R. Benson and Demya Murdock News

2011-07-22T12:19:00.000-07:00

Another photo album by Smilebox

2011-07-19T10:52:00.000-07:00

She is finally here!!!

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2011-07-06T17:45:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to update some pictures of Rollie from the month.

He is quite a character!

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2011-05-31T16:56:00.000-07:00

School is finally out and I have time to work on the blog... Here are the pictures you have been waiting for. As always, if you love one of them will send you the real thing.

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Beep...Beep...Beep...LaaDaadadadadooo...Laa DAA dadadadadooo.

2011-04-25T09:04:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, the opening theme sounded better in my head than it looks in the title. If you're having difficulties deciphering my theme-song, think of my favorite sci-fi series of the last five-plus-decades who's name includes the initials STAR TREK (the original).
For those out of the loop, you may expect Murdock version 1.1.2g to arrive in the near future, in a galaxy very nearby. (if you don't understand what i'm saying, you're lucky.) As further clarification, which would only be logical, 1 little girl (according to the voodoo and ultrasound) will be arriving in the middle of July.
In other news, pictures will be posted of the RolliCady monster in his continued course of growth progression and evolution into small yet hardy curly-headed humanoid-ish creature as soon as I can remember where I put the camera.

Until then, ttfn

me

Holiday travels, or is it travails?

2011-01-12T22:33:00.000-08:00

So, it's been a while. Since I last wrote I have added, I believe, three guitar lessons and have been in the wrestling room only once despite the new wrestling shoes I bought this year so I don't lose another toe nail.
Gibbie is growing up fast and is rather different form other kids his age, here is an example: While we were in Las Vegas for the finale of our "Grand Tour" Gibbie went outside to play with his cousins and to get out from under-foot. Shortly after leaving the house he fell and hit his head. Not thinking much of it I told him to rub it off, like I always do, and he tried but couldn't touch the back of his head or stop crying (which is very, very uncharacteristic). I went and picked him up and didn't notice anything until the drops of blood began hitting my arm and the ground. I sopped up the blood from his noggin and realized he needed some stitches. So, we got to make a quick trip to see is old pediatrician's staff and get a staple in his head. (I got to keep the staple remover. I foresee many more opportunities to use it over the next several decades.) The odd part of his behavior was the fact that he only cried when the nurses were scrubbing out the cut and they were his best friends after they stapled him up. How many two-year-olds still like the people that cause them pain? Oh well, that's his personality.
While we were in Salt Lake Gibbie and I had our curls removed. The little one almost did better for the hair cut than I did.
We had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed getting to spend time with our families, and look forward to seeing everyone soon.

Pomegranates and Conductors

2010-12-16T15:03:00.000-08:00

As I'm sitting here eating my pomegranate and trying to think of things to tell you, my mind is drawing a complete blank. The only thought that keeps entering my wee brain is, "There's naught tha' can do." I've been watching a lot of "All Creatures Great and Small" and it's beginning to take its toll on my accent and manner of speaking. Gibbie and Demya are absolutely hooked on the show. Gibbie loves the animals and Demya loves the stories. I like the landscape and accent.
Well, the patch on the Geo's gas tank didn't hold, so it's being repaired again and as soon as that's done I'll have an easier go at teaching my lessons in Hotchkiss. Then we'll have to come up with some way of getting the heater working again.
Gibbie's being himself, being Tigger, bouncing all over the place when he's not spinning circles and falling down playing ring-a-round-the-rosies by himself. He also figured out who Santa Claus is and what he does this week. The wee monkey began giving kisses this past week. Big, sloppy, wet kisses that no-one can escape. (Not even Cady.)

Well, we hope to see everyone soon and wish all of you a Merry Christmas.
I have to go and rescue an unhappily, waking monkey.

"Hiiy Doddy" and other quaint sayings.

2010-12-01T22:56:00.000-08:00

...This and other utterances from the mouth of Babe (the pig and the curly-headed besocked-monkey [Gibbie]) shall issue forth in the forth-coming, fourth installment, of the fourth months... enough of the "fo[u]rths". Sooooo, Gibbie rode a horse, Demya and I rode a thoroughbred who was feeling kind enough to allow me on its back, and we had a great time in the Colorado Springs area.

As I said earlier, I think. At least I thought of it, so everyone should just read my mind now, I will update soon with fresh anecdotes and the update on the Geo, (it is working, but I keep breaking my tools [more about that later]) and more about what everyone wants to know...What Gibbie is up to.

'Til then, T-T-F-N.

I had to add this picture because it is so-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o cold right now as I'm writing this that I needed something to help everyone in colder clime's feel a little warmer.

Signing off,

Me

Next Time...

2010-11-09T09:33:00.000-08:00

On the upcoming post we will see if the Geo is working again after recovering from a cracked gas tank. We will also learn the inner workings of said car as we try to get the heater and fan working properly so Demya can drive it to work when it's cold.

P.S. It snowed today

Soooooooo......

2010-11-08T16:06:00.000-08:00

here's what's been goin' on.
We almost added a new fuzzy addition to our family but, unfortunately, Cady and Austin (his name) did not get along and we had to give him back the next day.
Now for some better things...

We had a busy pre-halloween week, we went to the harvest festival at Paonia High and had fun with the little carnival there. We then went to our ward's halloween party and trunk-or-treat where Gibbie came away with a pretty good haul. Sunday brought Gibbie's first official trick-or-treating which went very well. Everyone loved it when he would say "tick... or... tree... (get candy)... tank you." We went to a little halloween party hosted by one of Demya's coworkers and had a very good time visiting and watching trick or treaters come 'round and recognizing most of the kids.

Update coming soon.

2010-11-05T11:23:00.001-07:00

For the few of you that read this blog, I will update it by Sunday with pictures from all the Halloween things we went to and some brief anecdotes.
Until then,

T-T-F-N!

They're coming to take me away...

2010-10-21T15:26:00.000-07:00

Ha ha he he ho ho, to the funny farm where Gibbie conducts music all day long, and he screeches sweetly in the trees...... Enough of that for now, though a video of him performing will follow shortly. If the video doesn't work let me know.

I have been told that I am remiss in my duties of updating the blog, I didn't have any new pictures until now. So, here's what's been happening.

The combined band made it to state through their performance at Western Regionals last weekend,(fall break week, so we didn't get any kind of break) and everyone involved is thumbing their noses at all the people that said this experiment wouldn't work. I am currently teaching one guitar lesson and will hopefully add a few more as soon as my back-ground check clears with the school district. (I submitted my application to the Vision School, which is the home-school branch of the district.) Demya's choir girls did fairly well this week at the district Solo and Ensemble contest(?). Gibbie is growing up faster than we want him to. This week he started saying his own prayers at dinner and night, usually remembering to give thanks for cookies and to ask for blessings for Mommy. He is bunny-hopping and he learned how to play on the monkey bars yesterday. At the park, he fits in a little better with the three year olds than he does the the kids his own age. He moves a little too fast for them and he's too strong for most of them. He is doing really well in nursery and hasn't hurt anyone including himself.

Demya was called to be the Secretary of the Primary Presidency two weeks ago and I'm loving my calling of Priesthood Opening Exercises Music Coordinator. We also get to sing in the choir on Sundays Gibby-free, because a couple "Grandmas" take the kids for the hour after block so everyone who wants to can sing. The only catch to dropping the kids off is you have to go to choir, you can't do anything else.
Cady is still alive and kicking and now letting Rollie try to ride her like a horse. She is being very patient with this new stage in her boy's life.

He enjoys attacking himself with his stamps and was very happy to show off his "Stamp and Apple Pie Face."

Ya-hoo for hymns with Latin subtexts.

2010-09-09T21:08:00.000-07:00

I finally got my i-tunes copy of Vocal Point's "Nonstop" that has the best arrangement of "Nearer My God to Thee" I have ever heard. So that's what Gibbie and I have been listening to for the last couple months since Demya's uncle Curtis let us listen to it back in July.
Sooooo, I've been bad about the blog, again, but I do have a reason. I haven't been home much, or had internet access for several weeks. Here are some pics of Rollie for everyone. All have been taken by either Jessica or Jeff, so many thanks to them.

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The new school year is off and running a little slower than Rollie. He is now imitating animals and people and is trying to leave toddler-hood as fast as he can, while being cute about it, of course.
I'll try to update more often, and if i haven't posted in a while write me a note or comment and I'll remember to let you know what is going on over here.

Time Flew With the Coup

2010-07-28T00:08:00.000-07:00

Hello once again. Demya is at band camp for the rest of the week so I thought I better take a little time to update those who read this unfortunately inconsistent blog.
Time has just performed a coup d'eta on this summer. Two months ago school was in and Rollie was running around playing with swords and daggers and just starting to express himself with a combination of signs and words. Now he is requesting which songs we lullaby him with (excellent use of a noun as a verb if I say so myself), singing to his doll, monkeys and Cady, and throwing honest-to-goodness, full-out temper tantrums when he doesn't get his way. He is no longer just a toddler, he's turned into a little boy over the last two or three weeks. Two nights ago he stopped us in the middle of dinner to pray again, He pushed his plate away, folded his arms and said "pray." Demya then helped him say a prayer over the food and he was trying to repeat what she was saying.

Demya has begun working with the "North Fork Marching Band" and it is going well so far. This is going to be an interesting experiment in the area. They are performing selections from the "Rocky" soundtracks and it is sounding pretty good already.

July has been insanely busy and somewhat stressful. Jessica and the "Kid-O's" have spent a few weeks with us while Allen has been studying for the bar exam. It has been great having them here but there isn't quite enough room for all the energy that is in the three runners (Riley, Emma, and Rollie). While they were here this last time we decided to look into another rental property, soooo, once again we are moving. We found an extremely pet-friendly house (3 bedroom, 1 bath with big yard, basement, and separate family and sitting rooms) for rent in a neighboring town (Cedaredge) at a fantastic rate. Demya will have a longer commute to school than she did this year, but I'm closer to more guitar students and the local guitar shop (It's the only guitar shop within 60 miles) so the lesson business should pick up for me which will help us get into our own home in a few years.

Here is a picture of the house.

*All photos in this blog are courtesy of Jessica.

School's Out... (continue '80s rock song here)

2010-05-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

So, as I was sitting here eating my granola (because no-one else eats it)I remembered that I needed to update the blog at least one more time before the end of the month. School is officially over for Demya for the next 2 1/2 months except for the mandatory work-day next week, band camps this summer with the "North Fork Combined Band" (Hotchkiss and Paonia High Schools combined marching bands), and possibly a few classes over the summer.
This week Rollie decided to start blowing his own nose. He points at the tissues then starts sniffing and snuffing his nose until he gets the tissue. He wipes his nose with everything he can get his hands on.
We have been enjoying Glee on hulu and so we decided to get the 1st season on dvd last night so we could watch all the episodes we missed due to our lack of tv stations. We have one fuzzy analog channel that happens to be CBS.
Well off we go to do summer-time things now that it feels like summer and not early spring.

Has it really been a month?

2010-05-11T13:43:00.000-07:00

Soooo, I've been shirking my duty to inform all interested parties of the happenings of the Gibber-monster. This weekend we took him to watch the 7th Annual Stock-dog Trials here in town. (Think of "Babe," the movie of the sheep pig.) He loved the "Cadys" and I think he was secretly rooting for the sheep. He discovered dandelions and the act of blowing the seeds to the four corners of the yard. Gibbie and Cady are being best friends for the moment and she lets him climb all over her and give her huge hugs and head-butts.
Demya is finishing up the school year by auditioning students for her show choir and for drum major for this next year's marching band. We are performing an experiment with the Paonia marching band by combining the two bands, which are tiny, into a larger small band that has a larger selection of students in each section. We hope it will be a success and will allow us to be more competitive with the other bands in the area.
I have a new guitar student that will be starting in the next few weeks. I bought a Wales rugby ball that Gibbie and I have been tossing and kicking around for almost a week now. He thinks it's a great toy because he's never quite sure which direction it will bounce when he throws it. He constantly tries to share our new ball with Cady. Fortunately she is not interested in it or it would not have survived the week.
I will attempt to keep this blog updated in the coming months of vacation. 'Til then, Bye.

Easter

2010-04-04T16:12:00.000-07:00

So this has been a really busy week for us. Benson has been involved in a community production of "Nunsence". The musical has run from Thursday to Sunday and I think that he is very ready for it to be over. I played my horn at church on Friday. We had an Easter musical devotional, I had to be a part of it so I took Rollie and we attended that while Benson was performing at the theatre.
We went to March for Mutts this weekend with Cady. She really isn't getting around very well any more, but she managed 4 laps. She almost gave up at 2 but when we told her that she was being sponsored and that the money was going to rescue dogs like her, she managed a 3rd and 4th lap. There were prizes for this event and Cady, believe it or not, was named the most obedient. She even got a beautiful ribbon that she strutted around with for more than an hour before she let us take it off and put it up. Here is a picture.

Rollie enjoyed his Easter. We went to March for Mutts rather than an Easter Egg Hunt. I think that he enjoyed the dogs more than he would have with the Easter eggs. Here are some cute photos of our weekend.

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Rollie growing up

2010-03-22T20:33:00.000-07:00

This is Demya. I have high jacked the blog in an effort to get my mind off of the dessert show that I'm putting on tomorrow. This week Rollie really began fitting into his 18mo cloths. We are really happy about that because most of the cloths that we have for the little guy are 18mo including this amazing 3 piece suit just in time for Easter. We decided to put him in it on Sunday to rave reviews at church.
I thought that he was SOOOO cute that I had to snap a picture or two to share. He kinda resembles a line backer.

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"Hen Wlad fy Nhadau" or "Sunshine and Spring Weather at Last"

2010-03-15T17:07:00.000-07:00

Yes, that is a real title for a song and no the latter is not a traslation. Hen Wlad fy Nhadau is the Welsh National Anthem and is more correctly translated as "Land of Our Fathers" and Gibbie and I have been listening to it and other Welsh songs because they keep the Gibber-toss's attention longer than english, spanish, and italian lyrics.
We've been able to start our walks again and have enjoyed rather mild weather in our neck of the mesas.
Now for what everyone has been wanting... pictures of Rollie.

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My full-time job

2010-03-07T14:22:00.000-08:00

Employer:The Terrifying Rolliecady Monster

Position:King of the World

Location:Hotchkiss, CO

Description:I rule my own little kingdom and defend it against the terror of the dreadful rolliecady monster. This horrendous beast screeches at incomprehensible pitches and decibel levels while tottering about knocking things over with a combined effort of feet, hands, paws and tail. The devastation leveled on my kingdom daily would have any other socio-politcal leader begging for mercy or abandoning their office, however, I don't have that option. I must make do with appeasing the rolliecady on an hourly basis until my queen gets home and separates the rolliecady into a rather adorable boy and his favorite friend, Miss Demenor (Cady for short).

Refereeing

2010-02-24T12:06:00.000-08:00

Last night I (Benson)got to ref one of four mats at the middle school's wrestling night because of a few miscommunications with others and a general lack of referees in the area. Amazingly I still remember most of the hand signals and calls after 12 years of not refereeing. Demya is keeping busy with her bands and choirs and I think she is starting to enjoy nursury when there are more than 2 kids in there.

for the news that everyone else wants:

Rollie is now coloring and singing, often at the same time, and he is enthralled with books of every type. He is also turning into a little grappler because of the wrestling he has watched. He has tried to throw kids, ankle pick them, leg-lace them, and generally terrorize any kid within six months of his age because of his trying to practice the moves he has seen.
He has been my little critic for the marching band show I am writing for Demya. If the music gets to dissonant or complicated he will screetch at me until it sound right to him. We've had to make a few compromises for the music to work as planned but he's always been pretty good at discerning the difference between good music and schlop.

Until next time...

the promised pictures

2010-02-11T21:27:00.000-08:00

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I hope everyone enjoys the slide-show.

"... for the longest time..."

2010-02-02T14:22:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I'm not very good at keeping the blog updated. Here are the last three months a la "Reader's Digest Condensed Novel" style. November brought my birthday, the end of football season, and the beginning of wrestling season. It also gave us Thanksgiving, a month without Cady, and a walking and crashing Rollie. December came and went with Demya's birthday, Christmas with its accompanying trips to Salt Lake and Las Vegas, and more of Rollie running around, knocking himself out on the treadle sewing machine, and chasing Cady, Fritz, Mars, and completely terrorising Ceres (the new yapping puppy [a chihuahueno]). January brought us back to Hotchkiss with a running Rollie and an insane Cady. Unfortunately we now have to find a new home for Cady because she reacted to Rollie tripping and falling by biting him. Fortunately Rollie doesn't seem to be affected by the bite at all and still loves to be around the dog, and the bruises and scratches are almost gone after just a week.

Hopefully I can get some pictures and more info up for everyone soon.

Latest and Greatest Photo-op

2009-11-02T11:21:00.000-08:00

It's finally here, what you have all been waiting for, me (benson), and my supernatural ability to proceed with an interminable, fantastic run-on sentence leading into recient and "antiquated" (over a month old) pictures of Rollie and, possibly, info of what we've been doing. So, first things first, our time-lapse story of the previous months (because i am so incredibly bad at maintaining the blog). If anyone wants more up-to-date going-on's, give us a jingle. Sooooooooooooo...

Gib-gab has spent the past 3 months trying to figure out the whole balance thing for walking and has nearly accomplished the horrific (for me) act of walking on his own. While he has thus been engaged, Demya has been working at keeping up with her job of maintaining some semblance of anti-chaos in the realm of middle-school and high school bands and high school choirs. Not an easy feat considering that most school districts at least have separate teachers for band and choir if one teacher works in two separate schools. It's been interesting trying to balance marching band regional and state competitions, vocal solo and ensemble competitions and preparing for the requisite choir and band concerts.

I have been working on getting back in shape before my birthday and wrestling season. Other than that I am a very boring person, I haven't even touched my guitars in several months.

Heeeerrrrre's Rollie!!!!

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Murdock Update

2009-10-16T20:45:00.000-07:00

Here is one of the promised pictures. This was at the parade before the Western Slope Invitational marching band competition on October 3rd. The gentleman who took it was there to get pictures of his son's band from Montezuma-Cortez area and couldn't resist getting a shot of Rollie enjoying the music.

First I have to apologize for the lack of pictures. They will come shortly, but we are in Co. Springs visiting my grandparents this week and we forgot our camera. We have a number of great pictures to share.
Boy, have I been busy these last couple of months. I often feel like I am just barely keeping my head above water. The students are good kids and they are normally very respectful. I have many students that I just adore. I have high school band, 2 high school choirs, and 2 bands in the middle school. That is a wide range of students and lesson plans. I am having a lot of fun with the music classes that I do have.
Benson is keeping busy keeping up with Rollie and me. I have him come in to help me at least once a week in the band and choirs. I honestly don't know what I would do without him. He keeps me sane and keeps track of the little things for me. He has been going on long walks with Rollie and is trying to get into shape for wrestling season (he is going to be an assistant coach this season).
Rollie is growing by leaps and bounds. I swear that last week he grew a whole inch. One day he fit into his clothes, and the next day they were high waters. He now has 6 teeth and is getting ever closer to walking. He loves books and his grandma Murdock brought him some really great ones when she and Grandpa Murdock came to visit last week. He loves them!! He will pull them out of the bookshelf and look at them or bring them over to Mommy or Daddy to read. He plays peek-a-boo all the time and on the occasional game will say "peeeee-a- booooo" ADORABLE. He sings and jabbers all the time. Benson has even nick named him "Gib-Gab." He will sing along with the band and the choirs if he thinks that they are doing well and scream if they are not performing the music correctly. We are so very lucky to have this sweet, funny, cute, little guy in our lives.
We are all doing well and as I have already said we will post pictures later. Keep us in your prayers. We thank you for all of your support!

Hello Again, Hello...

2009-08-29T11:28:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the delay in new information and pictures of Rollie, we've been BUSY. So, recap of the last month and a half. Demya got the band and choir director position at Hotchkiss High School and Hotchkiss K-8 School and has been running non-stop trying to get her rooms together, Marching Band started, and pieces picked out for the choirs. Rollie and I have been helping her do this and we've been taking 2-5 mile walks up and down the mesas that surround town. Cady is her normal cranky self but is slowly adjusting to life without Mars to play with. The day before we moved to Hotchkiss, CO we had Rollie's baby blessing. Thank you to everyone that came and we understand that we gave rather short notice for everyone that wasn't able to come. The week we arrived in Hotchkiss Rollie decided it was time to officially put in his first two teeth. He's been biting everything, including Cady, ever since. He has also decided he is going to walk as soon as he gets this whole "balance thing" down and has been practicing pulling himself up on everything and everyone, Cady included to her substantial chagrin. Demya's Marching Band kids have fallen in love with Rollie and steal him from each other every time he comes to a rehearsal. Tooki, the gerbil, has been given to a safer home where he'll get the attention he needs. The week after we arrived in town Hotchkiss hosted the Delta County Fair. About 80% of Demya's students were somehow involved with the fair through 4-H, FFA, and their families submitting stock and crafts for the exhibitions. The fair closed with a parade that Rollie and Cady thoroughly enjoyed, though Cady was unsure of the "very tall, strange-smelling, funny-looking dogs" or, as we know them, horses. She was sure they were going to eat her and Rollie in one gulp. Forunately, everyone survived the parade.

Demya survived the first 3 days of school, and I survived the last week and half of Rollie wanting his mommy and not getting her. We came to an understanding of eachother after the first week, he wouldn't screetch at me and I wouldn't put him is crib and walk away. Things are much more pleasant now.

Now that we know where the local internet hot-spots are we'll keep the blog more up-to-date.

We're moving!!!!

2009-07-04T08:06:00.000-07:00

I got a job!!!! This week we went up to Colorado with dual purpose: to see my grandparents, and to meet with the principal of Hotchkiss high school. On Thursday evening, I met with Mr. Beard and was quite ecsited to stay an extra day to be able to meet with Mrs. Coats, the K-8 principal. This job is much like what I did as a student teacher. I am exsighted to take on the job as music director in this cute small town. It has every possiblity of becoming a home for our little family. I think that we have a place to rent there as soon as we are ready to move there. AND if and of you are band people you know that I need to be getting there ASAP because band camp needs to start here in a couple of weeks and I need to have things picked out and ready for the year before the school year starts. I have my work cut out for me, but I think that I can do it.
Thank you all for your prayers on our part!!

HOT Summer Days

2009-06-26T09:54:00.000-07:00

Well I must confess that the reason that I haven't written in a while is that its just too darn HOT in Vegas to turn on the computer in my room. I know that I have a computer that I can use in the den, but that requires taking Rollie in there and well, now that he is mobile that is kinda scary. Oh ya Rollie is learning to crawl. It kinda crazy, but that kid is determined to be mobile. He's almost got it; he can scoot across the floor quite efficiently and get to just about anything that interests him. He is quite the mover and shaker. His technique is to get up on to all fours (feet down) and then to launch himself forward or to swim across the floor.
He's also been pretty demanding of my time. Right now his is sitting in his jumper crying at me, demanding tat I let him out to climb on me. He now says "Mama" on a pretty regular basis and we were thrilled the other day when he managed a "Dada", though normally he greets Daddy with a "rarrr". The other day he said "yes". Boy they grow up soooooo fast. These are some of the pictures that I have take recently.

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2009-05-21T19:59:00.000-07:00

Ok I have been a bit of a slacker the last few weeks, but that is because we have been working really hard getting applications out for me. Rollie has been growing steadily and is now 14 lbs 10 oz and 24.5 " long. That makes him short but thick. He's not fat or in baby terms chubby, he's just really thick. We love seeing him grow and change. He rolls over both ways quite frequently and was all over Grandma Murdock's floor last week. Oh, we went to Utah two weeks ago for Nikki's graduation from the U of U's Math Education Department. It was really fun to visit with family. Grandma and Grandpa Murdock just love having Rollie around.
Here are a few of the pictures that we've taken lately.

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Stick Figure Family

2009-05-01T23:15:00.001-07:00

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2009-04-26T14:37:00.000-07:00

Hello! Once again I've stolen the blog from Demya for a while. As part of our nightly routine Rollie and I watch a couple of music videos then we read. We were able to get a little bit of footage of our little metal-head enjoying his favorite song, "Valhalla," by Blind Guardian. Hope you enjoy.

Rollie's Easter picture

2009-04-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

Ok this is on my sister's blog, and I stole it from her, but I loved it so much that I had to share. This is Rollie's Easter outfit. Isn't it cute!

Exercise and Easter

2009-04-15T11:15:00.000-07:00

Well Benson and I have challenged each other to get in shape this year. I gain a bit of weight with Rollie and I want it off, and so did Benson... I have been enjoying working out with my mother's DDR and walking with the dogs. I hope to keep it up and, of course, increase my intensity level.

Rollie sleeps from about 10 pm to 10 am. I know that seems like an odd bed time for a little tike, but I REALLY like it this way. I can wake up in the morning and exercise, eat, and shower before he gets up in the morning, and I don't have to worry about putting him to bed in the middle of my favorite TV programs. It makes it so much easier to worry about myself for just a little while. Right now I enjoy this schedule, however, it will have to change when I start working in the fall :(.

Rollie was awake for his first Easter on Sun. He was really good though church. His cousins Riley and Emma, and second cousins Weldon and Tabetha came over for Easter dinner. We all brought something to the dinner and it was a lot of fun. It is a blessing to have family near by. If you want to see pictures of the dinner, you'll have to check out the Leavitt's blog. I have the link on my blog so it isn't too hard.

Solid Dinner

2009-04-07T23:31:00.000-07:00

This week Rollie has been really busy!! He has started rolling over both from the front to the back and the back to the front. The first few times he got over from the front to the back it scared him, but now I think he thinks it feels cool. He also has been sitting up on his own more and more. Before we know it he'll be an unsupported sitter. He has learned the joys of grabbing things: my plate, his crunching toys, a good rattle, and yes, my hair. (sigh)
The last few days I have had to fend Rollie off of my food (that grabbing thing again). All of the books and things say that developmentally he's ready for food so we decided to go high chair shopping in preparation for him to start eating. We went to Children's Orchard witch is a second hand children's store. They have some of the nicest things for a great deal. I think that we found a nice one for only 34$. Until this week, I thought he was too young for food other than milk, but he seemed so keen this week that we thought we'd try some milky rice cereal. He was so cute after the first few bites, he started getting mad a Benson because Daddy wasn't moving fast enough. We even got a picture of him shoving his face into the spoon in an attempt to get it faster. He was pretty cute, though in the end, I think he ended up wearing as much as he ate. Here are some pictures...

Rolie's bath time

2009-04-07T14:10:00.001-07:00

Make a Smilebox photobook

Update

2009-04-03T13:33:00.000-07:00

Okay, so its been a while since I wrote last. My dad chastised me yesterday for not writing, SO I thought that I should let everyone know how we are doing. Last week was pretty good. Rollie had a photo shoot with a professional photographer. While the photographer was trying to get a good picture of Rollie on his tummy (he's so cute at 3 months he can already hold his head up all the time and on his tummy he comes up on his hands) he rolled over for the first time. We couldn't get him to stay on his tummy after that, but the photographer got some cute shots of him doing other things.
Recently Mom bought Guitar Hero World Tour for the X box for the family. It comes with the guitar, drums, and mic. We have been enjoying it immensely since it was bought. Ben and I watched Emma for a little bit last week and Emma discovered the drums to the game. At first I was worried that she would break something, but she picked up the sticks made sure she had them the right way, and started to hit the drums. She was hitting the drums not the drum stand and not the furniture, it was really cute!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We have Jessica's family over a lot so most of my photos have her kids in them too. Enjoy!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Rollie's Trip to Utah

2009-03-22T22:47:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Travels

2009-03-06T05:28:00.000-08:00

Most of you know that our little family has been traveling a lot these last few weeks. We went to Arizona just a few weeks ago and we just got back from Colorado yesterday. I have been going to teacher job fairs in the hopes that I can find a good job in the fall. With Rollie we need a job with a good steady pay check, and I'm the one with a degree that can assure that kind of pay. Going all the way to Colorado had another perk however, we got to spend the weekend with my grandparents. My grandma was so thrilled to get to spend time with her great grandson. Rollie got to meet his Great Aunt Kim (I was happy to share him) because she was also in town. And his Great Uncle Curtis and family also came down from Black Forest to visit us twice. I forgot to take very many pictures, but I'll share what I did get.

Rollie with his Great Aunt Kim

Rollie with Great Grandma McBride
Rollie laughing at Great Grandpa

Rollie's Laugh

2009-02-24T17:27:00.000-08:00

Well, Rollie had his first real laugh yesterday! I caught him in a good mood (he had just recently pooped through all of his cloths) and I had the camera handy. I thought I'd share how cute the little guy's laugh is.

As you can tell he's got a really sweet spirit. We are blessed! He's cute like this most of the time AND he sleeps through the night most nights. He does have a rough time at about 10 every night (Poor Daddy), but for the most part he is a doll.

sleeping baby, happy doggie

2009-02-20T13:45:00.000-08:00

Oh what a beautiful thing it is when the baby sleeps through the stupid mutts' barking. The dogs have been on one for over a week now; Cady sleeps in then spends the rest of the day being a cranky b... female dog, Fritz barks from 6:30 am til about 10:00 when Cady wakes up, and Mars is still a klutzy puppy with a penchant for stealing burp cloths, shoes, and one of anything that is part of a pair. The dogs didn't appreciate being left behind while we went to Arizona for Demya's interview in Chino Valley, and job fair in Tucson. During the four days we were gone Cady pouted, Fritz moped, and Mars dug a hole in the wall. Luckily, life is returning to normal for everyone.

Interviews

2009-02-10T11:13:00.000-08:00

So I have a music education degree. I didn't get hired last year for various reasons, but that turned out okay because now I have time to take care of my Rollie. However, the family needs a steady source of income, so I need to go back to work in the fall. This does not break my heart at all, I finally be doing what I always wanted from the very start of college and I'm existed to try my hand at directing bands. I LOVED my student teaching, I hope that I will find a position like that one.
I'm starting the interviewing process this week and to tell the truth I'm dead scared. A lot has happened in my life since last May and I don't know if I'm going to come off as passionate or as knowledgeable as I was then. I haven't really thought about music, teaching, or pedagogy since my recital in June. Mom says that when I start to talk about it and the reality of the job prospects sets in that the passion will come back, but I'm a worry wart.
Wish me luck this weekend at Chino and in Tucson!!

2009-02-06T00:06:00.001-08:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Camelsnot

2009-02-04T23:33:00.000-08:00

Today has been an adventure in the joys of parenthood (i.e. screaming baby, copious amounts of "cottage cheese", and suctioning beautiful yellow boogers out of the sinuses of said screaming baby.) At least if they're screaming, they're breathing. On the bright side, I, Benson, got to work today subbing for a Biology class at the Northwest Career and Technical Acadamy (where my mother-in-law teaches) and subsequently missed the post-7am pre-1pm hysterics, after that not so lucky! Good thing Rollie has such a sweet personality and is normally an absolute keeper or we would have traded him in for a newer model. As it is, he's asking for a refund and saying he didn't sign up for all the crap I've done to him today.
¡Ójala, tomorrow will be better!

My first blog

2009-02-04T10:23:00.000-08:00

I have never been much of a on-line communications person, but since I have so many people that want to watch my son grow up... I thought I'd try to be domestic.
This is our family I'm Demya Peterson Murdock. I was born in Fort Defiance, AZ, but I was raised in Las Vegas.
Roland Benson, my husband, goes by Benson, He was born and raised in Salt Lake City. We met as music people at Weber State University in Ogden, UT. Benson plays the guitar and I play the french horn. We both graduated last year Benson with a BA in Spanish and I have a music education degree.
We have a dog that we rescued named Cady. She received her CGC certification last May and we are very proud of her.

We recently welcomed Roland Jack (we call him Rollie) to our family. We are curently living in Las Vegas with my parents.