Dear Adam,

Father's Day 2008

Well, so here we are, the parents of two boys. Love you, honey. You're a great husband and a fantastic father. Let's have more kids...we sure do make 'em cute, baby.

And to celebrate your 5th Father's Day, I've compiled a bunch of photos that make me smile, make me laugh, or make me glad you're my "baby daddy."

Happy Father's Day!

Every boy needs more than a father...he needs a Dad.
Millcreek Canyon, Utah Oct 2006

Fresh From Heaven!
Aidan and Daddy, Oct 2007

Hay Ride at the Farmstead, Kansas City style
April 2006

Handsome!
May 2005

Nate and Daddy
Millcreek Canyon, Oct 2006

Before you were a daddy, you were my fiancee!
Calgary, May 2001

Teaching all things important!
Canoe Men
Colorado, July 2006

What a stud!
Utah Lake, July 2001

Nate and Daddy
Canadian Rockies, Summer 2007

At Mt. Rushmore....chilly!
December 2006

Daddy and Sweet Baby Aidan
December 2007

The Guys at Grandma's
October 2007

This picture has nothing to do with being a father, but it cracks me up every time!
"Blue Steel"
August 2006

Dallas Arboretum
April 2008

Nate and Daddy
Kansas CitySafe in Daddy's Arms!
Daddy and Aidan, Spring 2008

A Whip and A Loaf of Bread

What do the two things in my post's title have in common?

They were both Father's Day gifts that my husband received this year.

The whip...well, it was what Nate picked out. He saw that Indiana Jones whip that made a cracking sound and played the Indy theme song, and he just had to have it. When Mom told him that it was not to be his, he got creative and decided to give it to Dad for Father's Day. That way they could share it.

The Loaf of Bread...Adam has been begging me to make him homemade bread. Shockingly (especially to those of you that know my family owned a bakery when I was in high school), I never have made bread for him. The closest I've come is Pilsbury Crescent Rolls. This all seems so silly as I write it down, because really, bread isn't that difficult. I've just always had some excuse...my kitchen is too small, I have no bread pans, yadda, yadda. But Adam had thought of it as such a big deal that I decided I needed (kneaded? haha) to save it for a special occasion. Since I didn't have any other ideas, I made it for Father's Day! He was over the moon about it, and although it was an ugly loaf, it tasted really good! I'll post a picture, but I do so reluctantly. It is seriously an ugly loaf.

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

My Dad, during his 50th Birthday Party, December 2007

Sweetly Reading to Niece/Nephew at a Family Party

My Mom and Dad, December 2007
Dad with Baby Eli, July 2006

I just love my Dad. What a great man he is!



The past few years, I've really begun to understand all he's done for me, and all he continues to do. I'm so blessed to have a wonderful father!


And I'm so thankful that he is such a special Grandpa to my boys.

Dad and Nate on our cruise, October 2006
Reading stories, Spring 2006

Superhero Grandpa, Dec 2005

Making Grandpa's Famous Cookies! Spring 2006

Thanks, Dad, for all you are and for all you do! Happy Father's Day!

To The Fathers In Our Lives

Thank you all for your selfless service on our behalf.
We're so happy that you're all a part of our eternal family!
We're thinking of you on this Father's Day!

We wanted to say a little about each of these amazing men.
Unfortunately, these little blurbs do not do them justice, but I'll try anyway.


Adam's Father, Terry:
Adam's father is generous and works very hard for his family. He is, and always has been, very devoted to his wife and children. He is quick to laugh and it's earned him the nickname "Big Ter." Adam's dad is a remarkable businessman and has his own very successful business in Calgary.


Adam's (Maternal) Grandfather, Gerald Melchin:

Grandpa Melchin is such a sweet man. I love the spirit that he carries with him. There is a warmth and a kindness that he radiates. Grandpa Melchin served in the first quorum of the Seventy, and has served as a mission president and a temple president.

My (Paternal) Grandfather, Boyd Busath:

I love my Grandpa Busath! He is quick to laugh and to say something kind to you. His easy-going manner instantly lets you know that you are with someone you can trust, someone to whom you mean the world. He always seems to have all the time in the world to hear about his grandkids and what is important to them. He is dedicated, too--just look at him BBQ-ing in the hailstorm! (The family dinner must go on!) My Grandpa Busath served in the US Navy, and was stationed in Japan when my father was born. He worked as a CPA and is super smart (I wish that had been passed on to me!!)

My (Maternal) Grandfather, Kenneth Burnett:

I love my Grandpa Burnett. He is refined, classy, and such a remarkable man. He has such an eye for design, and his home is always impeccable. I love his laugh and his sweet manner. He was the youngest member ever (at age 13) of the Utah Symphony!

And my step-grandfather, Walter Arabasz:

Walter joined our family several years ago when he married my Grams. He is such a gentle person. He is wise and kind, and I enjoy conversations with him because he always knows just what advice to give (and what advice to leave unsaid!) He works for the University of Utah in the seismology department, and is warning Utah about the impending earthquakes that are due in the valley. Perhaps some of you Utah-ites have seen him on the news!

Happy Father's Day to you all!

And The Winner Is...

Congrats to the winners of my Comment Contest...

Becca
Laurel
Lisa

That's right...the three of you that played, won!

And to the rest of you...pitiful. I think I'll do another one when it's not the first week of summer vacation. And I'd better see more comments next time! Seriously.

The winners get a special treat in the mail. I'll post what it is after you receive them (don't wanna ruin the surprise!)

Comment Contest!

Okay, so a great friend of mine, Megan, hosted a comment contest on her blog and I won! I'm pretty sure it's the first thing I've won since the costume contest (circa Halloween 1993).
Anyhooo....I'm adjusting it a little, to make it even more fun.

The rules/objectives are thus:
-You post a comment on this post
*Include your name
*Tell me something that will make me laugh out loud, or that will make me smile. Topics could include how we met, a shared memory, a time I made a fool of myself, or, if you don't know me very well, you could tell a joke. :)
-In one week, I'll put all the names in the hat and randomly draw a winner (or two or three, depending on my mood...haha).
-The winner will receive a surprise in the mail, perfectly tailored to them. It could be homemade, store-bought, something to eat, something to wear, or something completely useless. But it will be personal.

This is open to all readers--whether you have a blog or not. You can post a comment as an anonymous person (but you won't win if you don't include your name!!!)

Good Luck!!

Just a few random things....

We had a FABULOUS Memorial Day celebration on Monday. In the morning, we went for a few hours to our local water park. It was really fun to take Nate on the water slides, and he was so brave! I was expecting him to really freak out, but he kept wanting to go again and again. Plus...after he and I (and Aidan) went twice together, he was brave enough to go by himself! I was one proud momma. (Oh--we're talking about the "mini" water slides, made for little kids. But still...it's a miracle he went by himself!)

My friend Rhonda posted about the great relationship her kids have. I've been thinking about the same thing around our house lately. My boys get along so well. Aidan lights up whenever Nate is around, and he loves to be with his older brother. Likewise, Nate is such a fantastic big bro. He takes good care of Aidan, and lately he's been including him when he plays. It melts my heart. I loved walking in today and finding this:

The boys are camping out together. Nate made sure Aidan had some toys to play with!

I just can't get enough of this sweet face.

This cracks me up. We set up this mirror for him to play with and he's giving kisses.
I'm lucky enough to get a few myself. It's the best part of my day!


OK--this hasn't been super exciting, but at least our families can see what we've been up to this week. Miss you all! Love you!

As Promised....

Snips and snails and puppy dog tails.

Love This

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgrrQwLdME8

Help Me Solve This!

Okay, so it all started when my little sister called last night to tell me she had her first kiss! Soooo very excited to hear about it! It was with a boy she really likes and has liked for a long time. It was fun to hear her excitement as she told me every detail of the moment. (and she said she liked it, so that is good too...)
Fast forward to this morning. I told Adam that my sister had called to tell me she had her first kiss. His response--"Oh, you women. You make such a big deal out of everything."
Wha----? Since when is a first kiss NOT a big deal? He started in to a diatribe about how men don't remember things like that and it isn't a big deal to them. I asked him if he remembered his first kiss. No. Did he remember who it was with? No.
And he's trying to convince me that no boy makes a big deal about it. And they don't remember it.
So....can any of your husbands remember their first kiss? Or am I wrong?

Lately...

Things are rolling along. A little faster than I would like, but still. Rolling along.

Getting a little less sleep because of... a new crib for Aidan. Blessing and a curse. He no longer sleeps in my arms, which I loved. Now he has to fend for himself at night, which he hates.

Been comforting my 5-year-old because of....two root canals. For his baby teeth. Don't get me started on weak enamel. It's just not cool.

Loving being back in Dallas because of....nights like tonight, when I can get together with old friends. Celebrated sweet Julie's birthday. Loved being in a grown-up place with other grown-ups. Loved being with friends that I hope I know forever. (Didn't love being with the two short dates I dragged along. One was bald, one was complaining the whole time. Sounds like my dates from my single days.)

Loving being me because....life can be so beautiful when you just open your eyes. I'm waaaay more blessed than I realize.

Just realized I haven't posted a picture in awhile. Some are coming, I promise. I'm working on Aidan's 7-month-old photos. So I'll post some soon. He sure is cute, and just such a happy boy. I do love being a mom, that is for sure.

Adios for now! Go Spurs Go!!!

Hooray For Spanky

For those of you who know my friend Spanky from San Antonio, take a look at a sneak preview of his episode of Deal or No Deal:
http://www.nbc.com/Deal_or_No_Deal/video/#mea=249312

And send him some good vibes! Maybe he'll become a millionaire!

Episode Airs May 22nd (I think)

What-Not and How-To

I've talked about this before.....

I am airing all my dirty laundry on my new journal-blog. It is going to be a truly scintillating read. The only catch is---if you want to read it, you have to let me know because it is a private blog.

Well, okay, I'm not airing all my dirty laundry. But I just can't imagine writing too many personal details on this family blog, and yet I'm yearning for an outlet for my silly thoughts, my tender emotions, and my general disdain for all things dumb.

I'd love to have a few readers, but really, it's going to be just for me to think out loud and record my thoughts. Kind of like a free way to do therapy ;)

Oooooh, wouldn't you like to know what my first topic of discussion is? E-mail me with your email address or put it in the comment section of this post. See you there!

http://emsrantsandmusings.blogspot.com

Friend of The Week

I got this idea from another blogger, Kelly Anne. She is totally fantastic; I really recommend her blog if you need inspiration and a dose of humor. She took our wedding photographs, actually, and I've loved her ever since.

Anyways, the idea is to take photos of your friends and tell a bit about them.

This is my dear friend Lynette. She is stunning, eh?

Lynette and I met almost seven years ago when I moved to Dallas. Her husband was in med school at Southwestern, a year ahead of Adam. (Goodness, Lynette, that was when we lived in apartments and had no kids...crazy!) I had the pleasure of watching her daughter Ella (who is 6 days older than Nate) when Lynette finished out the school year after our babies were born. We bought our first home just a few doors down from her little family (again, before we had kids) and loved having such great neighbors.
I look up to Lynette so much. She has always been kind-hearted and sweet, and a little too pretty for her own good ;) I've seen her face her own struggles with grace and optimism. She's gone through things that I think lesser women could never handle, and I love her for being such a fantastic example of Christlike response to trials and life's experiences.
I love you, Lynette. THANK YOU for being so amazing.

(She had no idea I was doing this, so I hope that she doesn't get too upset at me for putting her in the spotlight!)

More friends to come, maybe not every week, but I'm going to try!

Congrats to Y'all

This is a mass message.

I just wanted to send out a big congratulations to soooo many of my dear friends who are expecting miracles.

I've been wondering where all my faithful blog friends have been (posts have been MIA) and now I know. It seems that while I was busy moving to Texas a lot of you were busy getting busy.

So a big shout-out to all you beautiful, bulging-belly women. What blessings will be mine as I hear about your adventures over the next few months!

Brook
Tracie
Amanda
Libby
Jen
Marci
Alysha
Rhonda
Nicole
Julie
Rachael

........And a few more that had better announce it before I do!!!

Dallas Arboretum

.my handsome boys.

(Baby Aideee...I've been having a bit of fun with my Photoshop, can you tell?!?)

Adam had the week off! Our adventure for today was a picnic lunch at the Dallas Arboretum. The Arboretum is the best place to be during the springtime! I was only slightly disappointed that the tulips that were in full bloom a couple weeks ago were all gone today. But to make up for it, the azaleas were showing their colors! Totally gorgeous!
And how could we help but have a fantastic day with these two boys...we're so lucky that they are ours!

More From The Arboretum

Yo Momma

I found this on this website. Tonight I needed this good advice, because man is Aidan a sad teething boy. By the way, I'm just curious...does Benadryl have XXX on the bottle? (Just kidding.)

It Was Mean

Okay, I know it was mean. But that was an April Fool's Joke. We are not expecting! (Although just thinking about it, I would actually be okay with it if we were)
Thanks for all the well wishes. When we really are ready for #3, we'll let you know :)

An Announcement!

Well, we've debated about announcing this, but we couldn't be happier, so here goes.

The Murdock family is adding a little person to our gang! Estimated date of arrival is October 2008 (yes, just one year after Aidan was born....are we crazy or what?!?!)

Any suggestions for names?

Happy Birthday, Laurel!

Happy Birthday to my little sister, Laurel.

Today she turns 25 years old, and to celebrate her quarter of a century, I want to share with you my "Laurel Busath Lakey Top Ten"
which is a mix of memories and things all about my sister.

10. She is the only person that has made me so angry I kicked a hole in a door.
9. We loved to make up and put on plays as kids. Unfortunately, the plays tended to be vignettes of me making her do degrading things. Sorry, Laur.
8. Laurel has a great love and a great talent for photography and digital scrapbooking and I'm always more than a little jealous of her abilities.
7. Laurel loves to travel and has been to many more places than any of the rest of us. She always brings home stunning photographs from her destinations.
6. She is a terrific mother and wife and is fiercely loyal to her loved ones.
5. Laurel was on the dance team in high school and although I made fun of her high kicks, I was totally jealous that she was sooooo good at it.
4. She has always been a tender spirit and is thoughtful and loving. One memory I have is kind of funny, but typical Laurel: My mom had bought live lobsters and was steaming them. When Laurel saw what she was doing, she screamed at my mom and ran to her room--slammed the door--and cried many tears for the lives of the poor lobsters. Tender heart. Very sweet.
3. She and her husband Nathan have such a beautiful relationship. I'm so grateful to him for taking such good care of her. She truly deserves it.
2. I've seen my sister grow up and mature and learn, but I was not prepared for how much I would love seeing her as a mom to little Eli. She teaches me constantly about how to be a phenomenal parent.
1. As far as little sisters go, there is none better. She is a true gem and I'm so thankful for her. She is in my prayers every day as I ask the Lord to watch over her, but also as I thank him for the opportunity to have such a sister.

I love you, Laurel! Happy 25th!

Ta-Dah!

I'm going to give you a little formula. It is a no-fail way to get a calling when you don't have one.

Step one: Stop your bishop in the hallway (preferably a big surprise)
Step Two: Say, "Bishop I was just wondering if you have callings for the Murdocks yet."
Step Three: When he evades the question with a simple, "We have something in the works for you, Sister Murdock," ask, "Bishop, see these hands?" (wave hands in his face) "These hands are young and able. Please put them to work."
Step Four: You could then foolishly make sure he knows your name. Because you really, really want a calling. I've found this works well: "Yes, the Murdocks need callings. We are ready and willing to work."


The next Saturday I was called in to the Bishop's office. No surprise there.

He says, "Is your husband home today?"
Me: "Yes."
Bishop: "Okay, great. Could you please call him for me?" (hands me the phone)
Me: (dials, hands phone to Bishop. Stunned husband on the other end)
Bishop to husband: "Brother Murdock, is there anything I could call your wife to do that you would not support her?"
Husband gulps. I gulp.
Adam: "No, I don't think there is."

Visions of Relief Society president fill my head. No, maybe a misisonary. Yes, I'll be the first mother sent to a foreign land to proclaim the gospel!

Or not.

Turns out all they want from me is to coordinate RS Enrichment. See, my no-fail plan worked! I am really excited to get started. First item of business: Figure out a way to get people younger than 65 to come to Enrichment. Good luck to me.