Christmas Eve Tradition

This is hands down my kids favorite family Christmas tradition. Every Christmas Eve they get to open one gift and they always know what it is because it is the same thing every year. But it is the excitement of what their new pajamas are going look like. The one request is that they are warm and comfy as Bridger puts it. They start asking if its Christmas Eve yet because they can't wait to open that one gift before Christmas morning.

Murdock Christmas Party

The Murdock Christmas party has several traditons that my kids look forward to. Their favorite is frosting sugar cookies for Santa Claus. Although after licking the knife and tasting the sprinkles and candy I doubt Santa is interested in eating them but its the thought that counts. We also do a $5 gift exchange game so you don't know what you will get but its so fun to see the different gifts. We had a great time spending time with family!!

Happy Holidays!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Bridger's 8th Birthday

Bridger turned eight on December 17, 2008... He wanted a sports party so we went bowling and had a sports theme. Bridger had a blast! We gave him the Jazz jersey he wore for the party this was exciting to him. It's hard to believe that he is 8 yrs old it seems like just yesterday he was a baby. It's amazing he is such a happy child with all of his trials. He is my miracle with 14 surgeries behind him we are praying we are near the end. He has done amazing through it all and if you didn't know you would never know because he is such a happy boy. I am so grateful that he is here with us today. He does well in school plays many sports and the piano. There was a time when Hayes and I wondered if all this would be possible but some kids are just special and he is one of them. The Lord has been his constant companion and for this I am eternally grateful. What a cute boy he has become in spite of all his many trials, he is blessed.

Kelton's Preschool Program

Kelton's preschool Christmas program he was excited to perform. He loves to sing he was a snowman in the play that melts away because of the sun. It was so cute he is our shy little guy so it surprised me that he sang and said his part in the microphone. Santa Claus also came but he still looks afraid if you ask me no smiles on Santa's lap.

Christmas Trees

We love Christmas and decorating our trees it is important for my family, and it gets the kids so excited. So we spend the day after Thanksgiving decorating the house for Christmas. The main tree is the favorite at our house. Last year we took the kids to tai-pan and we chose our favorite tree and bought the decorations on that tree to put on ours. This year we added some but we have loved having this tree. This year we added a slim tree in the family room because we like having Christmas lights throughout our home. So this tree has no decorations just the red bulb lights but its fun to have the room lit. The alpine trees are in our basement this has many of the decorations Hayes and I made when we were first married. Its fun to keep the ornaments we were so poor but the memories of making them together were to precious I couldn't throw them away so they are hiding in the basement.

Christmas Lights

Every year we go on a hayride to see the Christmas Lights in the park. Its hosted by a local restaurant and all the proceeds go to Charity. The kids love going even if its freezing. After the hayride they went to see Santa Claus and have ice cream and hot chocolate an odd combination but they love it. Kelton was afraid of Santa but was determined to sit on his lap because he was afraid if he didn't he would not get the blue Nintendo DS he wants. He talked about it for two days and I told him he could just write a letter but he did not think it would work. So in the picture you can tell he was terrified but I was proud of his courage. He is now convinced he will be getting the blue Nintendo DS for Christmas. Kids can be so cute!!

Thanksgiving

This picture is so precious to me because of the family heritage. My Grandparents mean a lot to me and seeing my children with them is touching. My Grandma has always found family to be important and has many family traditions that will carry on for generations. My grandparents had 7 children, 39 grand kids, and 28 great grandchildren in counting. So years ago my Grandma started the tradition of renting an LDS church to host Thanksgiving. We play volleyball, dodge ball and basketball in the gym and dinner is served on the stage. It is quite the event every other year. I loved it as a child and it is fun to see my children looking forward to it. This year Bridger and Kamree learned to play volleyball it was fun. It is great to get everybody together for the day. Makell says its also her favorite tradition because you can run around and not worry about being careful in someones house. On this Thanksgiving I am grateful for my Grandparents and all the time and energy they put into keeping the family together. I love the family values they have taught me.