Latest and Greatest Photo-op

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

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...

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!!!!

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

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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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

Make your Stick Figure Family at FreeFlashToys.com

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

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

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

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

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Update

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!

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

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Rollie's Trip to Utah

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Travels

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

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

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

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!!

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Camelsnot

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

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.