Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas 2011! We hope you stay happy, healthy, and warm with your loved ones this season...and reflect on what it really means to be together celebrating CHRISTmas!
Love,
The Moss'

Do you ever?

I know it's been a LONG time! This year has nearly come and gone with only what 4 posts on this blog? Is it just me or is it a lost art? I need to find my niche again and get back to at least weekly blog posts. After all, it is our family journal/photo album! Do you ever get so busy and so run down with your to-do list that you procrastinate some things but get ahead of yourself in other things? For example, I created, ordered, picked-up and stuffed our Christmas cards and wrote our Christmas letter already.... but haven't found out about the paper goods for the ward activity I'm in charge of for Saturday. I know, where are my priorities? I'll get back on track, SOON! I promise. Until then, here is a cute picture from our most recent photo shoot with Heather Telford Photography.

Legacy

It's amazing how 1 woman, Muriel Bywater....

...who had only 4 children (her youngest son,Kim, not pictured)...

...who had 17 grandchildren (Cody not pictured)....

...who then had (and are still having) 38 great-grandchildren.

All those descendants of Grandmother are so grateful for her legacy and her example. Especially in her 90th year of life! That's one good looking group of relatives whom all began with just one person.

The process continues to repeat itself.
Families are amazing, aren't they?
Here are Tom Heal's descendants:

Stephanie's Johnson's descendants:

Christie Pearce's descendants:

Kim Heal's descendants:

Grandmother Bywater's legacy is a great one. So, my sister and I decided we needed to celebrate her, especially as she approaches 90 years this September. You see, my sister Mandy and I married cousins and got lucky enough to be considered two of Grandmother's descendants by marriage. Mandy organized the group gift: a personal history book of Muriel's life from her childhood to today.
It's beautiful and it has messages from each of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. In order to gift her with this book we decided to have a birthday BBQ for GG and surprise her with all but 2 of her family members. After we captured the moment with family pictures, we had a potluck BBQ and a few gifts...and lots of fun.

Deagan enjoyed the desserts.

We're pretty sure Grandmother loved it too...

...the book and the family, the food, the fun and her beautiful legacy.

I guess we can never underestimate the power and influence of one wonderful person, and one beautiful life legacy.

Quick Update

I KNOW that I am SO far behind on my blog...and I DO intend to catch up, slowly.

For now, here is a quick update about what we've been up to:

Watching our fruit trees bloom! We went from the winter grays to the Spring greens, pinks, purples, and whites. Popcorn is popping all over our front and backyards! We love it!

Setting up the backyard for spring/summer entertainment, (i.e.- BBQ's, outdoor play). Jeff & Dick put together the trampoline that's been sitting in the garage in a box all winter and you would have thought it was Christmas all over again.Watching cousins play Spring Competitive soccer....and playing a little soccer ourselves.

The older boys finished up Spring swim lessons in March. Corbin and Quinton were in the same class this session. They had so much fun together! They can't wait to go to 7 Peaks this summer.

We have been planting flowers, playing in the dirt, riding bikes, taking walks, family runs, park play-days and more....
It has certainly been a WET and COLD spring here, so we have to squeeze in our outdoor play whenever we can. Needless to say, we can't wait for summer!

Happy Valentine’s Day Holly Dolly

Holly I just want to write you a quick note letting you know how grateful I am to have you in my life. From the first time I saw you on our blind date you made my heart skip a beat. To this day my heart still skips a beat for you. I love you very much Holly and I am so very excited to be with you for All Time and Eternity. I found this poem and it says everything I want to say but better. I hope you have a Happy Valentine’s Day Holly. I Love you,

Jeff

You changed my world with a blink of an eye
That is something that I cannot deny
You put my soul from worst to best
That is why I treasure you my dearest love

You just don't know what you have done for me
You even pushed me to the best that I can be
You really are an angel sent from above
To take care of me and shower with love

When I'm with you I will not cry even a single a tear
And your touch have chased away all of my fear
You have given me a life that I could live worthwhile
It is even better every time you smile

It so magical those things you've made
To bring back my faith that almost fade
Now my life is a dream come true
It all began when I was loved by you

Now I have found what I am looking for
It's you and your love and nothing more
Co'z you have given me this feeling of contentment
In my life something I've never felt

I wish I could talk 'til the end of day
But now I'm running out of things to say
So I'll end by the line you already know

"I LOVE YOU" more than what I could show

Jeffrey

Just wanted to wish this handsome guy a special
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
today.
We're trying to spoil him as best we can because he spoils us most of the time.
He's the greatest friend, HUSBAND....

...DADDY, playmate, entertainer, caretaker...

... and hard worker. Did you know he just ran his first marathon last weekend... at age 31?
He did.

Anyone who can do that has a HUGE heart and lots of endurance. We sure love him... and we're glad to call him ours. Happy Birthday Jeffrey!

Christmas Eve

I love that Christmas Eve was on a Friday this year.... PERFECT!
We enjoyed a delicious turkey/ham dinner with all the fixings (and dessert) at Jeff's sister, Haley's home. Her husband was the masterful chef. Afterward Jeff's mom and step-dad gifted us with their presents. Ironically, Quinton has been SMITTEN with Frosty the Snowman (the classic cartoon) this year and Grandma TeeTee gave him a singing Frosty! He loved it...and even slept with it that night!

Along with Frosty, Quinton also got a recordable Frosty the Snowman book. The voice reading the story is his Great-Grandmother Bywater (Heal), aka 'GG'. That was a special treat for the whole family.

Corbin got a new soccer ball... since he lost the one he's used the last 2 seasons. The boys were happy. That's the one thing I love about children... they are so grateful and appreciative of simple gifts.

Jeff & I got a new set of Nutcracker mugs and a matching, darling 'Little Drummer Boy' cookie jar in the shape of a drum.

Jeff's mom also made these cute winter photo collages for all her children with pictures from our annual sleigh/snow party.

I took it right home and hung it up.

Once home the boys couldn't wait to open their Christmas Eve gifts from mom and dad...

They always get new pajamas--and they know that, but a gift is always a surprise and they were excited for new jammies!

Then it was time to prepare for Santa's arrival! We hung the stockings and wrote a note to Santa on his cookie plate.

Of course, we had to taste test Santa's snickerdoodles and peanut butter cookies before leaving some for him....

Then it was off to bed!

Snow fun!

The night after the Festival of Lights outing we woke up to TONS of snow!

Who knew you not only have to shovel your car and driveway but also your trash can!

What do you think.... a good 6-7 inches?

A winter wonderland for sure.... it just calls for you to play in it doesn't it?

Well, we did! This was Deagan's first time in the snow this season and he wasn't quite sure what to do at first... until I gave him a snowball.

Of course you have to eat a snowball... right? Well, when you're 1 you have to eat, or at least taste everything you can get your hands on. Even if it's freezing cold and makes your face turn red.

Eating the snow is Quinton's favorite winter time activity. Each time it snows Corbin and Q both ask for a cup of snow to eat. They love it. When Quinton walked outside the back door, he didn't make it far because there was a lot of eating to do....

Corbin on the other hand, isn't as interested in eating the snow as he is in playing in it.

He had his heart set on making a REAL SNOWMAN! He asked me to show him how to make a snowball... so I got him started and he kept rolling it and rolling it...

We tried to get Q to help us heap snow up around or snow figure.... but he was still hungry apparently.

Finally, we turned our snow mound into a SNOWMAN with a head, some York Peppermint Patty eyes, a carrot nose, and a scarf.
Corbin protested though because he wanted him to have a hat and mittens as well....
So, we found a matching set in the closet as well as some pinto beans for a smile.... and wadda know... A REAL SNOWMAN!

Who says the snow isn't fun? (for a few hours...)