Christmas In NC

We made another journey east to celebrate the Christmas holiday with Moss' family. While the trip is quite long and laborious, the kids did great. Anna kept insisting that there was a short cut to Grandma's house and if we had taken it we would have already been there. I am still not sure which shortcut she was referring to, but I would love to find it! The long trip was well worth the great time we had while there. The kids love to be with cousins and aunts and uncles who adore them! They played and played, and the weather was so nice most of the time that they could be outside and run around.

We had everyone draw names for a family gift exchange. We all sat around and sang Christmas carols while the children anxiously awaited the chance to open their gift. While they do love to get gifts, their eyes lit up as they watched the person open the gift they gave them. I think they are starting to feel the spirit of giving!

We spent one afternoon making bread, and my niece lilias was very interested in being a part of the process. She could not wait for a chance to roll out the dough. She really pitched in and was a quick learner. She very willing to help anyone else on their turn if they needed it! (I have to admit that I chose this picture because I think my arms look unusually good.)
Brooke is crazy about babies. If she sees a carseat or stroller she is not satisfied until she sees the baby in it. She thinks she is such a big girl that she should be able to hold the baby by herself. Mary still loves to be a big helper and pitched right in when it came to little Roland.

The kids each received a new scooter for Christmas. They have a great time zipping around together.

Decorating with Grandma Charlotte

One of the highlights of visiting Moss' mom is that the kids get to decorate a piece of pottery. They were thrilled to get to eat out of their very own bowls they had decorated the last time we were there. Moss' mom Charlotte is a decorator by trade and is amazing. I love having her work displayed throughout our home.

These vases are some of her work. She is well known for these amazing birds.

Our Thanksgiving Celebration

Many of us here in Missouri are orphaned, with no blood relatives to speak of, so we decided to have our own down-home family experience together. We had a great time. The kids spend so much time together, it is similar to having cousins around (Well, except the fact that my girls seem to like the boys attention).

There were enough of us that we ended up having it at the church. We made sure to have enough food that there would be leftovers for everyone to take home. It just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without leftovers in the fridge the next day! I spent the day worrying the turkey would be dry (or raw), making rolls and pie. Moss spent the day playing football with all the other guys from church. So I guess you could say it was a true Thanksgiving experience.

The last of Fall

We thought we should hurry and get a few pictures in the leaves before winter finally set in. We had the most wonderful weather which ended abruptly on Thanksgiving. It literally went from a very nice 70 degree high to a miserable 40 degrees in one day. I am grateful that Fall held out as long as it did, but winter and cold have to be my least favorite season by far!

Jacob is almost 4 and very imaginitive. We are having a good time together while the girls are at school. He does miss them and whenever we go out he asks, "Are we going to get the girls?" His favorite things include rockets and jets. He is strongly influenced by having two older sisters, and plays "puppy" and "kitty" with them.

Mary is 7 1/2 and in second grade. She loves her teacher Mr. Wade, and is super focused on her school work. She loves math and is always asking questions, trying to memorize new facts. She is a big helper around the house these days unless it gets in the way of her schedule. If I don't set the agenda, she will make one up for herself and then I am out of luck!

Sweet little Brooke is such a joy to have around the house. She has her sisters wrapped around her little finger. They will do anything for her as long as she gives them hugs and kisses. She is becoming very verbal and saying all sorts of new little phrases. She spends her days pushing chairs and climbing. I have to be very careful what I leave on the counter any more.

Anna is nearly 6 and in the throws of Kindergarten. She still denies that she enjoys school and I am not sure that she does, but she has a wonderful teacher and is doing well. She is showing signs of being an artist. She will spend all her free time drawing and coloring if she is allowed to. I must say she is quite good at it. She is still an avid animal lover, mostly of dogs and horses.

Trip to New Orleans-our first "real" vacation

Between poverty and children, our chosen path in life, Moss and I have never had the chance to get away and have a "real" vacation. We were very willing to take the opportunity afforded us to adventure down to New Orleans alone, together. While this type of experience is not necessary to our overall happiness in life, I am convinced that it does in fact promote it.

We have the University of Missouri department of Ophthalmology to thank for making it financially possible. Moss did some research with an attending and his abstract was accepted for the academy. His department has a financial incentive for anyone who is willing to go through this process. Moss finished the research and created the poster for the academy. He was only obligated to stand by the poster for 90 minutes of the entire convention, so we were free to do whatever we wanted.

My parents in their unfailing service to us as their children flew over and stayed with the kids. Needless to say the girls were essentially kicking us out the door. They could not wait for their fun with Grandma and Grandpa to begin, uninhibited by us. I was worried (or maybe hoping) that Brooke would have a hard time without me, but it was in vain. As soon as I was gone she was glad to be in on all the fun.

We stayed right down in the warehouse district and accross from the french quarter. In our business of life we failed to plan ahead, but did our best to get a taste of the history and cultrue of the area. We ate in little local restaurants, looked in all the little shops, and enjoyed all the roadside entertainment. We were told that we had to walk down Bourbon St. to have the full experience, but I would have to disagree completely.

On the last day there, we took a ride on the steamboat Nachez. It was nice to be out on the mississippi, and they gave a narrative about the area and its history. We really had a nice time together.

32 years and still partying

Just when I thought I was past the age of real birthday parties...I was convinced otherwise. I was told to dress in pajama's, and to be ready at 8pm. I was a little nervous that I might be the only one in p.j.'s. Yes, it was very reminicent of my days in young womens. My friend Angela showed up with a blindfold, and took me away. When we arrived at the party, there was a big shout of "surprise". Fortunately, we also celebrated the birthday of another friend, Shelley, and I was glad to share the spotlight! Lisa had planned ahead and had asked Moss all sorts of questions about me and our dating days, etc... and then we ate and played games. Lisa is a champion leg wrestler, and so we ended the night with some indian leg wrestling. It was nice to get a little taste of our youth again. It was hillarious, and Lisa held her own! (I did manage to beat her the second time.)We had a lot of good laughs and learned some new and interesting things about each other... I think Moss was joking when he said "have her back by midnight" when I was leaving, but I barely made it. There is no doubt that women need each other. I am so grateful for all the many wonderful friends I have been blessed with wherever I have lived.

The Pumpkin Patch

We have had the best weather for all the fall activities that have been going on here. We had a small miracle occur when Moss got off work early, so we ventured out to the long awaited pumpkin patch. Our kids are crazy about animals and were very excited at the prospect of seeing puppies, and feeding goats. I like the pumpkin patch because it is a great opportunity for great pictures. As luck would have it all my batteries were completely dead. I was fortunate to squeeze out any pictures at all. We were able to go on a hay ride pulled by a tractor and there was a fun little maze made out of stacks of bales of hay. The kids had a great time and were thrilled to bring home a very little pumpkin.

Halloween Festivities

Tonight we had our church party and "trunk or treat" activity. The kids had a blast and looked adorable in their costumes. We made good use of last year's outfits and I avoided the stress of creating or finding new costumes. The girls were happy with that, and well, Jacob doesn't even like to wear a costume. The kids love to get together with their friends, and any opportunity to run around the church gym thrills them.

Mary was a good little witch, who loved chasing the boys around. When I asked her to stop she replied, "But mom, it is kind of fun."

Brooke was an adorable little hula girl. She is just tall enough to grab things off the table, and she grabbed as many desserts and drinks as she could. I finally had to strap her into her stroller to keep her out of trouble.

Anna still adores dogs, so she was glad to be a poodle puppy again. She had a great time making the pumpkin head for our trunk display. I had to convince her that the fake skull Moss had aqcuired from work was not really appropriate for a church activity. It really was frightening to see that skull just sitting there.
Jacob refused to wear his costume again. I don't think he likes doing things that might bring him direct attention. He loved making the rootbeer. I couldn't help but think of my brothers as Jake described with intense fascination how the dry ice bubbled in the rootbeer. He couldn't ask me enough questions about it.

Although our costumes did not fit the Halloween theme, Moss and I had a fun time dressing up. Besides I am always wishing it would stay warm. And maybe someday I will make it to Hawaii!

This was Moss' work of art for the Trunk or Treat activity. We have had this guy sitting in our yard with no head on it for about a week. Tonight he finally got his Pumpkin head, and Moss rigged the arm so he could make the man wave at the kids by secretly moving his foot back and forth. The kids kept coming back to wave again. It was quite impressive.

The Toothfairy's Blunder

Well, Mary lost her second tooth this week. She noticed it was loose late Wednesday night, and worked on it relentlessly. Her determination obviously overcame the pain, and she managed to pull it out herself after I told her it was not ready. She promptly put it under her pillow, and the day went on. I went to a meeting, and never heard another thing about it until very early the next morning. There was near devastation in her voice as Mary announced that the toothfairy had failed to come. Obviously the toothfairy has no idea how early we get up around here.(I am guessing we will be first on her list next time.) She was forced to leave the money on the kitchen counter in order to avoid discovery. She left a note letting us know that she would be back tonight for the tooth. The day was saved, and Mary was thrilled with the increase to her piggy bank. All is well that ends well!

Check out my Slide Show!

Back to the days of Summer softball

Our church set up a softball tournament, and today was the first game. Needless to say, it has been a while since I have thrown or hit a ball. Maybe even since high school. I think we women held our own. It took us a couple of innings for our team to get the hang of things, but we came out on top (6-5)! It was an unusually warm day for October and very nice to have a reason to be outside. The kids also had a great time being with their friends. Anna and Mary spent a lot of time chasing the boys around. Hopefully that is not a predictor of future events! It was such a nice time that it was hard to go home, but of course I did. The house does not look any better for it though...

Latest Hobby

I was very fortunate this year to purchase a new-to-me sewing/embroidery machine. I love it! A special thanks to my mother and mother-in-law, and to the guy who rear-ended us, for providing the financial means to purchase it. I was having a little trouble with it initially, but now I am getting the hang of it. It is a lot of fun, and my creative outlet (besides trying to figure out how to raise 4 healthy and happy children, of course). These burp clothes are one of the projects I have been working on. I am helping with a baby shower and we are going to use these as part of the festivities.

Book Club

While I enjoy many social opportunities, book club is definitely a favorite! There is nothing more inspiring than rubbing shoulders with bright and capable women. This month's read was the Twilight series, which is an adolescent series, but could be categorized "drama". While the story line was interesting enough, the drama wore me out (not completely though. I will have to read book 4 to see what happens next!). All I can say is that I am so glad I am not 17 again! High School was great, but definitely a one-time experience. Of course we had a lot of good laughs, and good food.

Amazing Sunrise

It is not very often that I am glad to be awake before 7 a.m., but this morning we had the most amazing sunrise and rainbow. Everything was glowing red. The kids were thrilled, and of course we took a picture. It only lasted about 15 minutes before the the the dark clouds won over-- it rained all morning. I must admit, it isn't very often that I am overly impressed with a sunrise after living where I watched the sun rise and set over Lake Powell!

Are you a victim of Affluenza?

This is a great read, and cause for introspection.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/spend-spend-spend-its-no-way-to-happiness/2007/09/25/1190486307021.html?page=fullpage

Adorable Brooke

Brooke is such a blessing to our family. She is so happy and excited about life. She has been very animated from early on and has a facial expression for every occasion. Her brightness affects all her siblings and they love to be with her. Even Jacob will take every opportunity to get her to laugh, and she obliges him often. She is also quite mischievious and loves a good tease. It is always amazing to see how much she already understands after only a year and a half of life!

Chivalry at its Best

Tonight at dinner Anna was doing her best to trade her dirty fork with Jacob and Mary. She was unsuccessful of course, and very distraught. When Jacob realized how upset she was he decided to come to her rescue. "Anna, if you want I will lick it off for you?" His sincerity was genuine, and I couldn't help but be proud of him despite the content of his offer.

And he's off...

Jacob refused to be the only one with training wheels. So after a few short runs up and down the street with Moss, he was off! It is pretty hillarious to see him ride by on his little 10 inch bike. His self confidence soared as the wind rushed past him. It is hard to believe he is almost 4.

Life Lesson by Mary

Moss and I have a running Joke that when we have our last child he will pick me up in new convertible bug. While leaving the school the other day with the kids, we happened to pass a very nice one. When I let Mary in on our little joke, she explained to me, "Well, mom that is kind of selfish. You should be grateful for what you have. Besides the whole family could not fit in that car!" I couldn't help but laugh.

Determination

Anna is a very determined little girl, that is once she decides she wants to accomplish something. Until then it is impossible to get her to do anything. This has been true with swimming, cartwheels, and now with riding her bike. We tried earlier this summer to convince her she could ride her bike without her training wheels, but she would have nothing to do with it. She demanded that we put them back on her bike and let her be. Well, this past Saturday her friend Haley, who is younger than Anna, was excitedly showing the kids that she had learned to ride her bike. Anna was motivated. She took a few turns on Haley's bike and wanted to go right home to try riding her own bike. She has not wanted to do anything else ever since. Every morning before school, every afternoon after school, and each night after dinner she wants to ride her bike. Determination and persistance are definitely her strengths. It is nice to see them put to positive use!

News Flash!!!

The long awaited day has finally arrived. Mary finally lost her first tooth. She was sure she was the last kid in the whole 2nd grade to ever lose a tooth. It all began on Friday when she bit an apple and noticed a little pain. Once it was established that it was in fact a loose tooth all concern was replaced with sheer joy. There were phone calls made, and neighbors notified. Mary wanted to make sure to lose the tooth at school in order to acquire a little treasure box from the nurse. When Monday morning arrived she mustered up all her courage and asked me to try to pull it out. I gave it a little tug and to my surprise it came right out. I honestly thought she might faint at the thought of blood in her mouth, but the excitement won out. Anna being the devoted sister she is, was just as proud as Mary. She asked if we could have a little family party to celebrate the occasion. Mary packaged up her tooth and went straight to the nurses office upon arriving at school. Hooray!!!

Girls Night Out

I have been so blessed with wonderful friends here in Missouri. We have such a good time, and we find as many opportunities as possible to get together! We recently went out to celebrate a birthday and we went to the local cosmotology school to get pedicures. Afterward we went out to get dessert. I have not laughed so hard in a very long time. Thanks to the Waitor who jumped back at the mention of a spider on the table, and gave us all a good laugh. We were all expecting a heroic extermination of the spider, but this was not to be. Thank Heavens for girls night out!

Heading West

We began our long journey at 3 in the morning in order to get to Utah at a more resonable hour. The kids were such troopers. We were a bit worried when the timeless question of "how much longer?" was first asked at 10a.m. We are very grateful for the invention of the portable DVD player and headphones. Brooke did her best, but as the day wore on she wore out. We made it to Provo by 10:30mst. We were beat, but glad the journey was a safe one. It is hard to complain when you realize the pioneers made that same journey over the period of several months without the convenience of fast food and a the comforts of a minivan. We took this picture outside of a state park named, "Mormon Lake".

We love our cousins

Our first stop on our trip was in Provo. We stayed with Chris and Shanna and the kids had a great time running all around with their cousins. The excitement only increased upon the arrival of Kelli and Ed with their kids. I think Abbi was a little taken back by Anna's surprise attack as she walked in the door. We had a very special experience of participating in Christopher's baptism while we were there. The cousins sang the primary song, "Baptism" together. The kids did their best to be reverent at the baptism, but all broke loose as we moved outside for a delicious picnic lunch.