Summer Pictures and then some

On Good Friday we lost Copper. Our hyperactive, barky, lovable wiener dog passed away at home with Josh and Jared by his side. We had him for 5 years, and even though he was a pain, we will forever miss him. The kids loved him to death and they still have his collar. Copper 2004-2010

Here is Cayden's end of the year program. I was not able to go but Blaine and Grandma Whittle were able to see it. He is so cute!

Trip to the Zoo! Cayden and Kayla love to see the zoo, this was one of our many trips this year. We went to see the kimono dragon exhibit that had just opened the month before.

Jared will never admit that he is just a bigger kid. He loves to play with Cayden, wrestle, and camp in the tent in the loft. I got a picture of it because he is so funny!

This year we had Cassia and Kayla's birthday party together. they have birthdays in the month of May so we just did a princess party. I made the dresses and got the cake, Andrea did decorations, hostess and food. It was so much fun to see the girls open presents. They got the same things from everyone. Super cute!

Here is the cake, Cassia could not wait to blow out the candles. Kayla was not really sure what to do with the candles, so Cayden had to help her.

After the presents and cake, we went swimming. Here are the girls getting warm after swimming for over 90 minutes!

I went into the house after running to the car to get a change of clothes and a diaper for Kayla and saw Miss Cassia helping Kayla eat some cake they found within reach. They are so funny together!

Here is Kayla at home on her actual birthday. We had some cupcakes and she knew what to do with the candles this time.

Miss Kayla in grandma's hat. We went to the swimming pool during the Memorial Day weekend, she had fun in the water and loved Grandma Whittle's hat.

Monday of the Memorial Day weekend, we had all of the family over to Grandma Whittle's house for a picnic. Uncle John brought the biggest slip and slide and water balloons for the kids to play with. The boys helped Blaine and John set up the slide.

Cayden being so brave. I was so surprise that my little chicken even tried it.

Water Balloon fight!!!! Even the adults joined in this one, it was so fun to see the older boys try and get the grown-ups wet and then run before retaliation hit!

Josh helping Jacob to get someone wet instead of missing them.

Cassia and Natalie after baths

Natalie, Jacob and Kayla

Natalie, Cayden, Jacob, Cassia, and Kayla

Best Buddies!

Eating cake at grandma's, what could be better?

Natalie, Cassia and Jacob "resting"

One of the very rare pictures of Josh, turning 15 make you not want your picture taken anymore I guess.

Jared and Josh in the airport getting ready to leave to California for the summer to spend time with Dad.

King Cayden at the children's art museum

Ann Marie taking a photo, Cody in the stroller, Cassia and Natalie all at the zoo. What an adventure! 4 adults with 6 kids under the age of 6!

Natalie and Kayla at the Children's art museum

Princess Kayla

Kayla at the zoo, my pictures uploaded out of order sorry!

Natalie and Kayla playing in the water at the zoo

Me headed off to an all girls retreat up in Heber! No kids or hubby!!!!

All of the girls, Tammy, Maggie, Debbie and Ann

This was the visitor that we got out in the back of the cabin

Kayla being naughty and getting yet another cup out!

Cayden waiting for the fireworks to start on 4th of July

Kayla and Vickie waiting for the fireworks on 4th of July

Kayla dressing up. I have saved every costume from each child over the years they collect and Kayla loves to dress up in them!

Splash pad at San Tan Mall to cool off one day

Where did the water go?

Our new baby of the family, Angel. She is 1 and is a chiweinie, chiwawa and weiner dog mix.

Kalya loves to take Angel for a "walk", she has to stay in the backyard though.

Kayla trying to make Angel get in the trailer. Angel is not very compliant with this request.

Jared and Kayla on the trampoline, again he is trying to act like he hates it.

Josh, the first day of school at Queen Creek High School, he is a sophmore this year.

Kayla sleeps in the oddest places, sideways in bed

on the coffee table

On the hippo

I am thinking that she wants to go to school too!

Finally after lots of begging, all of the boys got hair cuts!!! Thank you Tina!

Kayla was not convinced that she would see her blanket and kitty if they took a bath in the washer, so she had Blaine bring her a chiar and drink so she could watch them and make sure they would return.

For Josh's 16th birthday he got tickets to the Diamondbacks and Dodgers baseball game in the all-you-can-eat section. FYI anyone wanting to take the kids to the game, this is where you want to be. Unlimited hotdogs, popcorn, peanuts and soda. What more could a kid ask for??

The dodgers pitcher, Joas was so excited!!

This was the last player up to bat, note the score of the game, Josh was not happy about that!

Cayden made honor roll for straight A's during the first quarter of first grade!

Well that sums up the year so far. New news....we are moving back up to Salt Lake. We leave this week and will be in South Jordan. I am going to be working at the new IHC Riverton hospital, a 5 minute commute!!!!! Blaine has been there for 2 months now and we are so excited to be back together as a family. Josh and Jared are not happy that we are moving again. They have chosen to move to California to live with their dad. I am not happy about it, in fact my feelings are hurt. I just want what is best for them and they do not see that. Well, I guess sometimes the best way to teach a lesson is the hard way. I am so thankful for all of the prayers and thoughts that all of you have for us this past year. Thank you! Enjoy the updates!

Forever.....

It has been so long since I last posted. I had to do a double take on the date. It was Kayla's second birthday and I blogged about Cayden. What kind of mother am I??? Well, we have had a very busy time at the Murdock house, here is a brief summary of our comings and goings, I will upload pictures later.

Blaine-finally got a job where he was home all of the time, making barely over minimum wage. he had a 95 minute commute to work each way but it was for a large company and we thought that he would advance quickly. Well, come to find out that those above him that he was in line to take their positions were making only 1-2 dollars more an hour then he was. He got a call from his old employer in Salt Lake, that made him a really sweet offer and he gobbled it up. He is now working for Action Couriers again and will be the terminal manger for them. Right now he is assisting to open the terminal and driving for them until they get the terminal up and running.

Emily- still working at St. Joseph's hospital in phoenix, my commute is 75 minutes each way, I am working in a neuro rehab unit that is not very appealing to me. I work with confused, brain injured, stroke, and spinal cord patients and many of them are combative. Needless to say, any of you that know me, this is not a good fit for my personality. I am trying to move to another area but there is a nursing surplus here and for every job open there are a minimum of 75 applicants. I started going back to school for my bachelors degree, a task that I had planned on completing prior to getting remarried and never did. I have 5 more terms left, that puts me at graduating around the beginning of 2012. That is if I can continue to be a full-time student. I can not wait!!! I am loving being a mother, I just do not love that as my children get older, they think that I am less knowledgeable. I know, payback stinks!

Josh-he started his sophomore year at Queen Creek High School. He is loving the school so much more then the last one. He had a larger selection of classes to take and they have a real football team. He decided that he did not want to try out for football this year. He really wants to drive and earn money to go out dates. He talked to the custodian of the high school, and they said he could work there after school and after functions like dances. He was very excited. he has known that he will not be able to get his licence until he has a 3.0 GPA, well it is not near that. He keeps asking if he can take the permit test and I have not caved in yet. I am thinking that I will stick to this one. It is going to be $998/6months for his car insurance with bad grades!!!! He gets a $100 discount for good grades and drivers training. I need the discount with that price!!! He turns 16 on the 21st of this month.

Jared-turned 13 this June!!! He is officially a teenager, and mentions it frequently. He started eighth grade at Newel Barney Junior High. He is liking most of the classes and teachers this year. He has an issue with being bored so he goes to the nurse on a daily basis. I have now limited the nurse visits to bleeding, broken bone, or high fever. He has not been to the nurse in 1 1/2 weeks! I am so proud of him. He is going to try out for basketball this term. I think he will do OK, it will depend on how good the others are if he makes the team or not. He is doing very well with his grades A's and B's. He does have one C, in math. He did not think that he should have to show his work because "I got the right answer, why does she need to see how I got it?" After a meeting with the principal and myself, he is now showing his work. He is constantly testing the limits, but I think it is because he is so creative and wants to be able to bend everything every way. He is making more friends, so I am not as worried about him.

Cayden-started the first grade this year. He was so excited because his teacher told him that first grade was more fun then kindergarten. After the first day he said, "Mom, first grade is not more fun, you have lots of work in first grade!" He is getting all A's and has gotten 100% on every spelling test. He is reading above grade level at home and at grade level at school. He did not want to take the reading test for the teacher, so he didn't. She figured that he could read some so put him in the grade level group. He is so stubborn! He is growing so fast and is constantly asking what words mean and what things say if he can not sound them out quickly. He is like a sponge, he wants to learn everything right now. I love it!

Kayla-turned 2, she is finally on the weight charts!! She is at 7% for weight and 40% for height and 60% for head. She is so independent and wants to do everything herself. She loves babies, barbies, purses, shoes, and jewelry. She is such a girl, I am loving having a little girl! We do fun hairstyles, dress up, put on "whips" (lip gloss) and "whoshon" (lotion). She is in love with Dora and will watch it all day everyday if she is allowed. I have 60 Dora episodes on TiVo, who know there where that many to see. She watches them over and over again. I can pretty much quote any episode with minimal prompting. She is so loving and loves to give hugs and kisses. She is slightly spoiled by all of the above family members. Oh well.

I will upload some photos when I get a chance, hopefully within the next week. Blaine is coming home for the weekend and gets in tomorrow, so it may not be until sometime next week!