{ Project 365 }

Coach Dad - I love seeing Casey play ball with the boys.  The coach in him comes out, especially with baseball. 

Sweet Sisters - Dinner should have been done already.  I am hustling and bustling about when I turn around to see Kaylee and Ady on the kitchen floor in the middle of it all sharing a snack.  I love the everyday moments like this.

 

Rambunctious Brothers – This is another everyday occurrence that I’m not sure I really love in the moment, but it’s just what boys do and I love these two boys.

View from here – The view from my computer late one night.  Couldn’t decide which treat I wanted so I brought the whole bowl over.

Backseat Buddy - Drew is my backseat buddy.  We are always on the go and half of the time he eats lunch in the car.  He is such a good sport!

 

Hard Work - Kaylee has two of the best swim coaches!  They video the kids while they swim and then critique them with the video after each event.  This is one of those coaching moments captured.  (Photo by a fellow swim mom)

Drag Racing - We were on a Sunday drive when my boys spotted this car. They fell in love and we had to go on a chase.  Picture the mini van chasing the Lamborghini!  hahahaha! We got it though and I must say we got a pretty sweet picture. :)

{ Project 365 }

Not a good day – I got pulled over as I was driving my normal daily route to swim.  I got a “fix it ticket”.  The inspection on my van was 2 years passed due. Yes, it is true.  WHOOPS!!!  How the heck did that happen?!? It is one of those things I don’t even think about because my husband takes care of that…or so I thought! Turns out he was just as shocked as me.  He spaced it because you don’t have to get an inspection when you register your vehicle each year like we did in Utah, but you are supposed to get it inspected still.  Lesson learned, even though it was a pretty dumb lesson!  And my husband will be fixing my ticket for me. :)

Very Rare – This is not a common happening at our house.  Ady hardly ever watches T.V.  She doesn’t hold still long enough to let it catch her interest.  Drew, on the other hand,  loves his morning cartoons.  I was cleaning the kitchen and turned around to find Ady sitting right next to Drew completely hooked on the T.V. It was nice while it lasted, not that I want her to be a T.V. junkie, but at least 30 minutes here and there would be nice.  I’d even take 15!

Lazy Fall Evening – I wish we had more evenings like this.  These are some of my favorite childhood memories.  Having nothing to do, hanging out outside with friends until it got dark and your parents came to find you. Passing around the sunflower seeds, throwing the football.  That was the view from my front window and it made my heart happy.  Then Ady and I went outside to join them.  

Drew is getting his freak on -  He had his preschool Halloween party and would not part with these glasses.

Game Ball – Jake took home the game ball today.  He had 2 hits and several RBIs.  We love baseball!!

I am Thankful – for this little girl who is my sidekick in everything.  She loves the things I love and is always trying to learn more about them.  I was taking pictures of my Halloween decorations before I got ready to take them down.  I had my 50mm lens on.  Kaylee was hanging on the banister in the entryway asking me a question, waiting patiently for me to answer.  I turned around to answer her and saw the perfect light hitting her eyes and told her not to move a muscle.  I snapped a shot looked at it on my viewfinder and told her that her eyes are twinkling. She grabbed the camera to check it out for herself, then told me that it wasn’t the lighting, she just had twinkling eyes. :) I told her she does have naturally twinkling eyes, but it lead to a conversation about lighting and ended with me being her model while she tried it out on me.  Which I then deleted the pictures because I don’t have the beautiful, creamy skin like she does and I would much prefer looking at photos of her!

Happy Halloween – This picture either totally makes you laugh or makes you say “what the crap?!”  or both. :)  Every time I look at it, I just laugh out loud!  It is the end of Halloween night and she is done, if you can’t tell.  She looks like a wreck with her snotty nose and sweaty, matted down hair.  The kids and I were outside talking to neighbors and passing out candy, when I hear a banging on the window and see her with her Halloween goodie bag hanging from her shoulder, making the funniest faces.  Definitely a ransom kind of picture for later! :)

{ Project 365 }

Ughhh – The dirt always seems to find her mouth!

Too Many Sweets – A little treat for my Activity Day Girls.  Not that they haven’t had enough sweets this season, but Halloween cupcakes seemed so fun.  

A Picnic – These little friends kept me company for the day while their mom had a baby.  They now have a little brother!  We had a picnic for lunch – mac and cheese, applesauce, oreo’s and milk.  I gave them any treat they wanted. shhhhh…don’t tell their mom.

A Sick Day – I had to pick Kaylee up from school today.  She changed back into her jammies, had some hot chocolate and slept all day long.

Concert in the Park – We spent the evening on the grass listening to Maroon 5 enjoying the perfect weather.

This is what we do in between baseball games – Not really, but this Saturday we did.  I don’t know why but for some reason they had blow up slides and bounce houses set up all over the place.  It worked out good for us because we needed to fill some time in between games.

If You Give a Pig a Party – Have you heard of that book?  Jake had to do a pumpkin project for school.  He had to choose a story book character and make the pumpkin resemble it.  I think he we did a great job, considering he had two weeks to get it done and we didn’t start it until bedtime the night before it was due.  Yep…that’s how we roll.

{Project 365 }

I was gathering my photos for this post and I realized that almost every single one of them is about Ady this week.  Since it was her birthday week, I suppose that’s how it should be. :)

 

One of my girls – This is Stephanie.  One of my long lost BFF’s.  We have known each other since 3rd grade.  She came into town for work and my kiddos and I got to hang out with her and have dinner.  It was not nearly long enough of a visit, but it will have to do…for now.  It was so fun seeing her and having her be a part of my “all grown up” life, even for just a little bit.  I wish we lived closer.  I love you girl! (and so do my kids)

Very, very late night/early morning decorating -  I stayed up waaaaaaay too late decorating for Ady’s big day.  I underestimated how much time I needed to put everything together.  Me and time just don’t mix.  I am ALWAYS underestimating.  Anyway, it was worth staying up to finish.  Ady didn’t notice but the big kids did and they were so excited.  It was very festive around our house. 

The Birthday Girl – She dug into her cake today.  It was the cutest thing EVER, if I do say so myself!

 

Thoughtful – Drew was being thoughtful again.  He wanted to share his tic tacs with Ady so he taped them to her door while she was napping.

Grandma and Ady – I know I have mentioned before that we celebrate birthdays for a week in the Moes home.  Wednesday (her birthday) was her cake day and on Friday Drew insisted that we open her presents.  He could not wait any longer.  So we sat outside in the backyard and let Ady go for it.  Grandma is reading Ady one of her new books she got her. 

Our Routine – Ady sits in this chair in my bathroom while I do her hair.  She loves to dig in the drawer in front of her and pull every little hair accessory out.  It keeps her holding still (for the most part) so I don’t mind. :)

Birthday Sharing – It seems like there is always someone to share a birthday with in our families.  It makes it even more fun!  This is Casey’s uncle Hue.  He was in town visiting, so on Sunday we had some family over for cupcakes and ice cream and of course we had to play cards.  It just wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t.  Even the kids enjoyed playing. 

{ Project 365 }

Pumpkin Patch – You would think there would be pumpkin patches all over in Texas, but in Houston, there is not.  Not very close by and easy to get to anyway.  So we go to our local HEB grocery store to get pumpkins.  That’s what we did for FHE on Monday. 

Late Night Decorating – Casey was out of town, my kids were in bed asleep and I was making a mess of my house decorating for Halloween/Fall.  I loved waking up the next morning to a transformed house and hearing my kids get excited about it.

I’m so glad when Daddy comes home -  Casey had been out of town all week but came home for a couple of hours in between flights.  He made asked me to get the kids out of school early (like 3 hours early) so he could see them.  At first I said no (gasp!) I did not want to bring  the kids home early from school, but then I realized how sweet he was for wanting to see them before he left again so I gave in and brought him home his little presents. :)  I love that he is such a good dad. 

One of my many projects this week -  Working on some final fall touches.  A candy corn banner.

All Dressed Up – Ady and I had a lunch date with one of our Houston besties.  I’m glad I took this picture before we left because Ady did not look this cute after lunch!

Divide and Conquer – Casey and I went in opposite directions today.  He went with the boys to their baseball games and I went with Kaylee to her swim meet.  Kaylee is swimming with the big fish now.  This was her first meet with year round swim.  It was a little intimidating.  We are already gearing up for the next meet.

Party Sneak Peak – Andrea and her family crashed at our house on their way home from vacation.  We stayed up until 3:30 chatting and working on Ady’s party decor.  The light bulb went on for both of us when we were talking about Ady turning one the next week and realized that I had nothing made.   I had everything purchased but nothing put together, so like the wonderful BFF she is, she sacrificed sleep for me and whipped up the “one” table runner and birthday banner while I worked on pom poms and a birthday hat.  She gave me the head start I needed to get it all done in time.  I love her!!

{ Project 365 }

Fall Colors – I hadn’t had time to put my Fall/Halloween decorations out yet.  They’d been sitting in bags in my laundry room and it was killing me!  These fall flowers from my yard made me happy until I  got around to the real deal.

Obsessed – Drew is obsessed with his team hat.  He loves baseball and his team so much that he hardly ever takes his hat off.  If it isn’t this hat it is the Astros.  I have given up on doing his hair.  I think he looks cute in a hat.

For my little lady – I made Ady a tutu today.   She will wear  it on her birthday. 

Service – Drew loves to surprise people with acts of service.  He is so sweet when he does it.  He is good at surprises and waits so patiently until we stumble upon what he has done.  Today he made Kaylee’s bed while she was at school.  He got to it before I did.  I thought it was so cute how he arranged the pillows and put her sleeping mask on her teddy bear.  I love that boy!

Hours and Hours – of sandbox play.  Jake and Drew mad a HUGE sand fort for their army men.  It took them days to build it and then they played with it for days afterward.  I love this photo of Drew's hand playing with his army man outside of the tunnel.  Seeing my kids creativity makes me happy.

Late Nights – We have at least one late night baseball game a week.  It is so relaxing sitting under the lights in the evening.  It’s nice to be in the moment of a game and not worry about the million and one things that need to get done at home. 

Glued – Sometimes this little lady is glued to my leg.  I don’t mind.  I think she loves me!

{ Project 365 }

Everyday – I see this little girl off to swim practice.  She swims for 1 hour.  Today she woke up early for choir practice, had PE at school, came home, had a snack and went to swim practice.  I wish I had as much energy as she does. 

A Date – With my computer.  Quiet time, Coke and M&M’s.

Basic Hair Accessories 101 – We have a play group in my ward.  Today the moms got together and I taught them the very basics of making hair accessories.  I gathered a few of my favorites that I have made or collected to show for examples. 

 

Feeling Festive – Today was a good shopping day at Dollar Tree.  I had so much fun adding these into my fall/halloween decor.   I will share more later. 

 

Passing the Time – Ady loves to play in the rocks while we wait for Kaylee to finish swim practice. 

Baseball – Today the boys had their first baseball game.  They are LOVING baseball and we are ALL enjoying cheering them on.  There really is no better place to be than on a baseball field!!

Sunday Walks – The fall weather is perfect right now.  We even have leaves on the ground in some areas!  There are so many nice trails near us that we haven’t explored yet because it is so hot most of the year.  While we have this nice weather we are going to walk a trail and enjoy being outside each Sunday. 

{ Project 365 }

I am a slacker.  I had to take a blogging hiatus.  That thing called life kinda’ got in the way. I will be the first to admit that I can’t do it all.  For my sanity I had to step back from the computer a little bit.   Honestly, I enjoyed my little break away(besides e-mail). It’s refreshing!   My creative juices got flowing again. I enjoyed some fall T.V. and along with all of my old responsibilities, I am now officially a Taxi driver.  It is true.  I live in my car.  I don’t really enjoy that, but it is my life.  With Kaylee having swim everyday and the boys both playing baseball I am always on the go and exhausted.  I don’t know how all of you with older kids do it! I am starting to understand what they mean when other moms say it’s easier when your kids are younger. There are hard things at every stage, but the hard thing now is that it isn’t my schedule anymore.  It is all about my kids and their busy lives.

I am going to get caught up in the blog world this weekend.  I have lots to share (ya know, since I’m so far behind and all). Stay tuned. I can’t wait to tackle my blog reader and see what my faves have been up to!    

Fearless – My kids have always been fearless in the water.  They get their love for water from me and their fearlessness from their dad. Ady has already learned to jump in from the edge.  Our neighbor went out of town.  She gave us her key and told us to use the pool anytime.  So that’s what we did!

Much Loved – This book has been around for a long time.  It is called Dear Zoo.  It has been a favorite of all my kids in their early years but especially Kaylee. I remember being at the Dr. with her one time.  She had an ear infection and was so sick.  The only thing that would keep her calm was this book.  Now Ady enjoys this book.  It keeps getting ripped apart and I can’t count how many times it has been taped back together.    

Breakfast – Casey makes some pretty mean banana muffins.  That might not be a manly thing to say, but I think he is ok with that.  We love old bananas at our house.  It means dad is going to make his famous muffins and we get a yummy, fast  breakfast.  That’s what I’m talkin’ about!

Oh My – I don’t really know what to say.  My little Ady is prone to ear infections.  She is miserable.  I am miserable.  Thank goodness for doctors and medicine!!

My other job – The one that I used to do that I don’t really love anymore… I still have to do that because I am the mom and I know how to.  Darn it!  Yes, I am the family haircutter.  Just another one of my responsibilities, but it is a great way for us to save on money. 

Temple Night – Casey and I attended the Houston Temple with our ward.  It had been a very long time since we have had the opportunity to go together.  It was wonderful to be back.

Comfort – This old recipe box holds all of my tried and true favorites.  On Sundays most of our meals come from this box. It is our down home cookin’ comfort food and that is what we do most Sundays.  Each time I pull out a recipe I am brought back the person I got it from.  Like I am holding a piece of them and I love that.  It brings back memories of  family and friends I  have gathered recipes from.  I am reminded that so many things happen in the kitchen, around the dinner table, surrounded by love and good food.  It is a sacrifice to cook sometimes but it is  worth it when you are carrying on tradition and your family tells you how much they loved dinner.