First Day of School!

The kids survived their first day of school. Gabe wasn't very excited about going and Raygen couldn't wait. She gets to go all day now and even gets to eat in the cafeteria! It is Raygen's teacher's very first year teaching and Gabe's teacher has been teaching for 24 years. It will be interesting to see how this year goes. They both enjoyed their first and second day of school. They both really like their teachers. I am glad. Gabe's teacher told him that they will rarely have homework so he is VERY excited about that. And Raygen's teacher told them they will have homework almost every day so she is very excited about that. It is so strange how opposite they are. Maybe it is just the age. Ridge was very lonely without them. He followed me around the whole day. It was very quiet and relaxing and I am getting a lot done. (I finished a book I have been reading :0)) I am going to enjoy all the free time before preschool starts!

Rafting Racket

The kids have decided that they love to raft! The little green raft from my childhood (aka Fish Hunter) has been resurrected this summer. I have spent many hours at Cottonwood Lake with friends and dates on this raft. It is very strange to watch my three kids paddle around in it. After a few instructions from Grandpa Benton, Gabe and Raygen went around and around the reservoir in it. Gabe thinks he is the captain and loves giving commands to his little sister. When she doesn't listen to him, a riot breaks out onboard. It is really hilarious to watch. It has been a good way to teach them to cooperate. When they argue, they just go around in circles but when they work together, they are able to get where they want to go. Ridge loves to ride in the raft too, but it is hard to keep him in it. He is always wanting to bail out to swim. They even talked Grandma Lynda into going for a ride with them! We have had a lot of fun and will spend our last day of summer vacation enjoying the water and the sun.

Thunder--

We would like to welcome the newest member of the Murphy family. As if we didn't have enough critters running around already, now we have added a pygmy goat to the collection named Thunder. He is Gabe's reward for reaching his reading goals. Gabe wanted a rabbit, but his dad successfully talked him into getting a goat instead. He is only about 3 weeks old and we have to bottle feed him every few hours but I have to admit that he is pretty cute. We keep him in a dog kennel in the garage for right now and he gets lonely. He even lost his voice from crying all the time! He has been a lot of fun so far. I just worry about keeping the little thing healthy for Gabe. He cried for an hour after Thunder lost his voice because he was convinced he was going to die. As long as we keep him away from Ridge and the mean old cat, he should be just fine. . . I hope.

Reno Baby!!

I had the priviledge to go spend a few days with the Klinglers in Reno. Lacey called me Saturday to tell me she was having the baby and I arrived about an hour after little Carson was born. It was so fun to get to see them all in the hospital. I got to watch the nurse give him his first bath through the nursery window. Kyle went and got Kadrian and brought her to the hospital to meet her cute little brother. Then I took Kadrian home and we watched a movie and went to bed. She and I got to spend a lot of time together the next few days. She is so much fun and such a hoot! She kept me laughing constantly! We went to the park, went shopping, went swimming, read books, played hide and go seek, and we even got to go play games at Circus Circus with my friend Amber. Kadrian won a little yellow duck and a stuffed bug. It was SO much fun! And I even got to hold Carson a few times. (When I could wrestle him away from his mother) He is such a sweet, cute little boy. It is amazing how much you can love someone you've only known for a few days.

While I was gone, the kids spent time with Daddy until he went to work, then they went to Grandpa Benton's. They had so much fun they didn't even miss me! When I got back all Gabe said to me was, "Wow, you haven't been gone very long!" I guess 5 days isn't long enough.

I am so glad Kyle and Lacey let me come and spend time with their cute family. I really enjoyed it!

Cousin Craze!

We were able to spend a couple of days with Tyler last week. He and Gabe played and played and they even let Raygen and Ridge join in. Tyler found a salamander in our sprinkler box and named it Camo. He wanted to take it home with him to Texas but we didn't think the flight attendants would appreciate that too much. They had sleep overs, went on a horse ride, went swimming at Riverdale Resort, shot Gabe's air soft gun, made their own slushies, and chased the kittens all over creation. Gabe misses him already and can't wait to see him again!

Fourth of July!

We had fun celebrating the fourth of July. We went to the fireworks in Logan with Bracken, Lindsey, Arianna, Grandpa Benton, and Brett. We watched them from Lundstrom park as has become the tradition. Ridge wandered away once and scared me to death but a nice lady was bringing him back to me but the time I went looking. He was crying and saying, "You left me at the park!" I hope the poor kid isn't traumatized. Then the next day we had a barbeque with Brittney, Branson, Brett, and his friend Sara. That night we lit off fireworks in Mom and Dad's driveway and I only burned myself once! As long as the kids got to do sparklers they could have cared less about the rest of it. It was a good day. I only wish that one of these years I will get to spend the 4th with Tyson. . . .now THAT would be fireworks!! heehee

Girl's Camp

Well I have officially survived a week at girl's camp. We went to Aspen Ridge. It is a scout camp up Cub River. It was a lot of fun. The girl's had fun teaching me all sorts of games and I took them on a snipe hunt since I forgot my bear call. We went on a 5 mile hike, rode horses, shot archery and rifles, and stayed up really late each night playing games. It was a lot of work but a blast! I even won the award for best shot at the rifle range. Tyson is very proud. It is good to be home. I love camping but it is good to get home to indoor plumbing and air conditioning. Plus the mosquitoes bit the crap out of me. I used two whole cans of spray and it didn't even slow them down! The kids had fun playing with Aubree and Brianne at Grandpa Benton's house. They have been steadily coming down off of a huge sugar high ever since I got home. I am so blessed to live close to Mom and Dad! I don't know what I would do without them.