Babies, Babies, Babies

Eliza is obsessed with babies and putting them "night-night".  She spends a lot of her day making sure they are snugly under blankets.  It is so cute.  She says, "Night-night, baby" and sings them "Rock-a-Bye-Baby".

 She lays down with them 

 Adjusts the blankies

 Readjusts the blankies

 Gets them a lovie

Picks it all up to move to a different location...repeat

Birthday Parties!

Now that Olivia is in Pre-K with 16 kids, it seems almost every weekend we have a fun birthday party to attend.  This one had a carrousel and a petting zoo!

 My little cow girl :)

 Olivia with one of her closest friends, Madison

 Checking out the animals

 Petting the pony

 Eliza with the birthday girl, Hannah, Madison's sister

Olivia was serious about the pinata

Houston Zoo

We had a blast at the zoo a couple weeks ago.  I am so happy to be living back in Houston with so much access to so many fun things for the kids to do.  We got a membership and can't wait to go again and again this spring.  It felt like spring this day in January though, another reason I am loving being back home.

 Playing the drums on our way into "Africa"

 Checking out the rhinos with Aunt Carrie

 The new giraffe/ zebra area is super cool

 Feeding the giraffes

You get 3 pieces of lettuce to feed the giraffes.  Olivia did the first two and decided Eliza could do the last one (not out of being a nice sister, but out of fear!).  Eliza turned around and this was right in her face going after the lettuce in her hand.

 It really startled her and her face was priceless!

 My babes

 Getting into waving to Aunt Carrie

 Loving it!

 Olivia, the prairie dog

 Into the children's petting zoo

 

Brushing the goat

 Mama having to chase fearless Eliza up the big kid playground

Cheese!

Happy 4 1/2, Olivia!!

Because Olivia's birthday is during the summer, I asked her teacher if I could bring cupcakes up for her half birthday.  Olivia was THRILLED her half birthday fell on pajama day at school.  Of course, the cupcakes we got were her favorite, chocolate.  She loved picking them out and was so proud to bring them to school.

 We decided to make a whole day long celebration of her half birthday.  I ran up to the American Girl Store and got her doll, Emily, her corresponding pajamas and dog.  She was one happy girl (then proceeded to tell me all of the things of Emily's we still didn't have....)

Eliza Couch Diving

She is truly our fearless monkey....

Olivia's New Year's Resolution

Olivia's teacher asked all of the children what their New Year's resolutions were.  Olivia's was "to give my Mom more kisses".  Hilarious!  Olivia is not known to be shy about giving out kisses (and I am more than happy to receive them all), so I am not sure where this one came from. The other kids' were more traditional resolutions: "clean up my toys", "help my little brother more", "learn how to read". :)

Family Fun

Ducky, Pong Pong and Uncle Matt came over to watch a Texans game.

 Love these sweet reading together photos.

 

 Uncle Matt playing with Eliza just the way she likes it :)

 Matt's friend that came over was playing with the features on my camera and came up with these.

Christmas Continues!

 

 The day after Christmas, Uncle Jimmy, Aunt Belinda, and my cousin Ian drove down from Austin to spend the day with us.  More Murphy Christmas!  I feel so very lucky to have such an amazing and loving family.  They brought the girls some really awesome doll furniture for Olivia's doll house.  Awesome Aunt Belinda literally sat on the floor for 6 hours straight playing with the girls.  Anytime Aunt Belinda would get up for even three minutes, Olivia would come up to me and say, "Where did Aunt Belinda go?  I wanna keep playing with her!".  It was so cute and sweet.  The next day, Olivia said she was ready for Aunt Belinda to come back and have a play date with her again :)

 Eliza and Papa Bill

So Sweet!

 Cousin Ian setting up the car track with Olivia