Lauren has moved back home, she is moving to New Your at the end of December and didn't want to waste her money on rent and food when she could eat all of my food and stay at my house for free. I honestly don't know how I ever survived without all of her parenting advice. She knows so much about raising kids, she should think about being a child psychologist. She is a natural. I can't wait until she has kids, I just know in my heart that they will be "perfect."

She worked on her paper for her last MBA class all day yesterday. She called me every hour to let me know what page she was on. When I got home from work she was sitting in my bed under the covers all snugly warm with her laptop on her lap. I think she thinks it is her room, I know she thinks it is her bathroom. Is it January yet???

Shannon read my last post and was a little upset that I didn't mention that she brought me coffee at work that day. She had called me after school and I had asked her if she wanted to swing by my office on her way home and bring me a large coffee. She said, "I will, if you buy me dinner." I decided I didn't need coffee that bad. An hour later her and Kelsey showed up on my office doorstep with a large coffee. They even called Dave to find out how much cream to put in the coffee. It really was a nice gesture but Shannon felt that I should have shared it with my blog readers. She said, "That has to be the nicest thing that anyone did for you all day, that cost me $2.00" Please forgive me, Shannon is without a doubt, the best daughter in the world!!

I leave for Kansas City on Saturday morning for a Rick Springfield concert with three of my high school friends. We have third row center, (one of the fan club perks) I am such a dork! I have been trying to figure out the best way to drop 20lbs before Saturday. I have been waiting my whole life for Rick to spot me in a crowd and ask me to run away with him. That happens in real life, doesn't it??? I wonder if he likes kids? I'm thinking that I may have to amputate a couple of limbs real quick if I want to lose 20 pounds. I plan on being the best looking torso in the audience.

Everyone was home for Thanksgiving, we actually had less fights than I anticipated. Primarily because Erin slept the whole time she was here. I am so glad she came to town for the holiday, I really enjoyed watching her sleep. When I asked her why she sleeps for 22 hours a day, she responded with, "I can't help it, this house just sucks the life out of me. I actually have a hard time breathing when I am home." Always quick on my feet I let her know that I always have a hard time breathing too,when I click the transfer button on her bank account.

I stayed up talking to my sisters until 4:30 AM the night before Thanksgiving. They didn't get to my house until after midnight. I got up early to get the turkey in the oven. I am used to doing most of the cooking but you would think that one of the perks of having 6 daughters would be having a little help in the kitchen. I made twice baked potatoes and asked Lauren if she could spoon the potatoe mixture in the shells for me? She looked at me like I was crazy and said, "Why can't you do it? You already have the spoon in your hand." Its a good thing it wasn't a knife in my hand.

They did do the dishes for me so at least the day wasn't a total wash.

I received an email from Kenzie from Nordstrom letting me know that Lauren was in the store and was eyeballing some animal print boot liners that go with her new boots. She even attached a link to the boot liners so I could check them out and purchase them. I replied; Dear Kenzie, Lauren was born with a plastic spoon in her mouth......not silver. We have plenty of boot liners here at home. They are called socks. Thanks for the email!

Happy Birthday Shannon

Shannon turned 18 on Saturday. She had the choice of a gift around the $50 range or a shopping trip. She chose to go shopping and pick her own clothes. She went out on Friday and spent the night at her friends house. She got home around 10ish Saturday morning ready for her birthday shopping spree. She made sure to point out that now that she was 18 she could buy cigarettes, porn and lottery tickets....in no particular order. I let her know that she could also go to jail and if she did....I would leave her there.

Lauren showed up at the house to help Shannon celebrate her birthday......or she knew that she could tag along for a free lunch. We went to O Charley's so I could completely blow my diet, but hey ....it was for Shannon, I am the type of mother that will do anything for my child. If that entails eating a large bowl of potato cheese soup with four or five rolls then that is just a sacrifice that I am willing to make. Of course princess Lauren had a plate of leaves with some balsamic dressing on the side. (she always was a strange child)

After lunch Shannon and I headed to the mall and Lauren headed home. Shannon found a few cute things and in typical Murphy fashion went way above the allotted $50. I think she figured I wouldn't notice. She wasn't feeling well so we headed home.

In the car on the way home Shannon asked me to quit talking, she felt like she was going to throw up. Umm excuse me, how does the sound of my voice make someone ill ? (Dave if you are reading this, don't answer) We stopped to pick up her cake and she threw up in a trash can as soon as she got out of the car.

It suddenly came to me in a déjà vu type vision. Hey isn't this familiar, I remembered when Erin had to have grandma pick her up at church on her birthday weekend because she had bad "cramps." Come to find out those bad cramps turned out to actually be a bad hangover. I think she finally owned up to having just one birthday shot. "one birthday shot?" Now that is hilarious, did she think that sounded like something a mother would number 1, believe and number 2, find acceptable?

I decided to deal with Shannon and her "flu" tomorrow. I woke her up Sunday morning for church. She was burning up and had been throwing up all night. Apparently her flu was not the brown bag flu but an actual body aches, sore throat, high fever kind. Whoops, sorry Shannon!

Emergency Credit Card

Does anyone really understand the true meaning of the term "emergency" credit card? Apparently my little Erin does. When we dropped her off in Alabama I left her with my credit card to use in case of an emergency. It really wasn't a grand gesture, it actually was to help keep me from using it too often myself. My definition of emergency was; my precious baby stuck on the side of the highway with a flat tire, at a party and her designated driver is drunk and She needs cab fare, a text book needed for a class etc.

Erin's definition of emergency; "Mom, Sam sent me these visa coupon things in the mail an I tried to buy these really cute boots with them. The lady at the store said they didn't accept them so I bought the adorable $100 boots with the emergency credit card." Of course you did, "Did you consider putting them back? "oh heavens no, that would have been embarrassing."

Emergency number 2, Mom, Emily invited me to a formal dance an I have NOTHING to wear. Do you think I can use the emergency credit card? "how about the 40 dresses in your closet? No, how about we mail you one of the 400 dresses we have here at home." I explained that the emergency credit card would be used for emergency Christmas presents under the tree and she would have to pass on the new dress. Besides she would be more of a show stopper if she showed up in nothing but her new emergency credit card go go boots!

My Memories Suite Give Away

I was asked if I would like to be part of My Memories Suite give away. My first reaction was to say no. I don't normally use my blog for giveaways and advertising products. Maybe because I only have two or three people who actually read my blog. One of which is my mother. : )
I have got to tell you that once I checked out their product on their website. I was hooked, I love taking pictures and making videos to preserve family memories.
Maybe because I am a tad bit scarred from only having a handful of childhood pictures. I don't really understand my mother's logic....clearly I was the most beautiful baby that she had. Judging from the few pictures that I do I do have, there is really no comparison to the countless pictures of my two older less attractive siblings.
My Memories Suite is awesome software that you can download to your Mac or PC to begin creating family memories with your photo's. For example the page that I made of my family looks as if all the kids get along splendidly.
Twenty years from now the scrapbook page that I made with my new photo software (that was given to me so graciously from the people at My Memories software) will be a reminder to my children of a happy smiling family. Gone will be the memories of the hot sweaty photo shoot that just wouldn't end. My scrapbook page of the "happy" family will live on forever.

The best part of this software is that I get to share it with one lucky reader. I have spent a few hours playing with all the different features and let me tell you, It has it all. You can even create a photo book, or a family calendar.
It would be the perfect software to make a special Christmas gift for grandma. I know what my mom is getting this year. Anyhoo....here are the details to enter this exciting contest. Drum roll please.............

Visit the site http://www.mymemories.com/digital_scrapbooking_software in order to enter the giveaway you need to go to their site and choose your favorite digital paper pack or layout, then comment on my blog telling me which ones you chose.
It's that simple.....I guess that means I may get a few comments. Mom, are you out there???
The winner will be announced by Nov 18th. That gives you plenty of time to create a scrapbook or photo gift for Grandma.
Here is the link again http://www.mymemories.com/digital_scrapbooking_software


My Memories Suite 2.0 is currently the #1 rated digital scrapbooking software on the market (according to Top Ten Reviews). Disclosure: I received the My Memories Digital Scrapbooking software in order to evaluate the product and conduct this review. No monetary compensation was received and a positive review was not required.

I am still trudging along on my diet. The house is walking on pins and needles. Any wrong move and I could snap. The other night Shannon and Kelsey almost lost their heads for coming in my room with a bottle of Propel each. It is no secret that no one and I mean no one is allowed to touch my Propel. My diet consists of 5 Medifast meals aka meals fit for a small premature baby bird and one regular meal with lean meat and a vegetable. Flavored water has become my guilty pleasure. It is the closest thing to food I can have. They both laughed and then apologized and promised they would never drink my Propel again. I bought 16 jumbo size bottles on Sunday. I have drank 2. They are all gone, it is obvious that these kids really fear me.

Maggie needed help with her math homework last night. I reminded her that Dad was the smart parent, I am just a trophy wife. She reminded me that last time dad helped her with math, she cried......good point. Ryan is still in therapy for his lesson from his father on telling time in second grade. He will never be the same again. We somehow muddled through and I am awesome at dividing with decimals. Next homework project we have to make some type of spirit doll using a toilet paper roll. Can't wait.

The most exciting part of my weekend is attending driver improvement school in the morning. I got a ticket in Illinois on my way to Kelsey's soccer game in September. To avoid points on my license and higher insurance rates I opted for driving school. The class is from 8:30 to 4:30, should be a fun day. Kelsey is in a tournament and Shannon has to work. I could have someone drop me at school but I am afraid that my new friends at school will think I am there for a DUI. I am not sure what to expect from the class. My family all feel as if I could have used a driver improvement class years ago. Some of my children even claim that they get a queasy feeling after a car ride with mommy. I may ask my teacher for some tips to try and curb that.

I am now on day 3 of my diet. Halloween was tough, I handed out $60 dollars worth of candy and did not eat one piece. Normally it is one for you, two for me, 2 for you 3 for me...anyway that is the kind of attitude that got me in this mess. Instead, I ate a Medifast Brownie with a teaspoon of peanut butter on top. Not exactly a Reese's but it got me through the night.

I have lost .4, yes that is point 4 not 4 lbs. Hmm. is it worth it?? Baby steps, baby steps.

Today as I was coming off the elevator at work I encountered a hospital volunteer with a cart full of scrumptious fresh baked cookies. She smiled at me and offered me a cookie. They smelled soooo good, I recognized this sweet old lady as SATAN, I knocked her to the ground, stepped on her face, doused her with holy water and dumped over her cookie cart.....or I politely said, "No Thank You." I can't remember which way it actually happened???


We got Shannon's senior portraits back yesterday. They are beautiful. The photographer is a friend of ours and did a fabulous job. She made crabby Shannon look pleasant. I am going to have a hard time choosing my favorite. Shannon's first few years of first day of school pictures are of the back of her head. She has never liked to have her picture taken....not a good trait when your mother always has a camera in her hand.

Erin's checking account was negative today. Her automatic 27 monthly tanning payment was drafted from her account yesterday. I texted her to see if she really felt that tanning was a necessity in college? I'm afraid to hear the answer.

Hey doesn't fat look better tan?? Maybe I should have went ahead and ate the Reese's and went tanning. My daughter is a genius!!!!