Fun in the SNOW!

January 2013

We took the kids sledding for the first time and they loved it!  Kylee wore her princess helmet that Grandma and Grandpa Murdock bought her, and the pink gloves from Papa and Grammy Poole. Thanks so much for all the snow gear!  We took them on a huge hill right by our house so we were able to walk there.  Once we were done we came home and had hot chocolate and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.  It really was the perfect winter sledding day.  

Daddy and Kylee

Daddy and Austin (Our friend Jenny in the back)

There she goes!  She held on the entire time!

Austin even loved it!

Later that week we got a bad ice storm.  Church was even canceled.  Thankfully we didn't lose power.

The first thing Kylee does when she walks out in the snow is makes a snow angle.  

 Austin was a little hesitant to play in the snow and hung out by the front door until he warmed up.

 The kids and I built a snowman.  It is a lot harder than I thought it would be!  Kylee is holding his hand :)

Austin finally warmed up and started to play with Kylee.  They would throw snowballs at each other and climb up that big mound of snow and slide down.

Our deck out back.

I'm glad the kids can enjoy this time when we live in the snow and I'm glad I actually still had energy to let them.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year 2013!!!  

Jeremy and I were able to go to the Iowa vs Indiana basketball game on New Year's Eve.  The arena was packed with everyone wearing black and yellow.  There was so much energy and it was a really close game.  We had a lot of fun!  

Later that night we went to our friend's the Christensen's and ate a ton!  The kids had fun blowing poppers at each other.

They got to watch Monster's Inc and huddled around the small dvd player and didn't seem to mind :)

The next morning Jeremy made us a yummy breakfast that has become a tradition.  Kielbasa with peppers, eggs and hash browns.  It was yummy!  Here's to a happy and healthy new year!

Merry Christmas!

December 24, 2012

The kids helped me decorate some sugar cookies to leave out for Santa!  I'm so glad that they love listening to Christmas music just as much as I do.  It was a lot of work to get everything ready for Christmas Day with all the baking and cooking but I was so lucky to have my two little helpers.  On Christmas Eve we watched Joy to the World.  The kids actually sat and watched for a while.  They liked seeing the Mary on the donkey and then baby Jesus when he was born.  They are young but still understand the true meaning of Christmas.  I'm so grateful we can teach them to feel the spirit at a young age.  

Our attempt at a family picture on Christmas Eve.  

I didn't take many pictures this Christmas because I had the video camera out a lot but here are a few.  Austin (and Daddy) were thrilled to see the basketball hoop that Santa left! 

Kylee was so excited she got her princess castle that I couldn't get her to look up for a picture.

Austin enjoying his fire station from Grandma and Grandpa Murdock.

Kylee loved her new Max and Ruby dolls from Uncle Reed.

Christmas Sunday outfits.  Love Austin's face:) 

First snowfall in Iowa City!

December 15, 2012
We were all pretty excited when we got our first snowfall in time for Christmas!  What is the point of it being freezing cold if you can't have a little snow to look at :)

We also started a new family tradition of decorating sugar cones like Christmas tree's.  The kids had a fun time.

Unfortunately the kids weren't able to play in the snow because they were both sick most of the month.

We were able to visit Santa at the mall.  Kylee was so excited and Austin was a little hesitant.  He sat on his lap but had the saddest face.  Kylee asked Santa for a princess castle and said Austin wanted a basketball.  After visiting with Santa we ate at Chic-fil-a.  Yum!  And yes, Jeremy decided to grow a beard wile he was out of school for the month.

Happy 2nd Birthday Austin!

December 6, 2012
I can't believe Austin is two!  He is turning into such a big boy and is so grown up.  He has the cutest personality and is always happy.  He always asks for breakfast as soon as he wakes up and loves to watch Mickey Mouse Club House.  He is constantly learning and saying new words.  He can count to 10 and knows most of his colors.  He loves reading books and playing with his sister.  He loves nursery and is learning to say his own prayers with a little help from Mom and Dad.  On the morning of his birthday we sang to him and he ate his favorite breakfast (that week), waffles.

Later that day the kids helped me bake his birthday cake.  Their favorite part is licking the beaters.

The next day Austin had his two year check up!  

Waiting for the Doctor.  They made him put on this blue robe.  He didn't seem to mind.

He loved his toy from Uncle Shane and Aunt Tasia!  

Austin is very much into Cars lately so I made him a Cars cake!

Since it was too cold to play outside we took the kids over to the church to ride their bikes and shoot around the basketball.  Then we came home and opened presents and ate cake.  We invited over Austin's friends the Christensen boys; Caden, Colby, Curtis and Chad.

He loved his cars ramp from Grandma and Grandpa Murdock! 

He would not put the cars down all night and even slept with them.

The next morning he got to open the present from Mom and Dad.  It took Jeremy and I a little longer than expected to put it together :)  He still had fun playing in it the next day.

Prego update: 26 weeks.  Still feeling pretty good.  Nothing to complain about :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 23, 2012
We were able to get a few days off and spent it with our friends the Christensens's and their family in Waukesha, Wisconsin.  We had never been to Wisconsin before and thought it would be a fun road trip and it was a blast hanging out with friends on the holiday.  We left right after lunch so the kids were nice and tired and made the 4 hour trek.

Here is Caden, Kylee, Colby, Curtis and Austin.  They had so much fun playing with each other.  It was really cold so we stayed inside most of the time.  They entertained each other by watching movies, eating popcorn, playing the wii, and all the fun toys in the basement.

Ryan's mom is an amazing cook and made a delicious meal.  Even the kids got to sit at the nice table.

The boys decided to let some energy out and played a Turkey Bowl... probably the coldest in our Murdock family history!  The older guys played a big game at the local school but the dads/uncles and sons played a mini turkey bowl in the front yard...it was cold and didnt last too long for the little kids but it was fun! Thanksgiving 2012 was a great time spent with great friends, delicious food and in the pretty state of Wisconsin.

Cooking Class

Back in November Kylee went to a cooking class at the local Hy-Vee (our grocery store) with her good friend Drake.  The class is open to kids 4-12 (yes, I told Kylee that she was 4 that day) but they were the only two that showed up!  They got one-on-one attention and learned to make squash muffins.  Kylee love it!

  

Waiting for the muffins to bake was the hardest part :)

They turned out delicious and they were pretty healthy!  I think we'll go again.