Life and Times of the Murphy Five

Friday, September 16, 2011

Harper Pictures

Here are some recent pictures of Harper. We have an appointment to get some portraits done of both of the girls this weekend. Until then, enjoy these. Both girls are growing so fast!

Riley LOVES her baby and likes to hold her for about one minute before saying "I all done!"

The girls playing. Riley will sit next to her sister and talk to her all day.

So happy!

"Mommy, you're getting that light in her eye!" - Riley, already looking out for her little sister.

So sweet!

I am finally getting around to posting some pictures of Riley's birthday party. Riley chose to have a princess party...actually, she asked for a Beast party. We told her that she could have a Beauty and the Beast/Disney Princess party and she agreed. Here are a few pictures from the day.

The Birthday Girl in her new dress-up clothes!

Riley's cake with "Belle, Cinderella, and the Beast (in pink)" Sleeping Beauty is always the beast no matter how many times you correct her.

So excited for her new "Prince and the Frog movie."

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Riley's Preschool Highlights

Riley was bouncing off the walls last night from all the excitement of her first day of preschool. I couldn't help myself from asking her twenty questions about her day. Here are some highlights:

She didn't cry one time, but was a little scared.
They have a fish. He's little and doesn't have a name. He swims in the tank.
They have two crabs. Red Car and Blue Car. ???
She learned how to do the crab walk and then "hide in your shell."
They did circle time. Yesterday was Wednesday.
She learned a new song. "two little monkeys were sitting in a tree..." Something about an alligator couldn't get them.
She played outside. There wasn't a "jumpin thing" (trampoline). She played princess(ese) and alligators with a little girl with blond hair and two boys. The teacher thought of the game. The boys were the alligators and trying to get the girls. The girls rode off in "the wheel thing."
She loves her teacher "Miss MAgen" (Miss Megan). Miss Megan helped her go potty when it was hand washing time and sat by her at snack time.
She had cheese crackers and juice. She couldn't share her snack.
The classroom rules are: be nice and share.
She has "one, two" teachers. She only knows Miss Megan's name.
I asked what toys she played with and she said she didn't know. "You just get a toy, play with it, and put it back."
She was ready to go back today!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Riley's First Day of Preschool

Today was Riley's first day of preschool. I almost didn't sign her up because she just turned three last month and I thought that maybe she wasn't ready. The closer that we came to preschool starting and knowing that two of Riley's daycare friends would be going I started feeling like she would be missing out. So literally the night of preschool open house I called to see if there was an opening. Luckily, there was and now Riley is my preschooler. Leading up to today Riley has been super excited to go to school and to take her backpack with her. I was a little worried considering she cried and clung to Brett the majority of the time at the open house. While all of the parents attended the meeting the kids (and Brett) played in the gym. This morning there were only a few tears as Brett left and a couple minutes of her clinging to my shirt. After a few minutes she was playing with the kitchen, checking out the fish, and playing with her little buddy Carter. I talked to her after preschool and she said that she just played all morning and agreed that she'd like to go back next week! A success!

Outside the classroom

Riley and Carter

Next to her cubby

Checking out the fish

Playing with the kitchen

On my way out - looks like she's doing pretty good!

The House That Jack Built 2011

For Labor Day We made our second trip to The House That Jack Built at Lake Okoboji. We were lucky enough to have the entire Murphy family at the lake this year. Despite being a bit chilly (40 degree nights) we had a lot of fun and made some fun new memories. A few highlights:

Riley caught a fish on her very own barbie "fishing pool" that she cast out herself. She was one proud little girl! She decided to throw it back into the water so it could go find it's mommy.
Sending Uncle John to the store to get Harper a new paci. We left the house without extras and Harper spit the one we did have into the lake.
Riley entertaining everyone by playing pirate soccer.
Having Aunt Libby and Uncle David with us for one day.
Rooting the Hawks onto victory at Tweeters.
Roasting marshmallows over the fire on the beach.
Making up songs with Grandma Kathy. [Riley has now started to make up her own songs all the time. The latest..."Everyone loves Ariel, Ariel, Ariel. Everyone loves Ariel. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeahhhh"]
Playing with the "big kids."
Watching movies in the car.
Sleeping with both kids in two twin beds pushed together to keep everybody warm! Girls slept great, Mom and Dad not so much.
Riley eating her "vanilla" (powder sugar) donuts on the porch.

We can't wait for the 4th of July when we get to go back! Here are a few pictures.

Riley fishing in her pajamas off the dock.

The House That Jack Built

Riley's fish!!!

Mommy and Harper on the swing.

Riley wishing she could swim!

Playing in the sand.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Harper Grace: 3 Months Old

oHarper is growing sooo fast. She is the sweetest, cuddliest, easiest baby ever! Here's what she's been up to this past month:

She is wearing size 0-3 and 3 month clothes. We have officially retired all of her newborn clothes.
She is laughing, smiling, and making all kinds of noises. She loves to talk back to us and sing with us.
She loves her big sister. She will find her anywher in the room and watch her. She loves to laugh at the stuff she does...like knocking her block towers down.
She rolled from back to front this past weekend. Just once, but I'm sure she could have done it more.

She loves to chew on her fists and her paci.
She's eating 4 oz bottles of breast milk about every 3 hours. She'll usually have 5-6 bottles every day.
She is wearing a size 2 diaper.
She rarely ever cries, and usually just whines. The only time she is "fussy" is if she is tired, hungry, or wanting to be held.
She is sleeping like a champ. She lets us know that she is tired around 7-7:30 and she's asleep no later than 8pm. She will usually sleep until 4:40-6am. She is sleeping better than her sister right now. Even better. We can lay her down awake, but sleepy, and she'll soothe herself to sleep (something her sister still struggles with!).
Her hair continues to grow. It has thinned out and lightened up some, but she's got a nice natural Mohawk going on now!
She loves to be sitting up and doesn't care to be laying down. She likes to be in the sleepytime wrap or in her Chicco carrier.