a great Thanksgiving weekend

We had a fun and busy weekend here at the Moore house. It all started with this beautiful and oh-so-yummy turkey. Yes, Russell cut out the spine and splayed it out. It was very convenient for being able to fit more stuff into the oven with it, even though it looks like the turkey went SPLAT.



Our weekend included a visit to the ape caves, fun at OMSI, shopping at IKEA, and a few games of Settlers of Catan (a family favorite, if you haven't played it, try it.)

Sissy and Uncle John in the cave



We visited the Ape Caves, which have nothing to do with apes. They are lava tunnels on Mt. St. Helens that you can hike through. It is pitch black once you are away from the entrance. The kids did great-- they didn't get scared or whiney or anything. The caves were actually warmer than it was outside-- they stay 52 degrees all year round. We hiked a couple of miles. BJ loved the baby backpack, and didn't make a peep the entire time.

Mommy and BJ

Of course, I forgot to charge my camera after the trip to the caves, and couldn't figure out how to get pictures from my dad's camera onto my computer.

It's so fun to have family here, but the last couple of days I've been wondering how I ever get anything done without extra people around to hold the baby and to do the dishes. Tomorrow I am in for the post-company blues, which I'm sure I will be distracted from by trying to get the kids all their flu shots and having BJ's six month check-up.

Well, now it is Tuesday, and I really do miss having more people around. I wish I could say that the shots went well today, but it was kind of a nightmare. BJ was pretty good, but Ammon's flu shot included a couple of extra people to hold him down, cowering under a chair, and an hour or so of crying. Sissy would have been fine if Ammon hadn't kept reminding her of the poke. After the nurses left the room I had all 3 children screaming and just had to sit there until they finally calmed down.

Anyway, I have so many things to be grateful for that I don't think I could ever list them all, but here are some that I am thinking about today

Grandparents

bibs

disposable diapers

games

Russell's job

friends willing to help out

mail

garage sales

vaccuum cleaners

smiles

eyelashes

my hubby

blogs

and many, many more things

Thanksgiving is coming!

I thought these were some fun pictures of BJ. He sure loves his toes! When I change him I have a hard time putting his feet back in his pants or jammies, because he won't let go of his toes, and apparently they are very yummy. And what is it about puting animal faces on babies bums that is so cute? I am grateful for cuteness, because it sure can make me forget a lot of stressful stuff.

I am excited that my parents and my brothers John and Bill are coming here for Thanksgiving. It is fun to be the host, but also a little stressful. The good thing is that my family doesn't have the highest of expectations when it comes to cooking-- I think they'd be happy with whatever. But anyway, Russ and I have all the food planned and some of it made already. It is going to be a busy week getting ready for Thanksgiving. You can stop reading now because the rest of this blog entry is my boring to-do lists

Today:

-Get a new spare tire for our car.

-Clean the kids rooms.

-Straighten the storage rooms.

-Buy John's Christmas gift at Target.

Tues.:

-Visiting teaching

-Parent teacher conference

-Make pie crusts

-Start brining turkey

-Laundry

-Grocery shopping

-mop floors

Wed:

-spot clean bathrooms

-Make jello

-prepare guest beds

-wrap gifts

-clean basement, kitchen, and entryways

I better get started.

I made it!

Yea, I can eat sugar again. Not as satisfying as I thought though. I guess that's a good thing, because one of the reasons for my goal was to decrease my sugar cravings. This morning the first thing that I wanted was a cup of Calli (herbal tea). And the sugar I've eaten today just has made me feel kind of blah.
I am exhausted. Sissy wouldn't go to sleep last night (I think she had an earache) until about midnight, and as soon as she finally went to sleep the baby was up and wouldn't go back to sleep. I better go try to catch a little nap instead of blogging my afternoon away.
Or maybe not-- I hear BJ crying.

A Beautiful moment and Merry Christmas BJ

I had one of those moments the other day that just made me so happy to be a mom. BJ was asleep on my bed and I was going to wake him up because we are working on getting him to sleep more at night and this was around dinner time. I mentioned it to Sissy and she wanted to help. So she went on the bed and layed down next to him and rubbed his head and face until he woke up and started playing with her. They were just so cute lying there giggling and BJ batting at Sissy's nose. It seems silly, but it was a beautiful moment for me.

This toy is I think the most expensive thing I have ever purchased for any of my children (including furniture) at $80. But it is really fun, and I justified it by telling myself it is his Christmas present early and because I got a free turkey by spending $100 at Fred Meyer. He really just likes it I think because he is sitting up and can see what's going on. The toys on it have been played with much more by the siblings.

An update on the sugar fast-- It's going really well, and I even considered extending the time. However, this Thursday is my book group's Christmas party at which there will be lots of delectable goodies. So maybe after the holidays... I think Russ will be happy when I'm done with it too, because then we can make some desserts. He has been very supportive of my 2 week goal though, and last night we had fresh bread with butter and honey for dessert. Yum!

It finally came out!

Yea, that loose tooth of Ammon's has finally come out. It only took a couple of weeks, a bump in the face by his sister, and a yank by daddy. So now that we've filled Ammon in on the tooth fairy, he is very excited and full of questions. He is in bed right now, I'm sure pretending to be asleep so he can catch the tooth fairy in action, even though I told him that wouldn't work.

Well, it really has been a tough week, and not because of not being able to eat sugar, although there have been some times when I REALLY wanted some chocolate. The kids have just really been a challenge, plus it's been the week of a thousand diapers! Ammon and Sissy are both so volatile. One minute just as happy as can be, and the next screaming like a banchee. Things that set them off seem a little odd, such as: for Ammon, sissy was helping pick up the legos. Just tragic, I know. For Sissy, saying "hello, you woke up" led to a half hour of screaming, "Don't say that!"

And BJ has been ill, so not all that happy either. But I am going to follow Charlottes example and not gripe anymore, but tell you what I love about my children.

1) It is so easy to make them laugh. They make me feel like a funny person.

2) They are so darn cute.

3) They love to read books (or in BJ's case, chew on books)

4) They are curious and love to learn new things

5) Hugs and kisses are given freely.

6) They are very cuddly and love to snuggle.

7) Sometimes they play nicely together

8) They have so much energy!

9) They get me excited about holidays and events that would otherwise just be blah.

10) They keep me busy and give me lots of things to look forward to.

11) They make me appreciate alone time with my hubby.

12) They love family night, even when we don't do something exciting for it.

13) They are strong-willed individuals

14) They love me, even when I get upset with them.

I'm sure I could come up with more, but that is a pretty good list. If I want to have groceries this week I'd better get going.

I forgot to mention that I got a professional massage today. It was heaven!

So far, so good

So the sugar fast is going well so far! Not as hard as I thought. I am still hungry all the time though (from nursing a very fast-growing boy) and struggle to find good things to snack on. My favorites are nuts and dried apples. Though I admit a few potato chips and cheese sticks have filled the void. I am pleased though that the kids aren't obsessed with their candy. One or two little treats a day is fine, and overall they are eating less sweets because I am not eating them.

I love having a crafty husband. We need a new quilt for our bed, so he revised a pattern for us and we are going to Portland tomorrow to get some good fabric. I would like to think that I will help a lot with the quilt, but in reality if I help a lot I will just slow it down.