Moore's Folley at the Teton Dam May 5

I am so behind in blogging, but I have a good excuse. I moved my office / scrap room downstairs, and I wasn't able to upload my photos onto my computer because the cord that usually sits next to my monitor wasn't there anymore. Tonight I had James plug it in for me. I know, it's pathetic how helpless I am when it comes to the computer, but I think secretly James adores that I have to rely on him so much. I couldn't live without him!


This was a good one!
See that teeny tiny red dot? Our fun's motivation!

We decided to go visit the Teton Dam Flood Site one nice Sat afternoon after Emily's final volleyball game. It was an unusually nice day. We drove to the lookout spot and noticed that a van had driven ALL THE WAY down to the water. The kids asked Dad if we could Please do it too. Well, I said that I didn't think the old van had it in her to make it back up, but against my better judgement, we headed down the steep, windy dirt road (what man could resist?).

The boys were so scared that we were so high up.
I had sandals on, so I pooped out and stayed in the van while James took the kids for a hike down a rock slide and over to what remains of the water in the dam. They spent about an hour throwing rocks into the water and exploring. They had the greatest time. While they were gone, my imagination got the better of me. I was watching the two men in the other van and wondering what they were doing all the way down here in this remote location with no one else around for miles. I wondered what I would do if they approached the van with a gun and tried to steal it or kill me. One man got out and started milling around. I sunk down into my seat and my heart began racing. I spied over the dashboard. He appeared to be looking around for something (a better fishing spot, probably, since his previous one was now ruined by kids throwing rocks). At the height of my worrying, I heard a loud gun shot!!!!! I about had a heart attack! I ran to check on my family to make sure they weren't dead. Well, James got the message that these people were hunting, so he decided it was time to go so that we weren't the ones being hunted.

Rock Slide.
Exploring the flora and fauna.
It doesn't look that steep in the pic, but take my word for it, it's Mt. Everest!






To my great relief, the two men packed up and started to leave. They got turned around and began the steep climb to the top of the hill. They started spinning out a short way up and had to back all the way down and try again. This time they made it, and we never saw them again.

James and I began to wonder if their full-size van had 4-wheel drive.


We then began our own decent to the top of the hill. We made a go at it and got stuck in the same place the other van did. We backed down and tried again. We backed down and tried again (a third time). Then James hiked up the hill and cleared the rocks out of the road. Then tried and backed down again. This time, all of us got out and climbed up the hill to clear rocks out of the way. The kids thought it would be a good idea if they pushed behind the van. Aw, aren't they cute. They would have been pancakes! The kids and I stood out of the way and James tried again really punching it. It was frightening because the road was fairly narrow and when you punched it, the van was all over the place. On the sixth try, I yelled at the kids to start praying for the van to make it. James made it to the spin out spot and kept barreling through. I yelled "don't stop, keep going!" and he zoomed past us. But then he kept going about another mile up the mountain. He stopped and waited for us. We started hiking up the hill. Okay, remember why I stayed behind before? Sandals! Not just sandals, but the kind your foot slides into with no back! I climbed that puppy like it was nothing. I don't know if my shoes will ever be the same.


By the time we made it to the top, an entire hour had passed by. I am so grateful for prayer because I KNOW that is the only way our old van made it to the top of the mountain! It was threateningly close to overheating, but she made it none-the-less. I am so proud of the old girl. It makes me want to keep her forever! I don't know how the underside of her fared. We don't dare look too closely.


THAT was one unforgettable Moore family outing!


Unfortunately Alex had to miss all of the excitement since he had to go to Saturday School (tee hee).

Mother's Day 2008

This year was so much fun! My kids are really starting to get the hang of this Mother's Day thing. I have a great husband who always spoils me on Mother's Day, but this year, the older kids especially tried to make it a special day.

James took the kids shopping all day yesterday (poor guy) except for Emily who stayed home with me to work on the garden (an amazing gift in itself). James searched high and low for the items he had been collecting on his list (he's so good and clever that way). Then he took the kids to his office to play Battlefield 1942. They didn't get home until around 8:30 which gave Emily and me lots of time to enjoy being together--a rarity! After slaving (and I do mean slaving) in the garden for about 4-5 hours, we rode our bikes into to town and got a hot dog and a shaved ice. We ate it outside, and I almost froze to death! Then we went home and watched Enchanted. It was so fun!

This morning, everyone got up early (except for Connor who was up half the night). They brought me breakfast in bed; cold toast and luke warm eggs over-easy and yummy, crunchy bacon and orange juice. I haven't decided if I'm in love with breakfast in bed yet, or not. This year it wasn't so bad. The food was my request. They didn't jump so much on the bed this year, and I wasn't too groggy when they came in ( I know I sound somewhat ungrateful, but I put on my happiest face and looked like I loved it). Then I started with their handmade cards and pictures. I LOVE getting these! Then the presents started pummeling me and I had to cover my toast and eggs! I was surprised by the DVD of the history of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I had forgotten about casually asking for it when I missed watching it on BYU TV a couple of weeks ago. Then I got two dozen Marigolds for my garden, YEAH! It helps keep the pests away, while looking pretty. James, later in the day, tried to throw some laundry into the basket, but missed and sheared off a few of the flowers heads! I also got a hoe and some knee pads to save me while pulling all of those weeds! Lastly, I grabbed a Bath and Body works bag and pulled out--not lotion--but a brand new pair of baby pink CROCS!!! My first pair. I'm so excited. They look like tiny ballet slippers. I actually wore them to church and they were so comfy!

The younger kids each gave me flower seed packets and a watering can card from primary--very cute, and I got a begonia from the ward and a rose from my team teacher in Sunday School. After church, I hadn't left the RS room yet, and a handicapped woman from the other ward came up to me (among all of the other 50 women with flowers) and said "I want a flower" I gave her my rose. She was SO happy. As I walked out, she had given it to the woman with her--could have been her mother. It warmed my heart a little.

The girls had run home before me, and they wouldn't let me come in the house. I promised I wouldn't look and they let me close my eyes and go to my room and cuddle in my bed until lunchtime (or luner as we call it on Sunday). Hunter came with me and showered me with kisses and snuggled with me until it was time. When it was finally ready, I had to close my eyes and sit at the table. I opened my eyes to a beautiful spread; a white table cloth with the nicest dishes and the table perfectly set! Hannah even told Emily not to put her elbows on the table! I wonder where she learned that! The best part was, the kitchen was clean! The food was amazing. I have never made a pot roast like that before! I told James that and he said that he had done everything totally differently than I do it! I didn't know whether to be offended or not, but I was so grateful to have a day off that I just feigned hurt, but smiled inside.

James and I called our mothers and took a wonderfully long nap. We didn't hear a peep from the children! They were all trying extra hard to be kind and sweet and quiet. When we awoke, we ate pie and ice cream! Then I got to read my book while everyone (but me) cleaned the kitchen again. We played a little Sorry, then James put everyone to bed! It was a perfect day!

So, I was thinking about what makes the perfect Mother's Day. I always feel a little guilty, as I think most moms do, on Mother's Day. I guess we wonder if we are worthy of such an honor. Those poems can get pretty sappy and hard to live up to! But, of course we deserve it! And I have come up with a plan to have the best Mother's Day ever:

1. Make sure you very subtly let everyone know exactly what you expect to happen on that day. Say things like, "oh, I love it when you . . . " My kids know I love peace, quiet, and clean.

2. Several weeks before the event start hinting about what you would like. You can even go as far as cutting out photos in magazine ads and putting them on the fridge. Kids are savvy, but make sure the hubby is keeping track. It may sound like it takes all of the romance out of the occasion, but in the end, everyone is happy.

3. Casually go grocery shopping a day or two ahead and conveniently have all of the ingredients needed for your favorite feast. Don't forget to mention it to the hubby, or even have the kids tell the hubby.

4. Pray you don't have PMS when you wake up Mother's Day morning. Then all of your planning will have been in vain.

5. Don't forget to be the world's best mother throughout the year to eliminate any guilt that might transpire the morning of.

My own dear Mother always gives me hope by saying how wonderful Mother's Day is when your children are grown up! I'm looking forward to that time, but for now I'm very happy with the fun and wonderful creations my little ones (and big ones) come up with, and very happy with the effort my husband takes to make the day so fabulous! All I can say is that it's a very good thing that Mother's Day comes before Father's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

I wanted to take a moment to pay tribute to my mother and mother-in-law today.

I have been blessed to have a wonderfully caring and loving mother. My mom has been so supportive of me throughout my life. She is also supportive of my other 8 siblings and all they choose to do. She has so much love in her. I have never seen such a compassionate person in my life! Mom, thanks for being such an amazing example to me of Christ like love! I love you and I'm so glad you're my mom!

I am also blessed with a wonderful mother-in-law! How many people can say that? My MIL is also a very loving and supportive mother. She, too, has had 9 children! She supports each one of us and our children by attending each special event. She always gives love and encouragement. She did an amazing job of raising her sons to be excellent husbands and fathers. She has been such an example of faith and enduring. Miriam, thank you for being you and for being such a wonderful person! I love you and I'm so glad you're my mother-in-law!

Congratulations

On a lighter note, my sister, Shirlee is getting MARRIED!!!! I am so happy for her and I wish her every happiness! (I wonder if she'll ask me to make her cake again :) Way to go Shirlee!

An Angel Has Passed Away

Susan Metzger died in her home today, May 7, 2008.

My first memory of Susan was shortly after we moved to Idaho. She was riding her Roadster bicycle down our street, that pure white hair blowing in the breeze and her beautiful smile. She waved and said "Welcome to the neighborhood!" I knew at that moment that she was a special person.

Susan was one of those people who just drew people to her. She was Emily's Activity Days leader. She made us all feel like we were the most special people to her. I immediately wanted to adopt her as a "significant person" for Emily. She just needed someone to give her some extra attention.

We invited David and Susan over for crepes one Sunday night. We found out later that Susan had served her mission in France and she LOVED crepes (Pronounced crepes with the short e sound like in eggs). She probably ate 7 or 8 of them! I was amazed that such a tiny person could eat so much. They brought their own sweetener: stevia, because they didn't eat sugar. We had no idea at the time that anything was wrong.

It must have been a couple of months later that she developed breast cancer. They told no one. She may have had it before. They tried to treat it naturally, with diet and other means. The doctors gave her 6 months to live. It must have been in February. The cancer spread quickly, and she passed away today.

When I left for Virginia, I called Susan and asked if Emily could visit her each day after school for an hour so she wouldn't be alone. She said it was fine. Later, someone at church said that Susan was sick and that she wouldn't be singing in the choir anymore. I questioned them, but they just said she was sick. The way they said it clued me in that it wasn't just a sore throat. When I got home from church, I asked Emily if Sister Metzger was sick. She said she was and that she had oxygen in her nose, and that her daughter, Emily was there doing the dishes. I KNEW something was wrong then. I couldn't stop crying. I called her later and asked what was wrong. She told me that she had breast cancer. I cried on the phone and apologized for sending Emily to her when she wasn't well. She told me how wonderful it was having Emily there with her and about all of the things they did together. She told me how special and sweet I was. I begged her for some way that I could help. Thankfully she asked me to make 15 thank you cards for her. I quickly made them knowing that her time was short. I realized the significance of her writing her last messages on those cards. I put the cards in a basket and took them to her house last Sunday, a week and a half ago. I don't know if she was well enough to write any messages, but it feels so good knowing that I was able to do that for her and that I didn't wait too long, and that maybe I helped make her last days a little happier.

I don't know Susan's exact age, but she was in her 50's and was very young at heart. I was so angry when I found out she was dying. I knew what it would mean to Emily to lose another person in her life. I didn't think it was fair that we only got to know her for 10 short months. She was one of those people that you want to sit down and have them teach you EVERYTHING. After the anger came peace and gratitude for the gift of knowing her for any amount of time--short as it may be.

Our ward and neighborhood will be grieving the loss of this wonderful woman. She will be greatly missed. I'm so happy to know that I will be able to see her again someday. I'm sure she was catapulted into the Celestial Kingdom. That's the kind of person she was.

Good Bye, Susan. We love you!