Rainy Day Driving

It rained for a good 24 hours here yesterday and last night, so we've spent a lot of time indoors waiting for everything to dry out. Today the kids decided to spend the morning driving! Miranda has discovered the joy of her big brother's helmet and marched around with it on all morning regardless of what we were doing - potty training, watching cartoons, laundry, breakfast, lunch.



Michael has claimed the pink motorcycle as his own...


Daddy's pushing "Mimi" around on the Dora cycle


We have worked on teaching Michael that when Mommy and Daddy drive, they go around the other cars instead of ramming into them head on, but he thinks this is more fun ~ pushing his sister around backwards!


And since there hasn't been one in a while, here's the obligatory pic of Mom and Dad :O)

Kitty Cat!

The kids and I take walks through the neighborhood occasionally and there is a friendly kitty that lives down the street. There's a little area with benches and a table two blocks down and the cat almost always comes out to see us. Miranda L-O-V-E-S that cat! Michael calls him Hopscotch (there are flagstones around the benches and he thinks it's a hopscotch game) but his real name is George. He puts up with anything Miranda does to him ~ she lays on him and puts dirt on him and gives him the toddler equivalent of a deep tissue massage and he loves it!

Walking down our street to see the kitty


Here comes Hopscotch!


Miranda always shouts some form of "Kitty Cat!" when she sees him




We also got a package from Grandma Gayle today and it had a new sweater for Miss Miranda, so these pics are for my mom to see how it looks (totally cute if you ask me!)

Thanksgiving Flashback

We had a really great Thanksgiving at the end of last year. We spent the day at Jeff and Mona's with all of the Arizona Moores. Dan's Grandpa Moore drove up with us and Dan's parents came down from Prescott Valley and we all had a ball. The kids ran around all day like crazy monkeys together and we had a fun, fun day.

Miranda on the slide


She decided head first was the way to go, which caused her some problems later in the day!


Eli outside


Michael playing before we ate


We tried to get a photo of all the kids after we had eaten, and no one except Ethan would cooperate.


M & M would not cooperate even with me and Dan holding them so Dan did a little flippy-do!


Bob and Roberta


Jeff and Mona live near a fantastic park and we walked over in the late afternoon to play.


Three Moores - Jeff, Dan and Grandpa Moore


Ethan on the left, Miranda in the center. This is where the head-first philosophy didn't work out so well for Miranda!


We had a super fun holiday and it was a highlight of the whole year. :O)))

Michael's Video

Michael was given a digital camera for Christmas (which he L-O-V-E-S!!!) and this is his first video. Don't worry, it's a smaller file than the last one!

Bathtime Conversation

Last night Miranda had a conversation with herself for about 15 minutes. Considering she felt the need to stand up and gesture the entire time, perhaps she was delivering a monologue or lecturing us on some important topic - we'll never know. It was in that adorable babble that toddlers have before they truly start talking. I was able to walk out of the bathroom, get the camera, come back and film some and she never stopped! Here it is for your pleasure.

Congratulations, Laurie & Scott!

Early in December the kids and I drove out to California for my cousin's wedding and a long weekend of visiting with family. It was such an awesome weekend!

Michael on the morning of the wedding


Miss Miranda in her party dress at the church


You may kiss the bride


Mr. and Mrs. Lucas!


Scott's son toasting the newlyweds



My cousin Doug brought his two youngest sons, Gregory and Stephen


Laurie and Scott's first dance, to Silent Lucidity by Queensryche. This is my favorite picture from their wedding!


Dancing with Aunt Dorothy


Cutting the cake


Laurie with Aunt Dorothy after she changed out of her poufy white dress


When they weren't eating M&M's or cake, Michael and Miranda played with Stephen and Gregory every chance they got!


Michael decided that Stephen is his new best friend, and he still asks me when he's going to get to see his "new brother" again!


I saw two of my cousins for the first time in 21 years - Deann on the left and Patrick in the center.


And just for kicks, I drove by my old house, which was surprisingly teeny-tiny. I remember it being such a big house when we were little!

Happy New Year to You!

Here at Casa Moore we hope you had a lovely New Year's Eve and that the beginning of 2008 has been good so far.

Hope your night last night was fun, whatever you did...


and that you're recovering however you might need to be...


As for us, we had a normal, laid-back evening with a later bedtime than usual for Mr. Michael (he made it to 9) ~ Miranda had a crummy nap so she had an early down-time. We watched The Incredibles (Michael LOVED the superheroes!) and it was lights out around 11 for Mom and Dad.

Hope your 2008 is filled with fun and friendship and all things good!


Oh yeah, and may your 2008 start out squeaky clean!

Out and About

The kids and I have been trying to get out lots these days ~ the weather is so lovely now...not scorching H-O-T! Can you tell I'm happy that this summer ended? Anyway, where was I? We've been busy, especially running to Himmel library and the playground behind it lots. We also took a long weekend trip to California for a wedding which was so fun!

This first pic is Michael's hand on our way to California. The kids were a little stir crazy in the car, and even though it was cold and we were going 85 MPH they wanted the windows down. What did it hurt? Nothing and they had so much fun for 45 minutes! I thought I was being so artistic taking this shot. :D


This is Miranda on the swings at our favorite little playground behind Himmel Library. We snapped this and the next pic for Dan one day when he was at work and couldn't come play with us.

Sunday Snaps

One Sunday earlier this month while Miranda was napping we got the camera out and Michael practiced taking and posing for pictures (Mom was trying to get him ready for Christmas card pictures - which did not work!). However, we got some cute pictures anyway.

Beautiful Brown Eyes!


Practice smiling!


Then we let Michael try taking a few photos on his own - how do you think they turned out?