Feliz Navidad

I have been meaning to post this all month. The time has now come and gone. So let me just say that I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, filled with baked goods, sweaters, tinsel and overdone hair and make up.

Delicate

A couple weekends ago, I turned 23. In order to celebrate the whole Murdock clan drove to Moab. Some of us attended the Folk Festival and basked in the Moab sun. We all hiked to Delicate Arch and I can't believe how stunning it is.

The girls at the Moab Folk Fest.

Toad and Trash.

Ty-Ty and Bre.

I like this accidental pic of Ty and Bre. Very deep.

It was so sunny and warm. Madre even made me go buy her a hat, turns out it was kind of small. She will be very happy I posted this pic.

The whole clan. I can't believe how many of us there are. This pic is from Bri and Alina's AKA Wild Murdocks.

This is for Ash.

Fall or Autumn, call it what you like...

I love it! I think Fall is such a fabulous time of the year. I love it when the weather gets chilly enough for sweaters, I love the smell of grapes on the vine, I love the red and orange colors. I could go on and on.

This weekend Kel and I went on a hike to Stewart Falls, the trees were beautiful. When we got back to the trail head, we realized that Kel's car alarm had been going off for an hour and a half. Everybody loved us.

We watched a little flag football and also made caramel apples with Loni. Fall was well represented this Friday.

I love my job.

Each student chose a friend and wrote about what they like to do together. This made me realize that I do love my job.

Sometimes I wish I were her.

When I was little, and Dawson's Creek was cool (wait, was it ever?) I used to wish I were Katie Holmes. I just thought she was so pretty and oh so cool. Well now, I have grown up a bit, Katie Holmes went crazy and married Tom, and I have changed my views. I want to be Brandi Carlile. I do. I want to sing like her and I want to come home and have the twins playing the guitar on my porch.

We went to see Brandi last night at The Depot (which, by the way, is a SAWEET venue). She is so fabulous. It was the first show of her tour promoting her much awaited album Giving up the Ghost. She played tons of new songs which were amazing! I never wanted her to stop playing.

Stacy, myself, Candace and Miranda moments before the show. Nate is not pictured, but he was there.



A little snippets of what you can expect on Oct. 6. Her voice is just out of this world. Did I mention that I really like Brandi Carlile?

1,2,3, eyes on me...

I'm alive, my brain feels dead but my heart is still beating.  The past two weeks have been nuts, and I am SO tired.  Last Wednesday I started school, teaching school that is.  I have 26 kids is my class, and they are so dang cute.  They are short, noisy, at times whiny, but obedient, sweet and oh so lovable. I have been called grandpa, mom, dad, asked "when is lunch?", "when is recess?", "when do we go home?" so many times, I don't even want to think about it.  I have never said the words "123 eyes on me" or "push in your chair", more in my life. 

Here are some before and after pics of my class.  I can't get them side by side :(

This week we were writing sentences using the phrase "I will...".  As I was wandering I burst out in laughter when I came upon a girl in my class.  Her paper read  "I will ficks my dick."  I had to just walk away at first I was laughing so hard.  I asked "did you write "I will fix my bike?" "Yeah." Ha ha ha ha.  That b is tricky to write. 

Last Saturday I ran the Hobble Creek Half Marathon.  That is right folks, 13.1 miles.  Don't forget that .1 at the end, that was the hardest part.  Miranda, Bre and I have trained all summer.  If you know me, you know I am NOT a runner.  Turns out anyone can be a runner, you just have to actually run.  Weird.  I am a self proclaimed "slogger", slow jogger (not to be confused with slutty bloggers). 

I didn't finish first, but I also didn't finish last.  The important thing is that I finished.

Growing up

I GOT A JOB! For the first time I have a "real" job, one that leads to a career (I feel weird using that word). I have a job that pays more than minimum wage, one that you sign contracts to do, one that pays for insurance (if I die, someone is gettin' some dough), one that you can keep for longer that three months. Starting this fall I will be known as Miss Murdock to 25 1st graders at Art City Elementary. This school might sound familiar because.... this is my alma mater. That is right, my life has come full circle. I will be teaching WITH people that taught me. Weird.
That's right folks, that is an official badge that proves I am a teacher.


And for some reason the idea of getting a full paycheck has sparked some false sense that I am rich, which I am not. But none-the-less, I bought a car. Yes a car. A car that has (you might want to sit down) AIR CONDITIONING! And all the windows, all 4, roll down. I don't even know what to do with myself.These glasses were found on the porch, they seemed appropriate for a new car.

There are some, including myself and my grandparents, who are sad to the Caddi go. It has been a faithful companion, a loyal escort, a stallion. This luxury sedan has been there through good times and bad. It has earned me the name "MacDaddy", and has generated such comments as "Is grandma here?" Just Grandma Kell! I am sad to see it go, and trying to find a good home for this sweet friend. I'll miss you Betsy.

Just a bit hypocritical

I always get bugged when people don't update their blogs. I mean, how the heck am I supposed to know what is going on with my peeps, my homies, my posse? Do you expect me to call you and see how you are?! Do you expect me to come by and see you? Hang out? Actually communicate? Don't be ridiculous, just update the blogs! Then I realized how long it had been since I posted anything.... sorry peeps.

I went to Moab the weekend I returned to this beautiful country. We went canyoneering, go cart riding, laser tagging etc. The usual, nothing like running around painted ply wood in the dark shooting, what sounds like a machine gun, at my 6 year old nephews.

I am now a little smarter, wiser. Well a paper is coming in the mail in 6-8 weeks to say that I am smarter. I graduated, neat eh? With a 4.0, or 4.4 if you ask grandma. I didn't correct her.

Alina made these announcements. She also made me pose for them.

The family that loves me enough to sit through graduation. Don't be fooled, Ty sat in the hall on his laptop.

Twin Sandwich.

I went and saw Wicked. It was WICKED AWESOME! Thank you Mom and Randa (and Randa's mother in-law who got us 4th row tickets!)

I started working at Utah Lake State Park.... again. I guess I just can't get enough of mowing lawns and cleaning up after people I have never met, let alone like.

I am looking for a job. I put on my shoes today and thought "maybe this is why I can't find a job."

Better late than never.

I have now been home for over a week, and have still yet to post the pictures from out last hurrah in NZ. So I made a video of our tour around the South Island, beware it is long. We started in Christchurch and traveled to Greymouth, Franz Joseph, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Dunedin and Lake Tekapo. We spent 11 days just doing whatever we pleased. On the plane back Candace made a list of all the things that we had done. So in a joint blogging effort, here is her list and my video.



flew in plane – rode in a shuttle – went to Coachman’s hostel – walked all over Christchurch – got lost, a lot – ate kebabs and french fries – watched street performers – canoed on the Avon river – ate sushi – played bull shit with Peuce – slept in a hostel – rode on a beautiful train – met Jon… - ate tuna – trekking in the bush – shopping – pizza – big hunks – slept in a penguin hostel – Easter! – boarded the magic bus – jade/greenstone/pounamu – met a goat – hiked to a glacier – hiked closer to a glacier – hiked even closer to a glacier – trekked back to town – got lost – got scared – got lucky – ate pizza – bar… - slept in a hostel – boarded the tragic bus – saw where a glacier should be – sat in a café for two hours – played bull shit with Tim – boarded bus number two – got off bus number 2 – boarded bus number three– southern comfort – Fergburger – Lick – slept in a hostel – jumped off a bridge – luged down a hill – free soup – lick – slept in a hostel – boarded a bus – MILFORD SOUND – wished we were trekking – mexican food – patagonia – slept in a hostel with a German boy – boarded Keith’s magic bus – Cadbury chocolate – walking – Baldwin street – walked – Mcdonald’s lime shakes – internet – slept in a nice hostel – boarded a bus – went crazy on the bus – hiked to Mount John – ate pizza – hot pools – slept in a hostel – boarded our last bus – stayed in a witch hostel – tried to go to church – spent all our money – watched movies – flew home

3,2,1...5,4,3,2,1

Well I realize that I kind of left everyone hangin' with my last post. Good news is.... I AM ALIVE!! I was scared out of my mind but I jumped and I survived. When I got to the top of the bridge my biggest fear was that I would chicken out ... or my legs would break ... or the bungy would snap or I would get tangled as I fell... Okay I had a lot of fears. I got to the edge, said some things I won't repeat, then heard the counting. I felt like Andy on The Office when Dwight starts counting down to make Andy do things. The man just started counting before I was ready and all of the sudden... I jumped. I felt real graceful for about 3 seconds just falling freely, then I turned into a rag doll and was tossed around. It was very cool and I even touched the river below with my hands.

The beeper just told me I only have two minutes left. Hurry... hurry. I am pretty sure this week I have been to the most beautiful places in the world. We went to Milford Sound this week and I think God was showing off when he created it because WOW!!! I think I would like to be a bird that lives there all year. I am loving it and can't believe it is almost over. Candace and I are already planning our next trip back.

We tried to go to church for the second time today. We got up early, showered, got bikes, rode a couple miles only to find locked gates. I guess church was cancelled today. I think it was because General Conf. is watched later here? I guess going to church in New Zealand was just not meant to be. We did however go to a sermon at Christchurch Cathedral. It was interesting.

Sorry no pics, I always hate posts without pics, so just imagine me sitting in a corner of a room on an outdated computer, with a tired look on my face wearing a brown sweatshirt.

Free, free fallin'

Well we have started our 11 day trip around the South Island and it is GORGEOUS! I expect to see Frodo and Sam around every corner. We have been to Cathedrals, lakes, oceans, The Southern Alps, glaciers, etc. It has been lovely.

We are in Queenstown for a couple days and have some interesting adventures planned. In about an hour I am going to jump off of a perfectly good bridge. Why? I don't really know. You know the saying "if all your friends jumped off a cliff would you?" Well apparently I would, because I am. This is where bungy jumping was first invented and we are jumping from the bridge it started on. I hope I survive. If not, I love you all.



This is how I feel right now. Scared and a little apprehensive. This photo doesn't really show it because there are people watching me, waiting for the computer.

My New Zealand Love Affair

Yes you heard me correctly. Today I got flowers, well a flower, from a very handsome Maori boy. He might seem a little younger than expected but still very sweet.


This little boy is so dang cute. He runs in every morning to talk to me. He is always bringing things in. Yesterday he brought me a Fejoa (a fruit here) that he found on the ground. Today he brought me a flower. Averil just cracks up about how much he likes me so she has been snapping pictures when he brings me things. As you can tell I am very interested in what he is telling me.

If you want to be free, be free. If you want to sing out, sing out.

Well words can't really express this weekend. It was one to remember that is for sure. We spent the weekend in Whangamata, where Averil and Stewart have a holiday home. It was a beautiful place, right by the beach. Saturday Stewart and his friend Keith took out fishing. It was a bumpy and fast boat ride. We didn't catch much. One girl caught a spikey orange thing (pretty sure that is it's scientific name) but that is all.

I don't think that I am holding the pole properly. Dad would be disappointed, even though this wasn't his type of fishing. And yes I wear this shirt all the time, don't worry about it. It is the only long sleeve shirt I brought.


Stewart's big catch of the day was his hat, which blew off into the ocean. He LOVES it when I take his picture, can you tell. Usually he ducks out of it, or looks away, but on a boat he had nowhere to hide. He is actually one of the nicest guys I have ever met. He cleans, does dishes, makes and brings us hot drinks and cookies, and when Averil jokingly talks bad about us he always defends us and says how much he likes us.

Everyone hanging on for dear life during the bumpy ride. I swear we were catching air jumping over the waves.

We had tea at one of their friends house. She built this gorgeous house right on the beach front. It was amazing. A friend of their friend came as well and to our delight brought her guitar and singing voice as well. They say a picture says a 1,000 words. I will let you choose those words yourself.Being so close to the beach we thought that we should probably go swimming...... in the pitch black......in our birthday suits. Of course we returned to find our clothes missing, but we managed to scrummage up enough to take a memorable photo.

Candace and I also tried surfing. We thought about doing lessons, but thought "nah, you just paddle and jump up". WRONG! You don't just paddle and jump up anywhere. It was incredibly harder than I imagined. After an hour of drinking salt water we ended up laying out on the beach and getting sunburned. That turned out to be much easier than surfing. This picture was taken from the porch of the Averil's friend's house. I wasn't kidding when I said it was beach front.


"If you want to be free, be free. If you want to sing out, sing out. There's a million things to be, you know that there are."

Whoa oh, we're half way there, Whoa oh, livin' on a prayer.

This week we decided the weather was too beautiful to stay at home so we headed to Raglan. We spent the evening walking along the beach, watching the sun set and eating.

Yes, that is a huge zit on my face. Just focus on the background, pretty eh?


Every year Hamilton has a balloon festival. Balloons come from all over the world. They fly in the morning and afternoon all week, have parades, visit schools and have a night glow. A turtle shaped balloon came to our school. They blew it up and let the kids watch. It is all the kids at school can talk about. Quite honestly I am sick of balloons.


Over the weekend we went on a roadie with Stewart and Averil. We drove along the Coromandel Peninsula and ended up at (drum roll please) HOT WATER BEACH! There is thermal activity along the beach so for 2 hours on either side of low tide you can dig a hole and it fills up with hot water. It was insanely busy (thanks to Lonely Planet) but also very amazing. We dug our hole, relaxed in the hot water, cooled off in the ocean and repeated for about 2 hours.


We stayed the night at a beach motel and our room was SO small I could touch both wall at the same time. We also visited a little social club that Averil and Stewart belong to and I won $66 on the pokies. I don't have any idea how or why I won, I just pushed buttons.

A little note I wrote for those who are stuck in the snow in Utah while I am gallivanting around the beach.

We did a short hike to a place called Cathedral Cove. It is a huge arch carved in the white rock right on the beach. It was beautiful and so HOT there. We had to get our togs on jump in the ocean to cool off. This is myself, Candace and Stewart in front of Cathedral Cove.


Apparently I am just loading this blog down with pictures. Candace and I at Cathedral Cove.

P.S. Could you all please make sure it stops snowing before I come back. Otherwise I am staying here. Thanks.