Richardson Family Christmas Party!!

Last night was our Big Family Christmas Party!

We had so much fun lots of food and presents. We even had a special visitor!!!

Madison asked for clothes (surprise, surprise)

Hunter asked for ????? he wouldn' t tell so I hope Santa knows!!

Girls wait for there turn to tell Santa what to bring.

Grandma loves watching the grandkids enjoy the fun!

Kolton was unsure when he asked I know he is looking for green colored bills, in large amounts!

Connor did not get a chance to ask being the working boy that he is he has to work.

We had a lot of fun and ended with a white elephant gift exchange it was lots of fun and all took home something fun!

Sites of Philly

This is Constitution Hall where the Constitution was signed, I think it is amazing how well designed it was.

I went to see the Liberty bell and as I was going through the security check point the guard said you can't go in there with that gun. Well I knew he wasn't talking to me because I didn't have a gun. So I just looked at him and kept walking so he stepped toward me and said I said you can't go in with that gun, so I gave him a look that told him he was talking to the wrong person I didn't have a gun and just as I was about to tell him that the guard next to him started laughing and said you have to spit out your gum before you go in. Ok so I have a hearing problem.

This is the real liberty bell above, I was only trying to still the impostor before the guard came, thanks Kim for saving me.

This is the city center in the middle of Philly it is so big it wraps around a whole block, I can imagine the old day's when they had vender's in there and the hustle and bustle of the city center I bet it was amazing.

Some of our Caribbean Fun!

Day one of playing in Puerto Rico, Beach at Dorado
Rain Forest in Peurto Rico with my Sister Jackie, her husband Kevin, and Jeff and me!
I love this light house on the beach in Dorado Puerto Rico
This was Jeff enjoying the waves and water in Antigua

My Caribbean hair style was great 0 time was spent on my hair after I finely gave in and let the natives braid it for me.

This is the house I tried to get Jeff to buy, we are still in negotiations. If you get him to buy it for me for Christmas you can come stay with us :-)

One of my favorite things about the cruise was the sunsets off our balcony, thought you might like to enjoy it too.

Fall Family Outing

Sister Fest 2009

What a day/night/day!

I have five sisters including my mom who is always included as she should be in our sister Fest outing. This year we were able to also have my niece and baby come and enjoy the festivity's. This year we returned to Park City for laughing and shopping and eating and eating and eating!!! We are lucky that we always have so much fun with each other, we started off with stopping for a bite to eat at a great barbecue place that like all others feed us way to much. So who wants to share always starts off with trying to find the sister that wants to share or who you can get that is in the mood for the same type of food you are. For example steak I can't share because mine is the only one that is well done, it will usually take quiet a while for us to get our order together because of all the laughing that is going on.

After we ate we headed down main street to shop, I am usually the leader of the pack shopping wise; my love of a specialty shop with a bargain always pushes me forward.

After shopping we headed back to the condo. Now a little off the subject these sister fest were not started by us we have my dad's sisters that started the tradition we call them the Aunts. The weird thing is that I can already see our nieces and nephews calling us that too.

This year are condo was donated to us by The Aunts who had been out having a sister fest of there own.

This is where all the fun begins we did deep conditions and lots of eating and laughing until we where up until after one. Now the sleeping arrangements are always fun, I am the only one that can sleep with Chris because she snores (and knows it, thank goodness my husband snores). The pull out beds tended to be a little lumpy so Chris slept in the red crib!! (two arm chairs pushed together)

When we wake up getting ready involves trying on each others newiest makeup find or hair care product and of course lots of giggling.

We finished off by shopping and seeing who could find the greatest deals.

I always look forward to the time when we get together and just really enjoy each other. I am so lucky to have sisters that all enjoy playing with me, Love ya sis's.

My Brother Mark

I just want to say I appreciate everyone condolences over the last week. For those that don't know my brother Mark passed away last Tuesday after suffering a heart attack the day before. Complications from that heart attack caused his death, this was a great surprise to our family and we have felt great pain at his loss. We are grateful to have our belief in an eternal family, that will allow us to know that we will see him again when the time is right. We will have that time to be together as a family untied in heaven. Thank you again for your love and compassion at our loss but know that we are alright and have been blessed to be comforted by the Lord at this time of loss.

Mark the Great

Mark the Great!

“Run from side to side and fall on the ground I will shake the camera then when we watch it will look like an earthquake.” or
“Jump off this haystack backwards and then run backwards and you will look like a superhero when we watch it.”
These were just a few of the special effects that my brother used to become the legendary Mark the Great. Having Mark as a brother was like living in the world of fantasy. There was rarely a day that went by with out laughing hysterically as he performed in his one man funny show, or directed his family and friends in the soon to be next neighborhood hit movie. I grew up looking at my brother and believing that he could lift rocks with ease and throw them, over his shoulder.
As I grew and realized that the massive rocks were Styrofoam and that his movies were full of more special effects then reality I still looked at him in amazement. I watched as he took on an instant family and made it his own, that same year he selfishly turned his only transportation to my first car the day I turned sixteen. His power grew by leaps and bounds as he touched countless life’s, his church callings led him to develop more powers and grow stronger with each one. I was never surprised to hear people rant and rave about how my brother selflessly gave to there family in one way or another. He went without, so that his family wouldn’t he gave what he had to others that needed it more. He never looked for thanks but quietly left and wished you well. Even when in extreme pain his thoughts were only of others needs. I watched in amazement as he became stronger but it was each act of kindness and selflessness that developed his powers.
On Tuesday June 30th 2009 he again amazed me as he showed strength in a fight at the time was for his life, as I look back I realize that he was stronger than any living person could be and Mark the Greats powers were needed to serve in the most great way.
He has always been my superhero and I know that when I meet him again I will still be amazed at how much his powers have grown!

My Big Brother MARK THE GREAT!!!!
Annette Richardson Murphy
-sister-

Fathers Day

Wow how time does fly and you wonder what holiday will soon pass you by, well Fathers day came and passed just yesterday and like the whirlwind of life I thought I would take a few minutes to post some pictures that my sister took of my family on that day. Thanks Chris!!

Hunter's Baptism

Hunters Baptism what a day

It seems like yesterday when he was born but now he is 8 already, it was a great day. We had family come from all around even his grandparents from California.

He said the water was cold and his feet almost surfaced the water but his dad was fast enough to prevent a repeat. His older Brother Connor was able to be a witness along with his Uncle Mike. His Grandma Richardson said the opening prayer and his Grandma Nancy said the closing prayer. His Uncle Mark gave a great talk on Baptism and his Aunt Susan gave a great talk on the gift of the Holy Ghost. His Sister led the singing. But most impressive was his dad’s special blessing to follow the guidance of the gospel and keep the word of wisdom, serve a mission and marry in the temple, love and respect others and honor your family. His father’s words of wisdom were inspirational and prompted by the spirit.

Then his Brother Kolton was set apart as a teacher by his father with another great blessing. He was given the calling of a teacher and the guidance by his father to be kind to others and obey the word of wisdom, listen to the spirit. His father’s guidance will take him far in life. These where the highlights of the special day for all.

Has it really been that long??/ Connor Prom

Wow life gets so busy that a week is really a month and you turn around and months have passed, it amazes me that it has been months since my last post. So I have a choice catch you all up or just move on, I am afraid if I try to catch everyone up it will be a ten page post. So lets just start back with recent things.

So Connor went to Prom last Saturday that was really wired, their is no way I have a child that old, after all I am only 27 at least for another decade. I almost felt as if it was to be me getting ready for prom, but I am glad that he gets to go through the fun and enjoyment that High School Offers. Enjoy Connor it all changes tooo sooon (am I right or what!!)

What does First day back to school after Winter break, 17* and a flagpole have in common??

I dropped the kids off to school today, a little late and with the hustle and bustle of being back to school after two weeks off we were a little out of the swing of things. They ran in and enjoyed there first day back to school but like the normal Utah winter it was cold only about 17* and of courses it snowed and snowed. I didn't realize it was going to snow and had planned on letting them walk home. When I realized the snow I left work in a hurry and told them to hang tight I would be there soon, it was only 30min away and I was half way there. When what to my amazement a phone call from my only daughter M, she informed me that a favorite Christmas Story had just played out. H had stuck his tongue to a flag pole and with the help of his brother K they had pulled him free and left behind some tongue and blood was everywhere. I told them to make a snowball and put it on his tongue, and continued on my way. Well luck was not on my side and the snow had increased and my 15 min turned into 35. About 15 after the alarming phone call, another came from M and was informed that they had not put the snow on his tongue but had him standing under the blow dryer in the bathroom to try to dry up the blood. About this time I was pushing my luck with the snow and couldn't go any faster than I was. I said that wasn't the best idea put snow on it, M said it is bleeding so much I feel like I am going to throw up! I told M to pull it together we all have blood and that the snow would help slow down the bleeding. I hung up and decided to call my Dentist and see if it was appropriate to bring him there or take him to the ER if the loss of tongue was enough to need attention. He said bring him there if it was needed, feeling a little more in control and like I had at least made headway in the steps to help take care of him; I continued to the school and arrived to see a crying H walking toward the car with his tongue sticking out of his mouth. (remind you of something?)
I looked his tongue over carefully and Thankfully the tongue that was left behind was only a few taste buds. By the time of his Kuikido it was forgotten and he seemed close to being healed at least he was able to eat chocolate chip cookies with out a complaint.
What a great start to the New Year!
Now out of my 4 children H probably the only one that has not seen a Christmas Story so when a kid said hey someone go stick there tongue on the flagpole he had no clue that the I will do it that he said would lead to such a great memory!