Lauren's 24th birthday was last week. A few days before, I stopped at the mall on my way home from work to pick up a few little extras for her gift. It is unusual for me not to rush home with a million places to be so I naturally enjoyed my leisure time and shopped for a while. I stopped off at the grocery store on my way home to pick up something for dinner.


When I got home, Ryan was asleep in the chair. I woke him up and asked him to help me carry in the groceries. He groggily walked towards me and said, "I can't, I'm stuck in handcuffs." He was in his boxers and nothing else.....other than the handcuffs. I asked him how long he had been like that? He never did give me an answer so I am assuming it had been a while.


Ryan received those handcuffs a while back and was always able to get himself out of them using a bobby pin. When he first got them he entertained himself for weeks, handcuffing himself to poles, treadmills, rungs of chairs etc, anything difficult so he could come away looking like Houdini. Apparently, he lost his touch. Eventually Maggie found the missing key and life was good again. I was thankful that I didn't have to go to my local police station with my naked boy in handcuffs.


Ryan let me know Wednesday morning that he had dress rehearsal for the school play (that I knew nothing about) I asked him what part he was playing and his response is, "I am a "cameo."

I am hoping he meant that he had a small non speaking part and that I didn't need to whip up a costume that resembled a woman's broach?? Why are my perfect children never the star of the play? I have seen more plays where Murphy kids are; towns people, chorus, sheep, trees, wood cutters, umpa loompas, shepherds, dancers and tech support. Cameo is a new one!!


Sam and Lauren are the same age until the 24th. It took Sam years to wrap her brain around the concept of being older...yet having a later birthday. The first 7 or so years of her life, she though I was scamming her. "How could Lauren's birthday possible be before mine, when I am older?" Now that she is a Wash U grad and a Certified Public Accountant...I think she's got it. I think????


The birthday seasons are beginning, Shannon will be 18 in November, Erin will be 20 in Dec, Ryan will be 13 in Jan and Kelsey will be 16 in Jan. Three big birthday's 13, 16 and 18...well according to Erin's ID....I think she may have already celebrated her 21st??????







Dave is currently on the Mo River completing a 340 mile race in a kayak...why do you ask??? Well, I'm not real sure. I talked to him this morning, he didn't sound too good. He should finish around 4 AM . I guess it would be rude if I asked him to take a cab home so I could sleep in??



Kelsey has a Cross Country Meet after school, Shannon is cheering at a volleyball game, Maggie has practice and Ryan is starring in the school play. I need to start a rent a parent program. I wonder if Dave could possibly pick up the pace a bit and paddle a tad bit faster...I could really use his help tonight.











I was greeted again this morning by a special surprise from Seamus in my bathroom. He loves to leave me little piles of love. Since I had my intestinal illness I insist that he is taunting me. He is purposely rubbing it in that his GI tract is A..OK. I was just not cut out to be the mother of a puppy mill animal. Children handcuffed to furniture...I can deal with that...Children wearing tight leopard print dresses...well OK that wasn't fun....but stepping in dog poop every morning?? that could make a girl crazy.