A Wonderful Holiday!!

Christmas 2009 was wonderful as all the years past. We went to my moms on Christmas Eve for a nice afternoon/evening of fun, friends, family and of course YUMMY food!! The kids were wound up from the time they work up that morning in great anticipation for Santa Claus.



I had to work like always, so I enjoyed the evening until around 5:30 when I headed out. Tom was left in charge of putting the kids in their Christmas pj's and taking a picture. I am proud to say he did just as he was asked. And they even look like they like each other...bonus!!



After I worked until 10:45...YUCK I thought I would be home by 10. We got everything ready for the next morning. I think I was more excited than the kids. I couldn't wait to see their little faces. At a little after midnight Thomas came in our room and informed us that Santa had already come. Don't worry we did not get up at this time. We made him lay down with us and surprisingly he slept until 6:45 when I got up.



Thomas went into Taylor's room, woke her up and told her that Santa brought her a new princess bike. It was very cute. They both loved their presents!!





After we opened all of our gifts from each other (among lots of other things mommy got Adobe photoshop 8) we headed to my parents for more gifts and a yummy breakfast. As usual my parents went overboard and we all got lots of great gifts. The kids both got new bikes and that pretty much kept them occupied all morning long.








It was a wonderful Christmas and we all have lots to be grateful for. At bedtime we had two tired kids and one pooped out mommy! As I look out my office right now I keep hoping and wishing it would all magically clean and organize itself.

I hope all of my friends and family had a wonderful day also. And now on to 2010!!

Naughty or Nice??

We took the kids to see Santa tonight and what an ordeal that is with two toddlers. And what a cash cow that is for whoever gets that money.

I am happy to report that the Santa at our mall was the best I've seen and he was even jolly. No BAD SANTA for us. And my kids...made me proud. They both got right up on his lap and smiled for the camera. Taylor started to get a little unsure after she sat there for a few minutes, but no tears. It probably helped that I told Thomas if he didn't sit on Santa's lap and tell him what he wanted there was a good chance he would skip our house on Christmas Eve. I know, mean mom!!!

Anyway, I would say that this good behavior puts both my kids back on the nice list. When you are 4 and 1, it only takes little things to get you on the nice list.

Wrinkle free...

So this is probably the most random post, but I have to touch on the subject. First I will say that I know I am not old, BUT I am getting older and over the last few weeks I have been looking in the mirror and not liking what I see.

I feel like I have all of these wrinkles on my face that I never realized were there.

WHAT DO I DO?????

I think it is time to start using some sort of cream or something. I keep looking at the picture I posted of Thomas and I, and frankly I like it less each time. It is no secret I do not enjoy getting older, for many reasons but now I have just added one to the list.

I will be 30 in 3 months and I would like to enjoy this coming decade of my life without gaining anymore wrinkles.

HELP ME my followers!!

Just a quick note

I cannot believe that Christmas is next Friday!!! I thought I was totally ready and now I feel as though I am not. Oh well, once I hit the post office today I am not going to worry any further.

We are taking the kids to see Santa Claus tonight. I have prepared myself for the worst and am hoping for the best. If I am correct then I suspect Thomas will freak out and Taylor will follow suit. I will end up paying for a picture that only makes me laugh. But I guess one of the true joys of Christmas is these moments, so bring it on.

I thought I would share the photo my mom took last year when we took the kids to see Santa. Both kids were a little unsure, but there were NO tears and I was good with that.



Happy Monday and don't forget there are only 11 days til Christmas!!

I wonder...

If my neighbors can hear me yelling at my kids???

I know that it is not the most endearing quality (my yelling), but trust me it does not always start out as yelling.

I ask nicely: "Can you please start picking up your toys?"

This is usually followed by blatant ignoring, continuing right on with whatever it is they are doing at that moment.

I ask nicely again: (A little more annoyed though) "Thomas can you please start picking up your toys? I have already asked you once."

If I am even acknowledged at this point I feel like I am actually making progress. Unfortunately I can not begin to tell you how many more times I have to ask before things get done.

I end up yelling every time.

I do not want to yell. In fact it makes my head hurt to yell and that only makes me more mad, so I would prefer not to yell.

But seriously...

Cold, but dry!!

Day two of our trip we spent at Seaworld and although it was very cold it was dry and sunny.

Again though, Thomas was not sure that he wanted to be at Seaworld and it took some convincing on our parts. He finally warmed when he saw the dolphins.





We saw all of the shows and after all was said and done I think he really had a good time. I know I did. It was two and a half days of laughs. Moments that although I am still cracking up just thinking about them, I am not sure you would appreciate them as we do. So I will just share more photos.

Note to self...

Avoid planning trips that depend on good weather in months that there is any chance of bad weather.

A few months ago I planned a trip to San Diego for Thomas' 4th birthday. After many changes to our plans we set our trip to include the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld. Two full days of fun just for him...well and mommy, as I had never been either.

A few days before we left we found out that the storm of the season would be hitting the day we arrived. I tried to pray it away, but NO luck. My best friend Sandi met Thomas and I there and picked us up from the airport. I cannot begin to describe the rain. It was horrible and I lived in rain almost my entire life.

Needless to say the zoo was not an option. I did not fly to San Diego to sit in a hotel room though, so we decided to be total tourists and go see the USS Midway. After much hesitation on Thomas' part we finally convinced him to board and he loved it.






We laughed most of the day because each time we thought the rain might stop it got worse. We really couldn't do anything but laugh. We would have like to see the actual flight deck with all of the planes, but the wind was blowing so hard that we could barely stand up.

Just hilarious!!

My "Star of the Show"

On Friday afternoon Thomas' preschool had their Holiday show. It was our first of many events like this I am sure and let me just tell you that Thomas did not disappoint.

I do not know anyone that would dispute that Thomas is the friendliest kid around. Once he knows your name he is your best friend. He is not shy at all and except for the fear he will never understand the concept of "don't talk to strangers" it is wonderful. Anyway, he walked out on stage and immediately started scanning the very large crowd of parents. Almost instantly he found us and just shouted out "Hi mommy! Hi Papa!" With this big grin and his hand waving.

It was absolutely no surprise to me or any of the other parents from Thomas' class that he did this. He is always making everyone laugh. His class sang "5 Little Ducks" and they were adorable and of course you could totally hear Thomas over the other kids.

Can you just see that he has spotted us!!

1461 days ago...

At this very moment, I was sitting on my couch, in my townhouse, trying to breathe between contractions. I started having contractions with Thomas very early in the morning, but after making a trip to the hospital I was sent home because I wasn't dilated enough.

After a very long day hoping and praying things would move along, I went back to the hospital. Surprisingly enough I remember quite a bit from that day. It was the day I was going to give birth to my baby boy.



And at 1:55am on December 7, 2005 Thomas Bluett Moore III was born. He had a head full of hair, plump little lips and his daddy's toes. One of the best days of my life was the day he was born.

Happy 4th Birthday Thomas!!

I did not abandon my blog

I have absolutely no clue how many people actually follow my blog, but don't worry I have not abandoned my blog. I (we) have just been busy lately. Well at least I feel like I have been. I can honestly say that I have barely been on the computer at all since I got home from Seattle.

Anyways, I will forewarn you now that this particular post has no pics as I am having a camera CRISIS at this very moment. To long to explain, but let me tell you that I need it fixed... YESTERDAY.

Thomas has his preschool holiday show today and I am afraid I will be the bad mom with NO pics to share. Please cross your fingers that I figure it out in T minus 2 hours.

I will just give you a quick list of what has been going on and that way my big long paragraphs won't scare you off

1: Thanksgiving was good. Very quiet and normal. I worked, my mom did all of the cooking, we ate and that was that.

2: My dad was elk hunting for Thanksgiving (just like every year) and I am happy to report that he was successful. I will post a pic or two if he ever sends them to me.

3: Black Friday shopping was a success and I would say I am 90% done shopping and 80% wrapped.

4: Christmas decorations are all up and the kids are being WAY better than I expected in regards to leaving them all alone.

5: Thomas is turning 4 on Monday!! WOW (Enough said) I am taking him to San Diego for three days and cannot wait. I think it will be just what we both need (even if the rain follows us)

I will stop now and check in later once I figure out my camera issue.

Bootcut...

Now that my little Taylor has really developed her personality, it makes everything about her even cuter.

Thomas and Taylor were both playing outside today and of course I took my camera. It is rare these days that they actually give me anything to work with, but I chase them around anyway.

I just love Taylor in her new little jeans. I wish she would stay this little forever...

Is it too early???

To start decorating for Christmas? Tom is out of town for a few days and I have been trying to be productive. I must confess that last night I dug out all of the Christmas presents that I have purchased so far this year and started wrapping. I actually got really excited and started contemplating pulling out decorations and starting on that too.

Now the current tradition in my house is the day after Thanksgiving I get up SUPER early and go shopping while Tom stays home with the kids. When I get home Tom usually puts the lights on the house and I decorate the inside. Thomas will be four in a couple weeks and I think that this is the year that he is really going to get. Of course as a mom this is so exciting and hence the desire to decorate early. Oh lets be real...I am much better at talking about it (or in this case blogging about it) than actually going to the garage and getting everything down. I guess a girl can dream.

This is what I would like my tree to look like...Oh MARTHA, you are so INSPIRING!!

I have a good excuse...

Well normally I do not have a very good excuse for being a bad blogger, but this time I actually do. We just got back from a quick trip to Seattle. Well it sure felt quick anyway!! No vacation is ever long enough and you never get to see and do everything you plan too. This trip was no different in that respect. Our good friends the Edwards, let us stay in their condo for the week and it was more than fabulous. Our own little home away from home.

It was nice to go back and show Thomas where he was born and where we used to live. He was so excited to see his cousins and couldn't get enough of them. I still think he would have been happy if we had left him with his Aunt Misti. (The way he has been acting the last two days I may be sending him to her by the end of the week)

It is crazy to think we have been gone over three years already. Time really goes by fast, and it is amazing how it did not take my body that long to forget what that weather felt like. I stepped off the airplane and could see my breathe. YUCK!! (No offense to my friends and family) But I DO NOT miss that weather at all. It was total doom and gloom the entire week. Don't get me wrong it is way more beautiful in Washington and I would never argue otherwise, I just felt unmotivated and tired the whole trip.

This is going to sound very stupid to some of you but there was one thing that I missed and didn't even realize it. Brushing my teeth in ice cold tap water. I know, I know, I am a total dork, but I am telling you if you have ever tasted the water here then you know what I am talking about. First of all it is unlikely that you will ever get your water that cold and even if you do, the taste is so gross you don't get that refreshing feeling anyway.

Anyhoo, on to the part that I am sure keeps you scrolling down...The pics!! I took a ton of pictures, but it was a rarity that I actually got anyone to look at the camera.

My attempt at another good pic of Tom and Thomas

Apparently Tom is attempting to get a good pic of mommy and Thomas also, looks like it turned out just as great

Taylor walking with the girls, it is rare that she actually will hold someones' hand while walking.

Taylor with her cousins, but a little unsure of what the heck is going on.

Thomas just loved the snow and seconds after the pic he was throwing snow at me and my camera.

She can do no wrong

In past posts I have touched on the evil that lies with my daughter. She has this look that she gets and she says more with that look than if she were actually able to talk. I see that look it makes me crazy, Tom sees that look and it makes him melt. He thinks that she can do no wrong and I can see many battles on the horizon between him and I over her and THAT look. She is definitely daddy's girl and I think this picture proves it. I loved the pic, but did some editing on it and now I love it!

A few from our night...

I thought I would share a few more pics from Halloween.

Taylor walked with daddy almost the entire time.

I told Taylor to give Thomas a hug and instead he gave her one and I thought it was the cutest thing I just had to share.

Trying to get Taylor to look at the camera is crazy hard, she does the exact opposite of what you tell her, so I thought I would tickle her and see if that worked.

And the winner is.....

Well before the night even started I thought I was the winner. The costumes my mom made were absolutely AWESOME. She really outdid herself, but I think she knew it. All night she gave a little smile each time someone commented on the costumes. It really only means one thing though... how can we top it next year??

So without further ado the winner of the children ages 3-5 is...





And not the technical winner, but she is in my book...




It was a great night and all in all very long weekend. I am pooped and for once kind of glad tomorrow is Monday. It may sound crazy, but I am looking forward to a lazy day of cleaning after the last three days.

More shots from the night to come. Hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween!! Now all you bloggers reading this...I hope you have posted pics of your kids because I will be stopping by very soon.

Cooperative As Always

Just a quick post before I am off to get my kids ready for Thomas' Halloween party at school. I am super excited that they get to wear their costumes twice this year. My mom put such hard work into them and they turned out so great I want everyone to see how cute they are.

Anyhoo, when I took pics of the kids the other day I was cracking up at this photo. It captures, almost perfectly, the response I get these days when I pull my camera out. I say smile and he responds.




He just walked in here and started laughing at the picture. Somedays being a mom is the easiest job.

This is what bordome gets you....

So to be perfectly honest I have a hundred things I could or should be doing right now, but I fresh out of motivation to do any of them. It could be because they all fall under the cleaning category, but nevertheless I am blogging in my boredom.

I have been browsing blogs and pouncing around etsy, but ended up doing a little more photo editing. I look at everyone elses photos and want mine to look as good. Anyway, here is my doggy Riley and another pic of Taylor.







My kids and my dog seem to be my only subjects for picture taking. The rest of my family balks at me when I take out my camera. Well I guess my kids do too, but I don't give them much of a choice in the matter.

Take it from me...

Do not go to the Arizona State Fair. Let me just tell you that it is a complete joke. My husband tried to tell me, but in true Melissa fashion I had to find out for myself. Imagine the fair.... now think complete opposite. Don't get me wrong it had the normal rides and people, but the feel was not the feeling of a fair. Honestly I don't think we were the only ones questioning why we were there. If it is any indication how crappy of a fair it was, Thomas wanted to leave after only an hour. When we took him to the Ostrich Festival it was so much fun we couldn't get him out of there. In my mind I thought it was going to be just as fun.

I took my camera of course, but only got a few pics worth sharing. I big intentions on having lots to share about our day at the fair. I took this one right when we got there and am sharing it only because I thought is turned out cool.




This was one of only 2 rides that Thomas went on and the highlight of the day. Really only because Tom and I laughed hysterically while Thomas drove his bumper car in circles.




And of course what fair isn't complete without a ride on the Carousel, I think this is the exact same horse he rode at the Ostrich Festival. Oh how I wish our day had turned out like that day.

Playing around

So I was playing around this morning with a pic of Taylor that I took the other day. I am becoming obsessed with photo editing and have decided that my pictures aren't all that bad they just need a little fixing. Now don't get me wrong I am certainly far from a photographer. I am also becoming well aware the work that goes into all of it. My ultimate goal is just to have great pics of my family. I take my camera everywhere just ask my family.

I know because I am a mom too, but really???

I don't think there are very many people out there that do not know what I do for a living besides be a mom. But if you don't, I work for Safeway. I have worked for Safeway since I was 16, so if you do the math... OK don't do the math. Anyway, I have seen it all when it comes to the comings and goings in the grocery store. Too many stories to tell, but today I had to post based on what happened.

Now I know because I am a mom too, that when your kids are sick it is a real pain. There is always something that needs to be done at that moment or so it seems. I vowed though, when I had kids that at all costs I would keep them out of public places when they were sick. It is definitely in my top 5 of the most annoying things people do in a grocery store. Bringing your SICK, COUGHING, SNEEZING, RUNNY NOSED kids in the store. Just stay home if you can.

Now I know that when your kids are sick that is when you need medicine and such, but you DO NOT NEED the cheap meat we have on ad.

Anyway to my story, this lady came through the express line today and my good friend Jeannie was checking. The lady had her son with her and her son was wearing a mask. Yes you probably know where this is going. She says to Jeannie, "My son is sick with the SWINE FLU" as he is coughing. Jeannie, without even thinking says "THE SWINE FLU? Why are you in here then?" The lady went nuts. She was absolutely 100% ticked off that Jeannie would say that and draw attention to her son. As if the mask he was wearing didn't already do that.

Let me just say that this is a prime example of why something like the swine flu gets out of control. Stay home people!!!! Safeway has home delivery and would be happy to deliver those items you can't live without!! We as grocery store employees do not want the SWINE FLU or any other flu for that matter.

Well it would really be better if she had a pitchfork!!

If I haven't told any of you lately my daughter is EVIL. If she wasn't so cute it would drive me crazier than it already does. I suppose she is like me when I was her age, but really there is no proof of that. I mean that I was ever THAT evil! Girls are entirely different than boys I can tell you that much. She will look right at me and keep on doing whatever it is that she knows I am not liking.

I took this pic today while we were playing outside and when I saw her pick up the broom I immediately thought... ?? "Witch???" Sometimes yes!!!



Happy Halloween week everyone!! More fun pics to follow all week long!

Here it is....

One of the two costumes my mom has made for Taylor and Thomas for Halloween this year. Taylor is going to look adorable. The shoes arrived in the mail yesterday and they are a perfect fit. If I could teach her to say "Trick or Treat" the night would be complete, but I may have to settle for her version of please which sounds like cheese.

A Sneak Peek....

Well I really wanted to save the surprise, but I just can't not give everyone a little sneak as to my Halloween choices for this year. If you have followed my blog you know that I decide what the kids dress up as for Halloween. I know, I know I am a mean mom and should let them pick. All I have to say is "Whatever!!" I am sure that this could be the last year Thomas does not fight me so I am taking full advantage.

I think the best thing about Halloween is dressing up and the creativity that goes in to it. I respect the fact that a lot of parents allow their kids to choose, but in my house mommy picks. And if I do say so myself I have never disappointed.

My wonderful mom has offered to make the kids' costumes this year and I am SOOO excited. You can make guess' as to which ones I have chosen, but this is your hint!!

Bath....check!!!

On days like yesterday when the kids are so wound up and out of control this is how we end the day. I sit on the toilet and usually read (today I took pics) and they play in the bath until one of them starts crying. Then its pj's and lights out!!





This time is was Taylor that cried first, not because of Thomas though, because I told her to quit splashing water out. She was the first out and off to bed, he followed shortly after.

This is my pic of the day with my kids. It was a good day as a mommy!!

Crazy at the zoo

Yesterday my friend Sarah and I decided to take our four kids to the zoo. Our husbands were spending the day in the Budweiser suite at the Cardinals game so it seemed like the perfect thing to do just the six of us. All in all the kids were good. Listening does not seem to come easy for any of them, but they did alright. I, of course took my camera and played mamarazzi the entire time. If there is one thing my kids will probably remember from their childhoods is that I was always in their faces with my camera. I take hundreds and after I have deleted and edited I end up with a pretty good batch.

Before I share my pics let me just say that what a cash cow the zoo is. $16 for adults, which is hilarious itself because an adult is considered 12 and up (I was unaware that at the age of 12 we are considered adults), $7 for children (2 and under are free). So for the 6 of us it was $53 just to get in the gate. I brought a small soft cooler after remembering that the last time food was outrageously priced and not that good. $3 a person to feed the giraffe which was cool, but since you wouldn't send your kid up there alone you have to pay for the parent who is just there to watch ???? Thankfully Taylor was free for this event also. And last but not least $2 a person to ride the carousal.

The Phoenix zoo took us for a total of $74. This is not so much a complaint from me just a mere question as to what our money goes towards. The bathrooms were a hazardous waste site and that is putting it mildly. They certainly aren't hurting for business from what I could see, the zoo was packed.

All of that aside it was a really fun day! And I had the grumpy, winy kids to prove it on the car ride home.

This is how Taylor spent her day at the zoo, she was WAY more interested in eating that looking.

Thomas feeding the giraffe. I can't believe he actually did it, he is sort of my little wimp when it comes to things like this.

He was so excited afterward as you can see

Thomas and Alyssa with an animal that most of the time they act like.