Sun-Filled Saturday

I am a Groupon-a-holic.  If I see a deal that interests me, I will snatch it up.  Now that I have admitted that, let me tell you about our Saturday.  I found a deal on ice skating over a month ago.  I asked Miranda and Taylor to commit to coming home for Presidents' Day weekend so that we could spend the day together as a family.  Miranda came home for the entire weekend, but Taylor was bringing his girlfriend, Kinsie, so they only came down for the day.  What a terrific day for lunch at a favorite restaurant and outdoor ice skating.  

Miranda and Ethan

Taylor and Kinsie

Miranda and Sarah

Staci and Larry
For the majority of the time, we took turns entertaining William.
Taylor and Kinsie were watching him at this time.

William's entertainment for the day!

Too little for the rink!  Such a good sport!

What a fun day!

Our Cute Little Brace Face

A picture is worth a thousand words!

February 13, 2012

Gratitude Journal

Years ago, I watched the Oprah Show religiously.  I would record the show daily so that I could watch it when I arrived home from work.  I even took her challenge to write daily in a gratitude journal.  That challenge changed my life.  I became a more thankful, positive person and saw the beauty and goodness of what was all around me.  At the end of each day, I would reflect and write down five things that I had been grateful for that day.  One of my most favorite entries reflects the frustration of an overwhelmed mom:  "Today, I am grateful that Ethan took a long nap so that I could mop the kitchen floor."

Now, I am in the same position as I was in more than thirteen years ago with little Ethan.  I am feeling overwhelmed and frustrated with all that I am not getting done with busy little William.  I have decided to begin my gratitude journal once again.  I know that this time with William will only happen once.  I need to be more positive and allow the house to be a little cluttered, the dinner to be mac and cheese once in awhile, and the organization that I am so obsessed with to fall by the wayside occasionally.

I am also frustrated with life in general.  I do not feel a part of my community outside of my "school" relationships. I believe that people are afraid to become my friend because I teach their children and that is a totally different relationship.  I am looking forward to moving away from where I teach and developing friendships with people who know me as Staci and not Mrs. Moore.  I need to feel a part of something, to enjoy having close friends, and to be included.  I have not enjoyed going to church (and I have never been that way); in fact, I dread going!  I want to experience that included feeling again.  Our bishop spoke last week about how our ward is so good at including people.  I have never felt that in the six years we have lived in the ward.  With Larry in the bishopric now, I should feel differently, more included.  But, I don't!  He has close relationships in the ward now, but I do not.  This is another reason that I need my gratitude journal.

I was given a new, red notebook for Christmas that says "Imagine" on the cover.  I am looking forward to filling its pages with positive reflections and gratitude for all that I have been blessed with.  I want to change my world.  I want to bring beauty and life back into my eyes.

Entry #1:  January 20, 2012
1.  I am grateful for Larry.  He took on one of my responsibilities today and lightened the stress I was feeling.
2.  I am so thankful to work with people who have such a positive attitude.  Today, I stopped by the school to take care of some business and felt lifted up by the time I left for home.
3.  I loved my walk with William today.  He loves riding in his stroller and seems to really enjoy our walks.  The weather was beautiful and warm for January!
4.  I appreciated Ethan's positive attitude when I asked him to do his chores before playing his video game.  He jumped right on his chores!
5.  I am grateful that Miranda and Taylor feel comfortable calling home to ask their mom and dad's advice about life or how to do something.

Procrastination

The countdown has begun... approximately one hour until the new year.  Time to post those last few memories of 2011.  

The Christmas celebrations included...

William's first visit with Santa!  No tears!

The gingerbread house contest between the girls... 

(notice the fabulous fondant roof!)

and the boys!

(Notice the details that artist Larry is putting on the house!)

Christmas Day began with opening stockings before our 9:00 church meetings.  William enjoyed eating his presents more than playing with them!  Larry and Taylor went to church to enjoy the beautiful, spiritual Christmas choir program while I stayed home and took care of three sick kids.  Miranda, Ethan and Sarah all had Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease - No church for them!

After church, we opened presents and had a wonderful Christmas brunch.

Miranda loved opening her Kindle cover, gift card for the grocery store (so she can eat at school), and George Foreman grill.

Ethan enjoyed his Nintendo 3DS games, Wii points card, and new slippers!

Sarah opened her Kindle, a loom to make hats, and lots of new clothes!

Taylor was thrilled with his new ipod, grill, and warm hat for Logan!

As we enter a new year, I cannot help but be grateful for the blessings that I have been offered this past year.  It is so easy to be negative and forget how much we truly are blessed with.  Today, Larry and I attended the memorial service for a man that Larry has worked with over the past five years.  His vice-principal at South Hills Middle School passed away on Christmas Day from brain cancer.  I have spent a great deal of time reflecting on my life and what I have accomplished.  What would people say about me upon my death?  This upcoming year, I will be striving to become more Christlike, focusing less on the negative and having a more positive attitude.  I want to be focused enough throughout the week to have all of my school work finished by the close of the day on Friday so that I can focus on my family over the weekend.  I always create a list of goals that is much too long to truly accomplish, so I am keeping it short this year.  If I have other accomplishments throughout the year, then kudos for me!  I want to feel the success of truly improving myself and giving of myself to others.  A dear friend of mine once shared a book with me titled Try Giving Yourself Away.  That is the goal of my heart this year.  Perhaps I won't be so wrapped up in my own troubles when I focus on giving to others.  

Happy New Year!

United States Bound

The day arrived to welcome home Elder Taylor Moore.  On December 3, 2011, the Moore Family (Larry, Staci, Miranda, Ethan, Sarah, and William) as well as Grandpa and Grandma Hansen, awaited the arrival of American Airlines flight 689 from Dallas Ft. Worth at 12:00 p.m.  Here we are taking pictures of the flight arrival board.  Elder Moore's flight had just arrived.  

The excitement began to mount!

The welcome banner was in place!

Staci's first glimpse of her missionary son returning from Argentina!  The picture is a little blurry, but it is a keepsake.  The woman behind Elder Moore is from Chile and rode with him all the way from Buenos Aires.  Elder Moore helped her with English in Dallas when she was having difficulty.  She was so grateful and even gave him a hug when they arrived.  It was so touching!

Elder Moore greeted his mom first, then his dad, and quickly followed with an introduction to his new baby brother, William.  It was so fun to see their first meeting.  It was an emotional time, and I had a distinct confirmation that they had known each other previous to this life on earth.  William was a bit confused at first upon seeing his brother (he had only seen him in video and pictures), but he quickly warmed up and became Taylor's best friend!

Elder Moore looked so good (although he did need a new pair of dress shoes...the brown pair that he was wearing were the better of the two pair that he took to Argentina)!  

After a requested lunch at the Pie Pizzeria in South Jordan, we headed home to see the "treasures" that Elder Moore had brought home.  His gaucho outfit was a fitting reminder of the customs in Argentina.  

It has been so much fun reuniting with our son who grew physically, mentally as well as spiritually on his mission.  The lessons he has learned and the stories he has to tell are priceless and will strengthen him throughout his adulthood.  The blessings of having a missionary are too many to count; there are days when we say to Taylor, "Are you sure you don't want to go back to Argentina?"  Reality is, however, it is so good to have him home!

Our Little Ham

Our cute friend, Katie Bachman, took some fun pictures of our adorable little William for his first birthday. I have to post some of my favorites. These pictures really show Will's personality. He is a ham. He is goofy and so much fun! The sad part about this photo shoot is that while we were having so much fun taking pictures outside, Will decided to take a nose dive on the driveway, and the photo shoot was over. I am absolutely in love with Mr. Willigans!

The "I am so cute" pose!

(Although, what is up with the infatuation with hair brushes?)

Jokester Will

(I love his scrunched up face!)

Thoughtful Will

(He spends a great deal of time in deep thought, pondering the mysteries of the universe. Actually, he is usually trying to figure out how to open something, how something works, or plotting to wreak havoc!)

The "Oh, So Grown-Up" Will

(With so many older siblings, it is hard not to want to be grown-up. I am loving his moose hat!)

It is so hard to see my baby grow up! He has been such a blessing in our lives.

Three Months Behind...

Three months ago I blogged. I promised myself that I would stay current on our blog. Well, life happens and I am now twelve hours away from my darling missionary son's return. I must blog.

Three months worth of major happenings:

September, 2011

William learned to walk

October, 2011

Our family prepared to move... William was a BIG help!

October, 2011

Ethan performed his final show for the season with the Marching Mustangs.

October, 2011

Halloween...Our referee, vampire and little froggie.

This was Ethan's last hurrah with trick-or-treating.

November 16, 2011

William turned one! He was fascinated by his birthday cake. The only problem was that he had a reaction to the frosting. He woke up covered with a rash where the frosting had been.

November 28, 2011

The kids' final message to their missionary brother.

Two more noteworthy happenings... Miranda was called in September as the Relief Society President in her college ward. She is overwhelmed but so blessed with this calling. She is preparing for finals in a week at Utah State University. Larry was called in October to serve as the first counselor in the bishopric. With tithing settlement upon us, it is rare that we see him for more than a few minutes before he rushes off to the church. I feel so blessed to have these two righteous loved ones in my life! Tomorrow, I will share pictures of another of our Heavenly Father's righteous children after his return home from a two-year mission in Argentina.