Our Manila trip

This was our first Asian Pacific Conference, representing missionaries from the Philippines and Mongolia. There were 9 MK's (5 girls, 4 boys). We had a wonderful time, and can't wait to do this again next year. Below are pics of our trip....

Anna, Carly, Jesse, Makenzie, Caleb, Jamin, Avery and Lindsey

(missing in action-Isaac)

The MK's enjoyed the little playground outside the guest house in Manila.

Our first meal....TACO BELL!!! Yummy! It doesn't have quite the menu that the states does, but it sure satisfied the craving!!

Who's the king? (This is Jamin's favorite place) He was trying to go for his record of 16 Burger King chicken fingers, but he only made it to 11.

Today is also a birthday celebration for one of our MK's.

Okay, one would think all we did was eat, but....ok....we did. We are enjoying Chili's (which we don't have in Cebu, Legaspi or even in Mongolia).

During our worship time, we brought the kids in to sing with us. Jess has always been a fan of singing!

Robert helps with worship time.

During our time together, Makenzie Crocker has a birthday. Well, we are having a party (hat and all) but where are the kids? They are all outside playing, laughing at us because we are the ones looking silly, not them:)

Jamin and Daddy at the bowling alley.

Tony Crocker, Jamin and Robert

One of the grandparents sent baking goods for Valentine's Day. The kids enjoyed decorating cupcakes.

The Allen Family

The Crocker Family

Us :)

Jesse messing around with Caleb

Jamin and Carly have been friends for 5 yrs.

Jamin also made a new friend, Lindsey.....

Jamin trying to imitate The King.

Jamin carrying Avery.....

The Striped-Shirt Gang

(Isaac, Jamin, Caleb and Jesse)

Our new baby cousin!

Introducing, Ryleigh Nicole Bradford!! She is pictured with Christy and David, new proud parents. We didn't get to be there...and we can't wait to see them all once we get back to the states while on furlough!

She gave us all a scare.....she has 2 holes in her heart, but the doctors seem to think that she will be fine....that the holes will enclose. They are keeping close watch over Ryleigh. Don't sleeping babies just look adorable!!!!

Here is her brother, Clayton. He is enjoying his new little sister. He looks like he will be a great babysitter, and a big help to mom and dad!

Of course, what girl can't go home from the hospital without something cute on her head! Jamin asked, "Why do they have to put that junk on her head?"

Grandma Bruce with her new grandbaby

My sister told me that Ryleigh is a great baby....only cries when she is hungry or tired.

"Thank you God for watching over little Miss Ryleigh. Please heal her heart completely, so that she can have a healthy, normal life."

Jesse's 8th birthday

Get a look at my handsome 8 yr old. Man, how time flies! We had a very low key birthday, including chocolate icing/yellow cake for breakfast (a Murphy tradition), and a birthday letter from President Bush. We had an awesome contact with a guy in the Armed Forces who worked this out for us, as a surprise. Because we are about to go to the states, we decided the throw the boys a 'real' birthday party with their cousins and friends...so no party here. Oh yeah, he also had p2000 ($40) hanging from his bunk bed when he woke up. We told him he could use it on Disneyworld, but he wants to save it.....imagine that!

At this point, Jesse had just gotten through reading the letter to him. He was really surprised! I am just glad he knows who the President of the United States is!!!

Here are my Murphy men...showing off the letter!

The "letter"

Jesse enjoying his birthday breakfast!

Other December pics

Jamin and Jesse got a special surprise from a church in Jacksonville, Florida. Now it looks by the pic that all Jess got was snacks, but this wasn't all for him :) The boys were both loaded down with gifts as well.

They each got a gameboy game, books, clothes, bath paint, cars, and a ton of other things. I think they got a better Christmas this day than on Christmas Day with us;)

Robert and Connie, Dec 29, 2006


Jesse and his friend Miguel

This is Ube icecream. Jesse thought it would be grape flavored, obviously it wasn't by the look on his face;)




Peter grew 2 more arms and legs (Jess is behind him)

Jamin and Jess with neighborhood friends (pic above and below)

Christmas in the Philippines (and other goofy pics)

This outside tree in Cebu City was at least 5 stories tall.

Cebu City Capitol building decorated

The boys decorate our tree right after Thanksgiving!

Jesse participates also. I had a hard time getting them to do this, they were too occupied with their ps2!

For the first time in 14 years of marriage, I got to decorate our stairway with garland and lights. I was super-pumped to get to do this.

This was all the decorating we did outside, but at least it's a start. Most the time we just forgot to turn the lights on, but once we remembered, it put everyone in the mood for Christmas. Ok, so maybe it was just me that got in the mood, haha!

My three favorite men....Jamin was in a 'mood' at the time of pic taking.
Aren't they growing up?

I always get griped at for not taking pics, so I allowed this one to be shot. We had just opened up Christmas gifts and eaten chocolate birthday cake (our breakfast) for Jesus. That's alittle tradition we started when the boys came along. We had a great Christmas! And most of all, the boys seem content with what they got and didn't ask 'is that all?'

Jamin loves to collect bugs, and I get tired of glass jars all over the house that he forgets about. Poor little bugs always die, so he got this bug habitat (bug house) for him (from his MeeMaw).

Both Jess and Jamin are Pokemon fanatics, so both received 2 new Pokemon gameboy games plus strategy books to go along.

Jesse's most recent fascination has been with Star Wars. He watches all 6 of the movies over and over, plus has a ps2 game. So we upgraded to a Lego Star Wars 2 ps2 game, and also he got the light saber (from Meemaw) for Christmas. By the way, the boys got money from their other grandparents that they are going to spend at Disneyworld next year. They found out about the trip Christmas eve! I think I am more excited to go than they are!

Jamin tried out his new African Adventure Zoo Tycoon pc game.

Jess is playing the new Lego Star Wars 2 ps2 game. They all (including their friends) played this all day long Christmas day....well, except for the 20 min break that ps2's have to have every 2 hours:)

It's nothing unusual to have 4-6 kids, not including our boys, in our house during holidays and weekends. Every once in awhile, i have to shoo them all outside to go play. It's a shame that they are stuck inside all day especially when it's so beautiful outside. We are going to have to set limits, otherwise they will never get any exercise!

Peter and Jamin-Peter is our adopted child. No, not really! But he's at our house every single day. He is Korean and is learning to like American food. We let him eat with us every once in awhile, especially when I fix spaghetti, or we make pizza. Peter had his first slice of pizza ever at our house. It was cute to watch him eat it upside and backwards.

Our birthday cake for Jesus!

This poster was at one of our malls. We all cracked up laughing, and so I captured Jess doing that very thing! Doesn't it look real?

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Other pics.....

This was taken the beginning of December, when he pulled a loose tooth. Jess is not afraid to yank his own teeth, thank goodness!!!

Jess, before he got his hair all buzzed off again! He is such a ham, and never gets tired of me snapping shots. This is also the latest pic of him right after he pulled out his 2nd tooth in December alone. (both teeth up top on either side of his 2 front teeth are now gone). The 2nd tooth, he twisted and jerked around....I had to walk out of the room. It was literally making me ill. He was enjoying that fact!

Jamin was having fun with different hats the other day.




It scares me every time the boys get on the motorcycle with Dad, but I know they really enjoy it! Robert has had a motorcycle ever since he was Jamin's age. Having a motorcycle has been a lifesaver here, because of the awful traffic. These bikes can whiz in and out of traffic like a van can't.