Mulligan

It is with an unbelievable heavy heart that I make this post. I am posting out of order, as I have not gotten around to Thanksgiving and Christmas yet, but this post is more important. We lost our beloved Mulligan yesterday afternoon after nine and a-half years. It was a particularly difficult loss for all of us, because we lost her before we were ready. In my heart I know she was ready, or she would not have been acting out in ways that are so opposite to the gentle family member we all knew and loved so much. I also knew she was finding it increasingly difficult to rise from her dog bed to greet us or ask to go for a walk, her stomach was giving her problems and she had terrible lumps all over her beautiful grey body. Still, she had the energy for frequent long walks near our new home under the rims - and loved exploring our new location with Max and Bella - by bike or by foot. We miss those walks now.

Gavin and I brought Mulligan home to our little house at 531 Avenue D Memorial Day weekend of 2002. She was just a pup, and proved to be wickedly intelligent (and also very energetic). She made only one mistake during potty training. The first night she was home, she cried so much that we finally relented and allowed her to sleep with us in our bed. We were relieved when we inherited a used king-sized bed to make more room for the three of us. When we found out we were pregnant with twins, we had no choice but to move her to the floor beside our bed, but there she slept for many years. Speaking of the twins, I'll never forget how gingerly she would navigate those little 5 pounders when we brought them home from the hospital. Told that she would either take to them like a momma or act out, she quickly proved she was going to be their protector. She would lick their foreheads and lay on the floor with them. As they grew, she allowed them to pull on her ears, ride on her back, put ridiculous hats on her head, and otherwise torture her. She never so much as gave them a dirty look. Thanksgiving weekend, she was surrounding by cousins and treated them with the same gentle compassion she has shown her own throughout her life. She loved chasing them in Red Lodge or on walks near our home or just snuggling up to them (and mom and dad) on the floor when we watched t.v.

It is her happy "welcome home" that we now miss. The way her tail would wag in anticipation and welcome, and her mouth would turn into a grin. We miss her "happy dance" when she wanted to be fed or played with (she would dance with her front two paws in rapid succession), her good-morning loves, and the way she would nudge our hands for a scratch when we were sitting on the couch. The kids miss her presence; the fact that she was always with them in the house. They miss walking her and loving on her. I miss my vacuum cleaner - I can't tell you how many times I've been hit with a sudden wave of emotion because there are crumbs on the floor for the first time in 9 1/2 years. How I would now love to be woken up in the middle of the night because she needs to go poddy (or, as it was sometimes, just wanted some midnight loves).

We know Mullie is in a better place - one without any pain. Max asked whether she was with dogs or humans in Heaven - and I think she must be with both. Mullie loved her doggie friends, but she had so much affection and joy for her human friends, I have to think there is someone with her now to scratch behind her ears or kiss her beautiful nose. We love you so much, Mullie, and we miss you. Rest in peace, our beloved friend.

House Update!

Things are progressing nicely at 4205 Aspenridge Lane. We finally have some paint on the outside (although we are not sure about the lighter brown - which appears a little peachy in the direct sunlight), and the extra touches (masonry, shutters, corbels and "supports") should be added this week!

Another view of the front of the house.

My kitchen is incredible! I am so excited about the way the backsplash turned out. It is made of natural slate with copper diamond drops scattered in the field tile. The copper ties in our "brushed bronze" appliances, and we love it! The countertops are in (although hard to see), and they will hopefully add the countertops to the island shortly.

Gavin's bar downstairs is also beautiful. He is very excited to pour some drinks and watch some football downstairs!

Each of the kids picked some wall art that goes with the theme of their room. Max wanted a baseball diamond with the Diamond Backs logo.

Brighton's room features whimsical Gerber Daisies, so she chose that for her walls.

Bella's room features a large wave, which matches her "surf" them (yes, surf theme, in landlocked Montana). We are all getting excited, as our move in date is only 2 weeks away!

4506 Audubon Way

This is the house where it all started. In September 2002, Gavin and I closed on this house at 4506 Audubon Way the day before we left for Italy. We returned from Italy 19 days later, and moved in the very next weekend. We had been married for just over a year. We did not know it yet, but we were pregnant with Max and Bella. Our family literally came to be in this house, with the birth of our beautiful twins in June of 2003, and followed by Brighton in November of 2006.
We have not lived at 4506 Audubon Way for six months, and I intended on writing this tribute in late May immediately after the move. Nonetheless, and despite the passage of time, I can still see every room (and its tranformations during the nine years we lived there). I remember the slow and steady becoming that we enjoyed there - for it was in this house that Gavin and I were given the gift of our children, it was in this house that we became a family. While I am excited for our new house, the house that we have designed and built together, I will always love this first house and appreciate it for what it is, the home where we became "The Murphys".
The day after the movers had packed up and moved all of our belongings, I spent the day alone in the house cleaning. I was amazed at the emotion that washed over me as I went from room to room. When I was done, I stood in the kitchen and felt as if I were in a movie. The memories that we created in this house flipped through my mind. I watched as Max and Bella began to crawl, to walk, and then to talk. I remembered how Brighton used to put on my heels, tennis shoes, slippers or whatever else I kicked off my feet in the kitchen, and how she would toddle around the house in my shoes when she was barely capable of walking in shoes that fit. I remembered Max's love of shields and knives (and saw again his little four-year-old self with several swords stuffed in the belt loops of his jeans - calling himself attackia spiderman) and Bella's insistence on changing into a different princess gown every 10 minutes from the time she was 2 until she turned 5. I remembered how disappointed I was when Brighton did not adopt this obsessive habit when she turned 2, and realizing that she would grow up much faster because she had older siblings. I remember bringing each of my children home to this house, and how we fit so perfectly within its walls for nearly nine years. I stood there, with tears streaming down my face, and remembered all the good things that had come to us in this house, and I felt guilty for being so anxious to leave it for the two years prior to our departure. I felt guilty for not appreciating it for the beautiful and warm home it was and, although we are moving into a bigger and newer and "better" home, this will always be the house where it all began. 4506 Audubon Way is the home where we became a family.
I hope that 4205 Aspenridge Lane is every bit as good to us.

HAPPY FIFTH BIRTHDAY, BRIGHTON!

Hard to believe that our baby is FIVE today! She started the morning by opening this fabulous new outfit from Grandma Barbi! She'll have the first of her birthday cakes today at school, with one to follow tonight and then her big Rupunzel Birthday Party on Saturday with all her friends! We can't believe she is five already. Since she's informed us that she is now too old to cry, or sleep in our bed, we anticipate a bang-up year!

With her friends at school...

HALLOWEEN 2011!

The Evil Jester, Wednesday Adams, and Rupunzel had a great Halloween! After a wonderful party at the Mainwairings we were off to trick-or-treat and see Auntie Gayle and Uncle Jock (a Halloween tradition). We had a wonderful time - and were especially excited when Grandma Barbi got into the spirt and donned her fabulous witch costume!

Brighton's Soccer Season

Brighton finished her first soccer season this year. She played indoor soccer with boys and girls her age and surprised us all with how aggressive she was on the field (four goals her last game!). She had a lot of fun and made some nice friends. Next year, she'll play outdoor soccer at Amend with her brother and sister - she's getting so big!

Soccer Fall 2011!

Max and Bella both finished the soccer season on Saturday. They both had exceptional seasons and we were very proud of their determination and the skills they've developed. Max is #2 in these photos and is quite the offensive player. His coach gave him the award "for never wanting to come out of the game."

Bella also scored her share of goals. She really got aggressive as the season went on, and started enjoying the defensive aspect of the game - the other team found it hard to score when Bella was in there!

Bella and her little friend Kennedy.