Our Annual Family Dinner

On Sunday, December 23rd all the Murnanes (along with Luke's parents and Brett's dad) had our annual Christmas dinner at the Soleil restaurant in the Westin Hotel in Palo Alto. This is the 6th or 7th year in a row we've had our dinner together... and once again it was excellent!

Lauren, Bella and Ryan pal around before dinner.


What is going on under this table?


Hi Bella!


Dinner time! The little ones ate together first.. then retired to a private room to watch videos and play while the adults had dinner.


Ryan, Jordan, Michele and Maria enjoy the evening.

Let's Go Bowling!

School is out for the winter holiday... to celebrate a bunch of the Murnanes went Bowling last Friday!

Brooke shows little Bella the "drop the ball 2 feet from the line" bowling style.


Luke and Ryan ham it up at the lanes.


Maria shows she is ready to join the LPBA!


Brooke shows excellent form!


Another gutter ball sends Ma to the ground....

Friday Night Fun!

Last night Mark and Icha braved the throngs of kids and parents and took Bella, Jordan and Lauren to Chuck E. Cheese in Cupertino. The girls had a great time and Mark and Icha loved the high class food... we especially loved the 'imported cardboard flavored crust' that came with our pizza!

The three girls wolf down some pizza and hot dogs before running amok amongst the endless games on offer at Chuck E. Cheese.


Bella shows Jordan and Lauren how to drive a wave rider!


Jordo takes the controls and shows she is ready to hit the open seas!

Deck the Halls

On Sunday evening all the Murnanes came over to Ma and Pa's house for our annual tree decorating party. Everyone had a great time decorating the tree, watching the Colts crush the Ravens and eating a huge spread put out by Flo. This year we even played a bit of charades. The kids all watched "Frosty the Snowman" together while eating dinner and a seemingly endless supply of homemade chocolate chip cookies!

Bella gets ready to put a little Santa on the tree.


Ryan fired up and ready to decorate!



Maria and Michele smile next to the tree while Ryan hides some goodies under it!


Charades! Is that "M & M's" or "Eminem" Michele?


The next generation of Murnanes goes old school and watches "Frosty the Snowman."

Christmas is Coming!

Yesterday we put up our Christmas tree! Ma and Pa found a huge tree at the ever traditional tree hunting spot: Target in Mountain View. Bella, Pa and Mark pulled the beast inside and set it up in the living room. Tonight all the Murnanes are coming over to Pa and Ma's house to decorate the tree.

Bella and Pa lay down a plastic tarp on the ground.


Bella helps Pa spread out the tarp.


Pa and Bella contemplate how to bring the tree inside.


The tree is ready to be set up!


Mark and Bella smile in front of the tree... while Pa sweeps up in the back :-)

SUPER GRANDMA!

On Monday evening 'Ma' showed once again that she deserves the 'Grandma of the Year' award as was able to feed all 5 Murnane grandkids a scrumptious meal! With the help of a small t.v., Flo pulled of what others would only dare to dream of doing.

Flo smiles as her little charges eat a well rounded meal.


56 inches of high definition parenting help!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year a bunch of us Murnane's celebrated Thanksgiving at Michele and Brett's house Sunnyvale. It was a great time... and a first for several reasons:

1) It was the FIRST time the Icha's parents ever tasted turkey.
2) It was the FIRST family get together at which Mark did NOT take hundreds of photos! In fact for reasons unknown he only took a few... don't fret with Christmas coming, thousands of photos will be taken in the next few weeks.

Jordan, Lauren and Bella watch some Dora before eating.


Bella - or is that Cinderalla? - all dressed up for dinner.


Cinderalla waves her magic wand in an attempt to turn her turkey dinner into a chocolate cake.


Special thanks to Michele for once again cooking a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner!

Halloween in Sunnyvale!

Last night all the Murnanes got together for a parade, party, and some serious trick-or-treating down at Michele and Brett's house. Tons of fun had by all!

The five 'little Murnanes' line up for the parade.


Daisy the Duck leads the little ones on the parade.


It's not often one gets to see a 5'10" duck walking the streets.


After the parade the kids all had a huge dinner in preparation for their trick-o-treating.


Brooke, Bella and little Bud (Ryan) get some candy while Monica contenplates grabbing some for herself.


After an hour of going door to door... Jordo shows off her loot.

Another month... another trip!

Once again... Mike and Flo have gone off and spent more of their children's inheritence! This time the two globe trotters took a glorious two week cruise up the New England coast and into the beautiful rivers of Eastern Canada.

Pa and Ma smile along the Atlantic coast.


By sheer... sheer coincidence Dad finds a casino!


Check out the fantastic colors on the tree.


Ma smiles in front of the cruise ship parked in Syndey harbor.

Because It Is There

Braving the cold, nature, and impending middle age - Brett and two buddies climbed the highest mountain in the contigous United States last weekend. Located in the Sierra Nevada mounain range in eastern California, Mount Whitney stands at an imposing 14,505 feet. An impressive feat for a man who is rumored to love his ice cream more than his wife!

Brett and Matt Carriere making the trek to the highest point in the USA - aside from a few places in Alaska.


Brett and Matt Bonner celebrate after reaching the peak.


Brett wasn't alone at the top.... Jordo and Lauren were along in spirit.


On the way down a well deserved HUGE 'Motherload' breakfast was enjoyed at the world famous Alabama Cafe.


With Mt. Whitney behind them......


Will Brett, Matt and Matt continue their mountaineering ways?

Big Basin

Braving the cold over the weekend - Mom, Dad, Luke, Monica, Brooke and Ryan spent the weekend camping at Big Basin. Although it is only early October... according to Dad the temperature dropped to the 'low 40's' at night! Yikes. Still a great time was had by all.

Monica and Luke smile in front of their retirement home.


Dad shows off his new Cabela's jacket. Dad is already planning a trip to Reno to visit the soon to be opened Cablea's superstore!


Ryan keeps warm and makes a fashion statement.


Ma and Brooke cook up a gourmet meal.


Ryan and Brooke pal around.


Ryan shows that a good camper let's nothing go to waste.


The Morey family enjoy time around the campfire.


Monica smiles with her little fashion icon.