The Murphy Boys

We recently visited the Como Zoo in St. Paul. The kids have been there before but I hadn’t. We went with our friends Sophia and Romare. Romare is in Shiya’s class at the childcare center and the three of them have a lot of fun together. The cages are small… I had been told it’s called ‘The Depressing Zoo’ and I could see why! The Zebras, for example, share a tiny cage with nothing in it to play with.  But we had a great day in the 70 degree sunshine!

Shiya and Ayrie have t-ball at their pre-school that they like to play so I bought one for home.  Ian and I walked down to the park with the boys to have our first t-ball session!  For some reason the boys thought this even deserved costumes!

this photos says ‘childhood’ to me!

Richard recently wrote this post about us on the Running For Ayrie website: How it all started… Richard here. My career in education has taken me from mid-Missouri to the nation’s capital, with a number of stops in between. Much as I’ve enjoyed the work, I’ve really enjoyed the people I’ve met along the way, from my students in Philadelphia to the folks at the U.S. Department of Education. My first education job in Chicago was great, but I’m much more grateful that I met Nora through our work with…read more

We have been connecting with Earlham alum all over the city and having a great time!! We recently visited a quaking blog and wildflower with Aaron Albertson and his two girls: Marie (4) and Juniper (2).  They have a really wonderful chemistry with Ayrie and Shiya.  Aaron’s wife, Jessamin Heinrich, is also an Earlham alum. This is our first spring in Minneapolis and it is spectacular! xo nora, ayrie & shiya

Our very dear friends are organizing a fundraiser for Ayrie and for our new organization, Tombolo!  Visit their website, Running for Ayrie.  Tha nk you Richard and Christa!!  I met Richard and Christa through my work in Chicago and they are absolutely devoted to Ayrie and Shiya. It was really wonderful to see their relationship with the boys develop in Chicago and it continues to develop long distance via visits and skype.  Richard and Christa have the amazing ability to be at a playground or play hide and seek for…read more

i think shiya gets his powers of observation from his mom.  he walked outside yesterday and said, “wow!  where did all the snow go?”  (note: the snow has been gone for a month!)

ever the pragmatist, when I told Ayrie that a monster was going to eat him up he thoughtfully told me that monsters probably only eat kids muscles because muscles are made out of healthy protein.  he also confirmed that monsters are not actually real.  and later we discussed whether monsters have teeth that are strong enough to heat bones (like dinosaurs) or not (like humans and squirrels).

shiya doesn’t have a special blanket or stuffed animal but he does love to be surrounded by things he loves! last night he slept with eight stuffed animals across the top of his pillow, two books under his pillow and one book clutched in his arms.  he seems to be connected with these items on a deep level because every time one fell off the bed he would wake up yelling, ‘my duck!  my duck!”  And I would think, how did that child know that his duck fell off the bed while…read more