Thanksgiving

It seems silly to be reporting about Thanksgiving in February, but I'm actually close to being caught up!  Yay!

We had a nice Thanksgiving with Jeff's side of the family this year.  It was our first one at the new house in Parker.  It was great to be with all of them.  I love them very much.

Here are some pics:

The first order of business for the day was taking pics of the boy cousins.  Last summer, Baby Gap had a gender neutral line of various produce.  So I got the pea for Jonathan and Jenny got the apple for Baby J.  Don't they look adorable?

Jonathan is almost 5 months here and J. is 10 months.  Funny they look almost the same size.

Try as we might, we just couldn't get the perfect picture.

"Hey!  I want some apple too!"

But it was still totally worth it!

Next order of business?  Helping Ellen decorate the Christmas tree...

Charles orchestrated everything and made sure Ellen was being restful.  

Then we had a delicious non-traditional catered BBQ Thanksgiving.  It was seriously yummy! My face looks like I'm possessed or something here, but I think I was just really enjoying the food.  (BTW, don't you love how your hair goes thinner while your nursing.  : )).

Dessert...

And then lots of cuddles and playing...

When we were about to leave, Mary quietly went into GrammE and Papa's bed to rest.  : )

We have so much to be grateful for.  And I definitely felt blessed.  On Facebook this year, during the month of November, I posted a gratitude for each day of November.  I can't seem to retrieve that list now, but I enjoyed doing that.  It wasn't hard at all to come up with something each day.  This year, I'm particularly grateful for my new baby, as well as Mary, and for my Mother-in-Law, Ellen as she fights breast cancer.  She is over the worst of it now - chemo and radiation are done.  She still has some other treatments and surgery coming up, but I am glad she has accomplished these two huge hurdles.  I love you Ellen!

May we all remember the most important blessings of life.

"Turn Around" - Mary is 3

You know the song....

"Where are you going, my little one, little one?
Where are you going, my baby, my own?
Turn around and you're two,
Turn around and you're four,
Turn around and you're a young girl going out of the door."

It's just crazy when you think about it sometimes.  Mary turned 3 in October.  We had a small pizza party for her with a few family and friends. 

It seems ages ago when SHE was the infant that I was nursing.  And yet, it was only three years ago.  So much has happened in those three years.  I have this little person now.  She's exuberant and beautiful.  She's smart and charming.  She's sweet and sassy and funny and fun. 

I love her so much.  I hope I can be everything I need to be so that she can be happy. 

Since Jonathan has been born, things have changed some....  Initially I - all of a sudden -  expected more from her.  I expected her to be able to dress herself for instance.  And I realized that she still needed my help and that I couldn't just expect things to change overnight..... 

She has taken to being a big sister rather well.  Of course we have times when she isn't perfect -But she is 3!  She really loves Jonathan.  She tries to help with him.  She sings to him, hugs and kisses him, and plays with him. 

I feel divided.  And I don't really like that feeling.  I don't like having to wake up Jonathan so I can take Mary to an outing.  I don't like not being able to attend to Mary so I can go nurse Jonathan.  I sometimes feel like I have to take something from one to give something to the other.  As I'm writing this, I'm realizing how badly I've felt about that....

BUT, one of the reasons I wanted to have another child was so that Mary would learn that the universe doesn't always revolve around her.  And too, it is good for her to fend for herself a bit.  And truth be told, I don't think she has ever felt badly about it.  She has always been independent - able to play on her own and entertain herself.  So I guess that is good.

My biggest challenge that I have with Mary right now is getting her dressed every day.  She almost never willingly does it.  I've tried several things from time-outs (and spankings - which as you probably remember are not what I like to do.... they kind of go against my parenting philosophy) to rewards, to timers, to letting her pick what to wear.... Nothing has really done the trick.  But I'm just going to keep trying.  I hope I'm being a good parent.  I hope that all this is normal and that as she gets older, these things will get better.

In the mean-time, I'm hoping I can focus on how truly wonderful she is and enjoy every second with her and relish it.  Because one day she'll be all grown up and I won't get to be with her as much. 

"Where are you going, my little one, little one?
Little dirndls and petticoats, my baby my own?
Turn around and you're tiny,
Turn around and you're grown,
Turn around and you're a young wife with babes of your own."

I love you my Dear, Sweet Mary Pie!  I love being your Momma!!!

Mary about 3 months old

Mary around 9 months old

Mary 1 year old

Mary 2 years old

Mary on her 3rd birthday this past October.

Mary with one of her birthday presents - matching outfits with her dolly.

Mary's Official 3 Years Old Photo

A pic my friend Sara took - more about this session later.  But here Mary is in her long ballet tutu dress up she got for Christmas.  Doesn't she look like an angel?

Happy 3rd Birthday Mary!!!

Hannah Gets Married!

I wanted to be sure to report about an important Murray family event that happened in October.  My oldest niece got married on Mary's birthday (Mary was a flower girl) in October to a great guy named Joseph Cammack.  (We now have three different Joseph's - two on the Murray side and one on the Sullins side- in our family!)  It was a whirlwind romance - they just met in the spring.  But they were oh so in love - it was a joy just to see that young uninhibited love oozing from them. 

My baby sister Catherine's wedding was just last year, so it felt kind of funny already having a wedding for my niece.  I guess depending on when they start having children - I could be a great aunt soon!  That's a VERY scary thought!

Anyway, it was a beautiful Colorado day - warm and full of Autumn .  The temple ceremony (Denver temple) was really beautiful (my life-long friend Sara saved me and came to watch Mary and Jonathan so Jeff and I could both go in).  Howard (her other Grandpa) performed the ceremony - he also performed me and Jeff's and I think it may have taken place in the same room that Jeff and I had ours.  Hannah looked so... BEAUTIFUL of course... but just fresh and full of love and light and virtue and youth.  It was just like something out of a movie... or book ... or Heaven?  Weddings are a natural time to pause and reflect and I found myself doing that a lot throughout the day.

Of course Ivan- my brother, and Beckie- my sister and her family came out as well as my 89 year old grandma - Iola. 

A couple of days before, I threw Hannah a shower -though really I had so much help from Beckie and my Mom that I don't know if I can really take the credit.  We had some yummy food (Beckie provided as as much as me) and Pink Berry Frozen yogurt - Hannah's favorite (and mine and Jennifer's and Emma's) frozen yogurt.  We had three pretzel rods dipped in various chocolates and dips for party favors - made by my Mom and Beckie and my Mom brought some balloons for decor.  We had a lot of people here and we had a great time.  We had a few activities - the Newly wed game - where you ask the bride the same questions that you've previously asked the groom and then we all went around to give advice and of course we opened GIFTS!  I really had fun - which is saying something when you are the hostess - because normally you have to just worry about everything coming together.

The pretzels (and adorable Sheri Anna) before getting packaged up:

What was left of the food - minus the veggie pizza that I didn't get out in time.  : )  (A couple dips, pumpkin bread, fruit pizza, double tomato bruschetta, and the yogurt on the end.

Anyway.... here are some pics now from the wedding.  (And FYI all photos of this post are courtesy of Beckie, because I lamely didn't take ANY of the shower or wedding!).

I had to include this picture of Emma who was is becoming so gorgeous she almost took the spotlight away from the bride.  Of course Eve and Sterling are beautiful too.

I found myself thinking a lot about what Jennifer must be feeling to have her daughter grown up and married. I can't even imagine what that day will be like with Mary.

 ....All because two people fell in love.  I love this pic of my happily married parents.

Mary loved the caramel apple station.

 Look at these two!  I love their smiles!!!

 I love this pic of Jennifer and Scott - parents of the bride!

Dancing!  Joe and Eve.

Mr. and Mrs. Cammack..... and Sheri Anna.  : )

Me holding Beckie's new baby (did I mention that????) - another cousin Jonathan's age named Christian.

Friend Christina (she looked so stunning that night) holding Christian too.

Me stealing a smooch from delicious Jonathan.  Who does he look like here???

Big Brother Sterling kisses Christian too.  I love this pic!

As I finish this post, it reminds me of what a great family we have - how much we love each other - how important each member is - how we are all sealed for eternity together.

Best wishes Hannah and Joseph!  May your love get deeper with each sunrise.