Meet The Murrays

Happy New Year!

We celebrated New Year's Eve with my side of the family. There was lots of food, games, laughing, and fun! We wish all of you a very happy new year!

Christmas 2015

What a wonderful Christmas we have had! We enjoyed decorating our home right after Thanksgiving.

Claire made and decorated cookies with her little cousins.

Claire and I went to see Miracle on 34th Street and had a wonderful time together.

We made a quick trip to Asheville to Grove Park Inn. The National Gingerbread Competition was over, but we still got to see the amazing submissions.

We always sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and have a birthday cake.

Christmas Eve with my side of the family.

Our family sends balloons to my dad in heaven every Christmas Eve. This is our 6th Christmas without him, and it really never gets easier. Oh, what it must be like to celebrate Christmas with Jesus!

Our cookies and carrots for Santa and his reindeer.

The annual "waiting on the stairs" on Christmas morning.

Reading the Christmas story from the Bible

Our traditional Christmas morning breakfast

Celebrating with Brian's side of the family on Christmas afternoon

It's a "bowhawk"!

The day after Christmas, our little cousin Emma Jo came to play.

We made one last trip to Dollywood for the year!

We are so thankful that Jesus was born and then died (& rose again) for us! Our family had an absolutely fabulous Christmas. We are so blessed!

Halloween 2015

We started our Halloween morning with a special breakfast.

Parker and Claire enjoyed their tradition of carving a jack-o-lantern. Even the messy part!

Ready to head out and get some candy!

After trick-or-treating, we always watch It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Fall Break 2015

We enjoyed an exciting trip to Chattanooga and Atlanta on Fall Break. In Chattanooga, we visited the choo-choo, the Moon Pie general store, and the bridge, museum, and park downtown.

In Atlanta, we loved the Georgia Aquarium. The whale sharks are so amazing and humongous. We also loved The Varisty, Underground Atlanta, and the American Girl store.

It was nice to have a few days away as a family!

Claire's 10th Birthday Interview

Every year on their birthday, I ask Parker and Claire to answer the same set of questions. I love looking back through the years at how their answers change and sometimes stay the same. Here is Claire's interview on her 10th birthday:

1. What is your favorite color? light cyan
2. Who is your best friend? Olivia
3. What is your favorite thing to do? go outside and play with friends
4. What is your favorite food? Kraft macaroni and cheese
5. What do you like to do with your family? watch movies
6. What is your favorite toy? Easy Bake Oven
7. What do you want to be when you grow up? Broadway actress
8. What makes you happy? when I make other people happy, money, acting
9. What makes you sad? when I'm embarrassed
10. What is your favorite show to watch? Victorious
11. What is your favorite book? Charlotte's Web
12. What do you love to learn about? Social Studies
13. Where do you like to go? New York City
14. What do you think about before you fall asleep? acting
15. If you could meet someone famous who would it be? Ariana Grande
16. What is something you are really good at? acting and singing
17. What is something new you'd like to try? horseback riding
18. What is your favorite song to sing? Focus, Les Mis songs
19. What is your favorite movie? Les Mis
20. What game do you like to play? basketball, Episode

Claire's 10th Birthday

Our beautiful girl turned ten on October 10th! She celebrated with a swim party with several friends. We are so thankful for her life. She is such a blessing to our family, and I'm so grateful to be her mama.