Merry Christmas To All

Merry Christmas friends. It has been a terrific Christmas week here at Casa Murphy, but before I get into detail, I want to thank Miss Rose and Mr. Mike for a fantastic Hanukkah party. We had a great time and the food was amazing. I even got to have my buddy Will over for some dude's play time in the man-cave before the Hanukkah gala kicked off.

We kicked off the Christmas week with a dinner party at my Aunt Meg's house. Unfortunately, Mom, Dad and I were forced to leave early as I did not feel well.

However, before our untimely departure, Aunt Meg and Uncle Josh surprised me with this awesome dump truck. It not only hauls, but I can ride it and honk the horn...look alive dogs!

We had Christmas Eve Mass with Meg, Josh, Uncle Skip, Grandma K and Grandpa D. This was followed by a lovely dinner out, through which I lasted about a minute and a half. I felt fine, but I was not interested in sitting quietly. If you are counting, that is now 2 early departure dinners for Mom, Dad and I. [We would add 1 more from Fuego in Big Canoe before the holiday week concluded.]

This was the scene in our living room after Santa stopped by and before I woke up...Santa or an elf must have snapped it for their records.

It didn't take long to dismantle the blocks, empty the stockings and strap on this awesome puffy vest.

Stockings are fantastic...Santa built a cool house with tunnels and a tent in the dining room. Dad said it must have taken Santa a couple of hours to assemble, though I'm not sure how Dad would have known this fact. Dad and I are checking on the Santa haul one last time before heading up to Grandma Babs and Grandpa Stu's house for Christmas dinner.

Mom wanted a pic as well...what can I say, I'm a team player.
On to Big Canoe. We arrived just in time for cocktails and snacks. I ate 700 crackers. Aunt Jennifer and I are enjoying ourselves in this photo...
Grandpa Stu is helping me unwrap this sweet Xylophone.

Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Ethan picked up these spectacular rain boots and a matching rain coat, and I figured out that they can be worn anytime (all the time), rain or shine.

It has been a great week with family and friends. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

Catch you in 2010...CDM

P.S. - Here I am hanging out with my Great Grandfather in Florida last week. We love you and we miss you Great Grandfather.

Boots with the Fur....

Hola Dudes,

Happy belated Thanksgiving. We had a terrific turkey day weekend with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Ethan in Big Canoe. We ate, we played, and we watched some incredible college football (Go Dawgs -- State Champs!).

Looking good. Feeling good. (See Below)

New flash peeps -- Christmas is coming! Mom, Dad and I had a family date night Friday night. We went out for dinner and picked out a Christmas tree. All was perfect until Mom realized that Grandma Babs had totally re-orged the Formal living room sometime during the last 11 months and our traditional Christmas tree location was now null AND void. Calmer heads prevailed (Dad), and we found a new tree position. We placed it in the entry between living and dining rooms - ala - Pennington tradition of one tree + two rooms full of gifts in Lilburn. Let's hope Santa remembers the good ole days!

Oh Boy...On Monday, Mom (chaperone) and I went "out" with Meriwether and her Mom (chaperone). We met at Macy's (Lenox) for a couple of lovely rides on the Rich's/Macy's Pink Pig. It was awesome.

Notice here that I was able to shake wheels 3 and 4 for a few...hello Miss Meriwether.

Boots with the Fur...enough said.
Hope everyone is well and enjoying the holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah team.

Adios...CDM

Fall 2009

What's up Dudes?!? What a great couple of weeks. We had a huge family Halloween celebration. Aunt B buzzed in from Vegas -- yes, I have peeps in Vegas -- and Grandma K and Grandpa D cruised into town. Aunt Meg and Uncle Josh came over for a family dinner Friday, and Saturday was chili and football....then came the good stuff. I had my first Trick-or-Treat expedition. My costume was a roaring success...HA.

I was an awesome LION! Mom got me all set up and said I should practice my lion roars before heading out.

ROAR.

This pumpkin's name is Jack...I was unable to scare Jack with my roars...he just kept smiling.
Let the Trick-or-Treating begin. Mr. Bo lives two doors down...I knocked, Dad said "Trick-or-Treat" and Mr. Bo forked over some candy...it was a sweet little gimmick Dad and I had going. We must have hit 6 or 7 houses...same routine, same outcome.

If family dinner, a lion get-up, and trick-or-treating wasn't enough, just stand by....Hello Georgia Aquarium. Grandma K took us to the aquarium. The red snapper and grouper tank was my fave, but the whole place really was great.

Dad said I should be on the look out for giant 20-f't long whale sharks. I kept my eyes peeled, but I think he must have been pulling my leg...

Here are Aunt B and I in front of our favorite tank -- grouper and red snapper. It was dinner time for these little frenzied fish. Miss you B!

Here's the rest of the aquarium crew...(Mom is holding the camera).

We did see some cool and scary looking sharks swimming these waters. I call this "Playing Possum"...Sharky never looked my way.

Dad likes to say that Monday's are for rest and recovery after weekends filled with a little too much fun...I get it now...

Yesterday, I went on a hunt for the front lawn...hmmm, don't see it here...

Nope, no grass here either...just these leaves. I think its time we did something about this Dad...

Yep, it's time to do work old man...That's a 200 mph, Category 5 hurricane-quality wind storm powered by this hand held gas powered little beast...Dad and I found the front lawn!

And finally, see below for a shot of my new whip...Radio Flyer TRIcycle...thanks Mom - that's a HUGE find!

As always, I hope everyone is doing well and having a great Fall season.

Happy Birthday Uncle Ethan!

Go Dawgs, finish strong!

Later dudes...CDM

Happy Halloween Everyone...

I can't believe its already my second Halloween in a couple of days. My Aunt B is even coming in from Vegas to celebrate with me too, I can't wait for this weekend. Its hard to believe that October is nearly over. We've had an amazing Fall so far.

Mom took us to the North Georgia County Fair...no, I'm serious, she did. It was very "interesting". (Dad says he will never do that again - EVER.) Whatever, I got to take my first merry-go-round ride...See Mom and I pictured below right before she bathed me with Purell... Dad and I are smiling in this one (but I think Dad is crying on the inside)...look Dad - cattle...the cow says Moooo, while Dad says "Get me the H out of here..."

The next weekend Mom and Dad went to the Georgia-LSU game and I got to hang out in Big Canoe (BC to we in the know). Georgia lost...Dad has some kind words to describe it Sunday morning, but I can't include those in today's post. Mom and Dad got back to Big Canoe after the game at about 1am and were both excited to see me for breakfast at 7-ish Sunday morning. We then went to Burt's Farm for pumpkins.

Here, notice how I survey the field and evaluate my prey (pumpkins)...

I told Dad we needed a Uhaul truck for the trip...I will take the two I am pointing at here....and the 37 there in the background.

Mom and I love pumpkins...the bigger the better I say.

I am loving this ride with the pumpkin...just a taste of whats to come....

I found this lovely little gourd, but I never could find his family...nothing but these darn pumpkins....sorry little gourd.

HAY RIDE! We took a hay ride around the patch...it was awesome. I'm getting a little sleepy here though...been a big day...

...Out...Snore.

If that wasn't enough, Mom and Dad hit the road the very next weekend to Oxford, Mississippi for the Alabama-Ole Miss game and a weekend on Uncle Pete's farm. I hit the road for BC and a weekend of Oktoberfest with Grandma and Grandpa...that was great fun.

The Grove was muddy, but the spirits were high with the crowd (and plentiful Dad said.) Uncle Pete put on a terrific tent and wonderful weekend.

Dad played in a golf tournament the next weekend while Mom went on a girl's weekend...no pictures from either...odd. Then, I hung with Mom and Grandma last weekend while Dad and Grandpa cruised down to Swainsboro, GA for a 3-day hunt weekend...hmmmm...3 days and no photos here either....strange.

We have Halloween this weekend and the big Georgia-Florida game (a.k.a. World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party)....Go Dawgs! It has been a rough season, but it's never too late to crush the Gator's title hopes...HA!

Happy Halloween All...I am dressing up as a Lion. Be safe, and we'll blog you later dudes...CDM

Rain Delay

It has been a long time between posts...Dad said we had a "rain delay", but I think that is a weak excuse. The rain has been Moses-quality here in Atlanta, but we are finally nearing the end. Dad says he is going to start building an ark as soon as the rain clears for next time.

The real reason is college football. Mom and Dad make sure I am repping Georgia appropriately every Saturday...candid shot below...
I had an awesome weekend with Grandma K and Grandpa D 2 weeks ago...Mom and Dad barely slowed down enough to snap this photo on their way to route on the Dawgs...

Dad ordered some new kicks for me...FratBalances...They look like Dad's shoes.

Here are Mom and I checking out a fire truck at the Chamblee Festival...it was a ladder truck -- sweet.

Aunt Meg and Uncle Josh were there with us. It was the "Taste of Chamblee" -- allow me to translate -- we ate lots of tasty food. I believe I have just finished a slice of Vintage Pizza in the pic below...

Mom and I road-tripped with Grandma Babs to visit Auntie JPM in Birmingham. Uncle Ethan came to Atlanta for a boys weekend with Dad, but mysteriously, we don't have any photos from their weekend...hmmm.

Molly and I are best buds...see below.

I am going to school again -- once a week for a few hours...I can handle that.

Back to the rain: It rained here 8 days in a row. Mom discovered a "jump house" and we dominated that joint last Saturday.

Jump House

K and D are back in town today, but Mom and Dad canceled their trip to route on the Dawgs against Arizona State because I got sick overnight. I don't look sick in this picture, but that's how I roll.

I plan to stay on top of Dad going forward, so we don't have to experience another delay of this length -- weak sauce Dad. I plan to have some blog-worthy pics coming soon. Big Canoe for Octoberfest is just a couple weeks away, so stay tuned.

Have a great day everyone...CDM