Christmas Festivities

Joe got up early on Christmas morning to shovel the driveway so we could head to Mimi and Papa's house (my parents) for Christmas morning. We asked Santa to show up at their house this year, we did not even put our tree up this year. I know, call us Scrooge, but Stella is obsessed with pulling off the ornaments and unwrapping presents. So instead of me being a wreck all month long we decided to just move Christmas to my parents. It worked out great.

When Stella woke up Joe was still shoveling so I opened the blinds so she could see him. She was mesmerized. She watched him laughing until he came inside for hot cocoa!

Christmas Eve was spent at my parents. We had soup and salad and then we did the traditional Christmas Eve festivities. My mom read the Christmas Story from Luke while the kids played the parts. Lexi and Landon were Joseph and Mary. Kaya was the Angel of the Lord and Stella was a very uncooperative Jesus. I'm pretty sure she did not feel very safe in the arms of a four year old. Joe read the Selfish Giant, the Littlest Angel was read and the kids got to open up their Christmas pajamas from Mimi!

Christmas morning Joe was the Short Order Chef, he took every ones orders and made them each their own special breakfast! He made eggs, french toast, and omelets. It was quite delicious. He may have felt obligated to cook since the monkey bread I made turned out to look like a "science project gone bad" according to my dad!

I did not get pictures of everyone... I know its unacceptable since I did get a camera for Christmas, but its hard to take pictures and chase a very busy one year old around the house. Stella's favorite presents were her Elmo books her face was priceless when she opened them! Christmas was a lot of fun - its always great to be with family!

On Saturday we went to Joe's sisters house for a Moss Family Dinner. We played games and ate great food, and of course I did not take one picture! Shame on me!

Merry Christmas!

This picture pretty much sums up how our Christmas was! 15 month olds are SOO much fun! Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!!

More pixx tomorrow!

Little Red Riding Hood

Tonight we went to the Utah Flash game at UVU. Our Nephew Zak performed in the half time show doing some sweet karate moves. I am going to try and post a video of it but i've been having troubles with uploading. I took these cute pictures of Joe and Stella as we were walking o the car. Stella looked so cute bundled up in her little red riding hood coat, and daddy is always smiling at his little girl.

Friend Christmas Party

My friends got together over the weekend for the Annual Friend Christmas Party. We had a good time with WAY too many sweets! The White Elephant game was a HIT, Stella loved the Christmas Light Head Band and the Helmet!

How CUTE is this girl?!?!

What?? Where is the Football?!?
Joe's eyes match his sweater... so dreamy.

Some of the friends... Sue, Buck, Me and Joe did not make the cuts

Ryan won this sweet Candy Grab Game.. it really worked!! Ashely ended up taking it home with the steal! Way to go Ash!

It's always fun to get together with friends! Thanks for another fun year!

Dinner

Some friends of ours got together for dinner tonight at Stone Ground. It was lots of fun! We always have a good time when we get together with our friends. Thanks Heavy for Planning our night on the town!

And on a side note... It looks like our baby is no longer a baby.. she is pure BIG GIRL now! I can't believe how fast she is growing up!! Sorry for those of you whose picture I did not take. I really need to get better at snapping more shots!

One more side note... I officially opened my Christmas present.... I have a new camera! I'm in love with it!!!

Kaya

This is my adorable niece Kaya. Kaya came to play with Stella last week while her mommy was at work. She found one of my old makeup compacts and really wanted to play with it. So being the wonderful aunt that I am... I let her. She put it on me and kept telling me... "Lessy look soooo pretty". It was so cute! I guess she takes after her make-up artist mom when it comes to eyeshadow application! I look like a movie star!

She Climbs Again...

Miss Moss is quite the climber!! She is constantly climbing on tables, chairs, couches, toys... everything possible! I was in my office and heard her talking in her room. So i peaked my head in and found her on her bookshelf. I documented it with the cell camera (hence the poor quality). I apolizige for my voice... am I the only one that hates to hear my voice on videos?!?

Christmas Cousins

Our Little Bundle of JOY!

Stella JaneKaya Starling

All of my brother Blakes kids

Ayden and Landon

Alexia and Kinzie

(and a bun in the oven!)

So Happy Together!

My mom took all of the grand kids to get their pictures taken together. Having six kids under six makes for a WILD photo sitting!! They turned out really cute! Enjoy! I can't figure out how to rotate the pictures... sorry!

Busy Week!

I first would like to apologize to my readers. I am still camera less which is very sad for me and you both. My blog tends to be rather boring when I don't have pictures. I'm hoping that Santa gets the letter I mailed!

First off... Joe and I celebrated our 3 year Anniversary! I can't believe we have been married three years! I am so blessed to have him as my husband! He is such a good husband and dad. We've made it through one army deployment, a house and a beautiful baby! I am looking forward to the many more years we will have together! I thank my lucky stars everyday that we found each other! I love him so much!! (he's pretty lucky he found me too!! )

My parents watched Stella so we could go out to dinner and a movie. It was a great night!

Since I don't have a camera and did not take any pictures I decided to post a picture from our wedding day. I love this picture because it was not posed like most pictures from that day. And it shows how happy I really am!! (Don't we look young?!?)

The day after our anniversary was Joe's birthday! I know, I know, who in their right mind would get married one day before their birthday?? Only us! That is a story for a different time - but its a good one! I love our "love story"! Its one of a kind. Anyway, back to Joe's birthday.

We went to Cheesecake Factory upon the request of the Birthday Boy himself. We had some friends join us for a wonderful night of food and conversation! Joe turned the big 31! Wow we're getting old! Joe's sister watched Stella for us so we could have a relaxing time. It was great!

Babysitters two nights in a row was making me feel neglectful!

Friday night we met up with some friends for dinner at Red Robin (yummo!) and then headed to the 10:10 showing of Twilight. We were really excited to see the movie because we have both read the books (don't let Joe know I told you! shhh!!) I was not expecting all the ooohs and aaaahss of the audience and the giggles coming from all the teenage girls. it was fun and exciting though. I for sure liked the book better than the movie, but you bet your bottom dollar I'll see them all as they come out! Since Stella had a babysitter two nights already we decided to take her with us. We let her dance to the music on the table at Red Robin for a good 2o min which tuckered her out and she was an angel through the movie! And that girl can dance! Heather took a movie of her moves - once she emails it to me I promise I'll post it!

Family Shots

We went to our ward activity over the weekend. They had a booth set up to get family pictures and then rootbeer floats. Stella rarely will give the camera a smile these days - we were happy that she was at least looking (kindof)!!

Ashley

This is my sister... isn't she gorgeous?!? The blond hair and blue eyes are still a mystery!!

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Happy Veterans Day - From our Home to Yours

I'd like to thank all of the men and women in uniform who have put their lives on hold to protect our freedoms. I pray for them daily. I wish them safety, courage and strength.

Here are a few pictures of Joe's deployment to Ramadi Iraq

January 2005 - June 2006

Final Farewell Ceremony

(Engaged five days prior)

Sometimes Joe got to work in the "office" instead of going out on missions.

I was so thankful for the times he was inside.

This is Joe talking to me on the web cam and showing me his head wound. He fell of a building with the sound of mortars around him. He broke two rips and had to have six staples in his head. Ouch!

When their troop arrived they stayed in this circus tent for two weeks. The temperature outside reached 120 degrees daily.
One last briefing before boarding the plane en route to Ramadi

Another few weeks of home sweet home. You feel pretty lucky if you get to sleep next to the tent wall opposed to the middle of the tent.

This is the door going into the permanent barracks. Through that black door Joe slept for 365 days. I was counting down everyday.

Soldiers getting ready to head out on a mission.

Thanks for your service babe! I love you so much! I am so happy you are home safe and sound!

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Happy Birthday to my BEAUTIFUL MOM!!

You are my Best Friend and Confidant

a Shoulder to Cry On

my Listening Ear

BEST Shopping Companion

You have more love in your heart than anyone I know

and you have made me who I am.

You are WONDERFUL and AMAZING

I love that we talk on the phone at least 1o times a day!

Thanks for being the BEST mom in the world!

I LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW!

Love your middle baby girl!

Leslie Ann

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!

More to follow.

Love, The Mosses

Pumpkin Carving

We had a few friends over to carve pumpkins. We had a lot of fun and the pumpkins look so cute on my porch! (Thanks to Ashley for taking the picture and not being in it!)

Stella enjoyed the company of her friends. She was not thrilled about taking pictures with mom and dad. She went to bed about half way through the party.

See, she really was here!! Tyson was working but he should be proud of her work! Yes, that is a knife sticking in the pumpkin - not child friendly!

Before Stella got tired she was all smiles!
Nick showed up at the very end. What a fun night!
Thanks for the fun time friends! See you all next year!