Christmas Morning

Christmas Eve Angels

Louise goes to church.

Even Olivia finds her behavior questionable.

Smooch!

Finn, Seamie and their friend Jane were the caboose of the Christmas procession at Christmas Eve mass. It was adorable (and a little nerve wracking because Seamus was holding an open flame.)

Christmas Collage

Saoirse is loving our door of Christmas cards.

She removes them on a regular basis and carries photos around saying "Bee Bee " (baby) and Whee-veey (Livy).

Sometime she just stares and the door counting "Bee Bee's".

We are anxiously awaiting for Afton's photo to arrive in our mailbox.

A Midwest Boy

A poor hill-less boy trying to sled on his driveway.

He was entertained for hours none the less.

Lou's Lair

Finn, Seamie and I made a "hide out" for Louise in her extra closet.

They like it more than she does, but she'll grow into it.

Please note the blue pillow in the background that Eleanor gave to Saoirse for Christmas. It has "Girls Rule" embroidered on it. :)

Hip Hip Hooray for Christmas Vacation

Fire fighting Fuzz

Reenacting his Halloween costume.

That's T.

Spray Art

Little kids on a big couch.

Christmas Celebration No. 1 of 3

Click here to view these pictures larger

Forgetful Frosty

Nasty Babies

Saoirse and Seamus might need their own note from Santa...

The Big Cheese

Finn is The Big Cheese this week at school.  He has been not so patiently waiting for his turn to come.  He filled in this poster that included pictures of his family, his favorite animal (a shark), his favorite book (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs), his favorite movie (no need to tell you that one) and his favorite trip (Lake Geneva, WI).

He gets to bring a toy to school, read his favorite book out loud, wear an apron that says "I'm the Big Cheese" and sit on a beanbag at rug time.  Truly, he is the Big Cheese.

Chatty Cathy

For the record -- she has catsup on her face and is attempting to sing ABC then, "Hi Grandma", "Hi Pap".  

Heat Wave

The temperature finally rose out of the teens today!

Finn and Seamus, ever resourceful with powder-like snow, opted for a "snow face" instead of a snowman.

All Wet

Getting three kids in the bathtub is hard work.  Running around to get the towels, getting everyone's clothes off, locating Seamus, getting the toys in the tub, finding the soap -- what it is doing under my bed?  Sometimes little things (like Saoirse) can go unnoticed...

Waiting for Dada

Peering out the door.

Spotted him!  Race to the dining room window for a better view.

Knock!  Knock!  Do you see me?

I'll get the door for you.

And so the torturing of the tree begins...

It snowed last night!

We are wondering why no one is playing in it at 6:15 AM?  Hmm.

Seamus sports Ellen O'Mahoney's fashionable hat.  

Tree Trimming

The Countdown Is On

The countdown for Santa is on.  We've read Twas the Night Before Christmas  as well as It's Christmas, David over and over again.  David features the star characters behind so that is of particular interest....as well as the fact that David writes his name in pee in the snow.  Very entertaining to the males among us.

Finn is quite concerned about being on the naughty list.  All the talk is working for now!  

Let It Snow

Big Girl

Baby Girl is healthy as an ox...

Saoirse's stats:

26 lbs even (this is the second time in a row she was an even weight...she is very precise.)

33 1/4 inches (90 percentile - long and lean like all of her aunts)

and an extra large bean (just like Seamus)

Banana Bread

We made Banana Bread with your bananas.

While Seamus did inhale a loaf at your house just last week, he would have no parts of this bread.  

No problem.  I'll eat the whole thing.  As usual.

Totally Pooped

Seamie after a week of turkey, travel and good times!

Thank you Grandma and Pap -- we had a great time.

Buddies

Seamus and Saoirse are officially buddies....as long as Finn is not home.  They play together quite nicely as is evidenced by this fine lego fire house that Saoirse was permitted to participate in building.

Seamie definitely takes the role of "older brother" quite seriously as he "shows" her exactly how to construct the house.  There is little room for the creativity of others when building with Seamus.  None the less, she lets him take the lead....until he tries to take the lego cow and then its all over.

Happy Anniversary

Hope you had a nice day!

We also forgot to wish ourselves a Happy 100th Post yesterday.  Yeah for the murraychildren blog!

Soup For You

Fuzz loves soup.  She now insist on eating all soup with a large spoon, no bib -- and straight out of the bowl (instead of me giving her a little but on her plate.)  Needless to say, it's a bit of a messy adventure.

Cheer Cheer for Our Ogden School

Finn was very disappointed to learn that his school fight song was the same tune as the Stink Rats fight song.  You can tell his sadness by his somber tone ...

Week In Review

Sorry, Grandma.  Busy week.  Here is what we did!

Played with Livy.

Watered plants at the Garfield Park Conservatory.

Made a squirrel at school and learned some sort of "brown squirrel" 

song that we shout out every once in a while. Seamus requested that I take this picture for you.

"Just squirrel.  No me."

Spent a rainy Saturday afternoon watching cooking shows and rooting against the "Stink Rats".

We also cheered for Iowa because they "are dressed like the Steelers."

Enjoyed "girls dinner" with Mom.  

Small boys are sleeping over at Ellie and B's.

Big Boys are out on the town.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip (or Raisin, If You Don't Like Chocolate...)

There are probably very few people out there who don't like chocolate, however, you may substitute...if Finn is coming to your house.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip (or raisin) Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon milk

1 tablespoon vanilla paste (extract will work just fine)

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips or raisins

Method

1. Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, and egg. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt.
2. Dissolve the baking soda with the milk and stir in. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well.
3. Add vanilla and chocolate chips.
4. Drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for approximately 10 minutes or until lightly brown and firm. 

The Shirtless Wonder

Saoirse took her shirt off no less that 17 times today.  

She thought she was pretty darn funny.

We discussed that this type of behavior will be unacceptable in the next few years so she should get it all out while she can.