Perspective

After the horrific events yesterday at the elementary school in CT, you have to stop and put things in perspective.

I won't let the little things my child does bother me so much.  If she wants to wear earmuffs to bed-ok.  If she acts like a wild woman, ok.  I will laugh  more about it.  I will take joy in her craziness.  I will hug her every chance I get.

                              

I will not take for granted the fact that each day hundreds of parents charge my husband and I with the care of their own precious angels.  I won't forget to say thank you to the people in my life who have done so much for me.

Hug your sweet little ones.  After yesterday, you never know what this world will throw at us next.

The Halls Are Decked

It is 5:45 a.m. on a Saturday and I am up.  Why not blog?!?  Sleep is elusive these days, and I'm not sure why.  The woman's brain is an interesting thing.  As soon as my eyes pop open, it's all over.  The mind clicks on, the sleep is done.  Oh well. 

Now is the perfect time to update all of you out there on what we've been up to...

FIRST-Halloween was a complete success.  Little Raggedy Ann was a happy girl all day and night on the 31st.  She even won the costume contest at her school!  But I mean, look at her, how stinking cute is she?  This is not your average pink power ranger type costume people.  I will say, don't be fooled by that cute face.  A few days AFTER Halloween, she decided to unleash on her pre-school teacher when she asked Lucy to clean up.  The candy was dumped (with the exception of a few really good chocolate pieces that I thought might be good for bribery later).  ANYWHO...

SECOND-As you got from today's title, the halls are decked in the Moore house!  Bryan let me decorate the weekend BEFORE Thanksgiving!!!!  That means this week while we were off, we got ALL THE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING DONE!!!!!!!!!!!  Well, we haven't found the "pink ballerina race car driver with a blue race car" that Lucy told Santa she wanted, but other than that small gift, we're done!

THIRD-We had Thanksgiving.  Bryan and I had 3 days off from work=amazing.  We did nothing fancy for the day.  We lounged in sweatpants-literally, and ate a lot.  It was equally as amazing as 3 days off.  Let me tell you, cooking is WAY overrated.  Hello Buddy's BBQ smoked turkey!!!!   On a more serious note, we do have a lot to be thankful for this year.  Bryan got a job, no horrific car accidents, heart issues, or parents in the hospital this year.  We can pay all our bills AND buy Christmas gifts for our family.  Much to be thankful for!

FINALLY-We always go to East TN Children's Hospital "Fantasy of Trees" (their big fundraiser) each year the Friday after Thanksgiving.  That's right folks, as cheap as I am, you will NOT find me out at midnight looking for a deal with all the crazies and their big purses.  I will pay that $5 extra and buy the gift the week before to avoid all the nuts that are out in the middle of the night knocking people over for ninja turtles (YOU ALL KNOW WHO YOU ARE).  Anyway, we spend the day after Thanksgiving getting in the Christmas spirit.  Lucy gets to see Santa, make lots of crafts, and help the hospital all at the same time.  This year, we got there early (so mom and dad could get the good senior discount.  We went straight to Santa's lap, where Lucy embraced him with a hug and told him about that pink ballerina race car thing I mentioned earlier.  She was so thrilled!  We proceeded to get her face painted, decorate (and eat) a cookie, ride the carousel (the bench ONLY, as she's still terrified of the horses), make several cheesy crafts, and this year, we took Lu to the preschool kids show.  It sort of made you want to kill yourself, but she really loved it, so I guess it was a success!  Now she keeps asking if Christmas is tomorrow.  It think she's in the spirit for sure!

 

 

Now, Christmas is in ONE MONTH, and my baby girl will be FOUR in 3 months!  She says she wants a "Pump it Up" party.  She totally hates that place and won't jump on one single thing.  I'm going to have to come up with something way better.  I have a birthday somewhere in the middle, but am contemplating skipping it this year.  Unlike my girl, I no longer enjoy a birhtday quite like I used to...

Hope your holidays were and are merry and bright!  Oh!  I thought about maybe doing a Christmas card this year, you know,  because we have some cash flow again.  Hubby isn't to thrilled, but I have a REALLY CUTE idea.  We'll see who wins the battle.  Check your mailbox!

Happy Fall Y'all

It's hard to believe it's almost Halloween.  Fall has literally flown by this year.  I have to say, it is my absolute favorite time of the year.  I don't think there's any place in the world prettier in the fall than east Tennessee.  It is GORGEOUS here.

This time of year I always want time to slow down a bit.  I hate when all the leaves have gone and the cold winter sets in.  I love the smell of a fire, pumpkin spiced everything, and the way the sun hits the tree tops and makes the oranges, yellows, and red pop.  I love seeing Lucy run through the leaves, pick them up, then throw them with all her might and dance around.  My Grandmother Flo and Grandpa "Dada" would sure have loved to see this kid growing up.

I dreamed about my Grandmother last night.  I can't believe she's been gone 6 years.  She was my great companion on Saturday nights, she taught me how to tell time, count money, and eat my piping hot oatmeal without burning my mouth.  In my dream we talked and talked for what seemed like most of the night.   I love it when God allows me to "visit" with those I've lost.  It also makes me realize how much I take time and the good things in my life for granted.  I am reminded that just like with fall, seasons in life change and are difficult.  Through it all though, we should all stop and appreciate the good.

So far, this season has been good.

Hubs turned 33.

We introduced the critter to the fair.

We ventured to Dollywood for the first time as a family.

 We've gone to pony parties.

Been a part of a good friend's perfect day.

Got crafty! (Which isn't helping our team)

And we've stopped to take time to enjoy God's beautiful creation.

HAPPY FALL!

Bye Bye Summer

Summer FLEW.  It does every year.  This summer was different for us though.  Bryan got a teaching job for this new school year (2012-1213) so he was HOME all summer!  I should interject that he got his DREAM job.  He is so excited about the future now.  No horrible husband on Sunday nights anymore!  No more dreading work on Monday for him!

So anyway, as I was saying...We got some stuff done around here!  My honey-do list was long, but it is amazing what you can get done when both family members are teachers (YAY!) and are FREE in June and July.  I have to say, it is going to be so cool for Lucy to have us home and be able to go and do with her in the summers.  Sorry about all of you who chose careers where you must work all year round.  YIKES.

I won't bore you with a ton of type (although my gift for writing is something quite amazing), but here are some pictures of our fun this summer:

Mimi and Papa visited for their vacation in June.  We went to the Aquarium and fishing.  Lucy, being the brilliant fisherwoman that she is, of course caught the only fish.

We introduced Lu to water balloons.  They were a huge hit.  Any excuse to pelt mom and dad with a flying object and she is in.

One of my favorite people of all times (and one of my roommates from college) Julie visited with her family on the way home from their vacation.  I love this family so much and wish we could see each other more.  Julie and I tend to be the same person-a lot.  My child thought she'd died and gone to heaven as having 2 other kids in the house is her DREAM.  Thanks Nate and Jules for sharing your kids with us!

                                         

One of my best friends of all time is getting married in September.  We had a fabulous time at her (and you to Jerry) wedding shower.  Thanks to Todd and Bobby it was a FABULOUS evening!  So good when John, Kara, and I are together.  It is like 6th grade comes rushing back :-)

Perhaps one of my favorite summer activities was the bachelorette trip to Destin, FL for Kara.  This was a KID free trip.  Yes, did you hear that?  KID FREE.  I missed Lucy like crazy, don't get me wrong.  But  do you know what it is like to just walk to the beach with your drink, towel and book?  ONLY THOSE 3 THINGS!!!!  I READ A BOOK PEOPLE~A WHOLE BOOK!  Mommy need the break.  All moms, DO THIS.  We had such a good time, and I loved spending time with all these great women from different parts of Kara's life.  We stayed in an incredible beach house, had wonderful views, much laugher, and a few adult beverages.  All prepping for September.   This wedding of hers is going to be epic.  She will be a beautiful bride!

I went from one wild and free mommy to MOMMY! in the matter of one afternoon.  My family headed down to Destin the day the other ladies were set to leave.  That means I got TWO weeks at the beach, which was a very bad thing.  No, not because I got so much sun.  We all know I was under the umbrella most of the time.  In fact, if you saw me on the street, you'd think I was stuck inside all summer.  Anyway, it was just so good for my soul to be at the beach for so long.  If you know me well, you know it is my favorite place on the planet.  (If you're thinking about a lovely Christmas or birthday gift, St. John, USVI is my most favorite beach spot-thank you Deb and Mark for getting married there a few years back and allowing me to come and enjoy paradise).  Two weeks spoiled me rotten.  I did not want to come home.  It was beautiful and perfect the whole time I was there.  UGH.  Reality bites.  

Lucy falls more and more in love with the beach each summer as well.  She was devastated when we had to come home.  I keep telling her when she grows up and becomes a doctor, she can buy Bryan and I a beach house.  We can have family time there.  Do you think brainwashing works?  I sure hope so!  

We had a blast though.  Lucy plays hard all day, then crashes at night.  Oh wait, we all do when we are at the beach.  Our last night there we took the obligatory "crazy family from TN that isn't so tan but is dressed like they are and all coordinate" pictures on the beach.  They are always my favorite.  Thanks dad for photoshopping out all the seaweed (which according to my mom is full of fish poop and icky stuff-all so Lu would stop playing with it).  Love my parents.  Love them for helping B with the kid while I had time away, love them for taking us on vacation when we are dirt poor, love them for their quirky ways.

I hope all of you had a great summer too.  I'm working on 3 weeks at the beach next summer...