The Murray household has been very busy for the last few weeks. It all kicked off with Christmas and our traditional trip all over Chester & Delaware Counties. Christmas Eve was a nice relaxing time during the day. We just took our time lounging around the house and then got the boys down for early naps so we could get them up and dressed and get to Lansdowne for the Murray Family get-together at Dave's grandparents' house. It's always such a nice time getting together with so much family. It certainly was crowded this year, with almost everyone there. Granddad even joked that maybe we should rent a hall next year! Something very special is that Dave's Mom-Mom made ceramic piggy banks for all the little kids. We're waiting for Matt's & Jack's to have their names put on them, and can't wait to have such a special memento from their great-grandmother.
After the festivities in Lansdowne, we headed back to Coatesville to attend church. It was incredible to look around and see that when we're all there, we take up an entire pew now! I asked my mom if she remembered when there were just four of us sitting there together on Christmas Eve. It's so exciting to see how our family keeps growing.
Following church, we headed home to go through our Christmas Eve traditions before heading to bed. Every year, I read The Night Before Chrismas to Matt, and now to Jack, too. It's a copy identical to the one my mom read to my sisters and me every Christmas Eve growing up. Then we put Baby Jesus in the manger, hang up the stockings, set out milk and cookies for Santa, and ring the reindeer bells on the front door so the reindeer know where to find us.
After the festivities in Lansdowne, we headed back to Coatesville to attend church. It was incredible to look around and see that when we're all there, we take up an entire pew now! I asked my mom if she remembered when there were just four of us sitting there together on Christmas Eve. It's so exciting to see how our family keeps growing.
Following church, we headed home to go through our Christmas Eve traditions before heading to bed. Every year, I read The Night Before Chrismas to Matt, and now to Jack, too. It's a copy identical to the one my mom read to my sisters and me every Christmas Eve growing up. Then we put Baby Jesus in the manger, hang up the stockings, set out milk and cookies for Santa, and ring the reindeer bells on the front door so the reindeer know where to find us.
Reading "The Night Before Christmas"
Putting Baby Jesus in the manger
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
Setting out milk & cookies for Santa
Ringing the sleigh bells so the reindeer know where to find us
Christmas morning I was up first (just the same as when I was a kid!) and jumped out of bed the second I heard Matt stir. I didn't get a picture of his face when he came down the steps, but I've got a great video of it. Unfortunately, it's not digital so I can't upload it. But he came down the stairs, said, "Oh, WOW!" and took off running for the new toys that Santa brought.
Matt at the top of the stairs (holding Jack's teddy bear), waiting to come down and see if Santa was here
Matt's pile from Santa
Jack's pile from Santa
Trying out his new Spiderman scooter
Checking out all the gear in his new tent
It doesn't look like it here, but he loves his new floor gym.
We had a great time opening presents just the 4 of us and it was a blast playing with Matt who really seemed to get it this year. He'll even tell you that Baby Jesus was born on Christmas! Unfortunately, the increased awareness also meant that by the end of the day, any package that appeared to contain clothing of some sort was cast aside! We spent the rest of Christmas Day with our families, first at Dave's mom's house and then at Erin & Tony's house. The day was fabulous, we love spending time with our families at Christmas, and we managed to feel relaxed despite traveling from house to house that day!
All set to go visit people on his first Christmas
His shirt says "My brother is the naughty one"
Daddy wearing his shirt that the boys helped make for him
Playing with his new pirate ship from Grammy & P-Pop
Matt & Nana playing with Jack's jack-in-the-box
4 redheaded cousins on Christmas Day
The day after Christmas was spent relaxing and waiting for the refrigerator repairman to come, as ours decided to stop cooling properly. Unfortunately, the problem was not adequately repaired, and we are again awaiting the arrival of a repairman. The 27th took us to a holiday party with friends. Then, Jack was baptised on the 28th.
Jack's baptism was a very special day. Obviously so due to the meaning of the day, but also because there were so many, both family and friends, in attendance to demonstrate their love and support for Jack and our family. We took up a full quarter of the church and it was wonderful that most of the kids' great-grandparents were able to attend, as well as so many aunts, uncles, and cousins. All 32 members of the extended Rowan clan were able to be there, which is always special and rarely happens. After a luncheon to celebrate Jack's baptism, we continued with the Rowan gift exchange and then exchanged gifts with Aileen and Adam before their return to Seattle. It was a very long but very special day.
Jack's baptism was a very special day. Obviously so due to the meaning of the day, but also because there were so many, both family and friends, in attendance to demonstrate their love and support for Jack and our family. We took up a full quarter of the church and it was wonderful that most of the kids' great-grandparents were able to attend, as well as so many aunts, uncles, and cousins. All 32 members of the extended Rowan clan were able to be there, which is always special and rarely happens. After a luncheon to celebrate Jack's baptism, we continued with the Rowan gift exchange and then exchanged gifts with Aileen and Adam before their return to Seattle. It was a very long but very special day.
Pop-Pop baptizing Jack
"This is Jack, Child of God"
Trying to stay awake during the rest of worship
Happy family
Lots of Carlsons
With Mom-Mom & Granddad Murray
With Dave's family
With the Godparents, Aunt Erin and Uncle Adam
With Nana Rowan
LOTS of Rowans! (32 of them!!)
New Year's was spent with our good friends for the second year in a row. We find that as opposed to a big "party" like we used to attend, we enjoy spending time with our closest friends and their children. We cook a big meal and put the kids to bed, then enjoy each others' company. Three years ago, a picture was taken of me and my friends Dana and Christy before we had children, but were all three pregnant. This year's picture shows how much things can change in such a short period of time!
December 31, 2005 . . . all 3 of us pregnant with our first babies, born (left to right) August, June, and May, 2006
December 31, 2008. Quite a change from 3 years ago!
Watching the Rose Bowl on New Years Day. We can teach them how to be fans, but we can't help the team win!
The Saturday after New Year's was spent exchanging gifts with Dave's dad. We usually get together that weekend and spend time together, have a nice meal, and exchange presents. It's nice to be able to spend that un-rushed time with them.
Playing with Pop-Pop
The following Monday, we received an upsetting phone call from Dave's cousin informing us that their grandmother (who had made the piggy banks for Christmas) had suffered a massive stroke. We went to visit her in the surgical ICU at UPenn on Tuesday evening, shortly before life supports were shut off and she passed away. We will miss her very much and are grateful to have been blessed with her in our lives. We recognize how lucky Matt and Jack are to have known her, even if only for a short time. We are especially glad that she was able to meet and hold Jack on Christmas Eve and at his baptism. It is a difficult situation that our entire family, and especially Dave's family, must deal with, and we expect things will be difficult, and yet provide some closure, at her funeral this coming week.
All the events of the past few weeks have added to our knowledge and awareness of how important family is to us, how short our time together can sometimes be, and how we want to continue to take as much as we can from each and every day. We hope that you all had blessed holidays and were able to spend some time enjoying the company of family and friends, as well as reflecting on the meaning of the season and all the miracles that it can bring.
An update on the boys: Matt continues to say new and profound things every day and is growing like a weed. He's wearing 3-4 year old sizes and he's only 2 1/2! Jack hasn't rolled over in a few weeks, but just as I was starting to get worried, he started smiling, and will even laugh every now and then! Matt seems to get the biggest smiles & heartiest laughs, which the pediatrician says always seems to be the case. His 2-month stats were 11 lbs 8 oz and an enormous 25 inches!! We continue to love seeing the boys grow and change before our eyes!
All the events of the past few weeks have added to our knowledge and awareness of how important family is to us, how short our time together can sometimes be, and how we want to continue to take as much as we can from each and every day. We hope that you all had blessed holidays and were able to spend some time enjoying the company of family and friends, as well as reflecting on the meaning of the season and all the miracles that it can bring.
An update on the boys: Matt continues to say new and profound things every day and is growing like a weed. He's wearing 3-4 year old sizes and he's only 2 1/2! Jack hasn't rolled over in a few weeks, but just as I was starting to get worried, he started smiling, and will even laugh every now and then! Matt seems to get the biggest smiles & heartiest laughs, which the pediatrician says always seems to be the case. His 2-month stats were 11 lbs 8 oz and an enormous 25 inches!! We continue to love seeing the boys grow and change before our eyes!
Jack playing on the great quilt that Aunt Aileen made him for Christmas
2 months old and all smiles!
So, happy belated holidays from the Murray family! More updates will come as we find things noteworthy to discuss! I return to work in just three short weeks, so I'm sure there will certainly be an update before or shortly after then!
