Best Christmas Ever!!!

I got the greatest gift I could get for Christmas this year, another charm for my grandma necklace!!  AUBRIE IS PREGNANT!!!!!!!  They told us by giving me a charm for my necklace for the month of July.  I am so happy I can hardly see straight.  My son, Kyle, has wanted a child since he was a child.  He has waited so long and is so excited.  I can't believe they kept it from us for 3 weeks.  They wanted to wait until Christmas but she has been deathly sick and very tired so it was pretty hard.  They both lied through their teeth and told us they hadn't stopped their birth control and that she just had the flu (she actually did get the flu today and had to go to urgent care for fluids and nausea medicine).  Kyle is a terrible liar and he actually convinced me even though all of her symptoms pointed to pregnancy.  It's a little scary that he has become such a good liar but all is forgiven because I GET ANOTHER GRANDCHILD NEXT YEAR!!!!!  I got a lot of great gifts today but nothing tops this:)  A very Merry Christmas to me!!

This Child

This is my grandson, Landon, and he never ceases to entertain us.  He picked out his own outfit today although it looks like something that Logan would not only put him in but would wear himself if he had it in his size.  He had a busy day today being very "2".  He got into everything!  He helped Papa make cookies for a little bit but then he got bored so while Money was emptying the dishwasher he made a little boat for himself.  He definitely keeps us on our toes but is so cute that we love having him around.  Can't wait for the other two grandkids to get here. 

Funnest Day Ever!

Now I know what it feels like to be Santa Claus.  Yesterday I took part of my girls (Alana and Tracy aren't here:() to do their Christmas shopping from me.  We went to lunch and then to Kohl's where I gave them a dollar limit and let them loose.  For 2 hours they combed the store with phone calculators in hand and bought as much stuff as they could for the dollar amount.  I would spot them huddled together over their choices and their calculators adding everything up and it gave me such a warm feeling seeing them so excited and happy.  We came home and they all gathered in my bedroom with Christmas music and chocolate and wrapped all of their gifts.  Some of them just piled all their stuff into bags and put multiple things in one box but others wrapped every little tiny thing separately so they would have lots to open on Christmas morning.  So cute.  I love these girls and this tradition and their happy faces were all the Christmas I needed but the many hugs and expressions of gratitude were pretty cool too:)  Merry Christmas Moore Girls!! I love you:)

Les Miz!!!!

About 25 years ago my mother went to London to see some shows.  One of them was Les Miserables.  She fell in love, bought the cassette tape and made a copy for me.  For the next 2 years me and my husband and two little boys listened to that cassette every single day.  We too had fallen in love with a story and with the amazing music that went with it.  When I moved to San Diego I got the opportunity to see the play in Los Angeles and when the orchestra played the first notes that I had been listening to for 2 years I burst into tears.  I couldn't believe I was really going to see the characters I had only imagined and hear people sing my beloved songs live.  It was everything I could have hoped for and way more.  I love that play!  I watched it 3 more times and have listened to the music countless times.  That was a very lengthy way of saying I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL CHRISTMAS DAY!!!!!!  Les Miz finally comes to the big screen in musical form and I am so excited to see it.  I can't wait to introduce my sweet daughter to this magic.  I'm so glad the dream lives on:)

It's the Little Things

Even though I have a yucky cold, today has been wonderful so far.  Nothing really exciting has happened but a combination of little things has made it a very good day.  I've had something wrong with one of my eyes the last couple of days so I couldn't wear my contacts.  I was reminded, again, of how much I hate glasses.  Today my eye was fine so I got to put my contacts back on.  I was able to fit, comfortably, into some of my skinnier jeans (yay!) and my Meals on Wheels clients were especially festive and wished me a Merry Christmas over and over.  I got the Glee Christmas CD and listened to those ridiculously talented kids sing me right into the Christmas spirit.  My house is clean, my gas tank is full and two of my sons come home this week!  Hallelujah, Praise the Lord and Merry Christmas:)

My Crew

These people make me very happy and in just a few days all but one of them will be reunited with us and each other.  I love seeing them together.  They are a very loud and fun bunch.  They have grown to include 4 wives and 3 grandchildren but the original "Magnificent 7" have a bond that will never be broken.  Merry Christmas to me:)

Ha Ha Ha!!!

You lecherous ladies!  I got more hits on this one post than I have ever gotten.  That cracks me up:)  Nice to know my friends appreciate eye candy (Hee Hee).

Mama's Boys

I was going through some pictures and came across one of my very favorites.  Brandon was off reading somewhere but this is the rest of my stripling warriors.  I LOVE this picture.  This is so....them.  They love posing like stud-muffins.  That's a lot of really cute boy right there if I do say so myself:)

Vindicated!!!

As I enter my 23rd year (:)) I have been wondering if my mind might be slipping a little.  I keep forgetting things that people tell me or just forgetting things in general, things I've known my whole life like how to spell a certain word or an old friend's name.  I thought it might be the onset of old age but the other day my daughter-in-law, Michelle, was looking for some bread in the bread drawer and she found some frozen (not anymore) burritos.  Ha ha!  My 16 year old daughter was mortified but cracked up and confessed to putting them there absentmindedly after making her lunch the day before.  That brought back memories of my son, Tanner, sleepily (he spent most of his teenage years sleepily) putting the Ovaltine in the fridge and the milk in the pantry after making a glass. I have found (more than once) some milk in the actual Ovaltine can  as though someone mistook the can (full of Ovaltine) for a cup.  Quite the mess but pretty funny.  So, I feel much better about myself.  This isn't old age, it's just an overfull mind:)

Just Say No? Ha!

Yesterday I did something that I haven't done in a very long time.  I said, "No".  I did it kindly and with great reluctance but it was still very hard because I almost never do it.  It was either lose my pride or my mind.  I chose to lose my pride.  I play the piano, not real well but I do play so of course when people need a piano player, a lot of times they will come to me.  I don't mind doing it at all, especially if the pieces are not too difficult.  This Christmas season I have prayed for things to keep me busy, I need to stop praying for that now.  I am playing about a million times this holiday season.  Almost all of the pieces are not too hard but I have two or three that I've really had to practice.  This last Sunday I was given a piece that needs to be played for Christmas Sunday.  That's less than 2 weeks away.  I tried it yesterday and realized that even if I practiced all day, every day, until showtime I would not do the piece justice and I would be a nervous wreck so I told the person who gave it to me that they needed to find someone better than me.  It felt yucky to say it but when I actually did then I felt this huge weight lift off of my shoulders.  I hate inconveniencing people and always feel like I can do whatever they need me to do but in this instance it was just too hard.  My pride keeps pricking me and saying, "just practice more", but the rest of me is doing a happy dance inside because I don't have to deal with the added stress.  I know I'm not in any danger of making this "no" thing a habit but just this once it felt great to "Just Say No":)

That's My Girl!!

My sweet girl entered her very first tennis tournament this last weekend and she won it!  I was so proud.  There were only 7 girls in her age group and they weren't very experienced but a win's a win:)  She has only been playing tennis for 2 years and has never had the guts to enter a tournament so I was very proud of her for being brave enough to go against strangers and compete.  It was in Del Mar and it was pretty fun to watch.  I hope she does some more. 

A Mother's Christmas Wish

I heard this song again today and, as usual, was really touched by the words so I thought I would share them with you. 

I wish you love, a life to share and when you find someone to care I hope that time is kind to you and that all your dreams come true.  This is a mother's Christmas wish for you.
I wish you peace in heart and mind, to use your strength but still be kind.  To learn to give, to learn to lose, to live the truth in all you do.  This is a mother's Christmas wish for you.
And when you wake on Christmas day with children of your own, I know then you'll see what you've been to me.  You are the greatest gift of all.
A child was born on Christmas Day.  A shining star to lead the way.  And Mary's love was pure and true and that's the way that I love you.  I pray that love will guide you through.  This is a mother's Christmas wish for you.

I think, deep down, this is every mother's song to her child.  They may express it in different ways but there is nothing like a mother's love for her child.  I hope we all remember that because we are all some mother's child. 

Cyber Ritas

Normally being a very private person I often wonder why I throw all my innermost thoughts out to you in cyber space and while walking this morning I think I decided that you are now taking the place of my best friend, Rita, who has moved on to way more important things than taking care of me.  I have never clicked as fast with a friend as I did with Rita.  She and I were perfectly matched.  We were almost the same age, had kids the same ages, belonged to the same church, were very equal financially and had the same interests and hobbies.  Every girl needs a best friend to listen to her because even though we have husbands, they don't really listen the way another woman does.  They listen to fix not to just hear us out.  We don't really need fixing.  We are perfectly capable of fixing things ourselves but we usually need to say things out loud until we can figure out the answers to our problems.  Once in a while we like to hear counsel from someone who has gone through it before or who might have a diffeent perspective but we are really just voicing our thoughts out loud.  Rita was the perfect friend for that.  She was very wise and smart but she never really told me what to do when I had a challenge.  She just listened and would offer thoughts if I asked for them.  She also lived her life as an example and I watched very carefully because I respected her and admired what she'd done with her family.  I don't really expect anything from you, my friends in cyber space, but I appreciate the opportunity to lay my thoughts out before you and therefore come to the answers for myself.  So, thanks for listening:)

Farewell

I am striving diligently to bid farewell to life as I've known it for the last 30 years and lately I have been failing miserably.  I blame it on that horrible disease known as menopause but nonetheless it's kicking my trash.  It is probably being magnified by the holiday season and I hope it dies down or goes away soon.  I'm talking about mood swings.  One minute I will be reveling in Christmas cheer and joy and the next minute I am blubbering unconsolably wishing it was 15 years ago when all my kiddos were young and home and excited about Christmas.  This year will be a first for us in that most of my children won't see each other at all on Christmas day.  I'm sure this is just the first of many of those times but it's still an adjustment and not a fun one.  Having 4 other families involved in our lives now because of marriage we have to learn how to share.  I don't want to share!!! I want my babies all to myself.  (O.K. tantrum over).  I go through times where it feels like a mild version of mourning.  I need to learn to let go and move on.  Sometimes I wish I wouldn't have had such a great time raising my family and didn't have sooo many wonderful memories because then it wouldn't be that hard to let go.  I was doing pretty well getting on with my life and starting new things until I decorated for Christmas and wondered "Who is here to even care about this?"  I know Savannah is still at home but she is so calm and quiet and, well, not six boisterous boys, that it feels like I'm done even though I'm really not.  I absolutely love having her here with me and wouldn't trade it for the world but it's very different from having the boys around.  So, I guess I am really mourning the death of the "boy mom" I used to be.  They all have someone else to take care of them now so I am really done being their #1 girl.  My saving grace is that I will always have Savannah.  She will be my best friend forever.  Not even a husband can completely take her away from me.  I also, thankfully, will always have Pat.  He's the only one who shares all of these memories with me.  I know he is adjusting to this new life way better than me but I'm pretty sure that is because he doesn't have raging hormones.  And, he didn't spend a fraction of the time I spent with these kids over the last 30 years.  I'm counting on him to get me through this, him and my Heavenly Father.  I have no idea if anyone reads this rambling mess but if anyone does, it's probably young marrieds, so here's a head's up of what might be in store for you in a few (O.K. more than a few) years.  Hopefully you get through it a little more gracefully than I am.  Good luck and Merry Christmas.

I - Love - My - Grandchildren

Christmas is for children and I'm so thankful that I have another generation of children to be excited for.  I love these little faces more than I thought possible.

And the Winner is....

Aleigh made it all pretty and wrote stuff on it for us.  I love my little condensed family so much:)

Another Tricky Area

So, on my journey into old age I am faced with another tricky decision.  Christmas card pictures.  I always love when others send me Christmas cards with family pictures in them but I am now at a stage where most of my family has their own family so they will be sending out their own family pictures.  Also, a lot of them aren't around to take a picture with us.  So, who do I put in the family picture?  My oldest son is living with us and not married but will he feel silly being in the picture with his youngest sibling and mom and dad?  Will he feel left out if he is not included since he won't be sending out any cards or pictures of his own?  It looks very bare to have just me, Pat and Savannah.  I'm used to having at least 9 people in our picture and usually a lot more.  The good thing is that we had a blast taking our pictures last night.  I brought in a ringer of a photographer to take them for us and she may or may not have photo-bombed a couple of them.  That's O.K. though because she will probably be in a few in the coming years :).  Here are a few that didn't make the cut but had us laughing pretty hard while creating them. 

Grandmas

Carrying on with that "22" idea from a little while back, I was thinking about being a grandma.  When I think of a grandma I think of my grandmas.  I certainly don't think of me!  I had two grandmas that were totally opposite in every way.  One was the stereotypical grandma who baked really well and knew how to do crafts and made us crafty little dolls and old-fashioned treats.  She taught us nursery rhymes and told us stories.  She lived in a tiny house and never had very much money.  Very old fashioned and lovable.  She was tiny, frail, meek and soft spoken.  She was from Idaho and seemed to be old from the moment I can remember her.  She was sick in bed for many years before she passed away.  My other grandma was my "nana" and she was a hoot!  She was a rich, Los Angeles "socialite" who got married like 5 times and outlived all of her husbands so she ended up dancing with boyfriends a couple of times a week into her 80's.  She was loud and confident and very opinionated.  She sang all the time.  Every thing you said could be turned into a church hymn by her.  She served several missons as an older single lady and didn't slow down until the day she died. She was bossy and crazy and fun.  I'm pretty sure she was telling my mom what to do on her deathbed.  In remembering these traits of my grandmas I can't help but wonder how my grandchildren will see me in a few years.  I'm trying to take the good parts of both of my grandmas and of my own mother and incorporate them into my relationships with my grandchildren.  I want to be steady and have traditions with them but I also want to be spontaineous and fun.  I want to guide them but not boss them.  I want them to trust and respect me and want to come to my house to spend time with me.  I already love them so much I can't believe it.  My whole life's quest up to this point was to be a good mother, now it's time to work on being a "great" grandma.  I'm pretty excited for this ride:)

Memory Lane

While in Utah this last week we took Savannah on a little tour of the past.  We took her to our old apartment on the BYU campus and took some pictures.  I sent them to Tanner and Logan and told them that that was where they were conceived.  As expected Logan texted back, "Right there on the stairs?  That must have been cold".  He's such a dork.  We then visited my father's grave and marveled at how perfect the spot was for him.  He is from Idaho and loves the wide open spaces of nature so he is buried up on a hill looking out over vacant land with no houses in sight.  It was fun to visit old memories in my mind of time gone by.  I've had an exceptionally good life and I'm very grateful for that. 

Mommy or child?

Well, I'm home from Utah now and I've decided that even though I had a good time with my Mom and siblings and their families and I enjoyed not being in charge of the whole Thanksgiving meal for a change, I would much rather be a mom  than a child.  I missed my kids like nobody's business.  I had two of them there but they were intermingled with cousins so I didn't even get to sit by them.  This was an eye-opener for me.  It won't be very long before my kids are going to want to be parents more than they want to be children.  They are moving in that direction even as we speak.  Such a bittersweet feeling.  I love them so much that I want them to experience that kind of love for their own children but on the other hand, if they move on to that phase of their lives then where does that leave me?  I'm already having a terrible time getting into the Christmas spirit.  I don't have the same excitement while decorating my house and I'm not getting the same joy even looking at it almost done.  I do it for them and they aren't here to enjoy it.  Buying them gifts is also feeling a little awkward because I feel like some of the things I am getting them are probably things that wives would like to get them.  I think I will start some new and different traditions next year to adjust to my new role.  Just writing that makes me feel a little better.  Since I can't stop them from growing up then I will just have to adjust and become the best mother-in-law and grandma I can be.  I am now committed to making this a very Merry Christmas - one way or another:)

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are heading out to Utah today to visit my son and his wife and my family for Thanksgiving.  It feels very weird to have my whole family spread out all over the country on Thanksgiving.  We will only be taking our baby with us and only visiting one son.  Everyone else is having Thanksgiving without us.  This has never happened to us before.  I don't like it!  It's very hard to give up children and traditions that you've had around for 30 years.  I'm just thankful that they all have someone to spend it with and that they are all safe and healthy.  I want all of them to know how much I love them but they don't even read this thing so I guess I'll have to tell them for the 10 millionth time.  I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

Hair

I find it fascinating how important hair is to girls.  It's way more important than it should be.  The way our hair turns out in the morning when we style it pretty much determines our mood for the day and a bad color or cut can send us over the edge.   Thus the very famous saying "Bad hair day".  My hair has had a life of it's own.  Looking at pictures from throughout my life is like looking at multiple people.  I have had nearly every color, cut, and style that hair can have.  I used to get very bored with my hair and want to change it all the time.  I find it funny that now that I'm older I have finally settled on the style that my father and my husband have liked from the very beginning; long, brown and straight.  This is what I was born with and what suits me best.  It's also the cheapest to maintain; no coloring or cutting.  It only took me a half of a century to figure that out.  Even though it looks O.K. on me I'm still going to have all of the women in my world have waist-length blonde curly hair:)

I'm Feelin' 22!

I had a very interesting and comforting thought a few days ago and I thought I would share it.  As I get older I realize that my knowledge gets broader (along with my waistline) but that my spirit still feels like it's about 22.  I look in the mirror or hear teenagers talking in their silly voices and feel so old and experienced and mature but in my heart I still have the same feelings as when I was 22.  Sooo, I was wondering if our souls might not just be 22!  When we get resurrected we will be restored to our most perfect self, the self that is full grown, has the most hair, is in the best shape (usually) and as close to perfect as we ever get and for most people that is about 22.  I can't think of anything better than feeling 22 but having the knowledge and experience of about 90.  I don't know deep doctrine that well so I am just going to go with my theory for now and enjoy being 22 forever:)

I'm Done... I think

After many many hours of contemplating and then assembling I think I am finally done with the decorations for the inside of my house.  I need a few more lights up but I'm too pooped right now.  Each year I say it's too much work and I'm not doing it but each year I give in and I'm always glad I did.  So, here's the finished product (until I decide to move something...again:)

Mommy and Daddy Forever

Some things never change and I'm so glad.  I hope they never do.  I love it when I get a text from one of my grown, married, daddy sons telling me about a good grade on a test or a new church calling or some other accomplishment.  I'm sure his wife is proud of him but he has a history with his mom of years of making sure homework is done and urging him to get good grades and study hard and fulfill his church assignments and choose the right, etc.  I  have always had a vested interest in him doing well and he knows it.  I have praised and "victory danced" and mourned over test scores and poor choices and victories with him for so many years that it's just habit now for him to let me in on his successes and failures and I love it! I also love hearing my dear husband giving advice and help over the phone about insurance policies and career decisions and "head of the household" matters and gospel doctrine to our grown sons.  I know they respect him and look up to him so much and he deserves it.  Children will always need their parents even if it's just for a little "Good job, son" and I am eternally grateful for that little bit of mercy in the ever painful "letting go" process.  I am also ridiculously thankful that I had a girl last and I hope she never ever ever (a little T-Swift there) stops needing her mommy.

Hmmmm

Well, I've started the Christmas decorating but it's not bringing me the same joy that it has in years past.  It is a ton of work (way more than is healthy) and there aren't nearly as many people around here to appreciate it as there have been in past years.  It is also making me really miss my missionary son who is the one who loved it the most.  Half of my kids aren't around here to see it and the ones who are don't really care one way or the other.  The older I get, the faster time flies so it seems silly to do so much work assembling for such a short amount of time of enjoying.  I know my husband loves it because he hears me groaning and complaining about how hard it is and he tells me to slow down and don't give up.  That keeps me going.  I know I will be glad I did it when we all sit around the fire and enjoy the lights and ribbons and sparkly things all over the house.  I will post pictures when I get it all done. 

Awwww

This just warms my heart.  Mommy and her sweet boy decorating their tree together.  Love it:)

VOTE!!!

I find it very disturbing that many young people I have talked to lately say their parents aren't voting in this election.  We live in a free country that allows us to pick our leaders.  There are sooo many other countries that don't allow that and their people are so jealous of us.  We can and yet some don't.  Why?  Why bother living in a free country if you aren't going to take advantage of those freedoms?  I wonder if they are leaving it up to "everyone else" to take care of things for them.  So not fair.  Do your part, America!  I have raised several voters but I can't do it by myself.  Kids, encourage your parents to vote and when you are old enough, make sure you do your part to keep this country the greatest in the whole world.  I'm now stepping off my soapbox for the day:)

Monday Savers

Normally Mondays are viewed as the worst day of the week because they follow the weekend and start up the work/school week.  These two darling boys make Monday my favorite day:)  They are both missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and they get to write emails on Monday mornings.  I plan my day around these emails.  I have to be home in the morning to get them.  They are my lifeline to these sweet boys; one of whom is my blood relative and the other might as well be.  Hunter baptized Josh a little over a year ago and now they are both away from home trying to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Ohio (Hunter) and the Philippines (Josh).  I am so proud of both of them; Hunter for being a great example and Josh for being in tune to recognize the truth when he heard it.  I am very aware that this is probably the hardest thing these boys will do in their young lives and I know they will be blessed for their sacrifice.  I love them both with all my heart:)

I...Must...Control...Myself

Now that Halloween is over I have the greatest itch to start decorating for Christmas and if Hunter were home I would already be halfway done.  He is the child that on Halloween night would say to me, "OK Mom, let's start the Christmas decorations tomorrow".  I am going to try to hold off a little longer this year since I really do feel silly when people come over in the first week of November and my house is all decked out for Christmas.  In the past I have left only the kitchen table decorated for Thanksgiving and had the rest of the house all Christmasy.  This year we are going to Utah for Thanksgiving so I will feel a little more justified in starting early since we won't have to mess with mixing holiday decorations.  I walk around looking at my house and planning what I will do with the warehouse size amount of Christmas decorations I have stored in every nook and cranny of my house, in both garages and in the shed.  Luckily, I have a husband who loves these decorations as much as me and the kids and if he sees an inch not decorated he says, "That looks a little bare over there, why don't you go find something to fit there?"  :)  Is he the greatest or what?  What girl wouldn't love to hear those words?  The feelings I get at Christmastime are like no other.  Every good emotion is magnified a million percent.  I feel love and charity and gratitude and joy in great abundance.  There is nothing like having a scented candle lit, all the Christmas lights on, a puzzle halfway done, Christmas music on and my loved ones gathered all around me.  I am tingling just thinking about it:) Just a few...more...days!!!!

Halloween

There are some people who love Halloween (the Schroeder girls) and then there are the rest of us.  I usually just get through Halloween so I can enjoy the "real" holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas) but this year I really enjoyed watching my little grandson experience his first real Halloween.  He was fascinated that he could win a cupcake just by walking around in a circle on some numbers.  He loved watching popcorn pop right in front of him through a glass popcorn cart and then getting to eat as much as he wanted.  The crowning glory of the night, though, was watching him realize that just by uttering some magic words (Trick or Treat!) he could get people to put candy in his little pumpkin!  And then he got to eat it!! Amazing!  It was so fun to watch.  I really missed my little Rapunzel and her baby sister who are up in Oakland but I am very thankful for modern technology that let's me "see" them without really seeing them.  Halloween is for children and it doesn't matter if they are yours or your childrens':)

Pumpkin carving

We get pretty serious about our pumpkin carving. (OK, Logan gets pretty serious).  He did a great Batman head this year. Michelle did the L + M = love and Aleigh tried to do "We heart Hunt" but the middle of the H got cut off.  We had a good laugh but know that it's the thought that counts.  Pat did the normal scary Jack O Lantern.  Love this crew:)

Kids Raising Kids

My kids are pretty fun parents.  I'm very proud of them.

Favorite Things

It's not quite Thanksgiving but I'm really feeling thankful today for so many things.  It makes me feel good to see them in writing.  Maybe it will brighten your day a little too.

I love fall weather.  I love the cozy feeling of being inside when it's rainy outside. 

I love a husband who is faithful to me in every possible way.  I know he loves only me because he tells me every day.  We have so much fun together.  We have 36 years of memories together and we are now finishing each other's sentences and thinking the same thoughts at the same time. 

I love funny children.  I have 7 of them.  They constantly crack me up.  They know so many movie lines and say them at just the right time.  They have funny nicknames for each other and are so fun to be around.

I love living in San Marcos.  It is a wonderful town with warm, friendly people that I love to call neighbors.  I fit right in here.  It's a small town that is next to bigger towns so I get the cozy feeling without being too far away from civilization. 

I love sports.  I absolutely love watching my children play sports.  I love the competitive atmosphere and the comraderie of teams and the bright colors.  I love college football and March Madness and all the fun times I've watched both with my family. 

I love my grandchildren.  They brighten my life.  I love how girlie and dainty my little Ava is.  The things she says just make me smile.  Sienna is a little happy butterball that is smiling all the time.  I wish I could be closer to see them grow up.  Landon is my opportunity to play with a little boy without being distracted.  I had lots of little boys for many years but since I had lots of them I didn't take the opportunity to just sit down and play with them as often as I would have liked.  Now I play firemen and Thomas the Train and race cars with Landon and I absolutely love it.  No distractions.  Just Money and Bubba.

I love the new girls in my life.  They are teaching me many things.  The thing I love most about all of them is that they absolutely love my sons.  That makes me happier than I would have ever imagined.  I always thought that no one could love my sons as much as I do but these girls are proving me wrong and I couldn't be happier. 

I love my church.  I love everything about it.  The things I know give me complete peace and comfort and joy.  I love my fellow Mormons.  There is something about the bond between people who believe the same way when those around them don't that is strong and comforting. 

I love Brighton jewelry (we're getting really deep now).  It makes me feel feminine and pretty with a little gypsy thrown in.  My family has always told me that I am kind of a gypsy/hippy and this jewelry represents me well. 

I love Victorian decorations.  I look at pictures of old Victoriean rooms and I feel a deep connection.  It feels like I belong in one of those houses.  I really relate to that era and that style of decorating. 

I love BYU.  A university where my children can hear prayers in the classroom and see other students living a high honor code and hear general authorities speak to them right on their campus on a weekly basis makes me very happy.  I'm so thankful that all of my children have desired to get their education from this great school.  I'm a Cougar through and through and I'm so glad that my husband and children are too.,

I love the Raiders.  This may seem very contrary to my nature since I am a very obedient, disciplined "good" girl and they are just the opposite.  There is something about my maverick team that keeps me rooting for them year in and year out.  They are the outcasts and the rebels but they are secretly really good people.  I've met a few of them in person and they are genuinely nice people.  Their fans are a little crazy but I really like that dedication and devotion to a team no matter how much they struggle on the field.  When I was a teenager they were the best team in the NFL and won 3 Super Bowls.  They were very exciting to watch and won most of the time.  I love the colors silver and black.  So tough and cool. 

I love my house.  I look in every room and see memories of tearing down and building up with our children holding hammers and wearing tool belts.  I see love and memories everywhere.  "We" built this house and made it just how we want it and all of my children's childhood memories are here.  I always wanted to live in just one house for my children's whole lives so they would have a firm base and foundation and  one place to go to relive all of their childhood memories.  It doesn't look the same but it is the same house and we are the ones who changed it. I love coming home to it. 

I love chocolate.  Enough said.

Jacy

Today is my 5th son, Jensen's, first wedding anniversary with his sweet wife, Tracy.  It's much easier blending my sons' and their wives' names together since it shortens them quite a bit.  Thus, Tanner and Alana are Talana, Logan and Michelle are Lichelle and Jensen and Tracy are Jacy.  Kyle and Aubrie are a little harder (Brandon just calls them Dumb and Dumber, nice).  But I digress.  So Jacy has been married 1 whole year.  They fell for each other like a ton of bricks right after he got off his mission and they have been living in Utah their entire married life since he is attending BYU.  They are perfect for each other.  They are so sweet together.  The greatest gift a girl can give her mother-in-law is to love her son.  I know that Tracy loves Jensen and I know that Jensen loves Tracy.  This combination makes for a very happy me.  Happy Anniversary, Jacy.  I love you both:)

My Princess

I love love love this beautiful girl. 

Who Knew?

I came across these 3 cute little ceramic pumpkins a few years ago in a catalog and thought that they would look cute on my bar.  Who knew they would become the center of the whole house and the source of so much joy for my family?  Each fall I put them out and fill them with candy and I can hear the clink of the lids from the minute any of the family gets home.  They love seeing the different varieties of candy I put in them and it's a nice little sweet treat between meals.  They know it's only a seasonal occurence but, boy, do they look forward to it.  They are so easy to please:)

He's Back!!!

My little tornado is back and I am soooo happy!! It was nice to see his parents too:)  My house is now upside down and he has a terrible cold which means lots of yummy stuff coming out of his nose but we have the pitter patter of little feet running up and down the hallway and "Where Money go?"  ringing through the air.  Ahhhh.  Heaven:)

Four...more...days!!!

There is a tingle in the air and it's not just because fall is finally here.  In just 4 more days we will have the light of our lives back in our house.  That's right, Lando is coming home!  No offense Node and Shell but we all know who the main attraction is here. All 4 of us are just giddy with excitement at having our little whirlwind back in our lives.  We can't wait to kiss those little cheeks and hug the life out of him.  We can't wait to hear little feet running through our house.  We finally get to hear that high little voice yelling, "Where Money go?" and "Babba juuuuuuiiiiccce!" and "Papa truck!" and so many other things we have missed.  We will look for zizzards and he will call every blue car on the road "Josh car" and we will take walks and run and jump on the love sac and dance and watch a "show" and snuggle in Money's chair with our bunny and blankey and all will be right with the world.  I CAN'T WAIT!!!

The "Joy" of Joy School

This little girl is a mystery to me.  She is very serious and reserved.  She is not a giddy, silly little girl and that is what I expect little girls to be.  She is smart and thoughtful and is a little stingy with her smiles.  She only gives them when she really wants to.  That is why I love this picture.  Ava is very gregarious.  She loves other kids.  She is fearless at making new friends.  When Tanner and Alana moved to Oakland I encouraged Alana to find a Joy School for Ava to attend,.  Alana didn't even know what it was.  I told her it was a pre-school with a curriculum written by a Mormon couple and taught by the parents of the students.  She found a group of moms in her area who were doing it and got Ava into the class.  This picture is Ava's first day of Joy School and I see "joy" just oozing from her darling face.  She has her big, fat "Rapunzel" braids and an outfit that Grandma Moores gave her.  She has her little back pack that her best friend, Grandma Salisbury, gave her and she has the sweetest smile in the world.  I love this girl with all my heart and with all the joy that she brings me I am very happy to see her experiencing some for herself.  "Oh boy, I got joy!"

I'm a Mormon. I know it. I live it. I love it.

It's hard to put into words how much I love my church.  I just got back from General Conference in Utah and my heart is very full.  Being surrounded by thousands of people who believe as I do is awe-inspiring.  Hearing a prophet of God impart modern day revelation and hearing apostles of Jesus Christ testify of his divinity makes my heart sing.  This gospel is my life.  It affects every single minute of it.  It brings me hope, peace, guidance and eternal joy.  I can't tell you how happy it makes me to know that my husband and children feel the same way and so do their wives and loved ones.  Knowing that I am sealed to all the people I cherish brings me indescribable joy.  I love every part of being a Mormon.  I love the Book of Mormon, temples, the priesthood, For the Strength of Youth, missions, the Word of Wisdom, high standards, even all the meetings:)  I absolutely know that Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in that grove and that they re-established their true church through him.  I am so thankful to be a member and will be forever proud to say "I am a Mormon.  I know it.  I live it.  I love it."

Happy Birthday, Kyle

Today is my second son's 29th birthday.  He was born on conference Sunday at 6:10 p.m. and had to be drug out of me in an emergency birth even though he was 6 days late.  He was losing blood because of a tear in the umbilical chord and they had to get him out really fast so it hurt like nothing has ever hurt anyone in the history of hurting.  They didn't even have time to do a C-Section.  Then, he had to go straight to the NICU so I didn't even get to hold him or anything.  Luckily, in the 29 years since he's been in my life, that is the only pain he has caused me.  I have felt pain on his behalf, like when his lovelife went haywire but he has never really caused me pain by his actions.  He is a very obedient, loving, kind and funny man.  He has more energy than 3 or 4 people combined but has a heart of gold and would never intentionally hurt anyone.  I am so thankful that he is in my life and I hope he gets as much joy in his lifetime as he has given.  Happy Birthday, Kymimo. I love you Moore than anything:)

Jensen and Tracy and Kyle and Aubrie

I found some fun pictures of my newly married kids.