Easter Events 2008

We had an excellent Easter this year consisting of several events over a few days. Jeff's mom and her twin sister stayed with us the entire week and weekend so it was fun to have them join us in all the festivities. We began by coloring eggs with Jessica & Samantha (Jeff's sister and niece) on Good Friday. Corbin still is a little young to understand the concept of dye, but he had a blast stirring the eggs around.
On Saturday morning my mom had an egg hunt and brunch for her grand kids so we enjoyed candy, toys, and a lovely waffles and ice cream and Jeff's homemade crepes with a spread of fruit and juices. Yummy! The weather was amazing so the cousins had a great time playing in the yard with all their fun new toys from grandma.
On Easter Sunday we attended Church and seemed to appreciate a little deeper the meaning and purpose of the resurrection having been informed the night before of a death in the family. We are grateful for Jesus Christ's life and mission and his Atonement but realize the Resurrection as the crowning event that truly gives us hope and purpose in this life. After church Corbin had is own egg hunt in our backyard where he found 24 of his own eggs and didn't realize there was candy in them until he accidentally dropped one... and then tried devouring the rest! He also got a new swing for the warmer weather and absolutely loves it...EVERY DAY! For dinner Jeff and I made a turkey (with his mom's help) with all the fixings. It was our first one and it turned out perfect! I know, turkey is not a typical spring meal but we're not big ham fans and we are never around to make our own on Thanksgiving so we gave in... besides the leftovers are great still! Overall it was a lovely Easter.

Spring Break @ The Phoenix Zoo!

My sisters and mom and I decided to take advantage of the last day of Spring Break (Friday's) weather by spending a day at the zoo with our kids. Jeff had a half day (for Good Friday) so he met us there as well. This was Corbin's 2nd time at the zoo but he enjoyed it much more this time around because he knows most of the animals now and the noises they all make. He especially loved petting the sting rays, the monkey encounter, riding the tractor, feeding the ducks after lunch, and playing in the water with his cousins. It was a nice day to be outside and enjoy the "cool" AZ spring temperatures.

Corbin's first letters

I know, we are proud parents who like to show off our kid, but what parent doesn't? We just wanted to put a disclaimer in here that we really have no idea why or how Corbin started talking so much and we don't sit down for hours at a time and teach him these things... he picked it up from playing with these foam bath letters, from books, and from a little movie he likes to watch called "Letter Factory" by LeapFrog. He learned some sign language at an early age that has seemed to really launch his processing abilities and that is the only thing we can think to attribute it all to. We would love to take all the credit (since we ARE his parents and thus the source of his genes), but he really came to us this way and neither Jeff nor I were this way when we were 18 months old. We know our next little boy will probably walk in Corbin's shadow the rest of his life and be some kind of artist or musician. :) We'll see. For now, we love to watch Corbin's knowledge and interest bloom.

Corbin saying his ABC's at 18 months old

This video is a month or so late but still very cute and had to share.

Father/Son UT Weekend

Jeff and Corbin made a last minute decision to go up to Utah for the weekend to see Jeff's first step dad who is suffering from cancer and is not expected to last much longer. While up in Utah Jeff and Corbin made their rounds to see as many people as they could within 2 days. Jeff wishes he could of stayed and seen everyone but his main focus was to visit with Buddy and Jana and he accomplished that.

Home Alone

What is a girl to do home alone all weekend? Yep, it's true. Jeff decided early Friday morning to visit a family member in Utah who is unfortunately and fortunately nearing the end of his battle with cancer. I was unable to make such a rash decision to go along with him because I had already been registered weeks in advance for an AZ Constitution weekend class in order to re-certify my teaching license and so Jeff decided he'd take advantage of the opportunity.... and took Corbin with him since he still qualifies as a "free lap child" for 6 more months. So I dropped them off at the airport Friday afternoon and unfortunately had class all Friday night and all day today... but you better believe as soon as I was out of class this afternoon, I went SHOPPING! There are a few "Easter errands" I needed to run and I had the perfect chance since I had nobody in tow (except my prego belly) and no one waiting at home for me. Ladies, isn't that what most of you would choose to do with your "free" Saturday evening? So, other than a lot of homework, class, and shopping, I will also enjoy an entire 3-hours of quiet, concentration at Church tomorrow and a Sunday afternoon of napping, baking, and reading the Ensign before my boys return home just in time for dinner. I'll admit I've missed both of them and made several phone calls and web-cam visits over the last day and half, but at the same time.... I've missed silence, so I'm enjoying it for the next 18 hours or so! :)

Miracles Happen....

For our Elder Larson!

Many of you may or may not be aware that my little brother, Jesse has been enduring the trial of his life (thus far) for the past 10 months. He was called to serve as a full-time missionary in the Jackson, Mississippi Mission beginning in September 2006 and he did so for a period of 10 months until ... his world crashed down on his knee. He endured a brutal knee injury in May '07 and was unable to use it for 2 months, enduring agonizing pain. None of the Doctors in the area were able to help him so he returned home in July '07 to figure out the problem. For the past 8 months Jesse has had his life literally "on hold" as he's tried to figure out what was wrong with his knee. He went through several knee doctors, specialists, exploratory surgery, homeopathics, naturalists, physical therapists, chiropractors, medications, remedies, acupuncture, etc., etc but none of them had the ENTIRE answer; nor could they eradicate the pain for a prolonged period. There was a time he considered that this pain might be chronic and he would never return to the mission and this would be his fate to deal with for the rest of his life.

Finally, he got a referral to Dr. Carter (Amare Stoudemire's- Phx Suns player's knee Dr.) and he immediately knew the cause and source of all the pain and the root of his problem. Jesse's knee cap was completely crooked and grinding on itself and because of all the trauma and lack of use, it had atrophied so badly that it would not hold itself together. (Something you think his 1st Dr. would have seen in an exploratory surgery...) So, he was prescribed a special knee brace and a few weeks more of physical therapy and... miraculously the pain IS GONE!

He turned all his paperwork in again to Salt Lake and the missionary department and within a few weeks he got the phone call (Monday, March 3rd) and travel itinerary that he was to be on a plane back to MS on Tuesday, March 11th. Not everyone has to say goodbye to their missionary twice. It was what we have all been fasting and praying for and in an instant, it seems, it all happened. Good thing it was quick though, it's like ripping off a band-aid-- it only stings for a little while and then it's fine.

We are so proud of him because not many missionaries (only 10%) who come home (especially for that long) actually return to the mission. We know this is where he really wants to be.. and where the Lord wants him and needs him. He has taught us all a great lesson on endurance and patience with the Lord's timetable. He was home long enough to get to know these 2 nephews (Corbin and Kimball) and to see his niece get baptized and his brother get sealed in the temple! Unfortunately he'll barely miss another 2 nephew's births... but this time he'll only be gone 14 months, so the count down is on! Hoorah for Israel... and here's to more letter writing and cookie-packaging! :)

The Game of Tag...

... and I am "it"! This is like a month overdue, but here goes... (thanks Natalie):
Attached or single?... Attached, I'm happily married and love it!
Best friend? ... Jeffrey Scott Moss.
Cake or pie? ... Definitely cake.
Day of choice? ... Saturdays because we're all home together and usually get a lot done and then have time to "play" afterwards!
Essential item?... This computer, besides the fact that I'm a grad student and currently have an online class, the computer has also become my social lifeline (blogger and email) and choice of some great discoveries (recipes, patterns, book lists, news, etc.)
Favorite color? ... Usually I say blue but I never really use it. The color I use most would be brown, black, or white but how boring are those?
Gummy bears or worms? ... Yeah, probably bears but I'm definitely a Swedish Fish person with Natalie.
Home town? ... Mesa, AZ .... where I am now ... and will be at least 2 of my children's hometown's as well! :)
favorite Indulgence? ... Ice cream (or any other form of dessert for that matter)
January or July? ... are you kidding? I live in AZ so of course I would say January! Also, January is New Year's, my anniversary, my birthday and Jeff's birthday month... it's the month of perpetual celebrations!
Kids? ... 1 boy with 1 boy on the way!
Life isn't complete without... experiencing parenthood, it's sweet!
Marriage date? ... January 3, 2004
Number of brothers and sisters? ... 2 sisters, 2 brothers (and I'll claim 6 brothers and 4 sisters in-law too!)
Oranges or apples? ... Depends on the season. Around Christmas I love oranges but Jeff usually has to peel them for me because I don't like that part. But when I am pregnant I crave apples and peanut butter, yum!
Phobia and fears? ... Open blinds/windows when I'm alone at home at night, strange noises in my yard, and losing a child.
Quote? ... "Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction." - Anonymous
Reason to smile?... when I hear Corbin say his ABC's with his daddy or listen to him giggle when they wrestle.
Season of choice? ... Spring, because it' here (in AZ) and I love the fresh new feeling of life, flowers, animals, Easter, and a lot of year left to accomplish a lot.
Tag 3 people... Alicia, Tiffanie, and Bre
Unknown fact about me... I eat ALL THE TIME! (and it's not always healthy stuff)
Vegetable? ... zucchini, raw or cooked
Worst habit? ... I constantly bite my lip or the inside of my lip... no clue why and when I catch myself doing it I try to self-talk myself into stopping.
X-ray or ultrasound? ... ultrasounds are so fun for pregnant women. There's something about taking a peek at that new life inside of you and realizing how amazing it all is. (Besides, ultrasounds are much safer than x-rays, unless it's an emergency.)
Your favorite food? ... Such a hard question for me. Today I will go with chicken enchiladas.... NO- Hawaiian haystacks, Ok- lettuce wraps. (see, that's hard!)
Zodiac sign? ... Aquarius!