Christmas trees!

We
decided to cut down our christmas tree this year. So we got a permit and went to the designated spot on the map. As we got up to the mountain top, we entered a cloud that was perched there. It was really serene, but viability was not super good.






We decided that any place was as good as any other, because of limited viability.

As soon as we got the car stopped, the kids piled into the snow. The dog was no exception. He loves snow--Who knew! Snow was the greatest wish of Sidney Jade. We left the valley of the sun at 78 degrees! Anyway, the snowballs flew, the clouds rained...a little and everyone felt their spirits lift with the cool weather.

I just can not tell you how much of a winter wonderland this little trip was. It was just what our family needed to really bring in the feeling of winter wonderland-- Christmas!






We did find our Christmas tree. It was perfect.... in the woods. Charlie Brown would have approved.




By the time we got home, the whole top of the tree was bent backwards and the branches were flat on one side. Le Sigh!

The tree would not hold any ornaments or lights. We ended up making PAPER ornaments (thank you to helper Sidney Jade) and I got some really cheep tinsel. We Blew the tinsel with our mouths onto the branches. That turned out to be so much fun. It did not work to just place the tinsel on the branches. It sort of slid off! So Our tree ended up being really cool. The tinsel added the sparkle we needed.

The most important part of this story is that we had so much fun as a family...... Not that the tree looked perfect.

Drex Soccer Pictures 2010

Just thought I'd send a taste of Drex's  Club soccer season. 
He tried out for the Mountain View High  JV team and made it!  He is super excited about it.
Enjoy the pics.

Sidney Jade turns Eleven

We had  a birthday party for Sidney Jade

                                                                                                                          The group of party girls.

 She Invited over some Friends.

Natalie Jessica

                                                                                                                                                       

Mary KateNatalie 

(we had two)

                                                                                                                          

 Played balloon race games

Ate Fantastic Cake

 Savannah came after her soccer game

 Lauryn arrived in time to decorate her flip flops

Show off our crafts. 

Happy Fall Ya'All

We had our anual murdock family Pumpkin Carving party.  

We had a really good time, but we were missing our Drex and Dad.  Drex had a soccer game at the same time.  But SidneyJade had fun.  Here are a few more shots from the Party.  

Scuba Tara

It is official! I am a certified scuba diver.

Here are a few shots right after my last dive.


I know......

You are all jealous of the mask.

Even more, you are really turning green with envy that you did not get to wear an uber tight wet suit! But when the water is cold.... mid 60's, I don't mind the whale blubber so much. As long as I can remove the layer of fat when I am done.

This was an opportunity to over come a fear I had of being under water with out air. I did get to have air, just not from the surface. I got it from a tank that I carried on my back.

I had a really good time this time.

The first dive I did last year was not so good! I was unable to clear my ears and could not complete the dive. There is so much more to learning the sport of Scuba Diving than I originally thought.

Now, lets see. Where do I want to go diving. I want it to be some place warm.


Any ideas?

(the guy in the photo with me was my instructor Glenn Bennett...great teacher!)

Water slide-Naturally

While out visiting my sister in North Carolina, we went to Chimny Rock. Basically it was a river with rocks to slide on and a swimin' hole. I really had fun. It is amazing how tumbled you get sliding down a rock that is powered by a river!


TA-Dah........

Ostrich land

In a little town by name of Solvang, not too far from the California coast, there is a small little land of giant birds. That's right! Ostrich Land. Here you can feed the birds and watch their strut, but be careful not to touch, for the birds have a might powerful bite!