Kate is 18 months

Kate is 18 months today. She is becoming a little lady and we love her so much! Lately, she wants to do everything we are doing. If we brush our teeth, she has to brush her teeth. If I put lotion on, she wants lotion on. If any child changes clothes, she wants to change her clothes. She tries to do all the things her big sister and brother are doing, even though she can't quite do them all.

Kate started taking steps about three weeks ago. FINALLY! I was at a bridal shower one evening and Vance sent me a video where she stood up and took three or four steps. We were so proud of her. Most of this summer she has crawled on the grass, dirty pavement, ground, etc. She wore holes in most of her jeans.  So we are so excited she has started to walk and be more independent. It is still easier for her to crawl, but she now walks longer distances and her confidence has grown.

All About Kate:

1. Her laugh has a little bit of a growl in it:)
2. Sleeps 12 hours each night, naps 1-2 hours each afternoon. It's wonderful.
3. Says mama, dada, more, all done, water, ball, dog, go, diaper,  etc. Yesterday she tried to mimic "Batman" at the dinner table.
4. Loves dogs! She can spot them before any of us and gets really excited. She has to pet them.
5. Sometimes tells us when she wants a diaper change.
6. Blows kisses and waves.
7. Most attached to mom. Usually wants to be held my mom.
8. Enjoys looking at books and singing songs.
9. Asks to go on her swing in the backyard by saying "Weeeeee"
10. Eats almost anything, although she's starting to get more opinionated.
11. Gets excited and jumps up and down for family prayers at night.
12. Often wants to pick out her own clothes. It doesn't matter what she picks, as long as she gets to wear what she chose.
13. She is in a VERY messy stage. Food several feet in all directions on the floor, wipes her sticky hands in her hair at every meal and snack. It is a lot of work, but she's pretty cute, so it's ok.

December 2016

After church on a Sunday

Lincoln wanted to write his testimony down, what he knows to be true.  

It snowed a lot, while Vance was in India for a week. We had two big snowfalls. The first was deep enough that even our minivan couldn't get up our driveway after church. So I parked in front of our home, opened the garage and carried each child into the house, one by one. It was quite an adventure. The LeSueurs, our good friends, have four sons. They all came over and shoveled. It was such a blessing! I would have had to wait until Kate was fast asleep, and had the kids help me, and it would have taken forever by myself.

Lincoln got to take home his class bear for a few days in December. He was thrilled.

Lincoln's "All About Me" poster for his kindergarten class. It hung up for a couple of weeks.

November 2016

Lincoln's New Year's Eve sign, just to be prepared!

Sometimes I give my children electronic devices to make it easier for me! This day, I was making dinner. Lauren didn't seem to last long. She fell asleep right on the floor. I knew she was tired, but not this tired.

My mom came for Lauren's birthday weekend! We went to Nickelodeon Universe at the Mall of America and enjoyed the rides. My parents are really good about being a part of special days in their lives. 

Three monkeys laying in a bed

Aunt Carrie, Uncle Joe, and our cousins from Georgia sent Lauren this mermaid blanket for her birthday. To say she was pleased is an understatement. I had been looking at getting one for her for a long time, but hadn't. It was a perfect gift. She loves to pretend her legs are a mermaid tail:)

Kate has had a growth on her head that I first noticed right after birth. It was tiny, but continued to grow. After several months of it not disappearing, her pediatrician referred her to a craniofacial specialist. He was pretty sure it was a dermoid cyst, which is not that uncommon. Her surgery wasn't until 1 or 2 pm, so she was SO HUNGRY AND THIRSTY. She was a little hesitant with her new surroundings, but she did great. Above is her waiting for her surgery.

Waiting and waiting

Kate was distracted by the super cool and new (to her) toys. 

I was away from her for about an hour. It was a generally minor surgery, but handing Kate over to strangers was hard. I knew she was safe, and the only thing I could do from pacing and fidgeting was turn on some comedy skits on youtube to enjoy, which was my perfect distraction. When she woke up, she cried and cried, and she of course refused a bottle from the nurses as usual. They came and got me soon after and we were so happy to be reunited. She was obviously sleepy for a while. Now her cyst is completely gone and she has a little scar as a badge of honor.

This is the second year we attended Christkindlsmarkt in Excelsior during Thanksgiving weekend. My kids were less than amused by the real reindeer, but we still got a photo of them standing by him.

On the trolley ride! Last year Santa Clause was on the trolley ride. This year it was Belle from Beauty and the Beast, which sufficed. This trolley is beautifully decorated and carries some strong history. It was originally built in the early 1900s (1909?) and recently restored.

While Lincoln is at school, it is great to have time with just the girls. But we miss him and Vance so!

October 2016

Because we rented our home for the Ryder Cup, we stayed with my parents for the week. After church, Lincoln and Lauren rode home with my parents. They were waiting for us in the driveway, half way through the roof. This was probably their first time experiencing a sunroof. They thought it was so funny!

Art time on Mondays with my sweet Lauren. It's something we enjoy on non preschool days.

One thing I love about Lauren is her endurance. She can walk and walk, go on long hikes, and never complains. She just keeps going, even if big brother Lincoln asks to stop, or for a ride in the stroller. 

Vance and I went on a fun date golfing and then shopping at Target. All his idea!

Years ago we bought our home through Edina Realty. Each year, we get invited to a big Halloween festival with lots of games to play, bouncy house, and more. Plus, they get to pick out a huge pumpkin.

They laughed and laughed while playing "horsie."

Three of our greatest blessings. We love these children so much. I'll take the rough days with the great days. All the laundry, Cheerios and cracker bits on the floor, sticky messes, tantrums, bruises, band aids, endless meals to cook, dishes to clean, are all worth it. Our children bring us so much joy! I love Lauren's high, little voice, and her giggle. Kate has more of a grunting, growling laugh right now. I love Lincoln's nonstop creativity and motivation. He made a New Year's Eve sign in October, and writes love notes to Vance and I regularly. 

Lincoln asked one evening to make dinner ALL BY HIMSELF. So he thinks he did, although I helped a little. He decided on a vegetable, and he picked frozen peas, found a dish and heated them in the microwave. He picked some pineapple also, and for the main course.....homemade biscuits! He measured all the ingredients, mixed, and rolled them almost all by himself. He turned the oven on, put them in, and took them out. I was so proud of him.

Halloween 2016. Lauren was a ladybug (wearing this costume for three years in a row), but this year finally branched out and was a princess. She dressed up as Cinderella. At our ward's Halloween party, the kids had a costume parade in the gym and walked around all the tables a few times. All of the sudden, as she passed us, she was crying so we pulled her from the parade. She said she lost her shoe! Our very own Cinderella lost her golden shoe. We found it pretty quickly:)

These kids worked hard getting all this candy. Vance said when he was a child, they'd pour all their trick or treating candy on a cookie sheet when they returned home, so that's what we do. I am in awe again this year with the incredible amount of candy and chocolate they received.

September 2016

Frog Pond Trail near my parent's home

Finished our hike around the pond. So many great memories on or around the water here growing up.

After church one Sunday, found the kids on top of one of the cars. 

Lauren had been there for every single drop off and pick up for Lincoln's two years of preschool. It was finally her turn to start. Here she is on her first day of preschool!

It was a fun summer with all three kids home, but I was really ready for a routine. So we :)welcomed kindergarten and preschool readily:) 

Just me and my baby girl Kate while the two older kids are at school.

We can take a shortcut on this trail from our house to the park, instead of going on the sidewalks. We love beautiful September days.

She loved the swing, but still seemed a bit too small for it.

Lauren dresses herself, which is a blessing, but it is fun to see what combinations she wears. This particular morning her outfit took my mind straight back to the late 1980s/early 1990's. Am I right? Rarely will I ever make my child change. Love her so much!

For a few weeks, all his homework was titled Mr. Lincoln Murray, or Mr. Lincoln Vance Murray. 

Lincoln before his first official race. He was SO EXCITED. 

He ran a 1 mile kids race. 

He ran one mile in 8:06. I was so surprised! The first picture I took he wasn't smiling, because he was so tired. But he recovered quickly. I have great memories running races with my dad growing up, so I loved the feeling of sharing the same experience with my own son.

Kate wearing a dress my mom made for my younger sister, Kelsey, decades ago.

Kate wearing the dress she made for me over 33 years ago!!

The Ryder Cup came to Chaska. Of all the places in the world, it came to our town. We rented our home out for the week, but before we left had to check it out. Vance is an occasional golfer, although he would like to go more often. He was in heaven here.

One of our friends gave us a princess dress they have outgrown. Lauren loved it and said "I'm really a true princess!" I am working on convincing her she IS a true princess, even without the dress.