Wednesday, August 12, 2009

August Girls Night

Who doesn't love a girl's night? August was our Taco / Sing-star night. We, of course, had a total blast (with our group, we always do!) Thank you Cristin for offering your home for us to raise havoc in. Thanks Jaime for playing photographer.

The Crew: Taylor, Tammy, Michelle, Me, Cristin



Beautiful Bella! (Thanks for entertaining my kids!)

Aunty Michelle and Carissa, beautiful blue eyes

Why do we always revert to the gang sign?

Cristin!

Taylor, get up and sing!

Woooooowww... Tammy took on Brittany Spears.




Kasey's idea of dancing is me holding him and jumping up and down. I'll take it for a few more years!

Gavin telling me, "Mom, the worst part about these girl's nights is when the moms all start dancing. My eyes! My eyes!"

Umm, Michelle performing her rendition of the chicken dance. I suppose it's the only move she can actually do without her neck brace!

Oh my, that move"s gonna hurt!








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Sunday, August 9, 2009

A Surprise Party for Jason

Taylor decided to throw a surprise birthday party for Jason on Saturday, the 8th of August. Seeing as her cooking skills are not much better than my 6th grader (Sorry Taylor, it's true), I was enlisted to be the party planner for the day. At about 5 o'clock, we didn't think that we were going to bring it all together and pull it all off. However, the party was a complete and total success. I enjoyed doing all the cooking, and was ecstatic that everyone was thrilled with the spread (minus Ben, someone should have warned me that he didn't eat cream cheese, my main cuisine!)

The Birthday Boy.


The Birthday Couple.


Stephanie and Me (The one girl that actually makes me look short)


Mike took over being paparazzi for the night.



...and more paparazzi...


We were going for the "pouty" look that Jaime insisted on. Obviously, she's great at it, Michelle and I have some practicing to do! ha


...and more paparazzi...


Blurry, but I'm having a great hair moment, so I had to post!


Still surprised about the multitude of people popping out of his garage.


Taylor absolutely thrilled that we were able to successfully pull off the surprise.



Me prepping the "bobs"



The guys grilling the "bobs"


The ones that started the group years ago


Just me


The Newlyweds


Taylor scrapping the sausage dip bowl


Michelle's story must have been intriguing


Wow! Riveting conversation, obviously


Jason eating veggies?!


Nick and Cristin, the party bailers


They're definitely next in the marriage pool


Michelle's neck brace will never get old!


Chip, Is that East side or West side?


The Clan, back together again!


I did learn something new at this party. I found out that being single in a group of coupled up people makes one a "leper". There were multiple activities talked about that I was told I wasn't invited to because of my single status, "couples only" parties. I was really trying to not take offense to the gesture, and wondering when I was coupled up, if I choose to not invite the single people to my functions. Is it wrong to be single in a group of coupled up friends? Is my company less rewarding or gratifying because I don't have someone on my arm? I know, I probably shouldn't be offended by this new discovery. Being the third wheel for so long with most of my friends, I suppose I thought that my marital status was acceptable to them all. Oh well, in the great words of Carrie Bradshaw, "I decided that I wasn't going to let ...my friends... stop me from being who I was; single and fabulous exclamation point!"
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Saturday, August 1, 2009

Happy 36th Birthday Corey!

Today would have been my brother Corey's 36th birthday. (I have more thoughts about this, but am having a difficult time placing them into words. For now I'm posting up a few of my favorite pics of my brother, with thoughts and words to follow)


Corey and me when I was an infant


The Old Fam: Me, My Mom, My Dad, My Sister Melony, and Corey


Corey and me at Knott's Berry Farm


The Murphy Clan:
Aunt Debbie and Uncle Glen w/ Cousin Amber, Grandma and Grandpa Murphy, Corey, Me and Daddy.


Corey's 14th Birthday


The Final Photo. This picture was taken just a few weeks before the accident that took his short life.

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I intend to help my children live a longer life than me.

Tom's Farms - Aug 2008

Tom's Farms - Aug 2008