Rub-A-Dub-Dub

Bath time...

The only time she is 100% contained anymore.
So we take one EVERYDAY!!

A mom needs to be able to check Facebook and Instagram without losing her baby.

 

Project PURGE

Before the holidays I found myself uncharacteristically annoyed with the clutter and chaos.  And unlike in years past I tried VERY hard to avoid anything that brought small pieces into my house.  When I roamed Toy 'R' Us Christmas shopping almost everything screamed "I have tons of little pieces that you will undoubtedly step on and find all over the house!"  I would not consider myself OCD in any way EXCEPT when it comes to games/toys.  It absolutely drives me nuts when toys/puzzles/games are not put back, are missing pieces or not taken care of.  Ask my hubby!!  Just the other day football was in jeopardy if 4 pieces to one of Tatum's new toys weren't found.  There were tears...quite a few fibs regarding who was the last one to have said pieces, but in the end all were located and I was happy.

For quite some time now...maybe after having Tatum...our house has been running on "A happy mom is a happy home"!!!  More than once I have overheard my hubby trying to explain this to Thomas and Taylor, not sure they are listening, but he tries.

Anyhoo...

Last week my mom was telling me that she was participating in this little cleaning/organizing daily challenge via blogland and it got me thinking.  Now that the holidays are done and packed away I could use a little cleaning/organizing myself.  Of course there are tons of challenges on Pinterest...but I decided to create my own.

I give you....

I picked 20 areas that needed to be tackled around the house.  Some are way more daunting than others, but all are in need of at least a good dusting.  I didn't constrict myself to a set amount of days mostly because I didn't want to get burnt out.  I have started projects like this before and usually don't make it past the halfway mark.

So I started number 5 today, but must admit that after number 1 I called my mom and said the words I swore I wouldn't say for at least two years..."Should we have a garage sale?"  This will be revisited in a followup post titled... "We have serious issues...we have had garage sales every year for 5 years!"

I digress...

She said yes and we are!!  Date TBD!!

Warning...

I am about to share boring pictures of my progress!!! 

The kids' bathroom REALLY needed an overhaul.  I cleaned and organized from top to bottom! 

Although this is a picture of my laundry room a few months back, I can be honest and tell you it pretty much looked the same yesterday.  Now however, it does not!!

I found a home for everything and even managed to find a few matches to some long lost socks.  And since I am striving to be an overachiever...I vacuumed behind and around the washer and dryer!!

Nothing remains that does not belong. 

I started #5 on the list today my craft room!  I did not finish, but definitely made progress. 

Here are the before pics....

I wish I could say I created this mess for dramatic effect, but I did not.  Anyone that crafts knows what can happen to a space like this.  Too much stuff...too little space!!

So there you have it....the start to my first project of the year!!  Updates to follow!!!

Let's Go...

Seahawks!!

Epic Fail

So I often wonder how many people tune-in to my little piece of the world wide web?  How many people read my ramblings and actually return for more?  And of those people... who actually reads and remembers things I have said I will do?  My intention is ALWAYS to follow up if I say I am going too, but honestly if I don't it's only because I have forgotten.  AND since most of you refrain from leaving me comments...I usually only remember when my mother or my aunt reminds me.

I am a procrastinator...I admit it wholeheartedly!!  If there is one thing I could resolve to change about myself, that would be it!!  And maybe that should be my 2013 resolution...IF I were going to make one.  For now though I would like to get back on track and to the point of all this.

A year ago I told you that my hubby and I don't do resolutions and that is true.  However...I did tell you we were going back to something we had done a few years back and setting 12 goals for ourselves.  A goal for each month, a goal for ourselves to be shared at the end of the month at a special dinner.

Enter the EPIC FAIL!!

I can't speak for my hubby because I honestly have no idea what his 12 goals were, but I scored a 2/12....that would be a big fat 16% if you were grading me...which would translate to an F.   And if we were counting the "special dinner" part...my score would be even worse...0/12.  I have absolutely no good excuse except life...life happened and I completely forgot about the goals I set for myself.  2012 was great to us, I have no complaints, but I should have worked harder at achieving more of those goals.  

I want 2013 to be different...I want to set goals and actually achieve them.  I love blogging regardless of how many people read.  It's the hard copy of all the things I think I will remember but really won't.  But if I am being honest I need people to call me out when I say I am going to do something and I don't.  

So on that note...

I have a few things to report.  If you know me beyond this blog you would know one of my major weaknesses for quite some time has been Starbucks Frappucinos...It's become a one-a-day habit for me and if you do the math....please DO NOT do the math...you would know it is an expensive habit.  I decided that I needed to trade the one-a-day habit for a once-a-week habit and I am happy to report I have started off really good.  This may seem trivial to some of you, but a habit is a habit and this is mine.  I will let you know if I stay on the wagon.

And to end my rant tonight...better late than never...I will share the photos that made this years Christmas card (in case you didn't receive one)

 Because of course the 9 month old is the only one that cooperates.

Happy Saturday Everyone!!!

 

Outdoing Her Brother

Still 3 months from turning 5 and she already lost her first tooth!!

Look who had to jump in the shot to show his missing teeth!?!  She is developing a thing for outdoing her brother.  I wonder where they get there competitive sides?  Their dad or their Aunt KiKi??  

Boy do I love these two!!

I need to add a little side note regarding the "Big" Christmas post that wasn't so BIG on pictures.  Every picture I took was blurry, so the one and only pic that turned out was the pic I posted!! 

Saying Good-Bye to 2012

There isn't a lot that I know for sure, but there is one thing...

As long as my family is healthy and happy...life is good!  

2012 was a great year!!

Our family was completed when our sweet Tatum was born on February 22, Thomas got another little sister and Taylor finally got to be a big sister.  Both Thomas and Taylor finished two very successful school years, Thomas finished Kindergarten and Taylor finished her first year of preschool.  Thomas played both flag football and coach pitch baseball and Taylor is still dancing at Club Dance and for the second year in a row she got to dance with her dad at the end of the season.  We took an awesome trip to ShowLow with our friends The Grove's and hope we get a repeat in 2013.  We took our first BIG family trip to Disneyland and I would say it was definitely my favorite memory from the year.  I said it wouldn't be something we did every year, but after it was all over I was ready to plan our next trip.  We finished the year with a nice holiday and an awesome night with friends.  Yep...2012 was pretty darn good!

Just a few of my favorite pictures from the year!!

2013 is sure to be another exciting year for the Moore family and I plan on sharing it with you all!!

Happy New Year...May 2013 bring good health and happiness to all of my friends and family!!

Double Digits

53 days until the BIG DAY!!  As in the day that one year ago our baby Tatum was born!

She is officially 10 months old and life is getting pretty crazy around here.  You can take your eyes off of her, but beware...she has lightning fast skills when it comes to crawling.  She's smart too...she knows when you don't want her to follow you.  She just smiles and keeps on going!!

At 10 months old life has all sorts of new and exciting things our Little Miss Tatum.  You are officially pulling yourself up on anything you can...couch, coffee table, your crib, my leg.  Thomas and Taylor are learning quickly that nothing is safe when you're around.  Your "official" first word is Mama, however I am not totally convinced you aren't just babbling that sounds like.  You will say "Hi" and wave bye-bye to yourself and today Thomas taught you how to clap your hands.  I have a sneaky suspicion there will be lots of firsts in the next few months.

Happy 10 Month Birthday Tatum Marie!!!

What Happens After

Life goes back to normal and I try to keep the kids happy and busy for the rest of Christmas break...that's what happens.

Feeding the ducks and a play-date with friends...doesn't get much better than that!!

Christmas 2012

My house is officially back to its original self...with the exception of the tree that needs to be taken outside. I woke up this morning and couldn't look at anything that said Christmas one more minute.  I love decorating for the holidays, but when it's over...I'm over it!

Christmas was pretty quiet this year as we opted to stay home on Christmas Eve.  I laughed midday because it felt nothing like years past.  Christmas morning on the other hand was absolutely like years past.  Thomas and Taylor were up at 6am whispering in my ear that Santa had come.  And by 7am we were done opening our presents and getting ready to head to my parents house.  We were all spoiled by both Santa and our families!  The kids have just come off their Christmas high and I couldn't be happier.

I'm not sure Tatum knew what was going on, but I definitely enjoyed watching her reaction to everything.   I imagine next year will be much more exciting for her, but I am in no hurry to find out.

Decorating 101

So...

It turns out all I needed was some cookie decorating with my kids and my mom to officially get me ready for Christmas!!  And if my dad hadn't have been watching football and Tatum...Christmas music would have put this day over the top.  I will take the memories minus the music though!! 

If you had asked me this morning I would have told you my prediction for cookie decorating 2012 to go as follows...

Tatum cries because I am not paying attention to her.
Thomas and Taylor are bored with decorating after two cookies.
My mom and I do all the decorating.
We leave with no good memories and zero chance of Cookie decorating 2013!!

And as luck would have it...

I was completely WRONG!!

They decorated enough to leave cookies for Santa at both Nana's house and our house!!  I hope they leave extra to make up for the fact they were still on the naughty list yesterday!! 

Playing Catch Up

It's been too long, I know!!!

I imagine you have been wondering what happened to me!!  Well I have been here, just not here.  I am not lying when I tell you my laptop actually had a thin layer of dust on it.  Although I love the holidays and can't wait for Christmas morning to see my kids' faces,  I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited for it all to be over.  I am really looking forward to January!! 

But since I have been MIA for almost a month I will give you a little recap of our month. 

Two Holiday Performances

One Dance Recital

Two Birthday Dinners

One Birthday Lunch and Movie

Two Doctor Visits

Some Christmas Shopping 

And...

A WHOLE LOT MORE I CAN'T REMEMBER!!

Stay tuned for the big Christmas post...it's only 3 days away!!

Lucky #7

7 years ago I became a mom and every day since I have been lucky enough to call this kid my son!!

In 7 years this is some of what I have learned...

Being a mom is a job that you don't get paid to do no matter how much you deserve it...
Being a mom requires patience that you are not born with...
Being a mom is resisting the urge to pour yourself a glass of wine at 9am...
Being a mom means grocery shopping and peeing without interruption are like Christmas presents...
Being a mom means you talk just to hear yourself talk MOST of the time...
Being a mom makes you appreciate sleep and silence in a whole new way...

BUT MOST OF ALL...

To me being a mom means I have gotten and continue to get to see this kid grow up.  He has a huge heart and wears it on his sleeve.  He hates to lose and he hates to clean.  He is an AMAZING big brother and an even more amazing son.  He is mine and he makes me smile everyday.

Happy 7th Birthday Thomas!!

They're On Their Way

Our Christmas cards are on their way...no this is not the picture that made the final cut!!  You should know me a little better than that, I don't want to spoil the surprise!!  At first I was a little totally annoyed that I took approximately 90 pics of my kids and NOT A SINGLE ONE were all three looking at the camera, but then I remembered that if they had been looking at the camera they wouldn't be MY kids. 

And it turned out to be my favorite Christmas card to date!!

I will reveal the final card once the USPS has done their job!!

Happy Monday!!!

The Big Guy

Yesterday was the Kinderbugs Holiday Boutique and like years past the there was an appearance by good ol' Santa Claus.  Like last year my kids pointed out that he was NOT the real Santa.  I told them that although they were correct...they would still be sitting on his lap, telling him what they wanted and letting me take their picture.  Since it is Tatum's first Christmas I actually think we will be visiting the "mall" Santa, but just in case we do not...

Can you tell who wasn't a fan?  I am pretty sure the mall will be no different, but she hasn't been feeling to good this weekend, so MAYBE it wasn't Santa that was the problem.