Moore Happenings

After looking through our recent pictures, I realized that I haven't blogged about our everyday happenings much lately. This is Sammy's new pasttime. He loves getting out all the bowls and banging them around. He also turns the bowls over and pushes them around like cars. It's very cute to watch, but putting the bowls away a hundred times a day gets kind of old!

Whenever I can get all three kids in one picture looking decent I consider it a huge success! This was the bath after they played in the rain, so they all went in together since we were late for bedtime.

Carli loves to help feed Sammy--and we all know how Sammy likes to eat! He'll take food from anyone--or just find it himself!

Unfortunately, Carli doesn't have the greatest aim!

By Their Fruits . . .

Well, you never would have thought it from the way my little garden started out, but we actually got some vegetables out of it! Of course, I jumped the gun and picked the carrots too soon... Duh. Carrots are really gross when they're not fully grown. I had tomatoes for a few weeks, just enough for me and Carli which was perfect because otherwise they would have gone bad since Eli and Ben don't like them. There is nothing like a homegrown tomato! My garden wasn't the blooming success I would have liked it to be, but now I know what to do next year. It's been a learning experience!

We love Nana!

Ben's Mom Jane was here visiting recently and we had a great time with her! She is so much fun, the kids love when she comes to visit. The visit was originally to help out after I had knee surgery, but my knee surgery was cancelled so she came just for fun. It was nice to have her here just to play! We had a great time and she spoiled us with dinners out to eat and shopping trips. The kids got to go shoe shopping with her and Eli and Carli love their "light-up" shoes. They both cried after they dropped her off at the airport and Carli has asked me about a hundred times when she's coming back. I'm so grateful for such a wonderful mother-in-law. We love you Nana!

Nana's luggage is always a big pull, but usually it's Carli getting in there and finding trouble. This time Sammy thought it was just the right size for him!

We all had fun making halloween cookies together--in our pajamas, no less. I must admit that Jane won the decorating contest--not that there was a contest, but if there was, she would have won. I just can't manipulate frosting very well.

The black frosting was a big hit, especially once they realized what it did to their tongues!

After a few cookies, Eli cut right to the chase--who cares about the cookies when there's frosting?

And whatever Eli does, Carli does!

Next time I'll just get out bowls of frosting and skip the cookies all together. =)

Playin' in the rain!

A few weeks ago, just after we returned from St. John, we came home from an afternoon out and it was raining. Whenever it's raining but not very cold, I remember playing in the rain when I was a kid--one of the funnest things to do ever! I asked the kids if they wanted to play in the rain and at first they weren't sure. I think they thought I was just being weird! It didn't take them long to get into it though--and they had a great time!

Carli was thrilled to play in the rain.

Eli kept trying to get a big wake from the wheels on his bike, but they just weren't big enough.

I wish I could have joined them!

So cute... too bad there's no more warm rain this year!

Bloom Where You're Planted Farm

Eli at the corn maze

On Saturday, in an effort to fill what is quite a long day without Ben here, we went to the "Bloom Where You're Planted" Farm. I had heard about it from a friend and I'm glad we went! It was super inexpensive and really cute. The kids and I had a great time! If you live around Omaha, it's worth the 40 minute drive. Check out the website at www.bloompumpkinpatch.com.

Carli had to try every single wheelbarrow to find out which color was best.

It's only$3 per person with a $1 discount per person for military--who can beat 2 bucks??

Anyway, yesterday they had a "Haunted Gourd Hunt", kind of like an easter egg hunt, but the kids searched for baby ornamental gourds. Some of them were marked for prizes and Eli and Carli both got one. I didn't get any pictures of the hunt since I was holding Sammy the whole time, but it

She gave up on the wheelbarrows and just went on top.

was a lot of fun! The kids enjoyed it and I love that we got to keep the gourds! They're the centerpiece on our table now.

They had a pumpkin barn that you could shop through with red wagons and a great selection of pumpkins, all different varieties. I thought they were really cheap too--only 35 cents a pound. We bought some of the mini pumpkins three for a dollar. They also had a really cute country store with food and treats and all kinds of stuff to buy.

Eli and Carli loved playing on top of the hay rolls--and Sammy just

Sammy playing on the little playground. It was great to be able to put him down--the ground was muddy.

wanted to put everything and anything in his mouth. He ate dirt, leaves, hay, grass and corn. He was really building up his immune system yesterday!

This beanbag toss pumpkin was a big hit with the kids as well. They had a lot of fun, simple activities.

Could putting your arms around each other be any more awkward?

Sammy was having no part of a nice picture that day--too many things to touch.

It was great to just get outside and play!

I can't believe how big Eli looks in this picture.

"Huh, wonder what this is?

"Hmm... I don't know, guess I'll eat it."

Carli's stranglehold didn't help Sammy cooperate either! It was so pretty there, I really wanted to get a good picture of the three of them, but it just didn't work out!

It is not very often that all three kids are entertained by the same thing. I took about a million shots of this!

The corn crib was a huge hit--and really big! There weren't too many other kids there, so they really got to play and have fun without worrying about the crowd.

I was surprised at how much Sammy enjoyed the corn. He was in there for a good 40 minutes.

It was really fun to watch them all play together. Too bad Sammy doesn't have a Red Wings Jacket. "One of these things just doesn't belong..."=)

I could not get Sammy to keep the corn out of his mouth! After a while I just gave up.

We had a great time at this little farm. (Look at Sammy, he's still only interested in something to eat!

Ugh, another deployment

Ben left on Wednesday for Japan. I cried. Ben cried. Eli and Carli cried. Sammy was bewildered. We miss him a lot.

More Quotable Quotes!

So last night we had to drive up to the airport to pick up Ben's mom who is visiting us for two weeks. (She was initially coming to help me with knee surgery, but the doctor was deployed and surgery cancelled--so she came anyway just to play!). Anyway, on the way, Ben and I can hear Eli and Carli carrying on a pretty heated conversation in the back-back (the farthest row back in the van).

C: I just saw the Eiffel Tower! Eli! Look! Look! It's the Eiffel Tower! (she's pointing excitedly at one of the big radio towers just off the interstate in South Omaha).

E: (very calmly) No, Carli. That's not the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower has Jesus on top.

(Ha, ha! I interrupted the conversation at this point to tell them that that was not the Eiffel Tower, that the Eiffel Tower is in France, and that Jesus is NOT on top of the Eiffel Tower. To explain a bit, the kids figure they are experts on the Eiffel Tower because there are several Eiffel Towers in our house. Being the ex-French-teaching, France-Marseille-Mission-serving, all-things-French-loving-Mom that I am, we have several models of the tower in differing sizes and a couple of different pictures of it included in the decor of our house. Carli even has an outfit--leggings and a sweater-- with the tower on it. It's so cute--my MIL just couldn't resist when she saw that.)

Back to the conversation... (we pass another radio tower).

C: Ah! There it is! I saw the Eiffel Tower this time!

E: No, Carli (getting a little impatient now), that is not the Eiffel Tower! (and now frustrated beyond belief) The Eiffel tower is NOT in Nebraska!

C: Eli, I know the Eiffel Tower because I have a new sweater with the Eiffel Tower on it. Ha. (well, she didn't actually say "Ha." but her tone certainly implied it! =) )
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All of these candid kid moments reminded me of a road trip we took about 18 months ago. We were headed to Indiana to spend Christmas with Ben's family at his Aunt's house. The trip was about 10 1/2 hours and we drove it straight through. The kids were SO good, as they usually are in the car, but after giving several interesting instructions to Carli (22 months old at the time) Ben and I realized that they were really funny and started writing them down. The scrap of paper has been in the car all this time, and I finally got it out last night so I could record them. Here are some of the things I said to Carli during the ride:

"Don't put your cracker between your toes!"
"Get your sock out of your mouth!"
"Don't eat your doggy!"
"Stop spitting!"
"Don't lick your shoe!"

Sounds like she had a REALLY good time on that trip!

"I hope you know, I had a hard time."

It was General Conference this weekend for our church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). Conference is held twice a year in April and October. It's awesome to hear the prophet and apostles speak and it always lifts my spirits and recharges my spiritual batteries.

This morning before Conference began, I was really feeling sorry for myself. I have been kind of dumped by a couple of ladies who I thought were my friends. I thought our kids were friends too, so when I found out this morning that there have been birthday parties and outings that my kids haven't been invited to, I felt SO sad. I wondered, what is wrong with me? Am I not a good friend? Do I do something that keeps people from wanting to be friends with me? I always had close friends growing up, but I have struggled since I got married to make any close friendships (minus Tiffeny, Andrea, and Tammy). And then there is this pesky military thing where we have to keep moving, so the close friends I do manage to make get left behind!

I was also hurting for Carli and Eli, who I know wonder why they never see those friends anymore. I don't want something I do to hurt my kids or keep them from having friends! Anyway, I just couldn't explain it, and I couldn't get rid of the hurt. It's like being in middle school again and knowing that you're just not one of the cool kids.

So, I didn't go into Conference with a warm heart or a particularly spiritual mindset, but so many things that were said went directly to my heart. I especially loved Elder Cook's talk. He quoted his son when he was three years old and had a scary experience. The three-year-old said to his mom: "I hope you know, I had a hard time." Isn't it true that people all over the world, in our families and neighborhoods and wards are having a hard time? I definitely have days when I wish someone knew that I was having a hard time. I was having a hard time today, but when Elder Cook talked about the woman who had lost her husband in a car accident and got over her grief by helping to comfort the mother of the boy who also died when they collided head-on, things were put into perspective. My little heartache seems so insignificant in comparison! I was spending time dwelling on something that I cannot control, and letting it have control over my mood. My life is good. So good. I have been blessed with so much, and it's truly a sin to spend time wallowing in self-pity and self-doubt. I am so grateful for the true friends that I do have and for the difference they have made in my life.

Elder Cook also said that President Monson was asked on his birthday what the members of the church could give him and he said, "Find someone who's having a hard time and do something to help them." Wouldn't the world be a better place if we all did that? That's my goal this week--to find someone who needs my help and help them.

This scripture was also in Elder Cook's talk and I found it so comforting, and exactly what I needed to hear: Wherefore, be of good cheer and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you. --Doctrine and Covenants 68:6

I have everything I need.

Quotable Quotes

Me: Let's play the laughing game. The first person who laughs is out.

Eli: I have a better idea! Let's play the BARF game! The first person who barfs wins!
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Eli's prayer tonight at dinner:

Dear Heavenly Father, please bless the food that it will make our bodies strong and healthy. Please bless me to be good. Please bless our family to be good. Please bless the whole world to be good. Please bless me to eat all of my food--even my broccoli. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Enough said!
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Carli was in time out for a record amount of time today after getting a bottle of cologne (at least it was Eli's small bottle) out of the bathroom and pouring it out all over the house. She put a little on everyone's bed and when it was gone she hid the empty bottle under our bed. This happened because I was making dinner and I thought she was outside with Ben watering the garden. I would have been on to her after 30 seconds of silence if I had known she was in the house! Our house is going to smell like Stetson Black for quite a while!

(During the timeout) Me: Carli, you don't touch things that aren't yours and you especially don't dump cologne out on people's beds.

Carli: Sor-ry.

Me: Why did you pour out the cologne?

Carli: . . . because I wanted to have dessert!

When will I ever learn not to ask a three-year-old why they do something?