Christmas Memories

I love Christmas time and all of the festivities and traditions that accompany the holiday season. In October when I began planning for the holidays, I made the decision that for every activity we did involving Santa I wanted to do something regarding the true meaning of Christmas. The list of things we could with Santa just kept adding up as I struggeled to find things for us to do as a family involving the true meaning of Christmas.

Last weekend we went to "Christmas Comes Alive" a live nativity. As we rode the hayride through the different scenes of the nativity story, Ellie asked questions and would point things out. I was really pleased because she was really listening and I knew that she understood what she was seeing and hearing. I was unable to get any pictures, because it was so cold and we were cuddled under blankets.

This Saturday we went to a trailer park nearby to pass out groceries, coats and toys to a very needy community. When our church first started planning the outreach several people made the comment that the neighborhood was no place for teenagers or children. I decided that regardless of what others said I wanted my children to grow up understanding and being exposed to poverty. I wanted them to experience the act of giving and to see it modeled by their parents. I choose not take my camera, because I did not need anything else to keep up with.

Though I do not have photographs I will always remember these Christmas memories.

A Very Sweet Weekend

In preparation for our busy weekend I got up early Thurs. morning to start cleaning the house before heading to work. I got called in early to work so I left my cleaning and headed to work at 7:15 AM. I got off work at about 6 PM and headed to Walmart to get groceries. Then it was home to finish cleaning, do some laundry, and finish a few projects for my decorating in the AM. On Friday, I was up at 5 AM and out the door by 8 AM to decorate someone's house for Christmas (my third one this season). I finished at about 2:30 and went home to finish laundry and get ready for the Church's district Christmas party in Birmingham. We left at 5:30 and got home at 10:30 PM and I was up again at 6:50 AM. Saturday morning we got the kids ready and went to the mall to see Santa.

We grabbed some lunch while at the mall and then it was home for naptime - well at least for the kids. While the kids were napping I started making Christmas candy. Just as I was finishing our guests for the SEC game arrived and I began dinner prep.

After cooking and cleaning up, the kids and I baked sugar cookies.




After that the kids went to bed we cleaned up the kitchen and I sat down (the first time all day) to work on Christmas cards. We woke up on Sunday and went to church. After church Ellie went home with a friend and Jack went with Scott and I to our missions trip lunch meeting. at 6 PM was the annual Youth volunteer Christmas party. I could go on, but I think you get the point that things are extremely busy around here. However, note that I did not entitle this post a busy weekend, but rather choose to call it a "Sweet Weekend". Despite the business of the weekend and upcoming week, I still had a great time making Christmas memories with my children. The moral of this story is don't get too busy this season that you forget to stop and smell the sugar cookies.

A Lot To Be Thankful For

This year we spent Thanksgiving at Hephzibah Children's home. It really put things in perspective eating Thanksgiving dinner with my family while surrounded by children who have been abused or neglected by their own families. We had a wonderful time. It was a weekend jam packed with fun.

Jack was not feeling very well this weekend. This is how he spent his Thanksgiving meal.

Even though he was not feeling very well, Jack hung in there and participated in all the activities of the weekend. The best part of the weekend was spending time with our cousins.

There's a lot of fun things to do at Hephzibah like...

1. Playing in the leaves (we only have one little tree at our house, so this was a first for the Moore kids)


2. Swimming


3. Roasting weenies around a fire


4. Riding horses



I am so thankful for my family! I am truly blessed!!! I have a lot to be thankful for.

Why I Love Fall

Here are a few good reasons why I love fall.

Ellie's New Haircut

Ellie has been begging Scott and I to let her cut her hair for about six months. So on Friday, I took Ellie to get her first real haircut. Though Scott had been objecting for some time, once the deed was done he agreed she looked very cute.

Fall Is Here

The weather is finally starting to get a little cooler here in Alabama. Luckily for us Ellie has located our winter hats and scarves (a basket not seen since we left Buffalo).

And the fall winds have blown in a few visitors. Grandpa and Grandma Moore came to visit this weekend. When they come to visit they always bring their dog Max. Max and Jack are the very best of friends.

Two Is Better Than One

I still remember sitting in the rocker reading my two month old baby girl a book. I remember this for two reasons...1) because we were suppose to take her to the zoo for the first time the next day and 2) because we never made it to the zoo. You see as I rocked her I had this fear...I feared that I was pregnant. I was sure that it was nothing. So the next morning when I went to get groceries I picked up a pregnancy test. I thought that I would just take the test, it would be negative, and we would have a wonderful day at the zoo. Well, that's not the ending to this story.

This morning Jackson woke up calling for his sister, because she always goes to get him in the mornings. Ellie wasn't even awake yet but when she heard her brother she called back "I'm coming honey." As she sleepily stumbled into his room rubbing her eyes, she said "Here I am buddy."

He looks to her for so many things and she leads him with such love. Of course having a two and three year old lends itself to many fights in our household. People often ask me if I like having my kids close together and I don't even hesitate to answer with a YES!!! I feel blessed that they have someone to share lifes journey with. This was not our plan to have two children only eleven months apart, but I thank God that he knows more than I.

Happy Halloween

Happy 6 Year Anniversary

Today I woke up to two little voices calling Mommy @ 7 AM. At 7:30 the exterminater came to spray our home and by 8 AM I was at Wal-mart getting groceries for the week.

Last Friday I woke up to the sound of the ocean around 9 AM. At noon we headed out of the beach front condo to get some seafood. After lunch I sat at Starbucks reading a book before going to see a movie. What a Difference a week makes.

Last weekend Scott and I went Gulf Shores to celebrate our anniversary. We really had a great time. It was nice to get to do some things just the two of us. We went to several great restrants and ate a lot of great food. I read a book, Scott watched ESPN (not a change from his normal routine). We both slept in and relaxed. I even spent some time on the beach taking photographs.


It was nice to get away, but truth be told I love my life. Six years ago last Sunday Scott and I started our life together. Our life may not be perfect but I have never been happier.

Age Is Just A Number

Ok, so one week ago today Scott celebrated his 28 birthday. This is usually the part of the post where I talk about how much we love him and how blessed we are to have him as our Dad, husband and friend. However I will spare you there cheesey sentiment. I will at this time address the photo at the top of this post. Since Scott and I were leaving after work that evening to go to Gulf Shores for the weekend, the kids and I decided to wake Scott up that morning by singing Happy Birthday. We lit candles, placed them in the danish, Ellie carried the balloons to throw and Jack was in charge of the present. Just as I went to open the bedroom door I realized that Jack was no longer with us. I went back to the kitchen and found him sitting on the floor opening the gift. Things only got worse from there. It was not until much later that I discovered the second birthday blunder. Rather than tell you my screw up, I'll just let you look at the picture and try to figure it out for yourselves.

Beauty and the Firefighter

Each weekend I plan a fun activity for the kids. Two weekends ago Scott arranged for us to go to the fire station and visit a friend who happened to be on duty that weekend. Jackson was so excited all week long, but when we got there he acted a "donkey" (the phrase I use when they are misbehaving). When I asked him why he was acting up he simply looked at me and said "hee haw".

That same weekend we took the kids to the Tuscaloosa Children's Theater performance of "Beauty and the Beast". My friend Christy and her little girl Micah also went. The kids were great during the performance, but it never fails as soon as you tell Ellie that it is time to go home she starts crying. So there we stand in the front of the theater crying. While everyone is clapping, there are the Moore's wailing because it is time to go. Here's a picture of the kids outside of the Bama Theater after the crying had stopped.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Since Jackson's first screening of the movie "Cars" he was smitten. Recently however his love for cars has been extended to other forms for transportation as well, such as Thomas the Train and Firefighters (which is what Jackson calls fire trucks). Recently I have been photographing Jackson with some of his favorite modes of transportation. Maybe someday I will hang these photographs in his room.

More Pics From SWU Homecoming

Me and the college roomies...well at least parts of us. I love these girls!!!

SWU Homecoming

This weekend was Souhtern Wesleyan University's Homecoming. So we packed the Rendezvous and headed to SC to visit with Bob and Gail and my roommates from college.

Ellie and Jack were so excited to see Aunt gail and Uncle Bob. They even told everyone at daycare where they were going. And of course when it was time to say goodbye Ellie was very upset. She has a very difficult time with goodbyes. She loves big and cries loud.


I will post more pictures from our weekend at SWU a little later.

Mama's New Purse

So today my friend from work bought me a purse as a thank you for throwing her a house warming party. I wanted a big purse and as you can see that's exactly what I got. We joked that you could fit a small child into it. So I decided to try it. I love my new purse! Thanks Christy.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

The theme of our weekend was football. We went to a Highschool Football game on Friday night and watched the Alabama Football game on Saturday afternoon with the FWC staff.


Those cute smiles hide a tragic secret. Since moving to AL three years ago, Scott has become addicted to football. Although he showed a few signs of sports addiction when we were first married (like the need to see every sports highlight before going to bed, turning sports center on as soon as he woke up, and staying up extrememly late and being extrememly exhausted all to watch a game or two or three), it has been within the last year that his behavior has become more concerning. Not only does he watch sports on TV, he has also engaged in some boardline illegal ways of entering the stadium to watch a game, he has his fantasy football league, he follows Albama recruiting very closley, spends hours discussing the games by phone, text or in conversation, and perhaps the moost disturbing one is the gambling (don't worry never for money). We have known for quite some time that Scott has an addiction. His addiction not only hurts him, but affects our whole family. Please help us save our Scott from football. We want our Dad back!