Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch and Fall Parties, Oh My!

We've been busy lately exploring and enjoying all that Fall has to offer here in North Carolina.

We enjoyed the corn maize one sunny Saturday afternoon. I think it took us 2 hours to get through which is a LONG time to be staring at corn while you are hopelessly, frustratingly lost! The girls weren't sure what the point was at first but eventually came around.

Misrak had a Fall Party at school and the whole family (including Grandma and Grandpa from FL) got to join her and her classmates for cookie decorating and other fun fall festivities!

Misti and I took a visit to the pumpkin patch yesterday with her preschool class. She loved the wagon ride through the farm, picking out a pumpkin and playing in the corn pit and playground. It really took me back to the early days of Riley's visits to the pumpkin patch with friends!

Grandma and Grandpa Murphy

We had a great weekend in the cooooool weather this past weekend with Grandma and Grandpa Murphy! They had come up from Florida for the weekend to enjoy some fall festivities and to spend some time with their grandchildren! The girls were so excited to sing




Happy Birthday to Grandpa and to have cake! We traveled on Saturday to Blowing Rock. While we were there it was SO cold that it even spitted some snow on us! Wasn't enough for the girls to even notice but it still came down!

It's all about the hair........YAY! We did it!

Well, after a month of thinking about it and preparing myself, I finally took the plunge into the huge unknown world of hair! My friend Carmen gave me some tips and sent me on my way. Oh boy! My first attempt was with Mist's hair which is interestingly very soft and much like my own but very curly. I couldn't believe it, but she sat very still for about 45 minutes! It turned out okay and looked pretty cute (She loved it!) but in about 8 hours it was coming out all over the place. I had to take it out the next morning so I'm not sure 45 minutes was worth it if I couldn't leave it in for at least a day or so!

Next attempt....Misrak, who has enough hair to give to five children! I knew it would be tough but I felt up to the challenge. She was SO happy that I was going to try. I didn't braid her whole head this time. I thought I would try just a few this time to see how hard it would be. It turned out great and she was very pleased! Yay! I am so psyched!

Finding my way....

It is interesting being a new Mom of three. In some ways, I think this is really easy and in some ways it is REALLY hard. The girls are not infants and don't need me for every thing they do but this is the very thing I have the complaint about! They do not NEED ME for every thing they do! I really enjoy the alone time that I get with Misti. She isn't in school as long or as many days as Riley and Misrak. She still NEEDs me for a lot of things and it makes me reminisce about the early days with Riley. I think I am grieving that lost time with Misrak. I didn't get to bond with her in her early years and it makes it harder for me to bond with her now. I know, I know....it has only been a month! It just comes easier with Misti because she needs me.

Don't get me wrong, Misrak is SWEET SWEET SWEET! She tells me a hundred times a day that she loves me AND she writes it on little slips of paper. The latest one says "mam and DaD anD riley and Misti I Love you Thanks so maTch I Love you" complete with hearts of course! And another one says "Mam. I Love you Thank you. Fou clothes and play and Book. MaM I Love you" ......how cute and sweet is that??? Her eyes are always watching me to see if I am pleased with her. She is always watching to see if there is a way she can be useful. She loves to help by sweeping or tidying up, opening doors for me or carrying my purse. I am so blessed!

I am praying today for ways that Misrak and I can bond and so I do not feel distant or estranged from her. I know she wants it badly, too.

Take a Hike

One of our favorite past times is hiking. We have always just loved getting out and enjoying cool mountain air, beautiful views and just being together! The kids had a day off from school on Friday and we decided we needed to take a hike on South Mountain, NC! The girls had never been on a Murphy hike so we were a bit worried they would not be up for the challenge but they SO rose to the occasion. Here are pics to prove it! Afterwards, we had some fabulous homemade ice cream at Redbone Willy's. A day to remember!