Life with the s'Moores

Tragedy

2010-01-26T13:53:00.000-06:00

Words can not express the hurt the Lebanon community is feeling this week. Sheila Johnson was a great parent, volunteer, friend and community member. She loved her family and worked hard to make sure they spent time together as a family. Blake was an enthusastic, bright, athletic, and caring boy who's life was cut way too short. I still can't believe they are both gone. My prayers are with Bryce and Amber. Bryce was an energetic and fun loving little boy. I just pray that this family can see and feel God's love in this tragedy.

Not much else to say. God bless Lebanon, the Johnson family and freinds as we all try to heal.

Christmas

2010-01-03T19:04:00.000-06:00

What a great Christmas break!! We had fun visiting with GG. We made cookies, cranberry chutney and corraled dogs! Santa was great to all of us. The boys got tons of Star Wars Legos and worked together to put them together. They also got an IPOD to share. They are doing great with it! Good thing they both like similar music. Roger got lots of nice clothing and I got lots of my Fiesta Ware!! The best part of break was spending time with family and friends. Roger didn't go to work at all! SURPRISED?? We were! We visited with friends and ate lots of great food.

New Years Eve was a musical extravvaganza as usual, but with out our friend Ruth. She wasn't feeling well and didn't want to ruin the fun. Of course, like my mother before me, I made way too much food. I ended up taking left overs to the Hash's on New Year's Day and feeding two hungry families after a wrestling tourney on Saturday.

The wrestling tournament was in Waynesville and was fun to an extent! My rear end was sore from sitting. Cameron won one match and fought hard on his others. Kyle wrestled 5 very expereinced some state qualifiers. He kept his head up and afterward said he had fun. I was so proud of Kyle and Roger. They really bonded at this wrestling match! I was encouraged and moved to tears to hear Roger tell Kyle what a good job he had done and give him a hug.

SO on this last day of break it has snowed 3-4 inches! Roger's school has already been canceled and apparently our buses were out testing the roads. I hope they just cancel school. I love snow days because of their unplanned nature! So I will be up all night hoping for a snow day. I even had Roger go to the store and get Diet Cherry Pepsi and popcorn!!! Well Happy 2010! May all your dreams come true.

Last day of school 2009!!

2009-12-18T12:45:00.000-06:00

Today was the last day of school in 2009!! The kids are all so excited. They came in all dressed in Christmas attire and smiling. Many bearing gifts for me. As opened gift after gift I began to think I don't deserve all of these wonderful gifts. My students and families are so generous and caring. It truly touched my heart and I watched the faces of little ones light up as I opened their gift. They were truly excited to see my excitement. Our day began with our annual holiday book walk. Each teacher in our hall reads a different book and the kids travel to each room to listen. They come away hearing eight great books and learning tons too!! My kids this year love to do book walks and were cheering when I said we were doing one today. Next big thing will be our party this afternoon. We will be decorating gingerbread cookies, looking through our stockings, open gifts from Mrs. Moore (that's me!) and playing pin the nose on Rudolph!! How fun! I will be sending them home sugar filled and ready for Christmas!

Then time for a BREAK!!! My boys and I are planning on watching Christmas movies, drinking hot chocolate and snuggling for hours on the couch!! I can't think of any place I would rather be tonight! I thank God everyday that my boys love to SNUGGLE!!! I am sure Bella will join in on the snuggle fest! Well, my Christmas has started off with a great big BANG and I am ready to relax now and celebrate Jesus' birth! God bless you all!!

Polar Express Day!!

2009-12-15T08:58:00.000-06:00

What a fun day!! The kids all look so cute!! We had a great time listening to Chris Van Allsburg's book and watching the movie. We even had "piping hot" hot chocolate with marshmallows, of course. The kids loved it! This afternoon will be the big surprise: Santa will leave us our silver sleigh bells and our Santa letters!! They will even be freezing cold because (of course) they came from the North Pole. I love today!

Ok I take that back. They just came and got my kids for their flu shots! Now they are all crying! what a way to ruin a great day! hopefully coming back to a movie and hot chocolate will help them feel better!

Basketball

2009-12-06T18:32:00.003-06:00

Well Cameron's basketball season is over. He had a great time and really improved his defensive playing. He was so excited to get a medal and win both of his games yesterday. The boys really started to play as a team. It was really neat to see them grow.

We have had a relaxing weekend and now have our final week at school before break. We are staying home this year and spending time with Grandma GG!! I think we might make Christmas cookies if I can fit it in to the tight schedule. I thought staying home at Christmas was supposed to be relaxing?? We have dentist appointments, hair appointments, lunches, dinners and parties!! It will be a roller coaster ride all week! But we are excited to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ! Maybe we should make a birthday cake or cookie?? More later in the Life of the S'Moores!

Christmas Program

2009-12-06T18:26:00.004-06:00

The boys just got done performing in the Church Christmas program. They were so cute! They were detective angels on a mission to guide the wise men. It was so cute! Here are a few cute pictures.

It is so awesome to be part of a Church that includes their children in the Christmas celebration. Way to go to all the kids!!! But I really liked those two detectives!

Bella

2009-12-06T14:56:00.003-06:00

It has been a long time since I posted! WOW!

We now also have a new edition to our family. Bella came to us on Sept. 17. She is a Teddy Bear puppy who we rescued from a shelter in Houston, MO. She is just beautiful! (as you can see!)

She has become a valued member of the family! She chews on everyone's shoes so all doors have to be kept closed. She also loves to snuggle and endlessly tries to play with Radar (our other dog). He really wants nothing to do with her. But, by far, her favorite person is Roger! UGGHHH! I got a small girl dog so I could have a dog, but like everyone else she LOVES Roger. I guess he is pretty love able though! I am watching right now as she lays next to Roger snuggled up and dreaming. Life is good! After we named her Bella Kyle said we should have named her OREO because that dad's favorite cookie and she is colored like one! I said that is true but she would have to be double stuffed because she has a lot more white than black!! But Bella stuck and she is the little princess of our family.

Birthdays!

2009-12-06T14:41:00.006-06:00

Cameron turned 8!!! He wanted a bowling party and it was a great idea! We had six of his little friends and his brother all bowling! It was great fun! He even got a bowling pin signed by all of his friends.

We also cut down a huge Christmas tree at Cole's Tree Farm. They didn't have much to choose from, but it was Cameron's year to choose so we had to find one! It turned out to be perfect. All the family ornaments fit and it is beautiful. The picture below was taken at the old barn at the tree farm. Thanks Heather for taking such a great picture.

This is the time of year that we have so much to be thankful for and Roger and I are very thankful for all of our friends and family. We are blessed to live in a beautiful place filled with Godly people who help to love our boys and teach them how to become honorable men. Roger and I are also blessed to have wonderful jobs, where we get to touch the lives of families each and everyday. We are blessed to know God loves us and is providing for us. We have much to be thankful for and hope this message finds you being thankful also.

Retainer

2009-07-16T16:51:00.002-05:00

So today was an eventful day!

VBS was great. Let me update the days and snacks!!

Wednesday - AUSTRALIA - chicken nuggets, pretzels, cheese sauce and kangaroo punch
Thursday - AFRICA - pumpkin tart, popcorn and chocolate milk
Friday - ANTARCTICA - ice cream sandwich

It has been a great week and the kids seem to have had a great time. I have enjoyed working in the kitchen with our "perfect team", as our leader calls us. We have had a lot of fun!!

After VBS the boys and I went to Springfield to get Kyle's retainer put on. This will hopefully help him stop sucking his thumb. He was very worried about whether to do it or not. After it was on he realized he couldn't talk correctly anymore and he was very upset. Then the nurse told him he can't have popcorn, sticky stuff and gum until he gets it off. He started to cry. I held him and told him that he could persevere through this and come out on the other side not sucking his thumb! He looked up and said, " but I can't have gum for a YEAR!!" I felt so bad for him, but I know that this will be good in the end.

So to make everyone feel better we went to look for new backpacks for this school year. We went to the mall and looked at JC Penny. They had some cool sling backpacks but they were $30.00 each. So I said lets look else where first. We went to Children's Place and found messenger bags for $15.00 and they had matching pencil pouches all for $36.00. YEAH! What a deal. The boys really like them. They wore them through the mall and got lots of cute looks and grins. Kyle's is camouflage and Cameron's is football themed in yellow and black, LEBANON SCHOOL COLORS!! GO YELLOW JACKETS!

As we left Springfield we took the outer road because of the pavement being reapplied on I44. Got back on the highway at Marshfield and turned right in to a big storm. Roger called and said there was some hail and that I should pull over. So we pulled over at the rest stop and ran into the building. Needless to say we were drenched through to our underwear!! We waited out the storm and then drove home! We changed clothes and dried our hair and now we are ready for dinner!

Vacation Bible School

2009-07-14T18:41:00.002-05:00

This week is VBS! The theme is taking off around the world. It is great and the decorations are over the top. I am working in the kitchen preparing the snacks. The snacks have been amazing as well.
Monday - ASIA - Rice crispy treat, panda cookie, fortune cookie, ramen noodles and tea
Tuesday - EUROPE - Grapes, olive, cheese, bread, chocolate and white grape juice

That is just so far! The kids are having such a great time and love singing songs and seeing friends.

We are also busily preparing for Church camp next week. The theme is God's Team! We are excited to show the kids and parents the Camp Galillee we love and how fun it is to experience God in that beautiful setting. It is stressful though. Please pray for us as we travel and spend a week leadinbg others in their walk with the Lord.

This week I have met and talked to many of my new students for next year. I am getting excited about the start of school and all the fun and exciting things we are going to be learning. I am also so excited to have a great friend start her teaching career with me in my hallway!! YEAH April! Hopefully we won't get tired of each other??!! NEVER!

Book #3

2009-07-12T10:29:00.004-05:00

I finished Reality Queen while we were on vacation. It was a fun read! It is about a middle aged woman who is experiencing empty nest syndrome. It chronicles how she deals with this change in her identity and her experience in reality TV! It was a fun and easy read.

So now I am on to True Colors by Kristin Hannah. She also wrote Firefly Lane. I am halfway through already in just two days. It is a great book! It is about three sisters who live in a small ranching community. They lost their mother when they were very young and their dad has tried to keep the family together along with the oldest sister Winona. This is a great book already. It has romance, twists and family feuds. I can't wait to see how it ends.

Keep Reading!

Vacation

2009-07-10T15:37:00.003-05:00

WHEW!! What a great week at Big Cedar! We had a great trip. We swam, fished, hiked, canoed and paddle boated. We are all exhausted. Here are a few great pictures of our trip.

There was a pool with a waterfall and our room was amazing. We can't wait to go back next year. The kids loved it so much they were sad to leave.

Now to do the laundry and get ready for Church camp. We are having a great summer.

Fun Day

2009-07-01T15:58:00.002-05:00

Well today started as any ordinary day. I cleaned, a little and then had a meeting at the house about church camp. Pat really helped me come up with ideas for my worship services. Of course they mostly deal with using Roger's hidden acting talent! Then I got a phone call from Roger's sister-in-law and niece and they wanted to go to lunch. So we went, where else??, to El Charro's! It was great and we got to spend a lot of time talking and hanging out. We took them to see Roger's school, even though he wasn't there! The boys and I then ran errands and came home. The boys are out playing with the girls and I am procrastinating making a shopping list for supplies for Branson! Excited about going but lots to do before we go.

Tonight I have a girl's night planned at Dairy Queen to plan the menu for our lake vacation and just some much needed girl talk! The weather has been so nice this week I hate for it to come to an end. I hope it is like this while we are at Branson!

Thumb sucking

2009-06-30T21:32:00.002-05:00

So today the boys had dentist appointments in Springfield. We had a great time. First we went to the dentist where Cameron got his molars sealed and Kyle got fitted for a retainer to keep him from sucking his thumb. Sometimes I wonder why I didn't try harder to get him to use his pacifier! After the dentist we went and did a little shopping. Barnes & Noble, Handbag Warehouse, and Farmer's Market. We headed to Chik-fil-A for a great lunch and great talk about what we would do on vacation. Next we went to Target to look for bargains. Then we headed home!

Radar is doing well. He is still tired and laying around. Hopefully his leg will heal quickly.

Today I got my class list for next year. It looks like I am going to have another great group of kids!! I have three kids that I know so that always helps. Kyle is going into fourth grade and got Mrs. Lowery. She was actually my big sister in band at college, so that is neat. Cameron got Mrs. Dameron, which he thinks is funny because it rhymes with Cameron! They will both have great years as well. So that was our big day! Tomorrow I am planning for Church camp with a friend and staying at home.

Radar

2009-06-29T09:24:00.005-05:00

So yesterday the boys and dad went out to test Roger's new bike. Radar got out the front door and followed them. They were on their way back when Radar decided to jump in front of Roger, but he didn't make it! He jumped right into Roger's front wheel. His leg got caught and broke. We ran to Springfield to the emergency vet clinic, but they couldn't get it lined up right. They splinted it until we could get to the vet today. We were up a lot last night trying to make him comfortable. Radar is 12 years old and is having a hard time adjusting. He has never really been sick so it is hard on the family.

I called the vet this morning and she said she would look at the x-rays and see what she could do. I am a little worried that because he is so old they will just leave it to heal as it is. I am giving him pain medicine and he finally drank some water this morning. We are praying for Radar and for guidance about what to do.

Fun in St. Louis

2009-06-28T17:45:00.005-05:00

Thanks grandma GG! We had a great time seeing Annie at the Muny! What a great time, except for the heat! But we survived the 98 degrees and really enjoyed the show. The boys asked when we could go back. Kyle wants to see HAIRSPRAY! I told him that might not be appropriate at his age. This is a pic of the Gazebo in Forest Park. What a great family memory.

Today we decided to stop at Meramec Caverns and show the boys the cave. It was a blast! Cameron was a little nervous when the lights went out, but he was brave. Then we ventured to the water to cool off for a while after having some very good Blue Bunny Ice Cream. Roger had peanut butter fudge, Dawn had white chocolate carmel cluster, Kyle had mint chocolate chip and Cameron had Scooper Hero. MMMMMM!

Paper Mache

2009-06-26T15:56:00.002-05:00

So who invented paper mache??? It is so messy!! I took the boys and the girls next door to the local Scrapbook Store for a crafty hour. They got to make paper mache things (2 guitars, a cat, and a deer) out of newspaper and glue. The girls were a mess and loved it! My boys liked it at first until their fingers started to stick together and then they decided to wash up and let mom and Shelly finish up! I guess at least they tried it! I don't think paper mache is my favorite kind of craft!

So my little entrepreneurs have decided to make a cookbook and sell it with the girls next door. It is hilarious! Kyle made a whole section on cooking with bugs and the hottest hot sauce ever! I don't know if any of the recipes are edible, but they are having fun. They all sit under the big gum tree out front and write in little notebooks. It is too cute! They are growing so fast.

Hunt for Books

2009-06-24T17:23:00.004-05:00

Today I went to the bookstore and the Christian bookstore to hunt for books. I found five promising books! I am starting with Reality Queen by Debbie DiGiovanni. I am on chapter nine and it is great! It is light hearted and funny. It is about a mom who is just experiencing an empty nest and having an identity crisis. It is an easy read.

The boys had their last day of swim lessons and did great! They astound me everyday, they learn so much. We went to the library to checkout books on Missouri for Kyle's learning week and ate lunch at the cafe with Roger while we were there. It was a fun day out! It is still too hot! But tonight it rained for about 5 minutes. I guess the big storm kind of missed our side of town. I hope it cools things off for a little while.

Roger has to work tonight so I guess it is me and the boys! The boys have decided to set up the tents in the playroom and have a camp out tonight. They are too cute! I love their imagination and their love of anything that uses their imagination. Well I am off to go camping! I hear cowboy music playing in the playroom!

Great Summer Reads

2009-06-23T20:50:00.007-05:00

The Shopaholic Series
The Shack
The Claire Series
The Spa Girls Series
The Secret Life of Bees *
Firefly Lane *

I read most of these last summer. So far I have read two books this summer my goal is 10! I will let you know how I do!

Book 1 - The Secret Life of Bees - What a great read. Set in the south during racial unrest this is a book of a young girls journey to find the truth. I found myself in many of the female characters in this story. They are all strong female roles that I can't wait to see portrayed on film when the movie comes out on video.

Book 2 - Firefly Lane - I just finished it tonight! The last two chapters were tear jerkers. I cried all day as I read. The boys asked me what was wrong and I told them I was reading a sad book. This book is the story of two friends that meet as awkward teenagers. It follows them through three decades of life together. It is a really great read and is set in the time period that I grew up in so many of the mentions of songs, pop culture, clothing and stores are familiar. If you like a good read about girlfriends this is the book for you!

Happy Reading

Diving

2009-06-23T14:23:00.006-05:00

My sons continue to amaze me!! Today at swimming lessons they both dove off the diving board! It totally awesome! They were both so excited that they could do it. We called dad right away to tell him of their accomplishments.

Tonight we are having dinner with some great friends and the boys are working hard to help clean and get ready. I appreciate their help so much. They are really growing into little men right in front of me. Someday their wives will appreciate that they know how to do dishes, laundry and clean a toilet!!

Roger has had a hard week at work and we are praying for him daily. He tries so hard to do the best for the school and God. I know God is using him to touch all the students, parents, and staff at Joel E. Barber.

The heat today is unbearable! The heat index is 105!! The boys and I have just been staying inside for the most part except for having to leave for swimming lessons. Hope everyone else is surviving the heat.

Saga of the Sunburn

2009-06-22T14:45:00.004-05:00

Well the sunburn continues to hurt and Kyle still can't wear a shirt. I was worried about swim lessons today and so was he. He told me that he really didn't want to go because it might hurt to be in the water. But he was a trooper and did a great job! He didn't even complain. When I went to pick him up he was jumping off the diving board and swimming the length of the pool. Cameron is like a little fish too. I remember the first time they went to swimming lessons... They were so small, Kyle was terrified and Cameron just jumped in! They have grown so much are such great kids.
God has truly blessed us with two amazing boys!

While the boys were swimming Roger was on his lunch break so we ran to Lowe's to get a gift card my mom had left him for Father's Day. Why is it when you have money you don't know what to buy! We walked around and couldn't find anything! Oh well we can save it for when we do. Thanks grandma GG!

The Heat is unbearable! I bought tennis rackets for everyone, but I don't think we will be able to play this week. Kyle and I just can't take the heat. I feel bad for all those who work outside. Hope it cools off soon!

Washers

2009-06-21T13:04:00.000-05:00

So the gift was a hit! Roger has always wanted a set of washers. I found a set that connects together so you can travel with them. He got them out right away and set them up in the hall, so Kyle didn't have to go in the sun. They played and played until lunch was ready. I love finding gifts that people will use and really want.

Happy Father's Day Roger!

Sunburn

2009-06-21T08:42:00.001-05:00

So Kyle went swimming with the school Friday and got a severe sunburn. He is really hurting and can't go to church today. He did have a great time at a birthday party last night though and is trying to think positive. He told me this morning "I kind of like staying home!" Maybe that is a sign we are on the go to much!

Roger and Cameron are at church on Father's Day by themselves. Can't wait for Roger to come home and see the gift I bought a month ago. I will post later to let you know how he likes it!

Happy Father's Day to all the Father's out there! I hope that those you have fathered in anyway show or tell you how much you mean to them! Have a great day!

Saturday

2009-06-20T21:44:00.001-05:00

Today Roger was away at a conference while the boys and I helped at a friends garage sale. It was terribly hot, but the boys had a great time playing and buying things we DON'T need! It was fun to spend time with a friend that will be moving away soon. It is hard to say goodbye to someone that we have become so close to. God definitely put us together. Julie and I have taught about the same amount of years and are both kind of goofy! She is 40 though!

After taking a shower and a nap, the family went to the lake and ate dinner, went shopping and ate ice cream. Great fun for Father's Day! Happy Father's Day to all those dads out there. Remember to build a fort with your kids when they ask!! (Roger just told me this story about a dad who didn't build a fort and then promised to the next day and his son died!) Sad story but totally good advice. Spend time with your kids while you can!

Setting up blog

2009-06-19T15:49:00.000-05:00

Ok so I have never blogged before, but I have a friend that says it is a great way to keep in touch with family and friends. So here goes! I am still playing with the layout. Hope everyone likes it! Enjoy!