Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas!

Double the merriment because we were blessed with two rounds of Christmas, (plus a few more laughs!) First we celebrated with seafood, cookies & mimosas in Bluffton then it was up to Greensboro for a few twists on long standing events/traditions. Thank you everyone for rearranging things around us. Honey, Mo & Molly - It especially meant a lot that you turned Monday night into Christmas morning!  [Truly Blessed!]

Christmas Eve (This is the best family shot we got)

Cheese!

A small glimpse into our future perhaps?!

Addie made a wonderful Santa and had a great time handing out gifts.

GROVER!

Some fun "stocking stuffers"!

As usual, a theme presented itself in The Moore house... this year was slippers.

Merry First Christmas Anne Rankin! I am already looking forward to next year's matching pj pic.

It was quite the Elmo Christmas... which was fine by her!
(PJs, slippers, singing stocking, alphabet game, CD player/book, Grover & Zoe stuffed animals)

Laughs from Christmas Past

Most of these images (Dad the dog whisperer, MAMINBLACK, Digital Tom, crowns, Chinese dinner, a flaming cabbage head, etc) will not say "Christmas" to many but each of them evokes a warm memory for me! What is in store for this year?  [Please send anything that needs to be added!]

Pajama Day

Today really was pajama day at school. The rooms at school had a decorating competition, (her room's theme was kept secret til judging day). It was The Polar Express and the teacher asked all the kids to wear there pjs to help coordinate! It was cute seeing them all running around in their footie pjs and slippers.

Big Furniture Delivery

The final big things arrived today! It has been a long time coming but was still surprised because only the bedroom rug was noted as "ready to deliver" when I first called. Chalking it up to an early Christmas gift!

BARSTOOLS

END TABLE

DRESSER, CHEST, RUG

BEDSIDE TABLES

The recommendation part is that Furnitureland South's delivery guys were great! Put everything exactly where I wanted it and I love not having to deal with any boxes. The only thing they did not do was roll out the rug for us and that was much more difficult then you would think. It took us several tries to line everything up right so the rug pad didn't show and the furniture that was only partially on the rug was level.

Future Prima Ballerina?

I had a "oh my goodness, she is so big" moment today. She always wants to stop and watch the dancers on the way from work to the car plus she actually sat through and enjoyed The Nutcracker Ballet this past weekend so we signed up for ballet! I talked to the director and ended up enrolling her in the next class up too! She will most likely be the youngest in the class but I think it will be good for her to be in there with other little girls and a teacher... no parents! Not sure how this mommy's girl will handle it but she has 6 months to figure it out. Looking forward to the cute chaos that will be her recital in June, YES A RECITAL!

 Hands on hip...

 Second position!

 "What is this for?"

Baby's First Panthers Game

Not her first tailgate or even her first football game but first time doing it in style! This was a much more successful attempt then this fall's Virginia Tech/Wake Forest game.

We became the lucky recipients of free tickets to the Panthers/Falcons game and you can't beat that price especially for front row seats! What a great chance to take Kevin, who was visiting, and Addie! The seats gave her room to stand, watch the cheerleaders and be out of any wind plus Carolina won last week... how could it not be great! It was wonderful but only for a short while. Being close to the action also meant being next to the source of lots of noise.

As pictured, Addie would stick her head through the railings looking for Sir Purr. "Where Kitty Cat go?" she asks then BOOM, Carolina scores a touchdown and off goes a canon! This quickly turned her curiosity into fear so we didn't even make it til halftime. The boys stayed til the end, catching a ride home while I took Addie home for her nap. Such is the life of a parent.

Coming soon to a mailbox near you!

Twihards

One of the things we got to do over Thanksgiving break was go see a movie! Now to many this seems so mundane but it really is a rare treat. Jim picked our last feature film so it was my turn and off we went to see the latest in the Twilight Saga.

The books were better and nobody will be up for an Academy Award for their work in the film but in spite of the teenage girls sitting in front of us that giggled and commented throughout the entire movie I still enjoyed it. The reason I even write this post is because it seems crazy fans of this movie are pretending to be engaged so they can try on the knock-off of Bella's wedding dress - article here. You can even purchase replicas of the engagement ring and her hair comb! (Too bad I actually like this necklace.)


Maybe I am not all that far removed from these creators target audience after all?! I tore through the Harry Potter books (plus would like to have the DVD box set), then gobbled up Twilight and now am about to start reading The Hunger Games. It has been on my radar (and in my Kindle cart) since a college buddy dubbed it one of her favorites. I hate to admit it, but the movie trailer is what motivated me to finally click purchase. I just don't find time to read anymore but I have until March to read one book - I can do that!

Once I get back in the swing on things, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is on deck. Any other suggestions? Read or watch.

Black Friday

Just got dressed up to do a little online shopping?!  (Parental Reminder: Monkey See, Monkey Do!)

Hugs from our family to yours!

Thank you to Scott of Simulacra Photography for what will end of being this year's Holiday Card. I love it and don't you know this was one of the first images he snapped. (Feeling on top of my game for once.) I am so very thankful for these two turkeys today and every day!!!

Thankful

For family

For time together

For good food (and the loving hands that prepare it)

For my health

Greensboro Gobbler

This year's race was not the same family event as it has been in the past - we lost Lane and Adele & Molly decided to run the dog jog leaving me and the boys to tackle the 5k. I gave everyone a hard time (because that is what I do) but by splitting up it was nice to cheer each other on and be cheered for. Everyone did great and it always feels great to "earn" the fabulous spread and spirits that awaited us.

L to R: Tom, Adele & Piper, Jim, me, Molly & Marlowe (Sorry Teva!)

Even ran into some of our favorite folks & fellow Rabid Dogs after the race!

L to R: me, Ryan, Allie, Glenn, Jim, Ashley

Bonus: It was my first time making the newspaper - 13th female finisher and 3rd in my age group - that is a PR!  Didn't know and didn't stick around to get my "trophy" but before it would have become a play toy it certainly would have been placed on the mantel!

Reason, Season or Lifetime

It is amazing how people can affect your life in different ways. Whether it is the people you are very close to, those you hardly know or one of the many in-between. I am learning that you cannot take any of those relationships for granted and honestly believe none of them are by chance.

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a reason, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty; to provide you with guidance and support; to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a season, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.

Lifetime relationships teach you lifetime lessons; things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
— Unknown

Tomorrow I will be attending the service for Leslie Richardson Carman. I am not trying to say Leslie taught me some great life lesson or that in her death something in me was awakened but I couldn't help but think of that poem. All I do know is that my heart aches for the dark place she was in and it breaks for the two sweet girls she left behind. I will think of her in the morning when I get up to run in the dark and I will smile every afternoon when Addie asks for a "poppie". (I credit her with both!)
 
Leslie, I pray that you found peace and that you are able to watch over your hurting family and friends. Lord, give Brian the strength to pick up the pieces and help him find peace so he can begin to heal but mostly I pray for Olivia and Taylor and all the pain and unanswerable questions they have ahead of them.

G.O. H.A.R.D.

Today is Globally Organized Hug A Runner Day (aka G.O. H.A.R.D.)! Just one of the many fun facts that I have learned while looking up material for the Harris & Harris Express YMCA's facebook pages.

Thank-you Molly for the good laugh and Amen to the sentiment! I know I don't look as great as I feel and have seen many official race pictures to back it up. With this in mind, I warily checked Brightroom's website for this past weekend's race photos, and actually discovered what might be the least ridiculous I have been captured.

Fingerpainting Fun