The Five Murphys

The Five Murphys

June 15, 2010

Bella and Max's 7th Birthday!


Max and Bella had a spectacular birthday part at Kids Klubhouse on Saturday. The theme: Avatar (although Max's friend Drake informed me that the party was not very Avatar-y). Lots of Max and Bella's friends came to help them celebrate! Bella's Neytiri cake.Max's Jake Sulley cake (sorry, I cut into it before I remembered to take a pic).


Bella singing "Happy Birthday" to herself along with her friends.

And blowing out her candles.

Now it's my silly Max's turn.
It was a great day!
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SAN DIEGO!!!

Wow! Did we ever have fun with Grandma Barbi and our cousins in San Diego. We traveled once again to the Sunshine State (we did Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knott's in March) for the beautiful wedding of Gavin's cousin Alyssa to Steve Swall. While we were there we hit Seaworld and Legoland, as well as the beach and the fantastic pool (with three waterslides) at our hotel. I wish I took more pictures of Seaworld, as it was fantastic. The kids especially liked the "Shamu Splash" cheer they did during the Shamu Show. It was all the more fun because Antie Lisa and our cousins Cierra, Ariana, and Jaysha joined us.

Brighton waited in line, all by herself (the other kids were not all that interested) at Seaworld so she could meet Elmo and Zoe. It was very exciting, and Brighton talked to them for some time before she finally faced the camera and allowed a picture.

Grandma Barbi, Cierra, Ariana, and Bella and I enjoyed going on the Atlantis ride. Max elected to hang out with Dad rather than join us.

The night of the rehearsal dinner the kids took a moment to chill before we joined the rest of the party. Max, Bella and Ari spent a lot of time on their DSs throughout the weekend (an excellent purchase, Santa), and Ari and Max were caught mid-game here. Jaysha is passed out on the bed behind them.

Alyssa and Steve's wedding was stunningly beautiful on Coranado Island. It was the first Jewish ceremony I have been to, complete with Steve breaking the glass at the end, and it was one of the most beautiful weddings I've witnessed. As you can see, the scene itself was breathtaking. Combine that with the joining of two beautiful people who love each other very much, and it was perfect.

Bella, Brighton and Max before the ceremony. They are getting so big!

This picture was actually taken at the end of our day in Legoland - which was a lot of fun for all three of the kids. We were disappointed that our cousins had to leave us to catch their plane at about 4:00, but the kids enjoyed closing the place down.

Before we entered the park, we stopped next to a lego family to say "hi" and take a picture of these beautiful kiddos. Miss Cierra, Ariana, Bella, Brighton, Max, and Jaysha. How lucky we were to get spend some QT with our cousins!

Brighton loved the lego statues througout the park. It was pretty amazing.
This was a pretty cool little fountain. As the kids jumped on the circles, the instruments (made out of legos, of course) would spit water and play music.
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June 14, 2010

Fun at the Ranch!

What a fantastic Memorial Day Weekend we had at the Ranch! We started the trip out with some goofy antics with Auntie Kendall the night we arrived (see collage) as well as roasting smores by the fire. The next day, Max and Bella got to go for a ride with Grandpa in his award-winning 195!

I'm not sure who wins the contest for goofiest picture - but note that Auntie Kendall is in them all!Grandpa's beautiful 195. First time the kids have been up in this plane. In fact, while Max has gone up with Grandpa in the Husky and the Birddog, this was Bella's first trip up with Grandpa. She loved it. In fact, Grandpa said she was less affected by the tubulance than Max, who informed Grandpa it was time to go back when it got a little bumpy.

Brighton and her Grandma.

And the roasting of the smores.

I love this picture of Bella and her daddy.

Grandma Bradley (who turned 87 yesterday!) watched as we decorated the graves of Grandpa Bradley, the Hunsakers, and the Forresters on Sunday. Uncle Alan and Aunt Judy joined us for dinner that night. On Monday, Uncle Bob and Aunt Kay, my cousin Rob and his wife Amy and their adorable little girl Grace joined us for a big barbeque. The kids had a ball running around outside.
Brighton giving Grace some love.
Uncle Ryan playing with Brighton and Carter (the Curnows showed up right before we left, so the kids were able to play with their cousins as well).
"Grandma the Great" and my cousin Rob.
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