Spring Break in Steamboat!

We have been looking forward to this week since last Spring Break.  Steamboat Springs, Colorado.  It's just the best of the best.

We made it to our flight with plenty of time, and I guess our kids looked calm and nice, because the flight attendant asked if they would like to meet the pilot and tour the cockpit.  Sweet!

We had an excellent flight.  This sweet girl promptly took a nap right after eating her lunch, and didn't wake up until we were almost there.

Welcome to Colorado! We made it!

We grabbed our luggage, had it loaded onto the shuttle and were on our way to the condo in no time.  Doesn't really get much easier than that.  With four kids, 10 checked bags and 10 carry-ons, I'll take easy wherever I can get it!

A little while later we arrived at the Edgemont.
The sun was shining and it was a spectacular afternoon.

These kids were thrilled to finally be walking on the snow!

They immediately began climbing and making snow balls...

then had a s'mores and hot chocolate break.

There were smiles for days.

The kids decided they wanted to play in the snow for real, though, so we ran upstairs, took a quick look out the balcony... 

and got their ski gear on.  Bring on the cold!

Our youngest had fun whether she was playing with the big kids or being silly with her mama.

She also got a huge kick out of sneaking kisses from her daddy when he wasn't looking.

And if we didn't ask her to be in the picture, she was the first one to volunteer.  Go figure!

It was an afternoon of pure happiness.

These kids slid down the hill at least 52 times...

and loved every single second of it.

Maybe next year, Baby Ski Bunny will try sliding downhill.
This year, she was content to just lay flat on the snow and pretend.

We had dinner at our favorite mountain hangout, Slopeside, and then went to bed, dreaming of skiing down the mountain.  We simply love Spring Break!

Open House

Show-Off Night!  

The kids get super excited about this evening every year.  

They are so eager to show us all that they have been working on in school.

The Three Musketeers and I started off in the First Grade hallway.
Sometimes, they can all be so sweet to each other!

Lila's group project on the sun was the first thing she wanted me to look at.
First graders did this!  I'm impressed.

She had lots and lots of art work, 

including this "If I were President" piece that was displayed in the hallway.

She was most proud of her first-ever research project.  She chose to do it on the Milky Way.  I think she's fascinated with space!  She wrote two full pages on it, and created this entire poster board on her own.  Way to go, kiddo!

These girls have all learned a great deal from their amazing teacher.
And they are doing pretty cool art projects, too.  Check out the self-portraits, complete with shadows behind them.

Next up, 4th grade with this kid.  He didn't have nearly as much to show us, but this drawing was on of my faves.  For a kid who used to despise art, he's come a long way!  This is now on display in our house:)

Jackson has been in the accelerated program for a few years now, and he is loving the challenge.  He created his own website this past week and also learned how to program a robot!  He demo'd it for us by typing in the code for this remote control car and then executing it on the ground.  Very cool.

His buddy Brody is in PACE with him, which I like.  These boys really enjoy school--I'm so thankful for that.  I love that they are learning real-world skills, too.  I'm 36 years old and I don't have the slightest clue how to create a website or write a code for a robot car!

This kid simply can't wait until it's her turn to go to elementary school.
She asked again while we were walking in the halls, "when can I go to this school, Mama?  I really want to go to school with Lila."
Soon enough, my child.  Soon enough!

Murphy Magic - Grand Champs!

Who would have thunk it?  First season of basketball.  First grade girls.  They finished 2nd in the regular season, then won it all in the playoffs!

That called for a celebration, complete with a cookie cake.

These girls had an awesome first season of basketball.  We owe it all to Coach Shannon.  She did an outstanding job with them at practice and during every game. They were aggressive, played mad defense, and could shoot, too!

We filled up the back room at Napoli's and had plenty of space for the players and their crazy siblings, like these girls. Actually, they were pretty tame! 

Lila was really, really proud to get her 1st place trophy.  It's her biggest one yet and her collection is steadily growing.  Love my sporty spice girl.

All Star Bash

The big kids' school has a Family Fun Night every spring, but we have never made it due to baseball practice.  We finally made it this year (post-football), and I'm so glad that we did.  The kids had a total blast.  Madison went with us, too, and was thrilled when she found one of her BFF's, Sydney.

It was a sports-themed night, and they encouraged everyone to wear their favorite team jersey.
I love that so many of the girls are into sports.

The boys represented well, too.
Between these four boys, they covered basketball, football and baseball.

The Murphy Bumblebees took top honors, though, for most well-represented team!
These cute girls wore their neon yellow proud.

There was a DJ making sure that these girls got plenty of dancing in...

concessions, including pizza, cotton candy and beverages...

cool obstacles like this one, which were a big hit with all ages...

and even a photo booth that printed out pictures for everyone to take home!
I brought all 7 of these kids with me and they were all so great...

with the exception of the smallest one, who was NOT thrilled for the first half.  I'm pretty sure she has social anxiety with big crowds.  Anywho--I needed to take photos for the yearbook, and this kid had a death grip on my shirt!  

Thank goodness she found Lexie at the party!  Before I knew it, she was talking, smiling, taking sassy pics in the photo booth...

and eating cotton candy!

What a fun night to be a Hunt Hound!

Hollywood Hills

We spent our last morning just soaking up the laid-back ambiance of the Loews Hotel.

Jared read the paper...

I drank my coffee...

then we took one last walk in Santa Monica.  My two muscle men felt right at home!

We drove to Hollywood in search of the famous sign.  It was pretty overcast, though, so it was barely visible...I promise it's there, though!

We all enjoyed the view from the Griffith Observatory.

I love that these kids are finally old enough to appreciate something good when they see it.

I just love them to pieces!

What a fabulous weekend with our family.  We made lots of great memories and really enjoyed being around one another.  Cheers to 10 years, Jackson!  We're so glad you were born!