Cutest Baby on the Block

Do I need to say more?

Picture provided by a loving Grandma Dianna

Recap

I was talking to a really good friend last week that I haven't talked to in over 3 years. We talked about our families and the addition of children we have gained along with work and other items to catch up on. It was a good conversation that was long over due. I did mention to him I have a family blog. I was embarrassed to mention it since I never update it. Shame shame! So thanks to Matt I posted something new. So in recap...we had great birthdays in December, enjoyed a wonderful Christmas, had a great New Years with Lisandra, Herija, & DeMarco here. Drove up to Utah in January to see Mikes brother as he returned from a mission. That was a fun trip, especially the snow. Mike introduced his family tradition of candy bar bingo to a new crowd at a dinner party, enjoying our membership at the zoo, attended an awesome wedding, Mike taking the kids to St. George during springbreak while I stayed at home for work, and now planning a graduation. We have been just a little busy :) I am including some pictures of Ryan first soccer game plus I will add a picture of Maya and her ability to have curly hair too! I tried adding a cute video of Andrew but it didn't work. Next post will be all about him.

Go Bears!

10 years, Thanksgiving, Birthdays, Santa and an Exam!

There is so much to say that has happened in the last couple months that I would be here forever typing. Mikes computer got sick so it got sent back to the manufacture for some needed surgery. That should take another 3 weeks until we see it again. So I am here at work typing and feeling bad I can't attach a picture of our latest adventures. I know I really don't have to post a picture but it doesn't seem as personal. Oh well I will just have to flood you with random pictures next month.

Mike and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary on the 24th of November. Wow what a roller coaster ride its been. It was celebrated low key since we had so much to plan for in the coming weeks. But 10 years went by so fast. He is such a great husband, father, and friend! Thank you Mike for making me laugh everyday!

We had the wonderful opportunity to drive up to Utah for Thanksgiving and be with the Moores. So we took the trek to North Ogden where all of this happened. I do have to say the van provided us endless entertainment for the kids and enough room to tote everything up there.

It was very nice to be a part of a large gathering we haven't seen in a while. Mikes grandpa turned 70 and his birthday happened to land on Thanksgiving. It was a surprise to him to have all of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren attend his special day. ( minus 2 on missions)

We stayed with family and friends and attempted to take a family picture outside. I will try to get that crazy event posted next month. It didn't snow while we were there ( no complaints here) but the white stuff sure was nice to look at. And yes it was cold.

We ended our travel in St George for a wonderful birthday party for our niece Michelle. I do have to say her mom did a good job with putting a fun evening together for her celebration. I think we were missing just Trevor... yup all of us were there. Even his girlfriend Brooke made an appearance.

We made it home safely and wondered why we don't visit Utah as much as we should. Then we came to the conclusion of Mike being a full time student. And since he is in his senior year at ASU he doesn't get a lot of time off. But hopefully that will end soon!

Andrew turned 1 years old on the 13th. He is so much fun. His personality is so different from his brother and sister. I do have to say he very clingy! I felt so bad while we were in Utah. He didn't want to go to anyone! Not even his own grandma! He cried and cried if we put him down or even left the room. I really hope he grows out of that stage soon! He now weighs 25lbs and is getting the courage to balance alone. We had a birthday party for him and he loved his birthday cupcake.
Ryan turned 4 years old on the 19th. It was celebrated at Peter Piper Pizza followed by cake and ice cream at the house. He picked his cake out himself. It was a "How to Train Your Dragon" cake, with Hiccup and Toothless on top. He loved his presents and his 2 favorite so far is the Nerf gun we got him ( which is in time out a lot) and the remote control trucks from Papa Scott. Even though he was sick on his birthday he was a trooper and it paid off.

This month went by fast because it included Breakfast with Santa, going on many small rides checking out the lights in the neighborhood, picking out a Christmas tree, our family party in Verrado, work party in Maricopa, attending a funeral, walking the Temple grounds and realizing its a small world when you bump into one of your best friends visiting AZ ( it was great to see you Traci!) leaving something for Santa Christmas Eve, opening presents, and of course remembering the true meaning of Christmas.

I might have mentioned back in October...maybe not I don't post much. LOL! But Mike took his NCEES FE Exam (EIT) on October 30th which consisted of studying really hard and enduring a 8+hour test at the old Civic Center in Phoenix. I remember when he got home from his exam I dragged him to a trunk or treat event and he was brain dead. It was like "the lights were on but nobody home" kinda look on his face. Well he waited 55 days to find out if he passed. On December 24th he received this in his email:

Michael Moore
NCEES ID: 12817-*****
State Board: Arizona
Exam Type: Fundamentals of Engineering
Exam Date: October 2010
Exam Result: Pass

Yes people he passed! I didn't doubt he wouldn't because he is super smart and it amazes me what a great engineer he will become. But this is huge for him! And I am so proud of him. He gradates in May and what a great day that will be for our family!

The Knight, Dragon, and Princess

Here they are starting at Aunt Cristina's for some Halloween candy.

Andrew was a very cute Dragon

Our October was full of the annual Mioni Halloween Party, Neighborhood Parties, Trunk or Treat, Pumpkin Patch and finishing it off at Verrado. We had such a good night trick or treating in Verrado at The Records house. We had so much fun with the Schletters too. I know Ryan & Maya loved putting on their costumes at least 10 times and running wild at all the parties. Ryan liked being a knight, "Dragon Slayer" and Maya dressing up like a princess. It took Andrew 2 seconds to rip his dragon headpiece off but as you can see in the picture below he liked the cat ears!

Pumpkin Patch 2010

This years trip to the pumpkin patch was really fun. It was held at a local farm that we pass by everyday but have never gone to. Ryan,Maya, and Andrew decorated a pumpkin of their own along with jumping in the bouncy house and getting their face painted. We waited for the sun to go down since it was still a warm day so it was a nice evening to enjoy being outside. Here are a few pictures of the kids having fun.

Its not Fall yet

I know I am not the best blogger on the block but hey I try. I have been getting some " when are you going to post " attitude lately so I thought I would do an update.

Things are the same o here in the Moore household. Ryan has been attending the elementary school I went to for about 2 months now. He is in the Headstart program there and is finally in a routine. He has school Monday-Thursday from 12:30 to 4. He had to make a huge adjustment from knowing his teacher Ms. Kathy last year and having the preschool "home" environment to the public school atmosphere. It did take a few weeks of getting use to things..especially making new friends and finding a way to communicate with his peers that don't know alot of English. He has adjusted now to the way things are done in the "big" school. But I know he misses the music time and all the neat crafts that Ms. Kathy had.

Taking Ryan to school

Since Maya knows now that Ryan is at school for half of the day, she rules the roost. She has my parents and her father wrapped around her little finger. She is still in love with Caillou and Dora. This girl giggles all the time and likes to sit on Andrew. I have no idea why she does that but she does. She tries to accomplish the sitting on her brother as much as she can. But when she plays with him she has a ball.

The shirt says it all

Andrew just cut his first tooth last week. Its on the bottom and we are hoping they will pop out all at once. He is almost 10 months and YES the kid just cut the 1st one. When I took him in last week he was 22 lbs and I can't remember his length. ( I am such a good mom. LOL ! ) I did advise the doctor he wasn't crawling yet but did say he is in the phase of any day now crawling... She wasn't worried. I just think he is so overly spoiled since he is the baby and last that he is just going to take his time. So his way of getting around is scooting everywhere. He is really good at it. I do want to add that he has curly locks on his head. Yes, I finally have a baby with curls. It so goes with his personality. It wouldn't be Andrew without the curls.

This picture doesn't do his hair justice

Mike is attending his 2nd to last semester at ASU...Hooray! He has a full load this semester and has his National Civil Engineering exam on the 30th. So his life consists of school ,homework, part time stay at home dad, dry cleaning slave for me, errand boy, softball league participant, anti-van driving ( makes him feel old ), study session for exam goer, backed up sewer unplug hero, dinner maker, fantasy football picker...I could go on. He amazes me everyday on how willing he is to make time for everything. Especially reading to the kids.

We are all doing fine and are waiting oh so patiently for the cooler weather. Not the tornado weather like Flagstaff got but the kind where going to the pumpkin patch doesn't require sunblock. I think we are going to try out Schnepf Farms this year since the Show Low/Taylor pumpkin patch won't be in our plans this year... we will have to compromise. :)

Happy Birthday Mike

Happy Birthday Mike

I love ya!

DeMarco & Herija

Here are a few pictures Lisandra sent me from a wedding they attended in Malibu. I wanted to show you how handsome DeMarco is.

Here is Herija at the same wedding in Malibu. (The bride made everyone a sock monkey to keep and remember the event. I think that is way cool.) I don't think I have told Herija how cool and awesomely funny he is. I am really happy he and my sister met and is part of our family. He is a sure a fun uncle to my kids. He likes to lovingly tease them and Maya knows he is the "safe haven" when we go to the beach.

California

We decided to go for a quick trip to California while Mike had a short break from school. We stayed in Carlsbad where my sister Lisandra lives. a.k.a Auntie L. We had a good time seeing DeMarco and Herija too. Most of you remember DeMarco when he was a little lad...not any more! He is such a handsome young man. Maya sure had fun bossing him around. And yes that is Ryan behind him.

The weather was perfect for outside play. I did find myself praying about a week before that the weather would treat us good. The last couple times we always brought the heat with us but not this time. The prayers were answered.

We did get a new vehicle so that made the ride even more comfortable. It seems when you throw a 3rd baby in the mix it changes things. So we did say goodbye to the Nissan Altima ( and yes 3 car seats did fit in the back) and said hello to a Chevy Uplander. Robyn you knew this was coming! Its a not a van according to Mike since he vowed he would never drive one. So its a "crossover" SUV/Van. Ok whatever...its a van!

So yes the ride to Cali was nice and so was the stay.

Random pics