One Moore Day

Harrison says...being 8 is GREAT!

2009-09-27T17:41:00.000-07:00

And no wonder he loved his 8th birthday...it went on for weeks! To start, he had an "at home" birthday celebration at home with a huge stack of gifts. Here he is with the stash:

It was a baseball birthday for sure. He got a St. Louis Cardinals tee-shirt and ball cap. He also got his very first baseball glove.

Oh, and the part I liked the most...Dad made birthday doughnuts!

Later that night, we went to Logan's Roadhouse for dinner (Harrison's choice) and he got his "big gift" - an Albert Pujols jersey. He was very excited about that!

A few days later, on the following weekend, he had a birthday party with some of his best friends from school. The original plan was a swim party at State Farm Park, but due to the weather we moved the fun to Chuck E Cheese. The boys had a great time - Harrison especially liked playing skee ball.

Dad had some fun as well...

And what birthday would be complete without a good birthday spanking (yes, he got it at Chuck E's place):

The boys all had a great time - at least they seemed to from the noise in the van on the drive back. Note to parents...4 boys in a van for a 30-minute drive after a night at Chuck E's requires LOTS of concentration!

So, that was the first TWO rounds of Harrison's birthday. There was more to come...but I'll save that for another blog.

Happy Birthday, Vi!!!

2009-09-25T15:25:00.000-07:00

Summer is a time for birthdays in our family, but none was as special this year as Momma's. We all got together to celebrate her 80th birthday on the weekend of July 17th. On her actual birthday, July 16th, Janey, Michael, Toni, and I took her to dinner. We had a great time together and when we got home we had even more fun trying to get this picture of us using the timer on my camera:

The following night we hosted a reception at Momma's house. We had LOTS of food (but then that seems to be a common theme in this family):

We had a lot of family and friends come by. I've added a few pictures of some of the evening's events below... Me & Kayce:

Toni & Momma on the deck chatting with Eddie May and Damon Rose:
Drew doing something crazy with Harrison (Leslie, Will & Kayce are sitting behind them):

The Stotts "children":
We had a reunion of Janey and her friend, Sherrill and had to get a picture of them with Kayce and Sherrill's daughter, Tammy (these 4 had many adventures when Kayce and Tammy were wee little girls):
We had lots of fun getting this picture of them - and I'm not really sure why it seemed so necessary to take it this way (but trust me, we had FUN getting it done)!
Then came "Pictures with the Birthday Girl" time!!! Here's Momma with Drew and Thomas:
And with Harrison:
And with Kayce, Ashley, Jenny & Leslie:
Finally, it was just "Free-for-all picture" time...starting with Toni & Thomas:
Then Toni & Drew:
Then me & Toni:
Kayce & Momma:

While we missed Mike, Sherry, Jonathan, Faith, and Leah, it was still a great party for a great lady! I'm just not sure how we're going to top it next year!!!

Drew's birthday - golf, cake, & fireworks

2009-09-25T13:55:00.000-07:00

Drew, Nana, Pop, Craig, Leslie, and Katie came to visit over the 4th of July. We had a chance to celebrate Drew's birthday, the guys got to play a little (ok, a LOT) of golf, and we got to see some fireworks. It was a lot to cram into one weekend, but we did it in true "Moore fashion!"

Here's the birthday boy...also note the "hot tub junkies" in the back of the picture. They couldn't wait to get in:

You can't have a birthday on July 3rd and have regular candles on your (yummy) ice cream cake!

And, you can't get Nana with her grandkids all in one place and NOT take a picture!

Finally...the HOT TUB!!! They had a blast!

Once it got dark, the sparklers came out. Harrison was ready to go, but Katie wasn't too sure about them. Eventually, she got the hang of it and enjoyed running through the yard with hers.

Leslie had the most fun, though...

Once he saw the hot tub was vacant, Drew had his turn (after all, it was HIS birthday)! He seemed to enjoy it more than anyone else over the weekend - I wasn't sure we were going to get him out of it for a little while.

It got pretty cold by the time the fireworks were scheduled to start...Nana, Katie, and Harrison camped out in the trunk of the car for a little while, Leslie couldn't control her fireworks enthusiasm,

and Drew just kept swinging his golf club (I think the only time he stops is when he sleeps).

I really like this picture of Drew and Harrison together!

The fireworks were hard to capture on my little camera but here's a couple just to show you the view from our backyard. It was a great night and a great weekend!

Was it a left turn at Albuquerque???

2009-09-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

Well, after a great time last year in Savannah, my friends Stacy, Stacey, and I decided to do the SITE conference again this year - this time in Albuquerque, NM. Our first act as tourists was to ride a tram up to the top of Sandia Peak. There's nothing like hanging over a mountain in a little cable car crammed full of people to make you appreciate the good 'ole ground when you get back down! The views were spectacular, though, and made it well worth the ride up (and down).

We also squeezed in a trip to Santa Fe and were happily surprised to find out we had arrived on a very special day. Each year, a procession carries a statue of La Conquistadora, the oldest statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary to an old campsite, where today stands a chapel known as the Rosario, built in 1806 to replace the temporary shelter of cottonwood and juniper branches erected annually for her novena. It was explained to us that the week before we came, this procession carried her to the Rosario and on the day we arrived we saw the procession bringing her back to St. Francis Cathedral where she is enshrined in the Lady's Chapel. It was a fascinating thing to see!

We also took a tour of Old Town Albuquerque. We stopped to get a couple of pictures of the scenery on our way to a restaurant where we had a chance to have some very authentic southwestern food. To make the experience even better, we got to sit by a tree that was growing up through the middle of the old home that had been converted to the restaurant.

While doing a little shopping, I noticed this bar and just had to take a picture. It really appealed to the reader in me. The book titles are hard to read in the picture but they are: "Gone With the Gin," "Tequila Mockingbird," "A Midsummer Night's Drink," "The Wrath of Grapes," "Lord of the Onion Rings," and "Partying 101." Funny thing was, I noticed on a following night that it was a biker bar - interesting, huh?

On our last night there, we dined with the convention group...you guessed it - more southwestern food. I was as happy as I could be. There were beans EVERYWHERE!!! Here's a shot of our dinner group, one of me with my Stac(e)ys, and one of my food (it's becoming a tradition for me to capture a shot of a good meal, it seems!

I had a great time with the girls - AGAIN!!! Can't wait for our next trip together!

Welcome to Clin-tucky!

2009-09-25T12:06:00.000-07:00

In mid-June, Momma, Janey, & Toni came to visit us. It was Toni's first visit and I KNOW she was impressed with our big city! We had a great time even though we spent most of it hanging out on the deck. As you can see here, we were "camped out" for the long haul:

Chris was nice enough to take a picture of us all together. Toni and I had spent the morning hours laying in the sun so we weren't really at our best...but Momma and Janey look nice! (I did NOT say anything bad about you, Toni!)

While the girls were busy "chatting it up," Chris and Harrison enjoyed a little time in the hot tub:

I don't remember what was so funny here but aren't we having a good time???

One moment not captured in photos was the time we spent (well over an hour) texting movie lines to Kayce. She was grossly out numbered as Chris, Toni, & I kept sending her random movie lines and she always had a good one to come back with - the fun was over when she finally fell asleep on her end.

It was great having them here to visit (including Kayce's "virtual visit"). I hope we get to do it again soon!!!

And They're Off!!!

2009-09-25T11:20:00.000-07:00

After Harrison's day at the ballpark, it was then Chris's turn at the track. We spent June 14th at Arlington Race Track in Chicago - what a beautiful place...and what a beautiful day! It was "Salute to the Troops" day and as part of the celebration of our men and women in arms we saw a special parachute jump from the Army's Black Daggers - it was amazing to see...and they all landed right at the finish line of the track!

Oh, and I know you all have the same burning question...did you hit it big on the races??? Well, if we did I probably would be able to pay someone to do this for me (so the answer is NO). But Chris and Harrison had a good time watching the races - it's a whole different experience when you can get trackside (literally) to see the horses go by.

And, while Chris was betting some horses, Harrison got the chance to ride one.

I was just happy to have a day out in the beautiful sunshine.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame...

2009-09-25T11:06:00.000-07:00

Harrison's first "real" baseball game was our trip on May 24th to see the Peoria Chiefs. He was thrilled to see the ballpark and watch the game LIVE!Harrison was also very excited about the play area at the ballpark - who knew there was so much fun to be had??? While he enjoyed the playground, he had the most fun on the inflatables (but then, don't we all?)!

The best part of all, though was the chance to run the bases after the game! He was a little disappointed that they wouldn't let him slide into home but he still strutted across home plate. Since there are other kids in the picture with him, I'm not posting it here...but if you've ever seen the boy strut you know what I'm talking about!

Ed Grimley - revisited

2009-09-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

Ok, so our kids may not know who Ed Grimley is, but most folks my age will never forget Martin Short's character on Saturday Night Live. May 22, 2009 was Crazy Hair Day at school and Harrison begged for this look - you tell me if it doesn't remind you of our good friend Ed!?!?!

Backyard Baseball!

2009-09-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

Nothing says summer like baseball...and nothing beats a pick up game in the backyard. Chris had his hands full trying to take on Harrison, Kyla, and Lilly (actually, who knows who won - no body was keeping score)! But a great time was had by all!!!

The pitcher in action:Harrison & Lilly waiting their turn at bat:

Kyla got ALL of that one!

Lilly showing us her catching ability...of course, my photography ability is lacking-you can't see the ball in her hand!

And, a power shot by Harrison:

Like I said, a good time was had by all...isn't that right, Pitcher???

Mid-life Crisis...or Just for Fun???

2009-05-25T07:23:00.000-07:00

So, some of you know that in my "former life" I had a convertible. And I loved it. And it used way too much gas. And we sold it when we moved to AZ for that very reason.

Well, the Buick's been a great car but it was time to let her go. So, as luck would have it (or maybe God is rewarding me for being a good girl...) we found a great deal on a 2002 Chrysler Sebring LXi convertible! The funny thing is, I've always said I wanted a Sebring convertible. And, just like my former lovely topless vehicle, this one is white too! History is repeating itself but with better gas mileage and fewer miles on the car - we couldn't believe it, but this beauty has less than 40,000 miles.

I'm "back in the saddle" and loving my drive to work again!!!

The Toothless Wonder

2009-05-25T07:16:00.000-07:00

It WAS a big weekend in KY on our last trip. In addition to meeting Katie Beth, Janey's surprise birthday, and the KY Derby, Harrison lost one of his top teeth. It's a good thing the tooth fairy travels - she found her way to Grandma's house and left him TWO DOLLARS!!!

Right after we got home, the other front top tooth came out. Now he really is "The Toothless Wonder!"

But, isn't he still the cutest thing????

Our Newest Family Member!

2009-05-25T07:11:00.000-07:00

I had a chance to meet my newest great-niece our our last trip to KY. Katie Beth is now 2 months old and she's absolutely adorable! Harrison was excited to see her, too, but was a little hesitant to hold her. Toni got a few pictures of me holding her, so I have to post them!

A Late Surprise

2009-05-25T06:57:00.000-07:00

While I was home for the Derby, we surprised my sister Janey with a birthday party. It was a big surprise for her, since her birthday is on April 19th and we had her party the first weekend in May. Since it was her 60th, we wanted to be sure we got her good...and we did!

We all met at my niece's house and were there when Janey got there. She thought she was coming for a small family cookout - and we were all there to surprise her. It was a fantastic day with my family and I was so happy to be a part of it.

And They're Off - In The Rain

2009-05-25T06:44:00.000-07:00

Chris and I spent a rainy day in Lexington for the KY Derby this year. We had a great time, even if the weather wasn't perfect. The good thing for us is that we won a little money on races prior to the Derby - we never even considered "Mine That Bird" as a winner. As a matter of fact, Chris made the comment on our way to Keeneland that if "Mine That Bird" won, he'd never go back again. Hmmm...I'm thinking he's changed his mind about that. The best part of going to Keeneland for us is the chance to see some friends. We got some pictures of a few of them we ran into.

Here I am with my friend Lisa:

And with my great friend Cindy:

Chris and Darren:

It was a wonderful day to be in KY and watch some great races! Can't wait for next year!

The Greatest Gift

2009-05-25T06:24:00.001-07:00

Easter started early at the Moore home with a visit from the Easter Bunny! Harrison was excited about the candy, but more excited about his 3 new Thomas trains.

Even with all the fun and sugar, the Easter Bunny left a reminder note that Harrison didn't miss: the greatest gift of Easter is the sacrifice that Jesus made for us all. We celebrated that gift at church and were thankful for that time to honor God and His presence in our lives. To remember the day, we took a family picture.

After church, we had an egg hunt in the yard - it was a little cool, but at least nice enough to get outside and enjoy the day.

Dad's Golf Vacation...with a twist!

2009-05-25T06:05:00.000-07:00

In early April, Chris went on a golf trip with Pop, Craig, and a few other friends. They went to TN in hopes of playing several rounds of golf...and were able to get in only 2 rounds. April in TN is iffy, and they got stopped by snow. Fortunately, they went a day early because they ended up coming home a day early too.

Before the snow started falling, they got in a little golf. Here's some pictures of the pre-snow fun:

The cabin they stayed in:

And here's some pictures of the snow that sent them home:

Oh, well, better luck next year!

HSM - The Ice Tour

2009-05-25T05:42:00.000-07:00

On March 20, 2009, Harrison, Chris and I went to see High School Musical - The Ice Tour. It was the first time Harrison's seen a show like that and he was thrilled! The first half was songs from the first HSM movie and Harrison's not as "into" that one as the other two. So, the second half was when he really got into it.

It was hard to get pictures even though we had decent seats, but I did the best I could. Here's some pics from our favorite songs:

"What Time Is It?"

"Work This Out"

"I Don't Dance"

"All For One"

Even Chris commented on the skating/dancing...these guys were good! They even played basketball on the ice. It was a great family night out.

It's catching up...and LOSING time!

2009-05-25T05:35:00.000-07:00

The nice thing about my blog is that I can keep my family and friends up to date on what we're doing. But it only works if I use it. So, I'm committing myself to doing a better job - starting today on the one year anniversary of my blog!

I've also been letting the weight creep back on, so I've added a weight loss counter again. I've put on about 10 pounds, but while I'm focused I might as well shoot for 15 pounds. We'll see.

Anyway, let the catching up (and losing) begin!

Home sweet home...SWEET!

2009-03-20T14:37:00.000-07:00

We had a great time on our last trip to KY - Chris got to play golf and watch basketball with his dad, Drew, and his buddies. Harrison had a night out with Nana - complete with a trip to Wal-Mart, dinner at Burger King AND a movie ("Hotel for Dogs").

Since Harrison had a night out, I took advantage of the time and went out to dinner with my mom and both sisters. I don't know that we've ever gone out, just the 4 of us. It was a lot of fun and I had our waitress take a picture to commemorate the event! Oh, and the blackened catfish I had was out of this world!!!!

Do you want fries with that???

2009-03-20T14:34:00.001-07:00

On our last trip to KY, Chris took this picture of the former Dairy Queen menu. Can you guess what kind of store it is now?

One More Valentines Blog

2009-02-15T10:50:00.000-08:00

I can't leave Valentine's Day without showing off Harrison's handiwork. His class was given the project of creating a mailbox for their valentines. As you can see, he put a lot of work into it (and mom had to be the overseer).

Here's the finished product. He had a great time making it, but he's just more into basketball and Wii than making crafts. Go figure?????

Love is in the Air

2009-02-14T17:40:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! We actually had a wonderful start to our day - Chris and Harrison surprised me with a card, a yellow rose, and a ginormous Hershey's Kiss (which Harrison reminded me "could" be for both of us). Then Chris and I surprised Harrison with a card, a stuffed dog holding a heart, and a "Message Bean" - you water it and when it grows, the bean has the words "I love you" on it. Finally, I surprised Chris with a card. It seems like Dad always get the short end of the Valentine's Day deal...at least in our house he does!

We then packed up and drove to Bloomington for the wedding of a dear friend of ours from Phoenix. Now, before you get confused, this is a friend we met while living in Phoenix that now lives in this area, too. It was a lovely wedding and a great reminder of how precious the gift of a spouse can be. The afternoon was quiet - until around 4:00 when Harrison had a basketball game. He had a great time, as usual and we all came home to have a home-cooked meal of steaks on the grill. We are now settling in to more quiet, which is just how we like it. I can't think of a better way to spend this day - surrounded by "my boys". I hope your Valentine's Day was just as special!

A "Wii"ly Good Time

2009-02-14T15:40:00.000-08:00

So, now all we do is play Wii games...but it's done wonders for our family time together. And, I like to think because they are not really "sit down" games, I'm getting a little exercise while I'm at it. We spend most of our time with Wii Sports. Check out Harrison playing some tennis:
And Chris bowling:

I know you can probably tell by my fantastic form that I'm playing golf here:
Yes, Santa really came through this year - things will never be the same at the Moore house because now we know how to have a "Wii"ly good time!

A New Look in Bowling Attire...

2009-02-14T13:26:00.000-08:00

Check out Harrison...he was "suited up" to bowl with his plastic ball and pins in the hallway. Not sure what I like most - the cowboy hat or the slippers. Of course, we know these are both necessary items at any of the finer bowling alleys! The Wii pants make a nice addition, too (really, he picked the clothes out himself!).

From Sorrow Comes Hope

2009-02-07T11:55:00.000-08:00

In late January, a friend of mine lost her 17-year-old daughter to cancer. She was a very brave girl and battled her disease with all she had. The type of cancer was Sarcoma, which is more prevalent in children/young adults. I share this story because I want anyone who reads this to treasure the time they have with their families and loved ones - and remember to pray for everyone who has such a big burden to carry.

We can not understand why these things happen and the Bible tells us it is not ours to understand. So, with that in mind, I rejoice for this beautiful girl who has now gone home to Jesus and ache for her mother, brother, and father who are left here to miss her. So many friends shared their thoughts and memories at the Celebration of Life service and it was easy to see that God had blessed her with a wonderful, caring spirit.

So, I share this with all of you who are reading this as a reminder of God's promise that when we fall, He is there to hold us. And, in the middle of the worst storms of our lives, He will carry us through. Our job is to continuing praying for each other through those times.

God bless you all.

Christmas #4!

2009-02-07T11:38:00.000-08:00

We had lunch on Christmas Day with Amy, Delmar and Emily. It was so nice to spend time with them. This winter, the weather has been yucky and we've all been hibernating. So, while the food was great (thanks, Amy!), the company was even better.

We exchanged presents all around and the kids really seemed to like their gifts. Harrison got a Photokins, which is a digital picture frame in the belly of a stuffed monkey - too cute! And, Amy was thoughtful enough to go ahead and add some pictures. Harrison LOVES it! I think Emily liked her room sign, too!

Looking back on all our Christmas activities, it seems we celebrated for weeks. And, in reality, we did! But, we got to see most of our family and many of our friends which is how it should be. Through it all, though, we never forgot the most important reason for Christmas - the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Harrison wanted to make a birthday cake for Him, so we did. It was simple, and not really very pretty (I've never claimed to be good at that), but it tasted good and shared the most important message of all:

Home for Christmas

2009-02-06T16:20:00.000-08:00

After our trip to KY, we tried to start a family tradition for us. This is one of two years we have spent Christmas Eve and Day in IL - we have usually spent them in KY. So, we attended the Christmas Eve service at the First Christian Church and enjoyed it very much.

We made it back home that night just in time for Santa...after spending some time tracking him on Norad, we got Harrison to bed around 10:00 or so. He was up at 4:00 asking if it was time for presents yet! I was able to get him into bed with us and keep him there until 6:15. But that was as long as he could wait. He was very excited about opening presents, but he also wanted to be sure we each had our gifts. So, he was in charge of passing out presents and nothing could be opened until he was done! I had to get a picture of him with his line of gifts before he dove into them.
One of his most-loved gifts was a Mario Kart tee-shirt, along with Wii sleep pants (thanks, Nana). We can't keep this outfit off him - it's a favorite "home outfit".

But the biggest deal of all was the Wii!!! Yes, Santa came through and Harrison got a Wii for Christmas. Life is now complete (yes, this is said with some sarcasm on my part).
I was very happy with my Willow Tree figurine - always a favorite.

Chris was happy with his gifts as well, but you can tell we really would both rather be sleeping.

All in all, it was a great Christmas and we were happy to be together. But guess what??? There was still one more Christmas to go...

Moore Christmas...

2009-02-06T15:16:00.000-08:00

It just never seems to end when we go to KY for Christmas and this year was no different. Our last stop before heading home to IL (and Santa) was the Moore family Christmas. We started with dinner and Harrison and Katie had their own table again this year - don't they look cozy??? And this year, they actually stayed at the table and ate! (Will wonders never cease!)
Then the presents came...and came...and came. You can always count on Barb to keep us busy at her house! Harrison and Katie got their matching Thomas stockings. We all commented on how much taller they they had gotten (the kids...not the stockings!). It's amazing what a year can do.

We headed home to IL the next day - and we could tell Harrison was beat! I had fun snapping pictures of him as he finally gave up and went to sleep!

It seems strange to say it so late, but we hope all you had a very Merry Christmas surrounded by friends and family - that's what makes the holidays so special!

What could be more fun...

2009-02-06T14:58:00.000-08:00

than a big bag full of stuff??? Well, Harrison could tell you that not much could beat it! Tim, Toni and family gave Harrison a bag of goodies that didn't seem to end.

Reindeer antlers -

Colored pencils -

A glow sword -

A High School Musical punch ball -

16 (yes...I said 16) Reese's peanut butter cups -

A magnifying glass -

And there was more, but who could keep up?

Grandma got him a Thomas video and one of his most favorite gifts - a High School Musical 3 board game. We've had some fun with that one!

We had a great time together. It's always great to spend time with family and there were lots of us there! But...believe it or not, there was more to come...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...at Toni's house!

2009-02-06T14:27:00.000-08:00

So, I'm a little behind on my posts...we are now into February and I'm just blogging about Christmas! I will say I did not make any New Year's resolutions to stay current on this, so I'm not feeling too much pressure. (Now if I can only remember what we did for Christmas - oh, yeah, we had Christmas 3 times this year!)

Let's start with "Christmas #1" - in KY! We did a "Powers family" Christmas at Toni's house. She goes all out decorating - and nothing says "Merry Christmas" like a replica leg lamp from the movie "A Christmas Story":
To be fair, she also has more traditional decorations as well. Here are a few of my favorites:
We had a great time at Toni's for Christmas...but I'll save that for another blog!

Toy Time at HCC!

2008-12-27T07:52:00.000-08:00

Harrison performed in the Heartland Community Church Christmas play this year - his first play performance EVER! The play was titled "Toy Time" and the story was about Barbie learning the true meaning of Christmas. At night, after the grumpy store-keeper leaves the shop (played to perfection by Delmar!), the toys come to life and begin talking about Christmas. Harrison's character was a cowboy doll. He started off with one line, but by production time he was up to 3 lines. And, I may be a little biased, but he did a fantastic job!

Emily was also in the play, as an Abby Cadabby doll. She also did a wonderful job singing and dancing with the others. The play was written, directed, and produced by the childrens' pastors and their hard word was apparent in the great job all the kids did. Again, in the interest of confidentiality, I'm not posting pictures of the play; however, we did get some pictures after the play...here are Harrison and Emily in costume:

We also got a shot of Delmar with the kids...and staying in character, he looks very grumpy here:

Harrison missed the cast party the Wednesday following the play as we were on our way to KY for Christmas. In a surprising turn of events, we later learned that the cast voted on several awards (Best Actor/Actress, Most Improved, etc.) and Harrison was voted the Best Actor! Not a bad gig to win an award in your first performance. Now he's saying he wants to be an actor when he grows up...a STAR is BORN!

Lo-Lo and Harr-Bear

2008-12-27T07:48:00.000-08:00

No, it's not the latest Disney cartoon team...it's Harrison and one of his most favorite people in the world! Lori has been Harrison's babysitter and a great family friend for years now. She's been as involved in his life as we have - and we couldn't be more thankful to have her as part of the family. It's recently come to my attention that as much as she's been around, we have very few pictures of them together. So, we took this picture for Christmas:

Thanksgiving in KY

2008-12-27T07:14:00.000-08:00

In keeping with tradition, Thanksgiving was spent in KY. We had Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday at my mom's house and then again on Saturday at Chris's parents house. At my mom's, Janey (my big sis), Chris and I worked on the stuffing...and there was of course a need for some supervision as well. Here's me supervising Janey:

Janey's turn supervising Chris:

I'm happy to say it all turned out great!

All of Harrison's cousins were there and they had a great time playing kick ball outside (in the interest of confidentiality, I'm not including any photos of them). We did get a photo op with my mom, brother, and sisters...don't be mistaken - the camera angle only makes us look like giants. We are actually average-sized people!

At Chris's parents, we also got an opportunity to get photos of the entire clan...back row: me, Chris, Dale (Chris's dad), Barb (Chris's mom), Roma (Barb's mom), Joan (Barb's sister), Nikki & Johnny (Chris's cousin and his wife...AND their baby was born just a couple of weeks later - congrats to them!). Front row: Craig, Leslie & Katie (Chris's sister, brother-in-law, and their daughter), Drew, Harrison, and Suzie (Chris's cousin). I'm not sure why we've never done this before, but it's the first time I can remember us getting a picture of all of us together.

Also during the weekend, I got a chance to see some old friends. Here we are at O'Charley's where we met up for a cocktail and conversation. Left to right is: Denise, me, Toni, Debbie, and Janie. It was great to see them again!

We had a busy, but very fun weekend - and it was a great reminder of the many blessings God gives us. Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving, too!

My First Official Scrapbook Night

2008-11-20T17:23:00.000-08:00

On November 7th, I had the opportunity to attend my first-ever scrapbook night. A group of ladies from our church got together from 5:00pm - midnight to share food, fun, and scrapbooking! I took my Cricut, as did Amy, and one other person brought one to share. So, after a short Cricut tutorial we were off and running! And, I should probably add that there were a few of us who didn't actually get out of there until after 1:30am...

It was so great to spend time getting to know these wonderful women. I only wish I'd thought to bring my camera! You will need to check out Amy's blog to see pics of who was there (the link to her blog is on my site - check out "A Day in the Life of the Sandages").

I did take some pictures of the pages I did. I know it's a little hokey, but it was my first time scrapping outside of my remodeled bedroom and I was just a little excited - I never dreamed how many great ideas could come from just chatting with other women who are as passionate about this as I am.

So, my first page was my "Cowboy" page...after Harrison's choosing to be a cowboy this year for Halloween, it just seemed to need a page of it's own:

I also chronicled Harrison's various Halloween costumes over the years - this is something I've had in mind to do for quite some time. Instead of creating several pages, I wanted to put all the pictures on one page, just to see him change over the years. I was happy with the result of this one:

We also had a couple of "make and takes" that were brought in by Angela Bowman and Amy. Angela's fall page was fun to put together - and because I knew ahead of time sort of what they were going to be, I was able to bring pictures and complete them that night. Here's the layout that Angela brought - I loved the use of colors that she put together and also got to use some sponging and ink on the embellishments...something I'd never thought to do before!

Amy's offering was a Christmas layout and it was very cute! I was especially excited about her use of ribbon and clips on the page. It just added a little more dimension to the page. Again, because I'd see the layout prior to going, I brought along some pictures that worked very well with the colors/patterns she brought for us to use:

I think as much as I enjoyed getting 4 pages done in one night, I especially enjoyed looking at the work the other ladies had done. We had such a good time sharing stories about our kids, husbands, family vacations...and more (don't worry, Ladies, your secrets are safe with me - smile). We are talking about continuing to do this once a month and I sure hope we do...it was such a blessing to share with these women! And, as one of my friends has reminded me in the past, God blesses PLAY, too!

A Family Weekend - ?

2008-11-20T14:54:00.000-08:00

For those of you who may not have heard, Chris has taken up a new hobby...he's brewing his own beer. And, for those of you who know him best, it's sort of like the "Mother Ship" is calling him home! What better combination than Chris and beer he has brewed himself! Well, actually, there is more to the story...

This past weekend, we made a family trip to Davenport, IA. How did you choose to go to Davenport, you ask? We ended up there because Chris was entering his beer in a brew contest in Rock Island, IL. Harrison was most excited about the road trip.

While Chris was at the contest, Harrison and I played at the pool. Harrison had a great time playing and actually had me playing volleyball with the beach ball. I got quite a work out:

Chris was only gone a very short time on Saturday evening to the contest and when he called to let me know he was on his way back, he didn't have much to say...I was ready to commiserate with him and tell him it would all be ok. Imagine my surprise when he comes into the pool area with a 3rd place ribbon for his Orange Zest beer. There were 9 entries in his category and about 230 beers submitted overall. Needless to say, we were all very excited.

Oh, and another GREAT addition to the weekend was that Harrison got his first introduction to Zotz! For those of you who may not remember...Zotz is the candy from our past that fizzes when you eat it (watch out for the apple ones - they give you that "sour taste next pain" just below your ear)! Here's a picture of Harrison "getting fizzed", as he called it:

And here's Chris's "Zotz face":
We had a great time just getting away and spending time together. We ate at a lot of our favorite restaurants (Cracker Barrel, Papa John's Pizza, Applebees) and had an awesome breakfast at the hotel. And, because of all my business travel, our hotel room was FREE...who could ask for more???

We all agreed we'd like to go back to the Quad Cities and spend more time there. Because this was a quick trip, we didn't get a chance to really see the sites - but stay tuned...you never know when we'll take off on another road trip again!

And the winner is...

2008-11-09T17:43:00.000-08:00

Harrison was so excited when he came home from school Friday. He won his election and will be the Media Assistant for the next week at school. (See previous blog titled, "Vote for Harrison". He shared his campaign speech with us and Chris and I were both amazed at how well he speaks - he kept his notes handy, but would glance at them and the rest of the time was speaking to us.

Not only did he win the position, he also was given an award for most creative campaign poster. So, I had to get a picture of him with his winning election certificate and his poster award:

Pumpkin Patch Found...

2008-11-05T15:08:00.000-08:00

Just when I had given up hope, the pumpkin patch pictures were found! Proof that you can never really lose anything on a computer...

So, here goes our trip to the pumpkin patch - well over a month ago! We went to a different place this year - a new one called "Gail's Pumpkin Patch". Everyone there was very friendly and they had a really nice selection of fall decorations. Here is a picture of Harrison at the entrance:

There was also lots of things for Harrison to do there. His favorite was the Barrel Train - a very clever contraption that he got to ride around the farm.

My personal favorite was the pumpkins that we could use for pictures. It's not very often you get to turn your son into a "punkin head", but doesn't Harrison make a cute one?

He also went through the Kiddie Maze (although if you ask me, he was a little big for that one).

Here's the final result of our trip to Gail's Pumpkin Patch. Chris sprayed the gourds with Clearcoat to protect them while they were out in the front yard. Once Halloween was over, the gourds were moved indoors to make a very nice centerpiece for our dining table.

Vote for Harrison!

2008-11-03T17:40:00.000-08:00

In recognition of the election tomorrow, Harrison's class is having an election to vote students in for school jobs next week. Harrison is running for the Media Assistant job. So, we had great fun tonight making his campaign poster - we even got to use the Cricut AND get a little messy in some glue. His poster turned out great and he's very excited about the election.

Halloween...Cowboy Style!

2008-11-01T13:22:00.000-07:00

Harrison's choice for a Halloween costume this year was a cowboy...please note the resemblance to Howdy Doody. If you don't know who Howdy Doody is, don't tell me - that only means you're too young! By the way, Chris made the belt buckle by printing a picture off the computer, painting it with a silver paint pin and mounting on a piece of cardboard covered in aluminum foil. It looked VERY real! The boots were a loan from a friend at work (thanks, Victoria!) and the hat was our most treasured find at a flea market on our trip to Paducah a few weeks ago (see previous blog on that trip for the rest of the story...)

Here are Harrison and Emily - we actually caught up with Emily between Trick or Treating events, so I got a picture of them in our front yard.

I had planned to blog the decorations in the yard along with our trip to the pumpkin patch, but those photos have disappeared. If they ever turn up again, I'll just post the blog a little out of sequence. In the meantime, Harrison and Emily dressed up the yard even more. (For those of you not in the "Elmo scene", Emily's costume is Abby Cadaby, Elmo's best friend.)

A little later we met up with the ever-popular Hannah Montana (Gracie), a beautiful nurse (Ellie), and - just to make sure we were safe - the red Power Ranger (Tommy). Harrison and I did our big Trick or Treating round with them and their parents and we had a GREAT time with LOTS of candy to show for it!!!

Along the way, we met up with Kyla, who just happened to be a cowgirl!
So, of course that was the perfect photo op:

We also ran into Lilly, who was the perfect Dorothy Gale. I definitely would have followed her down the yellow brick road - too cute!

We had a wonderful time with our friends - hope you all had a Happy Halloween, too!

Can you believe it???? Another one gone!

2008-10-07T17:23:00.000-07:00

So, I'm sitting quietly reading a book when Harrison walks up and holds out his hand - yes, ANOTHER tooth gone! That's 2 teeth in 4 days. I'm hoping the rest of them take their time. As excited as I was about the first one, the second tooth just reminds me that he's growing up so quickly!

Here's a picture of the growing hole in his mouth...

Bragging rights...

2008-10-05T14:13:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have noticed my weight counter on the right side of my blog...I've been "chipping away" at the pounds, especially since mid-June. I have had a struggle with my weight for many years, but it wasn't until I added God to the equation that I started seeing success. My prayer life has included many requests for God to keep me from the temptation of snacking...yes, I'm addicted to junk food! But, through the power of prayer, Weight Watchers, and my dear friend, Amy, I am seeing success.

Here I am last year at almost my peak weight:

And, here I am today - as of today, I have officially lost 30.2 pounds with still another 1.8 pounds to go to reach my end goal.

I have never had this kind of success before, but I know the difference is my support system - Chris cooking healthier meals, Amy being my "point-counting best friend" and God's power in my life. So, maybe I'm bragging a little...but I hope you will excuse me this once!

Look, Mom, NO TOOTH!!!

2008-10-05T14:04:00.000-07:00

On October 3rd, 2008, Harrison lost his first tooth!!!! He was at the YMCA for "Parents' Night Out" (a wonderful offering from the Y that kids think is for them, but we really know who's benefiting there!). During snack time, Harrison pulled his tooth...we knew it was loose and has been for some time, but I was so surprised that it came out. Thankfully, Becky, a wonderful worker at the Y, held on to the tooth for us (thank you, Becky!) and we were able to leave it for the tooth fairy. Also, I just happened to have the camera with me and got a picture of him before we left the Y:

And, here he is with his "tooth bag" from the tooth fairy...along with the Tooth Fairy's official license!

Congratulations, Harrison - you are officially a "big boy" now!!!

Fun with Kathy and John...

2008-10-05T12:34:00.000-07:00

We spent the last weekend in September in Paducah, KY as guests of John and Kathy Stubblefield, friends of ours from church. The Sandages went as well, so we were a party of 8...6 adults and 2 kids. Yes, the adults were outnumbered! (smile)

Amy and I went down in their van with Emily and Harrison. Here are Harrison and Emily just as we were pulling out of the driveway...they did great on the road, although it's safe to say they were this happy the WHOLE trip:

John and Kathy have a trailer out in the woods of rural KY - it was AWESOME!!! It was great to be out in the boonies for a few days! Delmar and Chris were "initiated" by John right away. Note the "gold" chains - a first-timers tradition with John for any man who stays at their cabin. The guys had to wear these all weekend long!

Harrison also had his first experience sleeping in the top bunk of a bunk bed - he LOVED it!

Friday night was spent on the deck, just winding down from the drive and spending some time together. There were LOTS of laughs, as usual. (For a peek of Delmar's party wear, see blog titled "Some Day My Prince Will Come". Please note we have John to thank for this...)

On Saturday, we went to an outdoor flea market and Harrison found a cowboy hat - it will be perfect for his costume in our church play (Harrison's role is the toy cowboy...rumor has it he will be patterning Howdy Doody).

After the flea market we went to a barbecue festival in downtown Paducah. I tried to stick with the diet by eating chicken, but the food smelled delicious! Harrison went on a pony ride and Chris got in touch with his "inner Jamaican, Mon!"

We drove past the Kentucky Dam and Chris got this picture:

Saturday night we went to "Patti's 1880 Settlement" for dinner. The food was fantastic, but the atmosphere was even better. We took several pictures there. Here are just a few:

The boys

The girls

The butterfly chair (a big hit):

Delmar, Chris, and "Dad" (aka John)

A family photo that turned out very well if I do say so myself!

Sunday morning we went as John's and Kathy's guests to their church, The Potter's Hands. It was a wonderful service and everyone was so welcoming. Harrison had a fantastic time at kids church and said he can't wait to go back to church there again.

All in all, it was a wonderful weekend full of lots of fun and fellowship. The only "bad" thing that happened was Harrison's first bee sting - right before we left to drive the 4 1/2 hours home! Fortunately, he showed no reaction to it, other than the trauma of the "bee attack".

We really enjoyed our "KY Vacation" and hope we will get to do it again sometime.
Much thanks and blessings to John and Kathy for being the best vacation hosts EVER!!!

Some Day My Prince Will Come!

2008-10-04T15:40:00.000-07:00

'Nuff said!!!
(You're a GREAT sport, Delmar!!!)

Really...I got a Cricut!

2008-10-04T15:26:00.000-07:00

So, after watching countless infomercials about the Cricut paper cutter, I finally treated myself to one! For those of you familiar with this nifty little contraption, you know it was a bit of a "splurge" but thank the Lord a little money came my way. After giving my 10% to church, I spent a little of it on myself!

Of course, I couldn't open it without Amy there and thankfully, she thought to take some pictures so I could blog this awesome event (thanks, Amy!).

Note the concentration as I open the box:

And here is the proud owner with her new treasure!

Isn't the logo cute?!?!?!?!?

Happy, happy, joy, joy - it works!!!!

Labor Day Weekend in KY

2008-09-30T17:07:00.000-07:00

We spent the 3-day Labor Day weekend in KY. While we were there, Momma surprised Toni and me with a birthday cake...proof that you're NEVER too old to have a birthday cake. Instead of the traditional flowers, Momma had them put balloons on it. It was fun to see a cake with both our names on it - it's been a while since we've done that:

Just a couple of snaps of Toni and me (and Harrison thrown in for fun, too):

We went to the pool late in the afternoon one day. We pretty much had the place to ourselves. It was fun being at the pool with Toni - I can't remember the last time we got to lounge by the pool together. Here we are - the "bathing beauties":

David and Alicia showed up a little later and David had some fun throwing Harrison around the pool. Actually, he threw him all OVER the pool - Harrison had the time of his life!

This one is my favorite...the "throwing flip":

After all the fun and sun we went to Toni's for dinner and a night of Wii games. We got back to Momma's house sometime after 1:00am. So, I took one last picture of Harrison with his grandma before we went to bed. I know I'm biased because she's my mom, but she looks SUPER at 1:00 in the morning!

Happy Birthday, Lilly!

2008-09-30T16:46:00.000-07:00

Another birthday to celebrate...this time it's Lilly's turn! I will never forget her birthday, since she shares the same date as mine. Lilly turned 6 on her birthday (I reserve the all. Lilly had a birthday cookie, instead of a birthday cake, with Tinkerbell on it. Because there's a few too many Weight Watchers points in that cookie I didn't taste it, but Harrison assured me it was GREAT!

Back to School...

2008-09-30T16:03:00.000-07:00

Once again, I'm a little behind on my blogging but have the best of intentions to get caught up soon. For now, I'll do my best to share what's been happening since August (now that it's the last day of September).

We've headed back to school and Harrison was MOST excited about it! Not only is he now a second grader...he gets to go to Lincoln Elementary, a new school for him. He has adjusted well. Here's a couple of pictures of Harrison and Emily on the first day. While they don't go to the same school now, they still ride the bus together every day:

A little late...but Harrison's 7!!!

2008-09-19T15:51:00.000-07:00

I'm a little late getting this blog out, but Harrison had a birthday party in August...it's hard to believe he's seven years old already! He decided this year to have a backyard party with a High School Musical theme. And, like last year, his choice this year was cupcakes instead of a big cake. So, we decorated the deck and put the food out:

The kids played in the backyard, even the big kids! Check out Missy on the trampoline - the girl's got some moves!

Harrison did a great job of getting all the candles blown out...especially since they were almost higher than his head. All that extra "air" MUST come from Dad!

I have not put any pictures of Harrison's guests as I don't want to post pics of other people's kids. But, he had a nice crowd at his party this year - 3 boys (counting Harrison) and 3 girls...a nice, even number. Everyone had a great time.

Happy birthday, Harrison - I love you more every year!!!!

Bushwacked!

2008-09-06T10:31:00.000-07:00

Ok, so it's not a bush, it's really a small evergreen tree...but it was in my front yard and getting much too big for my taste. After much discussion, Chris and Delmar removed the tree! Of course, I'm still waiting for the stump to be removed before I can do any real landscaping but at least it's a start.

Here's a shot of the tree - you can see it was crowding out the two bushes on each side. I'm not sure what these bushes are but they flower out with the prettiest pink flowers! So, I'm hoping they will really thrive now.

And, here's the boys at work - these two are always looking for things to do. Especially if it involves power tools of any kind.

The infamous stump...I'll be sure to add another post when it's cleared to show you the end result of this most exciting event!

State Farm Park ROCKS!!!

2008-09-06T10:21:00.000-07:00

Chris and Harrison have enjoyed many afternoons at State Farm Park...just another perk from Mom! (smile) This summer, Harrison learned to do a front flip off the diving board and Chris was quick enough with the camera to catch it.

As all good tourists, Chris knows how to dress! Check out the outfit and then imagine him walking around with a camera! (Now you know why I let them go without me...)

I love HOOTERS!

2008-09-06T08:51:00.000-07:00

Last summer when we were in FL, we passed a number of restaurants in Destin. From the backseat, we hear Harrison say, "Hooters...I LOVE Hooters!" We all laughed, but ended up having dinner at O'Charley's that night. Over a year later, Harrison finally got his chance to go to Hooters - the one in Bloomington, IL! Here's Harrison with the ballon they gave him...you can't read it, but the waitress wrote "I love Hooters" on it (appropriate, considering the comment in FL a year earlier!).

We also took a picture of him outside with the sign. It looks like Hooters lived up to Harrison's expectations...we will most likely be returning there in the future!

A Day at Camp Sandage

2008-08-08T14:45:00.000-07:00

As the summer has progressed, we've had more and more occasions to lounge at "Camp Sandage". One afternoon, Chris had the camera and captured our day in the pool. Here, Amy and I are "docked" at the side in an effort to get some sun and avoid being splashed by the kids. One comparison of our tans shows who's the pool owner and who is not. :~(

Harrison has enjoyed learning to surf in the pool. You'd think it can't be done without waves, but guess again! By cleverly constructing a pile of floats and the boogie board, he has learned he can ALMOST stand on water...

Emily's head needs to get larger or she needs smaller goggles (smile):

Lilly works on her tan:

As you can see, Camp Sandage is doing well during its debut season. It will be sad to see the summer come to an end, but never fear...the Moore household has become the focal point for the fall as the fire pit has now been strategically positioned in OUR backyard. Stay tuned - I'm sure the future will lead to a blog of the first fire party at the Moores.

Fun at the Fair

2008-08-06T15:56:00.000-07:00

While we were home for Drew's birthday (see next blog - "Drew is 14!"), Harrison and I had a chance to visit the county fair with Toni. "Big Drew" was performing in the talent show and we had to go see him! He performed an acoustic version of "Ice, Ice, Baby" with a friend of his and I have to say he wasn't too bad...sorry, Drew, I should have had higher expectations for you! Oh, here's a shot of him before his performance - good looking guy, huh?

Harrison enjoyed the show - a lot...he was Drew's biggest fan!

After the show, we hit the midway for some fun on the rides. Harrison had his first roller coaster experience with Aunt Toni:

And, he learned to spin himself like crazy in the slime bucket:

Before we left, Harrison had a chance to fish for a prize. Here's the fish:

And here's the prize:

Being at the fair brought back a lot of memories for me. I was glad to get to share Harrison's first fair experience with Toni...maybe we'll get back for it next year!

Drew is 14!!!!

2008-08-03T10:54:00.000-07:00

Well, it's hard to believe, but Drew is now 14 years old! Our last trip to KY was over the same weekend as his birthday and we were all so glad to get to see him on his birthday. The "boys" (Dale, Chris and Drew) spent the day playing golf and that evening we gathered at Dale and Barbara's for birthday dinner. Drew's mom made his birthday cake...and it tasted as good as it looked:

After dinner and cake, Drew and Harrison hit the backyard for a little chipping. Of course, everything that Drew did, Harrison tried to do. I have lots of pictures of each of them hitting the ball, but this gives you an idea of the fun they had...here Drew is attempting to hit the ball over the fence and onto the tennis courts - and eventually he did it!

But of all the pictures taken that day, this last one is my favorite...one of the few pictures we have of Chris, Harrison and Drew together.

Happy Birthday, Drew...we love you!!!

Let them eat (hoe) cake!

2008-07-28T14:52:00.000-07:00

Now for the REAL night of fun on the Savannah trip...a visit to Paula Deen's restaurant. Of course, I have to build the suspense with a little extra info. I was fortunate enough to be able to see "Lady and Sons" from my hotel room! We didn't get there to eat until Monday night (our 3rd night in town), so I had to look longingly at the restaurant for days before I actually got in there. Here's my view - it's the longer, darker tan building that's a little lower than the others:

Here's also a nice shot of the sign at night - yes, you know I had to get the neon all lit up!

Before the feasting began, we spent a few minutes in the gift shop...we got to see "Paula" for a photo opp and buy some souvenirs...among those, an autographed cookbook.

Stacy & Stacey especially liked the hoe cakes...yes, Stacy, they are called "HOE CAKES" not hoe pies (she's still having trouble remembering that!). For those of you who don't know, hoe cakes are cornbread-type pancakes that are served at Lady and Sons when you are seated. They are most yummy with a little maple syrup - mmmmm!

While our "picky eater" Stacy ordered a salad (what?!?!?), Stacey and I hit the buffet - and we hit it HARD!!! Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, greens, macaroni and cheese, green beans, black-eyed peas, roasted pork (you get the idea...). Here's a picture of ONE of my platefuls of food:

I was very happy to be eating there:

But VERY full when I finally made myself stop! (The gooey butter cake went back to the hotel in a "to go" box. I guess I should confess that I did eat the cake around 3:00 a.m.)

And, of course, we had to document the carnage of the evening...we left very little on most of our plates. The following morning, I actually had a food hangover. Yes, it CAN happen - it is possible to eat so much that you feel like you're slightly ill the next day and in need of a little "hair of the dog" (i.e. more food - ?) just to get your day started. In the end, even I know my limit...but I really did push that limit THAT night and I'm dieting like crazy now!!!

What a great time - and what great food! And for all you Paula fans out there, here's a little saying to remember...

What more is there to say????

Stacy, Stacey...and NOT Stac(e)y!!!

2008-07-26T09:23:00.000-07:00

More on the Savannah trip...my travel buddies for the week were Stacy and Stacey, so I really did feel like "Larry" from the TV show "Newhart". (You know, "Hi. I'm Larry. This is my brother, Darrell, and my other brother, Darrell.") Anyway, we had a great time seeing the sites together. We walked up and down River Road every night, so we had to get someone to take a picture of us together there:

We had fun taking those "touristy" pictures you have to take when you see a board with a hole cut in it...we didn't even eat at this restaurant, but we had fun with board...

We also visited the candy stores...a few times. Note the excitement as we got to see salt water taffy being made. AND the best part was the free samples! Yummy!!!

Savannah, the Sweetheart of the South

2008-07-25T17:38:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of taking a business trip to Savannah, GA. While I've spent time in GA before, I'd never been to Savannah and I can see why it is known as "the Sweetheart of the South." We stayed on River Road, so the picture below was a common sight - these barges came by all day long. A tour guide said the water in the river was only 42' deep and yet these huge barges continued passing through. In case you can't tell how large this is, the cargo it is carrying is tractor-trailers...I'm used to seeing those hitched to semi trucks, not floating by on the river!

Just outside our hotel was this statue. It is a memorial to the perseverance and struggles of the African-American slaves in the south. A poem by Maya Angelou is written on the bottom, which says:

"We were stolen, sold, and bought together from the African continent . We got on the slave ships together. We lay back to belly in the holds of the slave ships in each others excrement and urine together. Sometimes died together and our lifeless bodies thrown overboard together. Today we are standing up together with faith and even some joy."

I was reminded of the priceless beauty of freedom and appreciated this statue for the honor it gave those who deserve it.

Another statue that really got my attention was the "Waving Girl". The story is that of a young girl who watched her "beau" leave on a ship and promised she would wait for his return. She spent the rest of her life daily waving to the ships that came in, hoping her young man would return. But, she never saw him again.

I've always been a sucker for a good love story, but I wasn't too crazy about how this one ended...

Would you believe me if I told you the fountain below was built of parts ordered from a catalog in the 1850's? At least, that's what our tour guide told us...wonder what that would cost today??? The fountain is in Forsyth Park, one of many beautiful parks in the city.

And, because I was in Savannah, I had to get a picture of the Spanish moss hanging from the trees. One interesting fact about this moss...it's full of chiggers, so you DON'T want to touch it!!!

We also took a trolley tour that gave us a taste of the various types of architecture in Savannah. It was very interesting that there were so many different styles of buildings. Here's a Victorian-style home:

And, we also saw many Colonial-style homes. This was called "Rainbow Row", due to the number of different colors on each home. The blue color is called "haint blue" and is commonly seen in doorways of homes around Savannah...it is believed to keep the evil spirits at bay.

That's the extent of my "tour guide" job...I think I'll leave the rest of that work to the professionals! Hope you enjoyed it!!!

Music Hath Charms...

2008-06-18T15:59:00.000-07:00

What better way to "soothe the savage beast" than with a little music? Harrison loves listening to music - especially on my iPod. Most of the time he is very careful with it so I'm happy to share it with him. He was trying to hide in this picture, but I was a little too fast for him. I enjoy it when he listens to music because he always entertains us with his singing.

Some of his favorite songs are the "church songs" he sings in church on Sunday and Wednesday as well as songs he has heard in movies, such as "Cars" and "High School Musical". His favorite song is "In You" by MercyMe.

Outdoor Activities - for everyone

2008-06-18T15:53:00.000-07:00

The Moore family has enjoyed the nice weather the past few nights by playing outside as much as possible. Thanks to Amy and Delmar, we have a nice little screened in area on the deck that we've put to use playing games. Last night, the game of choice was the Thomas the Tank Engine "Station Celebration" card game. Harrison won 2 games and Mom won one. Dad, I'm sorry to say, was not able to obtain a victory but there's always next time.

From the card game, Harrison moved on to baseball in the backyard. He's getting pretty good at throwing the ball up and hitting it!

Finally, the evening was rounded out with Harrison and Dad shooting some hoops. Harrison is getting very good a basketball and is even attending YMCA Basketball Camp this week and next.

Poetry in Motion

2008-06-18T15:49:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh...the things we do for our children! I don't know how many times Harrison has asked me to get on the trampoline with him. AND, I finally did it two nights ago. Please note how I actually DID get a little air between me and the trampoline - those of you who know me best also know this was quite a feat for me! Even though I was a little sore the next day, Harrison and I had a GREAT time!

And, because I was such a good sport, he even rewarded me with a little kiss:

Happy Birthday, Emily!!!

2008-06-16T16:28:00.000-07:00

Our little Emily turned 6 years old on June 13. Her mom and dad had a Hello Kitty party for her at the park. Harrison had a great time - as usual. He always has fun with Emily! And, what could be better than a sunny day at the playground along with a birthday party.

We all had a great time...thanks, Emily, for letting us share your day!

Here's Emily with her cake:

Harrison wishing Emily a happy birthday:

The party crowd:

The Man Who Knew Too Much

2008-06-16T15:10:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you meet people who make a lasting impression on you. One such person I've met is Jim Kerns. I had the great pleasure of working with Jim during my time at Corporate in the Property & Casualty Underwriting Department. You know how some people know a LOT about a few things and some people know just a LITTLE about a lot of things? Well, Jim actually knows a LOT about a LOT of things...which is really entertaining at times! If you want to know a good restaurant in just about any city in the US or if you need to know anything about the history of pretty much everything in the world, Jim is the man to see!

I had a great time working with you, Jim! I'll keep you in mind when I need to know...well, anything!

Talking to Grandma

2008-06-09T14:55:00.001-07:00

Harrison couldn't wait to tell Grandma that we bought a new van...because it's JUST LIKE GRANDMA's (except it's the same color as Emily's)! We bought a 2006 Chrysler Town and Country minivan and Harrison is so excited for the next trip to KY. He wanted to let Grandma know we'd be bringing it so she would know who we were when we pulled into the driveway. He also said 3 or 4o times yesterday, "I just can't believe we bought a van like Grandma's."

Personally, I'm just glad my boys have something more dependable to drive in than the 1992 Ford Explorer. (Sorry, Chris, you knew I had to say it!)

Dinner Date 2

2008-06-09T14:51:00.000-07:00

Harrison had another dinner date last Saturday night (June 7th). This time, he dined with Lilly Black. Harrison and Lilly are shown here as they were just beginning to enjoy their fine cuisine - Chicken McNuggets and Apple Dippers from McDonald's. A wonderful time was had by all!

When the Cats are Away...

2008-06-06T18:28:00.000-07:00

Nothing says friendship like a pool party. And we sure had a great one in Delmar and Amy's pool while they were on vacation. Oh, and I should mention, this is a brand new pool so we were the first ones to get in it! Thanks, Amy & Delmar for letting us "christen" your pool.

I should also add that I took a poll of the kiddos to gauge the popularity factor of the pool. I'll let the pictures tell the results:

Finally, no pool party would be complete without resting on the deck with some refreshing beverages and good conversation. Since Delmar and Amy also have a new screened-in deck, we made sure it didn't get neglected from any lack of use while they were out of town:

Our special thanks to the Sandages for a delightful time...we love and miss you TERRIBLY!!!

The Moores and the Blacks

A Big Pain in the Backside!

2008-06-03T11:03:00.000-07:00

Well, the thing we hoped most would NOT happened actually did happen this past weekend. Last March, Chris went through a terrible week with a peri-rectal abscess. After a CT scan and colonoscopy, we then met with a surgeon who lanced the abscess - in his office...without anesthesia. Needless to say, it was the most excruciating pain Chris has ever had. And, we were told there was a 50-50 chance it would come back again...not the best odds.

So, this past Saturday I took Chris to the ER because the abscess did come back. They gave him injections of pain reliever and antibiotics and we met with the surgeon again yesterday. Again, the surgeon gave us the option of treating him there at the office (to which Chris very quickly said NO) or going to the hospital for surgery.

This morning at 5:30, Chris, Harrison and I headed for St. Joseph Hospital. Chris went into surgery at 7:00 and was released a little after 9:00. Harrison and I agreed that it seemed much later than that - why is it that hospital time moves so-o-o-o-o slowly!

Chris is now home healing and I'll be with him through the day tomorrow. We pray this will be the last time he has to go through this, but we still know there is the possibility that it could happen again. My personal opinion (which I shared with Chris yesterday) is that the Enemy gives us these situations to make us question God. But, we show our faith when we use it as another opportunity to praise God and seek His comfort and love - which is exactly what we ALL did through the weekend, yesterday and today.

Since we don't know what the future holds here, we all ask for your prayers as well - prayers for Chris's healing and comfort and patience for our whole family. We can and will weather this storm!

(Oh, and I'm sure you are all please to see that I'm NOT sharing pictures in this blog!) God bless you all!

A River Runs Through It

2008-05-30T17:14:00.000-07:00

In the last blog, I mentioned the storm, so I thought I'd show a few pictures of the fun we've had tonight.

Here's the little creek in our back yard...it turned into a river within minutes:

Here's a shot of the water pouring out of the gutters...lots of rain but fortunately no high winds. More storms are coming this way, but most seem to be out of our range. Sometimes it's things like this that remind us of God's awesome power!

Take shelter, please!

2008-05-30T17:08:00.000-07:00

As I type this we have severe storms, many producing tornadoes all around us. So, I'm doing the smart thing by blogging - because you know it's always safe to surround yourself with electronics during a lightning storm!

Amy, Emily and Delmar came by for a little visit as we have a basement and they don't. It's always fun to have our little "storm parties" with them. Harrison and Emily spent the evening in the basement, playing with trains and spending equal amounts of time loving each other and bickering...just like the old married couple they plan to be some day!

Thomas the Tank Engine Rolling Along...

2008-05-30T17:01:00.000-07:00

For more years than we can count, Harrison has been a fan of Thomas the Tank Engine. Which means, of course, that over the years he has accumulated more and more trains - battery trains, wooden trains, die cast trains and all the "stuff" that goes with them!

This is just a small sample of the mess of trains that have become a part of our family...he still watches the videos and plays with the trains, so how can we complain about that??? I can't imagine his childhood without those trains!

School's OUT!!!

2008-05-29T15:38:00.001-07:00

This picture was taken this morning as Harrison and Emily headed out for their last day of school this year. I don't know which is harder to believe - that the school year is already over OR that Harrison will be in second grade in the fall! He's very excited about moving to a new school for second grade, but more excited about the summer. We should have lots to share as he will be going to State Farm Day Camp, YMCA Camp and basketball camp...along with any other activities we can squeeze in between!

Life on the deck

2008-05-29T15:13:00.000-07:00

Chris says the backyard looks like a circus is setting up and I guess he's right. We continue to add things to the back of the house in order to get me outside...most of you know what a home-body I am AND how much the mosquitoes like to bite on me. So, thanks to Amy and Delmar, we have inherited their screen which is now on the right side of the deck (see photo below). Now I can sit in a screened in area OR sit up in the "grilling area" OR move down to the hot tub area (on the left of the photo). Should make for a good "out-doorsy" summer for me!

Dinner date

2008-05-29T15:06:00.000-07:00

I know they may look like twins, but this is Harrison and Emily on a dinner date at Emily's house.

2008-05-26T12:14:00.000-07:00

Chris had a wonderful idea for Memorial Day this year - we went to Weldon Springs and visited the War Memorial. While I'm not sure he really "gets" it, we tried to explain to Harrison the real reason we have Memorial Day. The three of us held hands in front of the memorial and prayed, thanking God for the men and women who have already given their lives and the ones who continue to risk their lives so that we may have the privilege of going to church, going to school, and going to work in a country that allows us the freedom to choose to do these things. It was a wonderful family moment. On our way back to the car, I stopped a lady and asked her to take a picture of us - I'm so blessed to have my family and to live in this country. Happy Memorial Day, Everyone - let us always remember!

Endings and Beginnings

2008-05-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

May 16th was a sad day...it was my last day working with some of the best friends I've ever made at any job! I've made the move from Property & Casualty Underwriting to Learning & Development and while I'm excited for new opportunities for work, I'm really going to miss the friends I've made in PCU. I know we will continue to stay in touch - we've become too much of a family not to! Pictured here are: (back row - Tammy Wiegand, me, Eric Guyton, Angela Martin; front row - Kristin Little, Kelly Freeman, Cara Colvert, Michelle Fox [the "twins", otherwise known as "Mi'ara"]). I love you guys!!!!!

Pictured below are me and my "Mid-America buddies", Leanne Fritz (center) and Elaine Clem (right). Two better road-trip friends were never born. Ladies, we need a repeat performance soon!

A Promise Made

2008-05-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

We had another cause to celebrate on Cinco de Mayo - we got to witness a double rainbow! I took a few photos of it, but the second rainbow faded very quickly. This picture was the best of the bunch...but it's still a little hard to see. It's nice to have these reminders of God's promises to us.

Cinco de Mayo

2008-05-26T11:52:00.001-07:00

We enjoyed Delmar's and Amy's new deck (at that time, still a work in progress) on Cinco de Mayo. A good time was had by all - complete with taco burgers and cold beverages! Chris and Delmar had spent the day working on the roof of the deck and were more than happy to sit back and relax...well, at least Chris was. Delmar was still looking for the next project to tackle. Of course, Amy and I were there to supervise.

Jump for JOY

2008-05-26T09:26:00.001-07:00

Harrison got a trampoline from his Nana and Pop for Christmas, 2007 and had to wait until the following May to use it. He was very patient during those months, never asking WHEN he would get it. He only said, "It sure will be nice to have my trampoline when the weather gets nice." Unfortunately, the weather has done little to cooperate - the day after we put it up it rained with 30 MPH winds. Oh well, summer has to start soon!

In the beginning...

2008-05-26T08:18:00.000-07:00

Just got off the phone with my friend Amy. I was telling her how much I wish I had time to create and keep a blog. After hanging up with her, the Nike theme kept running through my mind - "Just Do It!" So, here I am, setting up an account to share news of the Moore family. We'll let you be the judge of just how enthralling we can be around here! Enjoy...