A Last Goodbye

Picture taken in 2006 in Virginia in front of the house Granddaddy was raised in.


Just about an hour ago Heavens gate opened up to accept Granddaddy home.Today the world lost a wonderful person but the Angels rejoiced and welcome him with open arms. Brian's grandfather Dewey Moss leaves behind such a legacy for us to carry on.


He will be greatly missed but we will try to reflect on the good times we shared . He leaves our children with fond memories of playing games with him or even hearing him sing a funny song to them. He had such a love for life and he had the best laugh.Granddaddy was a friend to so many and this included animals too. No one ever went hungry with him around and he loved to treat us all to a good meal. Granddaddy could bless a meal like no other person I know. His prayers were humbled ,heart felt and often there wouldn't be a dry eye in the house when he was done.

I will personally miss his warm hugs, his laughter and those sweet songs he would hum as he rocked each of our babies. Granddaddy took each opportunity he had to tell Brian and I how proud he was of us and also how much he loved all our children and what a blessing they were to him . We will never drive away from his house without a flashback to the many memories of him standing there on the porch waving goodbye as we slowly drove down Pine Avenue. I am proud to have been apart of his family for the last 14 years, to learn some life lessons from such a good man, who possessed such a great sense of humor and wonderful outlook on life.

We are greatly saddened right now but comforted by the fact his suffering has ended and he is dancing and singing in heaven today. Please remember us in your prayers in the days ahead.

Thankfulness

Like years past I asked the family to tell me what they are thankful for this year.

Collin said, "I am thankful for stop signs ,Huddy, toys and turkey."
(I kid you not he said stops signs, what a goofy kid)

Parker said, "I am thankful for family and the world"

Molly said, "I am thankful for for my family, my room, my clothes,for food to eat and God."

Macy said, "I am thankful for my best friend Payton and my family."

Logan said, "I am thankful to born into a family that doesn't live in a cardboard box."
(Yes he said this , I guess he knows someone who does live in a cardboard box? Shrugs..)

Brian said,"I am thankful for my healthy children, having a family I can depend on that is together, and grateful I can provide for my family."

For me I am thankful my children who constantly amazes me with their beauty and their minds. Thankfulness for the men and women willing to sacrifice their lives for our freedom. All of our family and for all of their love they show us.

Miss OMS Pageant

This is her photo entry that won her Miss Photogenic.

Macy was in the Miss Odenville Middle School Pageant on Saturday. Macy won 3 titles for the 7th grade division the included Miss Photogenic, Miss Congeniality and 1st Runner Up Class Favorite. We are so proud of our girl. She is beautiful inside and out. Congrats Macy!

Thank You GPS

Collin does things from time to time that just amaze me. Just like the time I discovered by accident that he could recognize his alphabet without someone sitting down and teaching it to him. Back then around age 2 he watched several episodes of Sesame Street a day and I believe he just soaked up the knowledge.

Last year for my birthday Brian got me a GPS for the car.Collin wouldn't let me go anywhere with turning it on, he was so entertained watching the maps. He liked hearing the GPS voice tell me which way to turn and he would pipe up from the backseat "Turn left Mom!".

Yesterday Brian asked me if I knew Collin knew his left and his right. I sure didn't, so I quizzed him asking him to show me his right arm or left ear and so on. He got them ALL correct, much to my surprise. Today on the way to school I had him to tell me which way I was to turn left or right and he did it perfectly, without the GPS even on. I honestly think watching the GPS taught Collin his left and right. How cool is that?

Happy 10th Birthday Molly Ann!

Happy 10th birthday to Molly "JoJo"!
Click the image to see a slide show of Molly's first 10 years.

New Do

I have been toying with the idea of a major hair change for awhile. A couple of weeks ago we found our box of old photos and look through the pictures really gave me the push I needed for a change. My hair for the majority of my adult life had been the same so I took the plunge to shake things up alittle.

If you remember me posting a good ways back about losing 50 pounds I haven't given up the fight and I am still working toward my 120 loss goal. To date I have lost about 80 pounds so far. I have become so much stronger and overall healthier which is the most important thing to me. It's hard for me to see the change because it's been a slow work in progress but looking at old snapshots was very eye opening. I am hoping to handle the holiday season in moderation. I did just fine with Halloween I allowed myself a few pieces of chocolate and that was good enough for me. I hope I can do as well with the famous Moon family Thanksgiving dressing (YUM!). That stuff is the highlight of the day. It's all trial and error and a learning process. But it does feel great to be able to run, something I could never imagine I would do for several miles . I am not perfect on my eating or an expert in exercise by any means I just finally see the importance of my health. I have just been using sensible eating and simple exercise.

Anyways thanks for the encouragement and compliments it does mean alot. The biggest reward for me will be the health benefits for the years to come.

Halloween 2009

Whew, I pulled off another year. The kids had a blast, they got enough candy to make them sick and above all else they looked adorable!
Macy was a Fairy, Molly a Bumble bee, Parker a scary man, Collin a Knight, and Hudson lil' Chinese boy also dubbed Kung Pow Chicken.

Das Visits

The kids like it when Das (Brian's Dad) pops by for a visit. Molly is the first one to grab his cellphone to play with, Hudson took his flashlight and put it right in his mouth and Collin likes to try out his reading glasses.

I promise to post some pictures of the other kids soon it just so happens the littlest Moon's make most the pictures lately.

Lil Pumpkins

Sir Collin was a big hit at his Preschool dress up Halloween party. Doesn't he look so handsome? He just needs a white horse so he can start the search for his princess. But for now he's my Knight in Shining Armour!




Yesterday I snapped a few pictures of Hudson before heading off to Collin's class party. He has been a major crabby pants lately and I figured out why, he is cutting his 1 year molars ,ouch! Since they are way in the back I didn't see them right off and I have learned my lesson putting my finger in his mouth! Here he is at 15.5 months old. I still am amazed that Macy was born when Logan was 15 months old. Hudson is still our baby and we thought Logan was a big boy back then.

Cuteness

Collin went with his class to the Pumpkin Patch last week. He had a ball even though this place is just a camp where they place pumpkins on the ground and do some fallish activities with the kids he thinks it's great. Hudson was making us laugh in Parker's halloween mask and he likes trying to wear Molly's doll glasses, Silly boy!

Bye Bye Braces

Logan is done with braces and the results are FANTASTIC! He is thrilled with them too. As I have always said my Son is going to be someone important someday and he needs nice teeth to go along with his sharp wit. I just want to always make him smile to I can enjoy seeing those pretty pearly whites.

Oh Hi!

Yes, I did notice it's been awhile and no I wasn't avoiding on purpose. Life sometimes has a way of happening even if I don't blog about it. Then things add up and it is almost is to big a task to decide what to write about. So how about a few highlights. I uploaded my camera and decided these shots were worth talking about.


Here is Hudson who is soaking wet. Brian and I had gone out to dinner just the two of us to a local place. We left the two oldest in charge once we have gotten everyone here settle for the night. Having already fed the kids and after they had showered and were watching some tv before bed. Logan had assured us he could dress the baby so we headed out. After returning about an hour later Brian noticed Huddy was soaking wet. Puzzled by what he had gotten into it dawned on Logan he forgot to put a diaper on him. I told Logan he is a wee bit young to potty train right now. No harm done but we did all get a good laugh.



Collin decided to lay upside down and play with bubble gum. Smart kid but a dumb idea. The gum ended up in his hair that i just had cut about 2 hours prior. Luckily Mayo did the trick and I was able to get it out pretty easy. See how I told you plenty of chaos even if I don't blog!

Lots of walking and talking happening here too. Hudson is a walking fool and he is saying more and more. His favorite word is Bubba, but I am sure thats because all the attention he gets for saying it. He loves to laugh and even will fake a laugh to make everyone else laugh. He has figured out in the car we are his captive audience.

Everyone else is good here too. School is moving along, football wrapping up, report cards out soon, Logan is soon to be done with braces, and Halloween just around the corner. Lots to look forward to.

Uh huh

I really think Hudson is holding out on me. I was in the bathroom getting ready and he was being his typical self always about 1 foot behind me like a shadow.

I was talking to him and said Huddy, can you say Momma?? And he looked and me with a big smile and said Uh huh!

He says it just never when prompted. Stinker!

Boys World

If a little girl can play tea party with a small breakable tea pitcher and tiny tea cups is it okay for a little boy to play frat party with a shot glass?
What a laugh I got today as a came into the kitchen to see Collin sipping koolaid he had poured into a shot glass.



This is just one of the cutest projects! Collin was so proud of this today. In his words it's his mouth with tooths. And anytime he would talk to me from the backseat he would make the mouth talk. Silly Boy!

My day at Court

Late July I received a white official looking paper in the mail from our county tell me I have been lucky enough to be picked for jury duty. Oh boy, I thought and read the note carefully until I got down to the date. The date was the first day of school and I needed to be there at 8 am sharp. I called right away and spoke with a nice lady explaining that the first day of school was really just out of the question for me. So she agreed and told me she would send me another notice at a later date. Here I was feeling let off the hook until the first of September when I got my next notice. RATS!

Today was jury duty day. I was so nervous that I would forget I told everyone to remind me and I had the slip posted on the fridge. I asked around about what to expect and even did a google search on how it would all go down. I packed my purse with a water bottle , special K bar, a book and magazine. I dressed nice more business like than usual thinking to myself while looking in my closet if I get picked and this drags out I will for sure run out of clothes.But I looked at this as an adventure and off I went in the pouring rain to the courthouse.

Once arriving I took note of my mileage because we were asked to fill that in on the form, it was 28 miles there. I found the second floor and went into the courtroom, headed up to the desk where 2 women sat taking names and collecting forms. The place was full and I was about 10 minutes early. I know that's surprising.

A lady came in with a 2 year old on her hip and everyone giggled thinking how she really must not have wanted to be there so she brought her excuse with her. I was sitting by 2 men and a middle aged lady. We made idle chit chat as we waited for the Judge. Finally the Judge came in, older man who seemed nice but rambled on and on. He got to the part about people coming up to the bench that needed to ask to be excused and a line quickly formed of about 30 people. This took 20 minutes for each person to approach the Judge to tell their reason. After this he let all those people go and then read a list of names for people to go with another Judge to a different room. I was one of the names called with about 40 others, we went out in a hallway where we were told we could leave the case had been settled.He told us it was a criminal man slaughter case and it often takes getting a jury together to get them to settle.

We were told we could go to the clerk to get our check of $10.00 and 5 cents a mile for our expenses but they asked if we would possibly wave this payment due to low funding. As we left out of the hallway headed to the parking lot the Judge shook our hands and thanks us for coming.He repeated the thing about stopping by the clerk desk and I told him it was okay I would have paid them for letting me go home early if that would have been an option. And he laughed as he shook my hand.

Honestly it was interesting and I am glad I have done it. Here's hoping they won't need my services for some time but if they do I will be way more relaxed next time.

R.I.P. Patty 1999-2009

With an extremely heavy heart I wanted to tell everyone our almost 11 year old Dachshund passed away during the night Friday. Logan and Macy were under 3 years old when we got her so she's been their dog as long as they can remember. And we added Patty to the family just a few weeks before finding out Molly was on the way. Molly loved Patty so much and considered it "her" dog.

But on Friday night Patty was breathing funny, and thinking about it in hindsight she had been acting funny all week. I just figured it was the rain, she never did like rain storms. She was doing alot of pacing and hiding through out the week. At 6 am Saturday Macy found her under her bed and she had passed on. So sad.


Patty's bed is still in the corner of the living room and her food bowl in the kitchen. Something that has been a way of life for us for so long it seems wrong to move it. Hudson is even broken from playing in her food or water and now she is gone.

Patty was loved , she was a member of our family, a sibling to our kids, and a grand-dog for the in laws. She will be missed greatly and I find myself wondering if she has water or needs to be let inside. I will miss her once annoying tap dancing under my bed I wish I could hear it again. Patty Cake had many nicknames which included Patio, PC, Pattysmack. We have alot of fond memories of her and who knows maybe all dogs do go to heaven.

Rest In Peace Patty we will miss you. I am sure that there will be alot more sweeping needed without Patty here to clean up a fallen and forgotten chip or cookie crumb we seem to have alot of those.

Real funny

Obviously there is a game being played at my house. This game involves putting completely empty boxes,bags,bottles of food back into the pantry or fridge. That way Mom can go look for something and end up throwing away dummy boxes of cereal, crackers, snack cakes,granola bars and so on. It reminds me of putting the empty foil wrapped gum in the gum packet and offering it to everyone.Oh, that seemed so funny when I was a kid but I think the joke is lost on me now that I am the only always being fooled. Does it make sense to anyone else why to put back an empty milk jug or bottle of apple juice? Wonder if this happens to anyone else with several kids cause no one seems to talk about this issue.

Maybe I should save some boxes and try to fool them.Imagine this.

Me:
Oh guys would ya'll like some cereal??
As I pass out bowls and spoons, sitting the boxes on the counter .
Open the fridge and get out the empty milk place it on the counter along side the empty apple juice in case they'd like a drink .Walk out of the kitchen waiting for them to dive for each box of cereal that would be completely EMPTY. And hear the cries and wailing that will follow that there is none to be had.

Maybe they'd get the point of throwing things away, the trash can is just 8 feet from the pantry.

This might just work! I love a good plan,I just has to pull it off before they read here.
This is just a annoyance , and if this is all I have to complain about life is going pretty well I reckon. No major problems right now this is just one of those things I will have to remind them about as adults that they did to drive me batty. People tell me I will miss these things one day, I don't fully understand that one yet.

Words

Hudson loves food that's no secret around here.If someones eating he thinks he should be too. In the last two days he is saying something that sounds like this Iwannabi meaning I want a bite. He did it last night and several times today. He doesn't say alot but I think it's fitting his first real sentence is about food. I wonder if his next one will be Please pass the potatoes.

The new 4 year old

Collin had an awesome birthday today! He is in love with his new "tractor" and rode it till the battery was dead. He loved all his gifts which were boots , Superman jammies, a toy ambulance (that he's been begging for), batman ds game, Sock em Bop em Robots and a card and money. It was the best birthday ever in his book.

Bucket List

To celebrate my Dad's birthday my parents headed out on a trip to Mt. Rushmore . We all tease my Dad about his long Bucket list of places he wants to visit and various adventures he hopes to be involved in. Today we received a email but it is better described as virtual postcard from the travelers.

Reading the email felt like I was 9 years old and watching an old Fragel Rock episode when the traveling Uncle would send the little Fragels a postcard from his current destination and go into details about what he had been doing. Anyways, I am sure my kids are about to google Fragel Rock to try to understand what I am referring too.

The pictures are great! But Oh my, that Hot Air balloon, its stuffed like a over crowded elevator and by the looks of things the man running it has to be an ex carny!

I am beginning to wonder if they checked this out really well before just jumping into a big wicker basket with STRANGERS to float 1500 feet off the ground IN A BALLOON! I also need to question Mom if there was a coupon involved in this adventure. Maybe that is why its not the nice ROOMY couples balloon ride that as I would have imagined. I do believe she said there was a Champagne toast too!?! I am telling you that Balloon operator looks more like the Bud light in a Styrofoam cooler kind of guy to me!

And to think they think they need to worry about me and here they go floating high in the air thousands of miles from home! Whew!

Over all from my virtual postcard it appears to be a great trip and I am happy they are out living life together. Alot of people my age can't say that about their parents and I know that is a true blessing. Everyone makes sure to question Kay on the balloon experience, cause I can sense a story behind it.

Who knows what the travelers might try next! Let hope it's not matching tattoos.:)

Out of the mouths of babes

This is a conversation Collin and I had yesterday

Collin: Mom,where is Daddy?

Mom: Daddy is working in Huntsville today.

Collin:(said with a whiney voice) Aww, I hate Daddy working in Huntsville!

Mom: Why?

Collin:Cause who's gonna spank me if I am bad?

Mom: I guess I will have to do it.

Once we had that settled he was off to play.

You win some you lose some

Game 2 of the Middle school Saints was a close game but sadly we didn't win. They played a large school with some big players. Our guys put up a good fight and the game ended at 14 to 16. I heard it was a huge improvement over last years game when we were beat 70-7. Here are a few pictures of Macy cheering on the team and Logan at the Pep Rally and him in his uniform from the back #55. I guess it is too cool for a 8th grader to pose for pictures while dressed for the game, more important task at hand than helping Mom out by documenting the day. I have to be happy with a back shot or get better to catch him in case he does turn around.

Celebrate

Birthdays are a special time to reflect on the past years and celebrate the life of the birthday person. Part of having a large family is being apart of alot of celebrations.



This week Molly, Hudson and I were able to take Maw out to lunch to celebrate her special day. After a very good lunch we went back to Maw's office to have cake with her and her co workers. It was a nice afternoon and we hope Maw enjoyed it as much as we did. We love you!



Today we had a Wild West birthday party for Popi before he and Mom headed off on their trip to Mt. Rushmore. The girls and little boys enjoyed dressing for the western BBQ lunch. Happy Birthday Popi!




My niece Hailey turned 9 this week but will celebrate her birthday with a few special friends she is taking with her to see Taylor Swift in concert on Friday night. Molly was invited to go and it will be a birthday to remember.

Our Godson Nathan celebrated his special day early on Friday night and he will turn double digits next Monday.Talking about making me feel old, wasn't he just a toddler yesterday? Happy 10th Birthday Nate!

And lastly Collin's big day is coming up this Sunday. Which I haven't even prepared for yet! I have alot to do this week to pull that together.

Game Day

Saturday started the best time of year around here Bama football season! Here is a look at our football feast at home. You would think from the looks of it we had a crowd but really it was just us and 4 of the 6 kids. But they were all excited over our game food. You know how it goes any excuse works for having a ton on yummy snacks!



Macy,Hudson and Collin all dressed for the game!