Double digits! It was strange to put a 10 on Canton’s birthday brownies.

Thanks to Poppy, Grandma, and Beth for

Adleigh was soooooo excited to come down this morning and see her decorations! She kept saying “I’m three! I’m three!”

We are thankful we had Poppy, Grandma, Nanny, and Rhonda here to celebrate! We got to FaceTime with Becky and Ben!

Adleigh kept asking and asking about her presents so we started with presents, then lunch, then cake.

Adleigh loved all her presents! All three of them had a great time playing with all the PJ mask stuff. Liberty was a huge help with handing out presents. Adleigh would say “I already have this” a lot if any present resembled something she already had. We all got a pretty good laugh out of it.

Liberty eagerly anticipated the cake! Well, icing I should say 🙂 No on enjoys cake more than Liberty! This one was pretty tricky to make with tinting the fondant and getting the faces just right. But she seemed pretty happy!

A great day with our 3 yr old peanut! Can’t wait to see how her adventure continues!

5 on the 4th!

We had a great day celebrating Liberty’s birthday!

She requested an owl cake which I made. She seemed pretty happy with it. She was thrilled with all her gifts! Becky sent a mermaid bag and a shirt with her initials on it. Five dollars and an owl from pap were a big hit! Lots of clothes from Rhonda as well as

We celebrated Canton turning 9 today! Nanny and Rhonda were here and Poppy and Grandma came down!

Being Canton, he didn’t want a cake, so we feasted on brownies and homemade vanilla ice cream.

It was a great day! Thanks everyone!

Dear Canton,

NINE! You are NINE!

Your birthday falls on Mother’s Day this year, which hasn’t happened before.  Seems appropriate the first time it is on Mother’s Day is your last year of single digits!

I know it sounds cliche, but these years are really going too fast. I remember the moment the doctor laid you on my chest. I remember the days of colic and doubting my ability. I remember your constant toddler talk and building Thomas the Train tracks. I remember when the three of us became four, and then five. There is more and more to remember, some of the daily memories get more fuzzy, but I hope you never forget how loved you are.

You have found a lot of yourself in this past year.  You entered third grade, a big kid now. You started doing even more complicated math in your head and reading whatever you could get your hands on. Your passion for marine biology has grown and you have taken up the theatre.

It has been so exciting to watch you come alive on stage. You love to strike up a conversation with anyone, now you are delighting audiences with your laugh. You led Dandelion Wine with the first line of the play, a line Mr. Lyles wrote especially for you! In Anne of Green Gables your job was to be a laughing school boy, and you nailed the part with that special laugh of yours! You’ve also starting taking acting classes with Mr. B and happily sing and dance Steppin Time all hours of the day.  May you always have a song in your heart and a skip in your step.

I was standing in the driveway the other day watching you play with your sisters and it hit me, stabbed my heart really, we are halfway through our time with you living at home. It has gone so fast. Standing there, I could envision you changing from the baby who would only go to mom to the young man who talks to anyone! I reminded myself not to get so frustrated with your messy room, but to think of how much I’ll miss every corner being full of something you created when it’s empty.

Continue to allow your sensitivity to flourish. Sensitivity is brave. You let your feelings be known and you look out for others. Always be brave enough to show the world who you are. People may forget what you say, but they never forget how you make them feel. In a world where you can be anything, be kind. As Aesop said, No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. And from your big, beautiful brown eyes, look for good in others.

You light up a room when you enter.  You always have a funny story or interesting questions or facts.  Your teacher, Mrs. G, said you give the best hugs of anyone ever. May you always hug someone who needs it and spread love everywhere you go.

I love to watch you roll around with Adleigh or make something with Liberty.  Lou will be off to school next year, she needs her big brother helping her find her own way. You also have your share of fights, but love always gives you another chance, you will always be loved and we will always be ready for your to own up to mistakes and try again. You are a good role model for choosing good friends and being safe and respectful. I love the way you love your sisters. Continue to give generously and protect your sisters. Family is not an important thing, it is everything.

You continue to grow and amaze me each day. You are kind, capable, funny, inquisitive, beautiful, soulful, compassionate young man. Never change the way you see the world and the way it makes you feel.

I love you are the boy that still holds my hand to cross a parking lot, and even though you now start to let go when we safely cross and I feel you slipping away as you get older, you will always hold my heart.

You are my sunshine!

I LOVE YOU!

Love,

Mom

He’s growing up!

Happy Birthday Canton!

Squid Cake!

May 13, 2009–the day our lives forever changed

Age 1

Age 2

Age 3

Age 4

Age 5

Age 6

Age 7

Last Day Being 7:

Dear Canton,

EIGHT?!?  How did that happen?  You are officially a kid now, not a big little kid, but a straight up kid. I feel like now we are raising you for the big moments of your teen years and the adult you will be, but I will always miss the little version of you.

You started our little Murphy Family!  This past year we have watched you grow taller, grow braver, lose teeth, gain new interests, and take on the challenges of the world.

You started your year still loving Mythbusters, astronomy,  and Star Wars, but your love of marine biology and art has blossomed.  You moved from T-ball to machine pitch and took up interest in sewing, even making your own whale stuffed animal!  My heart melts when I watch you do something you love.

One thing that hasn’t changed, how much you love family, especially your sisters.  Adleigh has been all over the place this year, she’s a mover and a shaker, but you have been right along side her, encouraging her and watching out for her.  You entertain and teach Liberty and have had many great adventures together!  When we moved here your old first grade class made you a book and the constant theme throughout (besides how much they would miss their cool friend) is how much you love your family.  You are not immune to sibling squabbles, but there is no doubting how much you love your sisters.  May you always carry that love and priority in your heart.  Family first!

Always nurture kindness.  You are a sensitive soul.  You love deeply, feel deeply, and hurt deeply.  Protect your heart but treat others kindly.  I love how you will start up a conversation with anyone.  Continue to see the best in people, share what you have and what you know, and stand up for the little guy (make “good trouble”).

Follow your Passion.  One of my favorite things about you is how you laugh with your whole face.  You also can spend hours reading or making creations on subjects that are important to you (marine biology).  Since you were a baby sleep has never been important to you, you are always going 186,000 miles per second (see what I did there 🙂 ). May you always live with the same zest.

We joke sometimes how Liberty, maybe even Adleigh, will move out before you do, and how you will live next door to us when you grow up, but I agree with you; I want to live with you forever too.

The tides are turning, I can feel it.  I love when you come up and give me a hug when I’m not expecting it.  You still ask to snuggle at night and sing our song, thankfully you haven’t retreated to your room slamming the door (yet).  You still spend most of your time downstairs with us, but you are going to the office alone to work more and more, always know we will be here for you, even if you don’t want to be in the same room as us.

It is my honor to be your mom and I’m so glad that I have had to chance to help shape you from a sweet and inquisitive baby to the young man you are becoming. Even if I don’t get to hold your hand as much anymore, you will always hold my heart in your hand, no matter how big it gets.