Christmas Newsletter 2010

Sunny Happenings
Blog Entries for 2010

. . . James continues to amaze me. He has once again repaired our old green van. He is getting quite handy as a mechanic. “Is this a good thing?” I wonder. He ensures me time and time again that due to his skills, we may never need a new vehicle again! He is also very handy at fixing anything and everything from holes “accidentally” kicked in the wall by rivaling siblings to cupboard doors “accidentally” being ripped off by rushing children and dryers that are well past their prime. At this rate, we will never “have need” of a new thing again! James is the backbone of our family and keeps us all in stitches with his humor and fun anecdotes. He continues to love working at Policy Technologies, and they continue to love having him work for them.
. . . Life is busy. I never imagined how busy it would be having children of such varied ages. It is also a lot of fun and never dull or boring in our home. One minute I will be cuddling and reading to the younger boys, and the next I’ll be dealing with hormones and doling out dating or driving advice to the older kids. I am also a working mom. I only work part time with my home cleaning business, but it sure feels like full-time to me! I have done a lot of traveling over the past year, and it always gives me a much needed break from the crazy monotony (is that an oxymoron?) of home life. James is always there for me, encouraging me to take those much needed breaks (maybe a little too encouraging), and holding down the fort while I’m gone. James and I attended girl’s camp with the girls this summer. We left Alex and the boys home alone. I found out later (from an anonymous source) that the boys wore the same clothes the entire time we were gone, slept on the couch and stayed up as late as they wanted. I am so grateful for Alex and that all three of them were alive and happy when we got back!
. . . Life could not be any better for Alex (17). He is having an amazing senior year. Each day he straps his guitar onto his back and leaves at 715 for zero hour seminary in his little Celica convertible. He doesn’t have much time for homework in his dual--enrollment college classes because he has to rush to his job at the local grocery store right after school. He does, however, take lots of time in the wee hours to work on various projects. His most recent project was a set of "mouse trap" auto--spring angel wings, covered with feathers. These spectacular wings won him First place at Drama Districts, and 4th place at Drama State. After graduation, the sky is the limit for him! Alex is interested in joining the Army Reserves, but when I asked what area of work he would like to do, he looked at me with a half smile, then started listing off several careers that he's interested in; fire fighter, actor, costume designer, blacksmith, Coroner, and Rock Star. I must say, his interests are varied!
. . . The Elusive Hannah (14) (as Alex calls her) spends every waking moment reading (when she’s not on Facebook, of course). She completed her goal this year of reading 100 books, which is most likely how she earned the title “elusive”. Hannah is loving being a teenager and a freshman this year. She was saddened that school would be closed for two weeks during the holidays. She really loves it. Or, maybe she just loves hanging with her friends and watching boys on whom she has crushes, but to which she would never admit. She has once again decided to play the violin in Orchestra, although her only scheduled concert was canceled.
. . .Emily (12) spent an entire month this past summer in California helping care for our two-year-old quadruplet cousins and their new baby sister. She has boundless energy when it comes to children. She loves to care for them and has become a star babysitter in our neighborhood. We only wish that energy would transfer to doing chores and cleaning her room! We are so lucky to be able to listen to Emily practice her flute, however, we prefer it to be more than six inches away from our ears. She has come a long way since last year. It has been fun watching her grow into a spunky and fun young woman.
. . . Hunter (9) is such a fun and sweet boy. He is getting so tall! I keep asking him to stop growing, but he just won’t listen. He’ll say, “I’m trying not to, Mom,” with a sheepish grin. I hope that isn’t psychological abuse on my part. He may end up with a tall-person complex when he’s an adult or something. I guess that’s what therapy is for. Hunter has gotten the citizenship award in his class for the past two trimesters, and his report card came home with straight As. When Hunter isn’t reading Charlie Bone, he is trading Pokemon cards or playing on the Wii. He would much rather play on the Wii than do anything else, and lets me know it if I interrupt him for something as mundane as setting the table for dinner!
. . . Connor (7) is our little creative genius. Each time I throw something like a cardboard tube or crumpled foil into the trash, I am certain I will see it again brought back to life in a new form later on. I am never disappointed. He is a thinker and is fascinated with numbers, clocks, and time. I often hear the boys tossing math problems back and forth to each other. Connor can usually solve the multiplication problems that Hunter is learning. I personally find it amazing and wonder how his brain can compute things so easily at this age. He also loves to paint and wants to be an artist when he grows up.
We feel very blessed this year in so many ways. We have jobs that we love. We are healthy, and aside from the usual trials of life, we are happy. We have striven this year to reach out to those who have been less fortunate than us. It seems that times are getting more and more difficult for everyone and we feel a burden to help in any way we can. We hope this year, that you too can reach out to your fellow man in any way possible to lighten a load, bring a smile, or just give an encouraging word. These are the truest gifts of Christmas.

With Love,

the Moore Family;
James, Sunny, Alex, Hannah, Emily, Hunter, and Connor

Christmassy Weather and Ginger Snap Cookies

Last night as we turned out the lights to settle in for a long winter's nap , the light glowed into the window. Inside the house in our beds, we were warm and cozy. But outside, a huge, severe winter storm was raging and the moon reflected the bright white snow into our window.

We slept soundly through the blowing, billowing snow as it swirled and drifted, covering the shoveled walks and driveways.

We awoke when the phone--first James', then mine, then the home, rang with a message from the school to make our children's heart's fill with glee--School was cancelled!

We snoozed on only to be woken again 3 more times each per phone with the same message. I have to give it to the school--they are thorough.

The little boys have been begging and begging for us to put up our Christmas decorations early this year. I'm not sure what it is, but they are prematurely excited this year. In a way--so am I.

Christmas is that "special" time of year that makes my heart race and butterflies flutter in my stomach. The feeling is also known as ANXIETY! I am doing everything I can to calm myself but I can see tiny ways that my attitude has crept into my older children's. They don't seem to be as excited about winter and Christmas as in past years. This year, I am smiling brightly and keeping my disdain for the cold and snow more to myself; for mothers have a great influence on their children's feelings of well-being.

Somehow this year, the swirling snow has glittered and sparkled and surrounded my heart and is tickling a tiny feeling of Christmas magic there.

Jenny Oaks Baker is gently playing her violin to the tune of Ave Maria on the CD player, and homemade ginger snap cookies are baking in the oven. Tonight, in my home, Christmas is in our hearts.

Even if you don't have snow, and you want your home to smell like Christmas, bake a batch of these cookies to share with family, friends, and neighbors.

Bishop Baumgarten's Ginger Snap (Sogs) Cookies
Bishop B. always called them ginger sogs because they are so soft and yummy.

3/4 C shortening
1 C brown sugar
1/4 C molasses
1 egg

Beat together til' fluffy

Sift:
2 1/4 C Flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves

Stir together. Form balls. Roll in sugar. Bake 375 degrees for 10 min.

*High altitude: Add 1/4 c flour and bake an additional 4 min.