The Delph Family

December 2018: Welcome to our family blog! I typically update this blog once a year during the Christmas season. Social media made it seem a bit redundant to keep this blog up, especially when life gets so busy, but I personally love looking back at our memories in this format. It's been quite a while since I've been here...7 years to be exact. A lot can happen in 7 years. This year, particularly, has been epic, so I'll start there... 2018! As time permits, I'll fill in 2012-2017.

2018 started off in Fort Myers Florida. We made the trip to surprise our nephew at his wedding. We were not sure we could make it, but everything fell into place and we decided to go for it. Brandon was so surprised. We showed up at the bar he was at for a bacheler's celebrations at about 1:30 AM.

New Years Eve was celebrated in downtown Fort Myers, watching their very own "ball" drop.

The wedding was beautiful despite the weather turning windy and brisk for Florida.

2011

Hello again and Merry Christmas!

I sincerely hope this finds you all doing well and trust you had a wonderful year full of great memories. I know we did. It’s all I can do to keep up these days.

Michael started Kindergarten this year (sniff, sniff). He loves it and is doing so good, socially and academically. For his 6th birthday, he begged for a dog. Our first thought was “seriously?” but then we thought why deny our boys the joys of growing up with a dog. We decided a Golden Retriever would be a good fit for our family. We picked out a boy and got him just in time for Michael’s birthday. The boys named him Murphy. What a joy he has been and is literally growing daily before our eyes. At five months old, he's about to pass up Michael at 50 lbs. and still growing.

Matthew is in 4^th grade and growing like a weed as well. His big request this year was to play tackle football. I reluctantly agreed, thinking he really wouldn’t like it. Much to my surprise, he loved it! Luckily, no injuries. Now we have baseball, basketball and football…times two! Somehow, Murphy ends up the star of all the games. We take him everywhere…I think the whole town knows him! Everyone loves a puppy and he certainly loves people and being on the go. Yep, he fits right in our family!

Mark formed a new Diamond 9U travel baseball team. The tournaments will start in the Spring. We played a few this past Fall and they did great! It’s Matthew’s first kid pitch team. He pitches and plays first base.

We managed to squeeze in several camping trips this year. Memories I wouldn’t trade for the world and I know Mark and the boys wouldn't either. I must say, we all missed not going to Disney this year. Definitely on the agenda for next December.

I know I say this every year, but it bears repeating... I am so blessed to be a stay-at-home mom! I love helping in the boys' classes and being there when they get home from school. I thank God everyday for blessing me and allowing me that privilege in this day and age.

Scroll through below to view a few of our pictures from 2011. Be sure to click "Older Posts" on the right of the page each time you get to the bottom. This will allow you to view the entire blog. You can also click directly on the pictures if you would like to enlarge. There are a few short videos you'll need to click the play button on. My original intent of this blog was to keep it updated throughout the year. However, it looks like it has turned into an annual Christmas Blog for now. That's okay though...for all my friends and family not on Facebook, and those that I'm not able to visit in person, it's a great way to keep in touch and well worth the time. I miss you all and encourage you to please keep in touch and make the most of every day.

Much love and blessings...
~Debi

December 2011

Murphy's first visit with Santa.

Not sure what he asked for ("treats" is my guess).

Of course, Michael had to take his little "fox" too.

Michael and Matthew laughed at the Petco Santa!

Michael said, "Mom, I KNOW that is NOT the real Santa!"

It was some young kid (even had on tennis shoes). haha!

OUR 2011 CHRISTMAS PICTURES

This one was so funny. Murphy was trying to escape and
get his treat which was by the camera. We were all about
to lose it laughing!!! We used the camera's self-timer.
Murphy finally got the hang of it and realized after
the flash each time, he could go get his treat.

Finally got one worthy of a Christmas card.

Lots of funny memories in the process.

Mama and her boys!

Like father, like son!

Proud Dad!

November 2011

The boys after a hard day of playing!

FANTASY OF TREES

Thanksgiving evening.

It's a tradition for us when we're here in Knoxville to

go every year after Thanksgiving. Fantasy of Trees is a

benefit for Children's Hospital. They have every kind of

tree you could think of and lots of fun festivities.

A great way to kick off the Christmas holiday.

Michael liked this one because of
the raccoon and wild animals.

This was my favorite because of the 50's cars.
Reminds me of my Dad.

Making crafts.

Enjoying all the Christmas festivities.

Never too old to ride the carousel.

October 2011

Another camping trip to Townsend

and a drive around Cades Cove.

A baby bear must have gotten separated
from his mother and climbed a tree.

An old cabin/farm in Cades Cove we
stopped to explore and take pictures.

A rare woodpecker. Not that we would know -
some bird watchers told us.

Michael lost his first tooth while camping. He thought
it was cool that the tooth fairy came to the camper to
get his tooth. That is chocolate ice cream on his face.
Cades Cove camp store has the best soft serve ice cream!

KNOXVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

4th Grade Field Trip

Matthew with his classmates.

Matthew and his buddy, Hunter.

HALLOWEEN

Matthew (the blue Morph) and his disco buddy, Foster.

A Halloween party we went to. We decide to dress up
literally 30 minutes before the party! We had the
Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein costumes from
a decade ago. haha! You can tell my wig is ready for
the trash, which is exactly where it went after the party.

Michael wanted to be a deer hunter and have
Murphy be his deer that was "too cute to shoot".
He thought of that all on his own. What an imagination!

Mark - not about to let the boys have all the fun!

Taking the boys through the neighborhood.

Mark did a great job (again) carving the pumpkin.

Okay, this is WAY TOO MUCH candy!!!!

Give me all the chocolate! haha!!!

Michael's Kindergarten picture.

September 2011

Matthew - CBFO Tackle Football

Working on the football attitude!

Good tackle!

Interception! Way to go Matthew!

Proud Dad!

Michael - CBFO Flag Football

Michael was the QB for his team.

Here he is holding up a flag. Everytime he got one

he would look over at us as if he was posing. LOL

Always intense and ready to GO!

Getting another flag!

Running the ball!

One of many touchdowns! GO MICHAEL!!

All Michael wanted for his birthday was a new puppy!

After much thought and searching, we made a decision and
the boys picked out their puppy at 4 weeks old. Two weeks
later we took our little guy home. The boys named him Murphy.