Crazy Hair Day

This week's crazy Thursday was crazy hair day! Aleece has really long, curly hair so we debated for a while on what we could possibly do to it, when I remembered that we used to braid our hair into corn rows before girl's camp every year. Aleece thought this was a great idea and we got to work braiding her hair the night before. Aleece was surprisingly patient and it took less time than I expected (which is good, because my hands were killing me by the time I was finished!) and she totally rocked the hair-do! Of course I'm sure it helps that she is adorable anyways!

the preschool kids! Maggie, Boo, Delanie, Haylee, Hyrum and Aleece with their CRAZY HAIR!

Z is for Zoo

Tuesday we ended our year of playschool with a trip to the zoo to learn about the letter Z. We have had such fun this year participating with a great group of kids and their mom's! It's crazy to think that in a few short months Lainey will be starting preschool, and Leecy will have moved onto kindergarten!

We saw hippos, and elephants, and bears! Oh my!

Lainey, Leecy and Lennon

Mr. Lennon, sweet as can be (as always!) just chilled the whole time we were at the zoo! He is such a good baby! He just soaked everything in!

Our little monkey, I mean, cute little Lainey bug was very independent on this trip to the zoo.
She wanted to walk everywhere. She behaved for the most part and only tried to climb in with the rhinoceros.....

Sweet Leecy T was a big help with the younger kids and would hold their hands so we could keep track of everyone. She loves animals and still wants to be a vet when she is older.

Aleece and her friend Hyrum

Checking out the animals....

Taking time to stop and smell the flowers.....

We love the zoo!!!

Leecy T and Lennon

snack time! Zucchini bread muffins (we had to have a snack that started with Z!)

Aleece and Hyrum at the end of our adventure.

Lainey (exhausted from walking all over the zoo!) and Lennon (still chillin'!)

We had so much fun and are grateful to have such good friends!

Cute quips

Sometimes it still surprises me how different Lainey and Leecy can be! They are so similar in so many ways, but there are definitely differences in them that are like night and day! Aleece is TERRIFIED of bugs. The only bugs she has come across that don't bother her are ladybugs and firefly's. Even when she was little if she saw a bug she would shriek "beedle bug, beedle bug!" Well, living in the south we have lots of bugs, and even if she sees an ant she freaks out! Madelaine on the other hand isn't fazed by them at all and will just squash them or let them roam! She came up to me the other day to show me an ant that was on her hand that she had picked up and said, "don't worry, it's just a spider! Just a spider!" I'm glad to know she didn't develop my fear of spiders like her big sister did!

We were at the store this week as a family and Val came across a hat that reminded him of one he wore in high school years ago. He tried it on and then flipped it backwards and informed the kid's that that was how he used to wear it and it was kind of "his thing"; what he was known for. Aleece looked up at him and with a smile on her face said, "Did the kids laugh at you?" Needless to say, we left without buying the hat!

Backwards Thursday

This week's crazy Thursday was backwards day! Aleece has really been getting a kick out of these crazy's days! She wore her shirt and pants backwards and we even did her hair backwards! (Though because it so long, had to be put in a little bun on top!) She is just too cute for words!

And we couldn't forget about little miss Lainey bug! She can't wait to start preschool in the fall!

When we're helping, we're happy.....

Our children seem to be growing up too quickly! I thought this picture was too cute not to post. Lainey watches Aleece a great deal and loves to be just like her big sister! So after she saw Aleece helping the other day, she wanted to help too! And she did a surprisingly good job! I know they will both make amazing mothers someday!
Madelaine has also picked up on another of Leecy T's "doings". We have worked hard to teach the kids to be patient and respectful, and have informed Aleece that when she needs to ask a question, she needs to say "Excuse me, Mom/Dad/etc" instead of interrupting. Well, Lainey has picked up on this also and after she hears Aleece say it, generally shortly thereafter I will here, "Excuse me, Leecy!" And then she will tell Leecy whatever it was that was so important.
I love that they can learn from one another and be the best of friends as well as sisters! And I've already seen how special of a relationship they have with their brother as well. I love the looks that pass between them and can feel of the love they have for each other! My sweet children truly light up my life!

3 beautiful reasons

My three beautiful reasons for celebrating Mother's Day! Life doesn't get any better than this!


Lennon


Madelaine


Aleece

Mother's Day 2009

"All I am, or can be, I owe to my angel mother." Abraham Lincoln

This quote is so true. I am who I am because of my sweet parents. My amazing mother instilled in me such a great love and desire of motherhood. I am so grateful to her and all that she has taught me throughout my life that has helped me in the raising of my own children. There is no greater job, no greater calling in life than that of being a mother. For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a mom. I am so grateful that my dreams, my happily ever after, have come true. I love my children so very much and thank Heavenly Father every day for allowing me this blessing. They truly teach me something new every day....patience, compassion, generosity, humor...the list could go on and on.

I had an absolutely wonderful mother's day beginning with Leecy T telling me "Happy Mother's Day" to wake me and tell me breakfast was ready. We had some yummy omelets and went to church. The primary children sang "I Often Go Walking" and "Mother Dear". I love to hear Aleece's sing! We heard some really nice talks on mothers and received some delicious cheesecake petit fours made by a family in our ward who own a French bakery. So good! We were also serenaded by a double quartet of brethren (Val included of couse!) and it was beautiful. After church I had the luxury of taking a nap (love them!) and opened some presents--a new wok, some cute capri's, some nice, new makeup (perfect timing after last week's mishap!), a fun cake cookbook, some beautiful roses that the girls picked out and a new luxury shower head(with a promise of at least a couple of non-interrupted showers!). I was definitely spoiled! Dinner was delicious--we had grilled salmon and corn on the cob, whole wheat french bread and, the best part, creme brulee for dessert! It doesn't get any better than that! :) My day was so nice and our children were so sweet. Lainey's sweet voice telling me "Happy Mother's day!" seriously could make any one's heart melt!

Leecy, Lainey and Lennon make my heart smile everyday and they couldn't possibly find a mother who loves her children more than I love them if they searched the world over! (Except for maybe my mom! I'll call it a tie!) :)

Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing moms I know!

Crazy Pajama Day

Aleece was excited all week for Thursday's preschool. Throughout the month of May they will have "Crazy Thursdays". This week's crazy Thursday was crazy pajama day! Aleece made sure to remind at least once a day the entire week prior to pajama day (and she has already informed me that next week's crazy Thursday is crazy backwards day where they get to where their clothes backwards! She is already excited!) Leecy T wore some cute capri jammies and her Zoe slippers and had a great time at preschool! She loved that they got to play Chutes and Ladders and Candyland! Preschool has been a huge help for Aleece in coming out of her shell! She has really come a long way this year! She was so shy at the beginning of the year and she is finally starting to overcome that I think! She has learned so much and we are so proud of the hard work she does at preschool! Aleece is such a smart little girl and it's hard to believe she will be starting kindergarten next year! Where did my baby go?!

Music Showcase

Hey---we need your support! My amazingly talented husband Val has entered a music showcase through Mormon Times, featuring his song "What Would Jesus Have Me Do?" This is an amazing song, as they all are, and the finalists are determined based on votes. So we need your help!
Tell EVERYONE you know! Let's get Val to the finals!
Here's what you do....
FIRST, go to
http://music.mormontimes.com/index.php?ref=mtHomeAD
Next, REGISTER FOR THE SITE (you won't get any spam or anything!) (They make you do this so that they can monitor how many times you can vote--they only allow once a day.)
THEN, go the the Showcase link (in between Most Viewed and User Videos)
NEXT,Scroll down to Val Moore and click on his image. Once you do this there should be a button saying "vote for this song". You can also become his fan! You can vote once per day, per person!!!
PLEASE help us out and tell everyone you can think of! GO BACK AND VOTE EVERY DAY! Thanks everyone!!!! We appreciate all of your support!!!! (He's up against an Osmond, so please, please, please vote!!!)