A Merry Moberly Christmas

This is what John looks like when he gets clothes for a Christmas gift...and I quote, "I hate clothes!  All I wanted for Christmas was a toy!"

And this is what Jackson looks like when he gets clothes for a Christmas gift...I quote, "Oh!  Clothes!  I love clothes!"  as he hugs his shirt.

Meredith is 2!!!

Our sweet Meredith turned 2 yesterday and I have to admit she has some of the best brothers and sisters who simply adore her.  Cardi and Bella woke up at 2:21  am to decorate the house for Meredith's birthday and practice a song they made up for her.  I wouldn't have been the wiser if they hadn't jumped off a chair after hanging up this sign.  We had a quiet family celebration.  It was heart pleasing to see all of her older siblings shower their little sister with so much love.

I love this picture...Meredith's hand on the side of her head as she peeks in an empty tin, Jackson showing off the number 2 the girls so lovingly placed on the lid, Bella with her wide smile, and John stealing Meredith's lunch...quintessential John...

We spent part of the morning shopping for ingredients for our coconut butter cream cheese snow man cake...as you can see we ended up in the toy isle...not quite sure how that happened...might of been all those sweet pleases...

We stopped by Mr. K's Used Book Store just to browse.

As we were leaving John pointed out a random book that he said was his favorite...I couldn't help but laugh and of course I had to snap a picture.  If you can't read it, it says, "The Year of Living Dangerously."  I think that sums up our  rambunctious 4 year olds life perfectly...

Meredith enjoyed just being outside.  It took a lot to persuade her to come inside.  She was too enthralled with Lola.

Hmmm...I can't say Lola felt the same way...

We sipped fine water and milk...ate delicious gourmet cheese its, cheese, and pepperoni slices (some of Meredith's favorite finger foods) while we admired our butter cream cheese coconut snow man cake.

I wish I could of captured all the smiles Meredith had as she listened to family members call and sing "Happy Birthday" or all the giggles and running around in delirious circles as she unwrapped her gifts.  I think the best gift was reminding her how loved she is by family and friends.  We hope you had a Happy Tuesday!  We did!

Happy Birthday, Meredith!!!  We Love You!!!

Cardi's Violin Concert

These are a few of my favorite things...

You've probably been wondering where I've been.  I've been home surrounded by runny noses, coughing kids, congestion, and icky tummies.  But in between asmatic bronchitis, colds, and the stomach flu we have managed to sneak in a little fun and these are a few of my favorite things this month:

We missed our ward Christmas party for the second year in a row due to sickness.  But, our sweet sisters in the Primary Presidency didn't forget about us.  Hannah dropped off dinner for us and a cute gingerbread house with icing and candy to decorate.

Of course, we had to separate out all the m&ms and skittles

because we  needed something to snack on while we were decorating

and we like to pretend that the "m" stands for Moberly

Of course I think the kids favorite part was eating the gingerbread house...

On Saturday, we left Meredith with James and headed to the city Christmas parade, running noses, coughs and all.  We ran into some of our neighbors which made it more fun.  We remembered the hot chocolate (as you can tell by  John's face) but forgot gloves.  The kids were so excited.  When we got home, I told James I don't think I'm getting the Mother of the Year award...He asked "Why not?" 

 I recounted how the kids were telling our neighbors (Wayne and Carolyn)  how this is their first Christmas parade ever (other than the Macy's Day Parade they've watched on TV).  And then they told them they were super excited to see the fireworks in July because we have never taken them to the city sponsored fireworks. 

My sweet southern neighbors didn't say anything during the course of the kids talking about the lack of Christmas parades or fireworks in their lives but then a nice lady who was passing out candy and miniature moon pies  as the parade passed along stopped and asked the kids if they liked moonpies to which they  replied, "We don't know.  We've never had a moonpie."

At which point my sweet neighbor asked with utter disbelief  "Your kids have never had a moon pie and RC cola?" 

(Just a little information for my non southern friends:  Moon pies are a  southern tradition.  There's even a 1955 song  by Big Bill Lister, "Give me an RC Cola and Moon Pie" and  a book all about moon pies as well as a "RC and Moon Pie Festival" in Bell Buckle, TN.  I'm seriously thinking we'll go there next year. 

So, despite the lack of moonpies, fireworks, and parades  my kids still think I'm pretty awesome and that should count for something.

Cardi had her last orchestra performance for the semester and they did a great job!

John and I had fun watching Bella perform at the Children's Museum After School Program's Annual Christmas Puppet Show.

And this year, I finally got around  to making an advent calendar.  I whipped this up while waiting for 12 minutes on hold to talk to the health insurance company. 

And a list of my favorite things would not be complete without a picture of one of Meredith's favorite things:  pulling out random things from the kitchen  cabinets...  (  =

Pie Fest

James has a sister.  Actually he has two sisters (whom I love and adore).  Years before we were married, when she was a teenager his sister Marilyn started Pie Fest.  It has become a family tradition and is held anywhere between  Thanksgiving Day to the Saturday after Thanksgiving. 

What started off as a suggestion has now become a wonderful family tradition that includes spouses, children,  friends, and neighbors.  Even though we live thousands of miles a part we still participate in Pie Fest in spirit together.  It just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without it.

It's the one time of year that I slow down and don't mind the mess in the kitchen or kids covered in batter.  I love the smell of pies baking and the anticipation of  the holidays.  I have fond memories of my own mother baking the loveliest pumpkin and pecan pies well into the night on the eve of Thanksgiving.  I still bake a pecan pie every Thanksgiving (although this year I passed the torch to Cardi) even though it is my least favorite pie, simply because of the memories it evokes and like Grandpa's pumpkin prune pie, it wouldn't be Pie Fest without it.

This year I took a leap of faith and let the boys  join us in the kitchen.  They had fun deciding what kind of pie they wanted to make and gathering all the ingredients together.  Some needed a little more help than others, but in the end they were as lovely as the pies my mom used to make. 

But, of course before the gathering and the pie baking, and all the wonderful memories that follow... comes the chef's hat.  James makes the best chef's hat and it's part of what makes preparing for Pie Fest fun.

And then of course...there are the pies.

Pumpkin pie toffee cheesecake

Pecan pie pumpkin cheesecake

Jackson's No Bake Lemon Pie

John's Taste so Good, I can't Wait till Thanksgiving Pie

Bella's Cookies and Cream Pie

Cardi's Pecan Pie

Thanksgiving

We like to take things slow around here on Thanksgiving Day (well as slow as we can).  Thanksgiving mornings are one of our favorites.  I bet they have visions of  Pie Fest dancing in their heads.

We had a small Thanksgiving dinner this year with just our family

and our friend David from Slovenia.

James was in charge of grilling the trukey which of course was excellent.  He's so good with anything that cooks on the grill!

These are our entries into Pie Fest this year...but Pie Fest deserves a post of its own so I'll write more on that later.

We enjoyed hanging out with David and learning about Slovenia.  This was his first Thanksgiving here in the states!  I hope he wasn't too disappointed!  I wish we could of talked him into joining us at our friend's house for a second dinner...It was wonderful!

(I really wish I would have gotten a great picture of them but they refused to pose so I just snapped a few while I was in the kitchen).  We really loved the sausage apple stuffing which was much better than the stove top stuffing I served earlier...But really, James and I are the only ones who eat stuffing so I didn't go all out but next year sausage and apple stuffing is definitely on the menu!

And  then we ate so much pie that I am good until next Thanksgiving  or Pie Fest which is Saturday!