Brrrrrr!

Happy New Year!

This year was a pretty low key New Year for us.  We hosted a dinner with the Coppola's, Donnenwerth's, and Aunt Libby and David.  We had a great time chatting while the kids ran around the house making as much noise as possible.  By 10:30 it was just Libby and David helping us ring in the New Year.  Here are some of the only pictures that I took from the night.

Carter wanted nothing to do with sitting next to Macy and Riley!  But he figured he'd get close enough by crawling under the bench.  Too funny!

We Finally Did It.

We took Riley's paci away.  It was time.  And we are so glad that we didn't wait any longer!  Nights were coming unbearable with Riley waking up 3-4 times a night - usually looking for her paci.  I made the executive decision that we would take it away after Christmas.  She was going to be home with her daddy all week so I thought it would be easier on her, us, and Hedy.  So, 12/26 was Riley's first day of no paci.  I felt horrible as she cried for 45 minutes the first couple nights because she wanted her paci.  But overall, she doesn't seem to miss it now.  And guess what???  We've had a whole week of full night's sleep.  It's wonderful!

Chrismas Day

Christmas morning was as fun as we had hoped it would be.  Riley ooohed and ahhhed over the gifts that Santa left for her - a new kitchen and shopping cart!  We let her play with her new toys for about ten minutes and then had to make her sit down and open her stocking.  Boy did Santa pack it full - maybe too full!  We then attempted to open our gifts as a family.  Riley showed little interest and it was really just Brett and I openning all of the gifts.   From MOmmy and Daddy Riley received some new clothes, puzzles, leap frog fridge phonics, baby doll stroller, bath toys, farm toy, blocks, and hat.  Mommy and Daddy got some great gifts too.  Like, a new outdoor fire pit for Daddy and a digital frame for Mommy!

We then went to open up our gifts with Grandma and Grandpa Burch and my brother and his family.  Riley loved carrying her cousins' toys around, but showed little interest in her own.  After openning our gifts and a couple mimosas we headed over to my aunt and uncle's house to celebrate Christmas with a great lunch.  The highlight was watching Great Grandpa Melvin and Lois open their gift (Iowa letter jackets)...and Riley's majorly dramatic pout session in the middle of it!  Riley refused to take a nap and crashed on the way home around 6.  She was up again around 9 (which is an hour past bedtime) playing with all of her new toys.  We were finally able to get her back to bed around 10:30.  Here are a few pictures:

Playing with her kitchen.

Playing with her shopping cart.

Her new piggy and baby stroller.

Her new tent!

With her cousins at Grandpa and Grandma Burch's.

Her new Elmo phone.

The dramatic tantrum!  Right on all of the wrapping paper and boxes.

Great Grandpa Melvin and Lois

Her new baby doll carrier!

Christmas Eve

This year was a bit different.  We spent Christmas Eve with Grandma and Grandpa Murphy and Uncle John.  Aunt Libby spent Christmas with her fiance's family in Tennesee.  We missed Aunt Libby and David, but get to see them very soon!  We decided to open our gifts to one another and it proved to be a good idea.  We weren't able to make it back to Grandma and Grandpa Murphy's house on Christmas because of the snow.  We had a great time and Riley didn't come home empty handed! She absolutely loves the tent that Grandma and Grandpa got for her!  Here are a few pictures.

Christmas Is Almost Here!

Things have been crazy around the Murphy household the past couple weeks as we've been preparing for Christmas. 

We baked some Christmas cookies while we were snowed in during the blizzard.  Riley loved helping with the cookies for the first 5 minutes, then she was off running around the house. 

We are finally done with all of our shopping.  I have just a couple gifts to complete.  Yes, I'm actually going to attempt to make a couple gifts.  Hopefully they turn out as cute as I hope!  Riley and I worked on wrapping some of the last gifts last night.  I wrapped and she played with the bows and put the presents under the tree.  She loved helping with this.  The first couple of gifts ended up IN the tree, but after showing her they belong UNDER the tree she put them all in the right spot!

We attended cousin Addie's Christmas program at pre-school.  Addie did a great job and sung every song!  Riley loved watching the kids sing and danced along with them.  She loved even more that she was able to play with Kennedy and Addie after the program.   

We took the longest trip ever through Jolly Holiday Lights.  We turned Riley's seat to front facing and packed Daddy's car with Grandma and Grandpa Burch.  We made the mistake of going at 7pm on Saturday night.  Riley spent the first hour of the trip mesmerized by the idea that she could actually see what was going on and look out the window.  The second hour and a half (yes, the trip took 2 1/2 hours) she had fun playing with Mommy and Grandma in the back seat.  She liked looking at some of the lights and really loved going through the "tunnels."  Everyone else in the car was in agreement that it might be their first and last trip through Jolly Holiday Lights!

We hung our ornaments from Grandma and Grandpa Murphy.  Grandma Murphy was actually able to find ornaments with all of our names on them.  I was quite surprised to find one with Riley, but love that they are on our tree!

Here is our little Riley Claus:

Finally....Some Hair!!

I had to show off this picture to prove that Riley really does have quite a bit of hair now.  It keeps coming in faster and faster!