Reflection

Although we are still technically 11 days before the new year starts today was the day I felt like reflecting on the past year, so that's what I am going to do!! 

To say it has been an eventful year would be an understatement.  The other day I was actually scrolling through my Instagram account and it made me laugh how one week I was marveling at the weather and couldn't imagine living anywhere else and then BAM...we are planning our move to Colorado.  Funny how quickly life can change.

I'm pretty sure that 2013 saw more tears from my eyes than any other years lately.  I compared it to having a baby...one minute I was fine...one minute I was excited and the next...BALLING!!  Thankfully there are no more tears.  We have embraced our new life in Colorado and are very happy about that!  Mom (me) definitely took the longest to let it grow on me, but I have and in doing so I have made new friends and am very grateful for that.  Thankfully my hubby balances my semi-OCD type A personality and keeps me grounded.  I am not a HUGE fan of change as many of you know.

Kids on the other hand are resilient and nothing proves that more than moving them from everything they know and have known since they were born.  They talk about their friends and family, but are happy to call Colorado their home now!! 

I have been reminded lately just how important it is to live life fully and be happy with everything you are blessed to have.  There are days when I think I could pull my hair out and consider running for the hills, but then I look at my kids and my hubby and remember that there isn't anywhere else I'd rather be...well maybe the spa...haha...I kid I kid!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

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I had a busy, but super fun week/weekend!!  This December isn't like Decembers past, but I am embracing all the changes in our lives and look forward to the final countdown!!

From top left:

1.  Thomas showing off his new SPY glasses!!

2.  I bought myself these super cute leggings at Target...my home away from home!!

3.  The temperatures rose a little last week and we were able to take a walk with our friends!

4.  Checkin out the planes before we headed to Phoenix

5.  Miss Independent needed to stop and take a break from walking!

6.  Bout to get ready for the annual cookie party!

7.  Couldn't visit without going to Postino...DELICIOUS!!

8.  Celebrating my sister's birthday!

9.  Airport boredom = random photos by a 1 year old!!

Finally!!!

Although it snowed last Wednesday the kids haven't gotten to actually play in it because the temperatures have been disgustingly cold.  Finally though on Sunday the temperature rose just above unbearable so the kids got to play.  My dad and my hubby even joined them in the fun.  I bundled up to take some much needed pics. 

They made snow angels, build a rather sad snowman and tried to throw snowballs at each other.  Even Riley got in on the fun!!

 

The snow is starting to melt and the temperatures are rising, however I am pretty sure we will have plenty more opportunity to play in the snow as winter hasn't even officially begun yet!

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Freezing temps did not keep us from having a good weekend while my parents were in town.  My mom even ventured out WAY more than I expected with below zero temps...YAY!!  Long weekend trips are wonderful, but they fly by!  I took them to the airport a little earlier and now I have to count down the days until their next visit!

A busy week ahead, but before I get wrapped up on all that I emptied my phone!!

From top left:
1.  Woke up to some serious snow on Wednesday...just in time for my parents arrival.
2.  Cold weather calls for morning hot chocolate!!
3.  Tatum has a rough time walking in all this snow, so it was easier to pull her around the neighborhood.
4.  I have been couponing again thanks to my friend JoJo and I got some great deals at Target...all that for $20!
5.  Thomas' birthday dinner choice...RED ROBIN...YUM!!  
6.  My mom, Taylor and I went to St. Nick's...the most AMAZING Christmas store ever.
7.  My Thomas turned 8 on Saturday and we threw him a little party with his friends in the neighborhood.
8.  To COOL this kid!!
9.  Taylor enjoying a cupcake!

Deck The Halls

I told you I would be back with the "AFTER" of our tree hunting day!  We had to do a little height adjustment on our tree, but after a few feet at the bottom and a foot at the top...

Here she is...

What do you think?  Not too bad huh?!

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It was a fun holiday weekend for the Moore family!!!

From top left:

1.  We took the kids to see Disney's new movie Frozen on Thanksgiving...Tatum did SO-SO!

2.  I'll give you three guesses as to which kid pulled the little Christmas tree over, but I'm pretty sure you only need one!

3.  Again with the destruction...Tatum grabbed an entire bag of tiny beads off the kitchen counter and tossed them on the floor!

4.  Finally got under $2 a gallon!!

5.  Saving big at the gas station makes have a gas guzzler not so painful!

6.  Our beautiful view heading to get our Christmas tree!

7.  Got our permit!!  $10 woohoo!

8.  My daily trip to the PO to mail out ribbon!!  My ribbon sales have helped out quite a bit this year!!

9.  Taylor and her friends pushing the Christmas music buttons at Target...tons of fun!!

And...we are sure to have another FUN weekend ahead as my parents are flying in to surprise the kids on Thursday morning!!  It's been a hard secret to keep, but thankfully less than two days left to keep it.

An Old Tradition New To Us

I would say that since the moment we found out we were moving to Colorado my hubby started talking about our Christmas tree and how THIS year we would be trucking into the woods to cut it down ourselves.  I won't lie and tell you I was super excited about this, but after a very valid argument by my hubby I said..."Let's do it!"  OK...I might not have said those exact words, but this is my side of the story so we'll go with it.

We packed snow gear for the whole family and lunch for the road and first thing around 10am Saturday morning we headed to the mountains.  The kids complained...as expected...the kids asked how long it would take...as expected, but after assuring them it would be worth it they relaxed and before they knew it we were there. 

I have to tell you that it was actually an AWESOME day and I would do it again in a heartbeat.  Oh don't worry there was plenty of complaining and whining, but for once I chose to ignore all of it.  I smiled and laughed and decided that I would make the best out of the day.  My kids are sun babies and the fact of the matter is...it's going to take them a while to understand what cold weather means, but for now I will give them a break.

We came home with a very Charlie Brown Christmas Tree and although I can't put any HEAVY ornaments on it...I wouldn't trade it.

There they are!!  My family all ready for tree hunting!!  Thank goodness for the sled because I'm pretty sure neither of my girls would have made it.

So nice that both Thomas and Taylor can work my camera because it means occasionally I can be on the other side of the lens.

 Isn't that a beautiful tree that my family is standing in front of?  Well that is NOT our tree!!  We thought it was, but it wasn't!!

Another tree that from a distance had potential, but my hubby was not a fan.  So this is also NOT our tree!!

Seriously this girl makes us laugh a hundred times a day.  Point a camera in her direction and this is the face you instantly get!!  Her "Cheese" face!!

 There she is!! 

Stay tuned for the big reveal!!

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From top left:
1.  Morning errands with my girls!
2.  I did my decorating before Thanksgiving this year...the kids were so excited!
3.  All she wants to do is TOUCH the ornaments...can't wait to put up the big tree!
4.  Gettin' in the spirit with Santa hats and Christmas Mickey and Minnie!
5.  Some days just eating lunch is exhausting!!
6.  My in-laws sent us this beautiful cornucopia arrangement for Thanksgiving!  So fun to get flowers!
7.  I had to take a pic of my grocery receipt...I spent $253...but I SAVED $340!!!  60%
8.  I whipped up these cute invites for Thomas' birthday!  Invitations are my new favorite thing to whip up!
9.  When I'm consumed with the computer...this is the kind of mess that Tatum makes!

So Curious

We'd better keep an eye on this one and dirty snow!!

She was definitely a fan of eating the snow!

How do you teach a 1 year old to stay away from yellow snow?

Oh and she calls it "Bow"!!

Obsessed

Mimmie!!

That's what she calls her and can spot her a mile away!

Seriously...OBSESSED!! 

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A little from this week and a little from last week!!

From top left:
1.  Seriously this girl...she is a decent mixture of sweet and sour!!  She was sweet this fine morning!
2.  Finished up editing The Tavenner's Family pics!  Love this family!
3.  Tatum's favorite thing to do lately...get into all of my ribbon!  
4.  Thing 1 and Thing 2 patiently waiting for their blizzards!
5.  If I am being honest I told them I would take them for a treat because I wanted one for myself!
6.  We baked my hubby a cake for his birthday!  Best part...licking the bowl!
7.  For the first time in FOREVER we got a babysitter and went out...where to? The casino of course!
8.  I wish I could just buck up the money and buy all new ornaments...I love all these fun colors!
9.  She said NOT to put this on my blog...SO I DID!!

Just Me and My Munchkins

Missing AZ is lightened by the fact that we absolutely love the street we live on.  My kids have made tons of friends and I am happy to say so have I.  The kids play outside almost every single day.  Honestly the only time they are not playing outside is when they are grounded or it is TOO cold (that has only happened once).  It's great!  EXCEPT... when I think about how they have no desire to be around me anymore.  I knew this day was coming, but I hadn't anticipated it being this soon.  I basically have to bribe them to do anything with me and then it really isn't worth it because all I hear is "When are we going home?"

Last Saturday Tom was working and the weather was beautiful, so before they could sneak outside I got everyone ready and told them I was taking them to the zoo.  Just the four of us!!  To my surprise they were excited.  We packed lunches, the kids took paper and pencils to write about everything they saw and we headed off.

It was an absolutely amazing day!!

No fighting!!

No complaining!!

Just me and my munchkins enjoying the Denver Zoo!!

And even our little Tatum ventured out of the stroller and experienced the zoo like a big kid for a while!

It was the perfect day and a just the reminder I needed of why I love being a mom!!

Championships

I haven't been a great blogger lately as my sister so kindly pointed out yesterday.  She's right, so I am not even going to bore you with my lame excuses.  I will just jump right into catching up...

Thomas and Taylor both finished soccer and football a couple weeks ago and unlike AZ...they won't be back at it until the end of March.  Apparently REAL winter weather prevents outdoor sports during the months of December-March.  One of the many things that make me miss sunny AZ! 

Anyhoo...

I took very few pics this season, but figured I better share the couple I did take.  I blame this entirely on Tatum and the fact that the kids' games were always at the same time, so Tom and I were rarely together.  These were from the last games of the season.  The Championships to be exact...Thomas' team was playing to stay out of last and Taylor's team was playing for first!

Before their games started the head of i9 sports announced each team and the kids got to run through a fog machine and break through a banner...unfortunately I did not make it in time to record Thomas, but I did get Taylor's team!



It's always fun watching Thomas play football, but it was really fun this season getting to watch them both.  And Taylor is really excited for the next season...too bad she has to wait a while.

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Another week come and gone!!

From top left:

1.  My friend JoJo convinced me to try Blue Bell ice cream finally and OMG!!!  If you haven't...you should!!

2.  Did a little thrifting this week and found this cute little moose to add to my collection!

3.  I always see fun kitchen items during the holidays, but think it is not practical to spend money on bowls that I will ONLY use during Christmas...but for $2.99 who could pass?

4.  Dollar Tree does it again!!  Fun candy canes that I hope to use along my walkway.

5.  $1.00 off my gas and I was almost under $2 a gallon...

6.  Which meant...a cheap fill up!!!!  WOOHOO!!

7.  Helping a friend with some birthday party favors!

8.  I took the kids to the zoo on Saturday by myself so this was the only picture with me in it.

9.  She is trouble!!

Words With No Pics

Why is it that I do not remember being picky as a kid when it came to what my mom fixed for dinner??  Were there things I refused to eat?  What did my mom do if I didn't eat?  I have no recollection of any of this.  Just another thing that gets locked in the vault of our childhood I guess.

Where am I going with all of this??

My kids!!!  My kids of course!!  And their distaste for practically EVERYTHING I fix.

Seriously!!  I am not kidding!  

The things I put in front of them to eat are not things that should cause such dramatics, yet I really need to get out my video camera to document our dinner routine.  Tonight I made Cheddar Potato Soup with cheesy bread and a fruit cup for them.  I'll give you one guess what they ate?  Nope not the bread AND the fruit...JUST the fruit.  Yea...they didn't even eat cheesy bread!  I fixed all three their bowls and then fixed my own.  I finished a bowl three times the size of theirs and two pieces of bread before either Thomas or Taylor had taken two bites of their soup.  Initially I do not expect them to eat every single bite, but once the complaining starts and Thomas throws in a few gags...well you can imagine how my blood starts to boil.  Then it's eat everything or else!!

Well tonight I served dinner at 6:00pm and at 6:17pm...Thomas and Taylor were both in bed!!

I am so sick of rotating the same four meals throughout the week because my kids are such picky eaters.  If they're hungry they will eat what I fix or they can eat nothing and go to bed.  Pretty sad when the baby of the family stays up and hour later than the other two.  It's quiet around here though...that's a plus!