different sapphire ring settings
2007
1/1 We got married at what our kids call music school; and they're so impressed.
2009
7/1 We became parents to Bryce Philip (who was 3) and Deacon John (who was 2)!
2012
1/2 We found out we'd be parents again thanks to dollar store preggo tests
4/30 We became parents to Kyle Shepherd (who was 2)!
8/20 We welcomed baby Sean Daniel (who was ten days "early")!

2018????

When I met him, I was a happy single girl, loving being a part of my family and church.  Six years later, I cannot believe how pale that happiness was in comparison to all this Mrs. McMurray goodness.  God is very, very good.

One Month Old!

Our little guy is a whopping one month old, today!
Above the left and center photos are from August 20th--when he was just minutes from being 12 hours old.
This morning Phil was kind of enough to indulge me in a staged photo shoot: Sean's wearing his same "coming home from the hospital" outfit, and I'm less puffy and wearing lipstick.

Sean is getting chubby--his thighs, in particular, are amazing. Grandma Greta says his hair is lightening, and cheerfully conceded that we have a little Phil.

Two Years!

Here's the boys' first four-wheeler ride, their 1st or 2nd night with us (I think first but my camera said 2nd). And we whirlwinded them to a 4th of July celebration in the Tri-Cities to meet many of Phil's relatives. See little 2 1/2 year old Deacon! And a little three year old Bryce (just 3 months shy of four).

These photos are from that first week or two. In the one where I'm wearing the green shirt, a friend stopped by out of the blue with diapers and tons of Play-Dough! Our family, friends, my office, and church were supportive and showered us with clothes, books, toys, and meals; which enabled us to just focus on learning how to apply all this parenting advice!

Last year, June 2010, the boys officially became McMurrays. And among other celebrations of sorts, we went to Silverwood a lot!

Yesterday the boys loved playing with their Coeur d'Alene cousins again--this time at their house. And while they were busy playing dump trucks, I was busy pretending to be helpful, while I held baby LittleBits--which made it hard to be helpful.

This is best, most exhausting job I have ever had . . . God has been, and continues to be so kind to our little family. A big thank you to everybody for their counsel, advice, prayers, support, encouragement, introductions to little buddies, inclusion in play-dates, activities, mothers' bible studies, and chatty friendships.

Overwhelmingly, I am blessed with a husband who made a very hard decision 25 months ago, to take on the role of instant father. He caught on so quickly! And, he's been patient as I learned how to prioritize and has encouraged me over and over again. I respected and loved him as a husband, but that is pale-pale-pale to how much I respect and love him as the father of my children.

It's Official!

Everybody has to learn how to spell McMurray now.
Grandma Greta got the boys smashing dinner jackets, and though they are still a bit too big, they were awful cute. At the last minute I realized that all of Bryce's clean pants were cargo styled, and though I'm a ever the JCrew fan, I couldn't stomach that clothing ensemble for an official court hearing . . . so I madly washed and dried Bryce's fall uniform pants, hoping they'd work . . . and, well he'd either had better grow before now and then or I'll be hemming some pants.

A Bowhunter & A Cowboy

 

These were the responses to, "Look mean and tough!"

Nana Judy met us at the Fall Carnival--Bryce and Deacon have been looking forward to seeing her all week. The boys knocked over cans, threw footballs, had balloon dogs made, decorated cookies, went fishing, dug for hidden treasure, and finally stood on stage for the costume contests (our friend Oscar won 1st prize for big-little boys)! They did great on stage (I was worried about tears, but shouldn't have been, they acted like pros).

Very fun, and next year maybe Phil and I will join the dress up fun!

Two Months!

 

September 1st marked two months of having these two little rascals in our midst! Deacon sported a fancy hat for the festivities (which solely consisted of bedtime ice cream), and of course, when I said, "Smile" Bryce adopted the silliest pose he could think of off the cuff. Goofy guys! We love 'em.

One Month!

Above Deacon is helping me make a cake, and in this shot he is mid song, I believe singing, "Stir! Stir! Stir! Makin' cake, makin' cake!"

Saturday, August 1st marked one month of having the boys . . . and as we are all so joyful and thankful we had to have cake. (Bryce and Phil were out buying a window air conditioning unit--another cause for cake!)

We also hosted a fun baby shower for our very good friend Elise B (do I hear a third cheer for cake). Note, Bryce referred to both Elise and her mom, Barbara, as, "those two girrrrrls" and after they left felt quite suspect about them and had lots of questions, really, even hours later. Talk about first impressions!

Hip Hip Horray! Today's the Day!

July 1st will be a day to celebrate for years to come. The day that Bryce and Deacon begin the process of becoming McMurrays . . .

A big thank you to all the people that helped a lot of things happen in 22 days! Along with the prayers, support, and encouragement of friends, family, and colleagues . . . special thanks goes out to Grandma Greta for beefing up the boys' clothing and growing toy collection. Thanks too, to Aunt B for sorting out all their "favorites" and packaging up bikes and Easter rockers. Thank you Glen K for the hardy pine bunk beds. And of course, thanks to Denise B and Larissa L for all their guidance through what could have been (but wasn't) a red-tape, hoop-jumping, pull-your-hair-out fiasco!

Seven hours to go . . .