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.