THE MOSS FAMILY

My Paper Chain...

2009-05-15T14:20:00.003-06:00

My paper chain (until school is out) is getting shorter and shorter! For the kids it means that sleeping in and hours of morning cartoons are right around the corner. For me it means hearing endless phrases like..."He looked at me", "She touched me", "He crossed the invisiable line" (you know the one that only the child in charge can see)! But there are also great things that come along with summer vacation; no homework, no more sack lunches, trips to Lake Powell, a break from book reports and time consuming projects (that we as parents do 99.9% of!). It's a good thing that the kids get a break from school during the summer months when the weather allows for out of doors activities (cooking smores inside just isn't the same and sleeping in a tent in the living sucks...it sucks outside too!). Bottom line summer vacation is like any other vacation, the kids still have to eat and dirty laundry seems to pile up faster then it can be washed and shoved away (the shoved part done by the kids).

You could be a winner...

2009-05-09T17:26:00.002-06:00

First one to tell me where this picture was taken (the exact location) is the big winner...of what you ask...NOTHING!

Birthdays...

2009-01-27T19:47:00.003-07:00

I forgot to include the fact that we also celebrated three birthdays over the holidays...

How Many Days 'til SUMMER?

2009-01-27T19:17:00.005-07:00

The Thanksgiving turkey's been eaten, the Christmas Tree has been decked and halled out of the house, the New Year has come and gone(along with all New Year's Resolutions), reality has set in! It's winter, it's cold, it's still January!

It's that Time of the Year... AGAIN!

2008-11-05T09:12:00.004-07:00

I know that we haven't eaten any turkey yet, but this type of weather makes me want to put up the Christmas Tree and listen to Joy to the World. So don't be surprised if you visit our home before Thanksgiving and are welcomed by the sight of lights, holly, and mistletoe! After all, T'was 50 Nights before Christmas and all through the house...

Candy Troubles

2008-10-31T20:57:00.004-06:00

It's Halloween Night and the kids have just been tucked into bed, how long do you wait to raid their Halloween Bags? You know that Snickers Bar is calling your name...or is it the fun size bag of M&M's that causes you to steal from your own kin? Shane and I don't have to worry about sneaking candy because from Cade's 1st Halloween we had a plan. The plan was simple...teach them that after sorting and counting their candy it is ALL put into one BIG bowl for everyone to share. They don't mind! In fact they usually find the largest bowl in the kitchen to put it in and then stand in awe that it doesn't all fit. But tonight the thought crossed my mind, who is going to provide me with my Halloween sugar fix when my kids are no longer Trick of Treating? Do I buy several bags of candy to pass out hoping that I have a huge bowl of "left-over" candy? Do I ambush a small group of helpless children on the street? Maybe Shane and I need to once again sit down and come up with another simple plan...so far the first plan has pay off very sweetly if you know what I mean!!!

HALLOWEEN '08

2008-10-31T20:41:00.000-06:00

And the WINNER is...

2008-10-26T14:15:00.001-06:00

Anna's 5th Birthday

2008-10-24T22:38:00.001-06:00

HOLy COw

2008-10-23T21:36:00.005-06:00

That was my first thought when I came to visit my own blog! I guess I've been a little out of touch with my inner blogger! Don't give up on me yet. So much has gone on since my last post, so I'll give a quick update. First, during the summer our home computer began a slow and painful electrical death. After trying several times to create a slide show and having the computer freeze then simple turn itself off, I stop using the computer at all! However I knew that when Anna refused to visit barbie.com that we were in serious trouble. The problem has been resolved...I'm now blogging from the comfort of my own bed on a beautiful HP Pavillion dv7-1133cl Entertainment Notebook PC (translation: half-way decent purchase from Costco with instant $100 rebate!). Second, school started!!! Cade, Madalyn and Anna have all adjusted very well to being Wildcats instead of Braves. Cade is playing football, just received his Arrow of Light and moved up to the 11 year old scouting program, and he went to the "Maturation Program" at school today(he has hair in his pits...a true Brown!). Madalyn is still swimming with the Wildcat's Pre-Comp Swim Team(she swims like a fish), loves to be with her friends, and is very quickly entering the "tween" stage. Anna turned 5 on October 12, I have never seen anyone so excited about being 5 or just being alive. She got in the car the other day and said that something was "hideous", and during a moment of weakness on my part she exclaimed "you cannot raise your voice at me because I am a princess", enough said! Third, a couple of months ago we had one dog...then we had nine dogs...then the runt never grew and we had eight dogs...and now we currently have three...this number will increase to four soon because Shane will be joining them in the "dog house", once again enough said! Finally, I am great. I have recently become a spectacle to watch every where I drive my van. My drivers side door was smashed by a postal patron just trying to get his mail. Needless to say it doesn't close very well and opens when it feels like it...like while driving to drop Anna off at preschool. This is when I became a spectacle... I calmly pulled over use all my upper muscle strength to partially close the door and then use all my lower body strength to kick, not just once but several times, the door shut...for the time being. Many cars passed me during my 'how to shut a door tight" demonstration on State Road 32, I laughed to myself the rest of the way to preschool wondering what they were thinking as they drove by. I was simply thinking Safety First, Door Second. So there you have it in a nut shell...peanut shell... beach shell...bomb SHELLter?(Marci the last one was for you)!

ARE WE THERE YET?

2008-07-11T22:13:00.002-06:00

The summer is 1/2 way over. I can't tell if I would like to view this information as a glass 1/2 empty or 1/2 full...If I survive the rest of the summer I'll make sure to let everyone know. The following information may sound like a rough draft for an annoying Christmas letter but I'm going to write it anyways... This spring and summer the family and I have been around the world twice, and have done community service in all nations visited. Cade has been called to serve a mission in China as the youngest missionary ever (he speaks Chinese perfectly and his stir fry is not to be challenged). Speaking of China, Madalyn will be swimming in the Olympics this August. I almost forgot, a year from now our 5 year old Anna will be graduating from medical school. May this letter find you and your family surpassing all of your summer dreams. Love, The Humble Moss Family HaHaHaHa Reality Check: We've gone through several boxes of band-aids, had sunburns and itchy patches that needed mystery cream applied so overly tired children would miraculously fall asleep at night. We've slept on the tramp, in a houseboat, at a hotel, but best of all on an air mattress under the stars. We've cooked s'mores over of a fire, a BBQ and my favorite not cooked at all. We've flown a kite, played baseball, swam, ridden bicycles and skate boards. We have cried and laughed and sometimes done both at the same time. And just for the fun of it we've read. All in all we have done nothing great or extraordinary. But I think years from now we will look back and realize that all the time spent just living will equal out to be something really special!

SNOW?

2008-06-18T16:31:00.003-06:00

It finally stop snowing, at least I think is has. Last week (second week of June) we awoke to find 2 inches of the white stuff on the ground. Needless to say it got Cade out of mowing the lawn for a few days. Things are looking up so the kids and I planted flowers yesterday. Although we are enjoying the summer weather I thought I should give everyone the heads up that there are ONLY 189 days left before Christmas...so start shopping NOW!

EASTER SUNDAY

2008-04-02T09:15:00.001-06:00

I Promise...

2008-03-30T14:07:00.002-06:00

I promise to post pictures of our new house in Oakley as soon as it stops snowing!!! This morning we woke to 4 new inches of the beautiful (but really annoying) stuff. So based on the current weather patterns you my never see pictures of our home. But with or without pictures you can celebrate, because on Wednesday in goes the carpet and we will shortly follow! Anyone feel like some heavy lifting...maybe a couch or two?

Is the road really HATCHING?

2008-03-12T12:19:00.002-06:00

The other day I was parked in front of the library gathering all of the books and movies that needed to be returned, when Anna asked an interesting question. It went something like this...Mom why is the road hatching? I thought for a second that I had misunderstood her until I looked at the road. She was spot on, the road was indeed hatching (next time you go outside look at the cracks in the asphalt and you'll see what I mean)! For just a moment it was nice to see the world through a 4 year old's eyes. I'm still wondering what she thought was going to hatch out of the road...probably just a big chicken.

DISNEYLAND VACATION..

2008-02-11T11:27:00.001-07:00

The Wax Museum

2008-01-31T07:37:00.000-07:00

Each month Cade has to read a themed book and then put together an elaborate book report. I am positive that the teachers do this to test the skills of the parents (I think I'm getting an A+ this year...you should have seen my papermache puppets!) This month Cade read a book about Andrew Jackson. The project included putting together a tri-fold board highlighting the events of his life. And then dressing up as President Jackson pretending to be in a wax museum and coming to life when someone put money in your jar and pushed a pretend button. Did you follow that? Family is then invited to come to the museum. I'm sure you're wondering why they are asking for money...for the 4th grade OPERA (I can't wait for that project, hahaha). Cade did a great job. I had fun looking at how the other parents did on their book reports!

Just one more day...

2008-01-30T07:35:00.000-07:00

So the question of the day is are we ready to go to the happiest place on earth or better yet is the happiest place on earth ready for us!! Tommorow we leave for a vacation to Disneyland with Shane's family. Personally I'm ready to step out of reality into the world of make believe (in this world I always have great hair and my laundry is done...or maybe I don't even have to do the laundry!). Truth be told I am a little nervous and I'll tell you why: WEATHER SHOCK! Let me explain, today it is 12 degrees and I'm sure if you factor in the wind the tempurature is similar to the North Pole's. And to top that off it just keeps on snowing (there is so much snow that Park City School's are closed today...Globel Warming...Hahaha) I know how to do North Pole weather, but it has been a long time since I've seen the upper 60's. Do I pack long sleeves, short sleeves, coats, jackets, rain gear, hats, gloves, shorts, t'shirts, flip-flops, or do I just pack it all! I'm sure that you are thinking this is so trivial just go and have fun. I wish that the tempurature was going to be 80 degrees that would make it more simple. When I was younger (6-8 yrs. old) I was told by a friends mother that you can put your swimsuit on run through the sprinklers when it is 80 degrees. That information has stuck to my brain like glue. 80 degrees means that even with wind and clouds you will not be cold when playing in hose water. As a child I didn't always follow this rule so I know what it feels like to be sharing one towel with 5 girls and have a gust of wind force you down on the warm cement to avoid hypothermia. So could someone please tell me what I can do when it is 65 degrees outside!

THE HILL...

2008-01-14T13:46:00.001-07:00

Cade Sings...

2008-01-10T16:37:00.000-07:00

If any of you have been wondering and waiting the day has finally arrived...the State Capital Building is once again OPEN! To some it may feel like Christmas Morning but to me it feels like a a mid-winter Thursday. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful that all the important lawmakers of Utah will now be able to survive an earthquake that could register something far greater then anything the Rictor Scale has measured. But after a visit today, to listen to Cade sing on the marble steps of the Capital, I'm thinking that there could not possibly be any earthly technology to support all that marble, concrete, and steel...and probably some big egos. Time will tell, but as for me and my house we'll stick with a reliable "snappy"!

Madalyn's Baptism 1-05-08

2008-01-07T08:01:00.001-07:00

Ice Fishing '08

2008-01-02T20:35:00.001-07:00

If you're smart...

2008-01-02T19:57:00.000-07:00

If your smart you'll make plans this very moment for New Year's Day '09. If you don't come up with an excuse quickly you may be invited to the 2nd Annual Ice Fishing Extravaganza! Which is a fun filled event that takes place in a sunny (-5 zero) out of doors location (next years location TBA). You may be thinking a year is a long time to wait, if this is the case please contact Shane ASAP to become his ice fishing buddy...and get me off the hook! If you are not feeling numb from excitement here are some pictures from this years event to get you in the ice fishing mood...

Madalyn's 8th Birthday Party

2007-12-28T16:01:00.001-07:00

The Secret's OUT...

2007-12-19T16:58:00.000-07:00

After 12 years of marrige and 12 moves we will be moving again this spring! Our house is currently under construction, which was a secret that we had been keeping from our kids. Shane and I had big plans to keep it a secret until Christmas Day, but decided against that idea last weekend. We didn't want the kids reminding us 20 years down to road of their worst Christmas EVER... the Christmas we told them that we were moving to a new city! When we shared the news with them we did have tears, both of happiness and sadness. The kids are really feeling like North Summit Braves and the thought of being South Summit Wildcats is hard to swallow, especially for Cade! I think we will all survive this move, after all we lived in the "spider house" and have been living in a "snappy" for almost 4 years!

Happy 10th Birthday Cade!!

2007-12-07T20:41:00.000-07:00

6 Unknow Facts...

2007-11-25T11:34:00.000-07:00

1. Making a list of six unkown facts is the hardest thing I've done today, and that doesn't say much.

2. If you read the post below you'll find out that I'm married to a "gay" man. Until Shane brings "gay" back I will use this term cautiously.

3. I ate Lucky Charms for breakfast this morning (I don't remember the last time I ate this cereal...maybe 20 years ago) and learned that if you do so on an empty stomach you get an intense sugar rush (If the rush doesn't subside, I recommend homemade nachos a couple of hours later)!

4. Christmas Cards Vs. No Christmas Cards that is the question that keeps ringing in my mind!

5. I perfer wearing sweats to jeans, excuse me...not sweats, designer leisure suits!

6. Anna just came into the office and announced she didn't want to go to Church today, she might be on to something a nap does sound really nice!

Who's Gay?

2007-11-21T21:07:00.000-07:00

I am just a little gay right now... however I have been very gay at times. This Christmas season it is my mission (Shane, the virgin blogerer) to put the "Gay" back in the Holiday season. How will I do this you may ask? Simple I say. Just insert the word in seemingly standard everyday conversations at work and home. Gay can be substituted for many words, happy, cool, fun, glad, and many more. For example: When I got to work this morning a friend, Sam, asked how I was. With a smile and a wink I replied "gay." I had to have a once a year medical check up the other day and the same friend asked how it went. I told him, "Sam, it wasn't really gay, but the Doc and I were friends so it went OK." He did seem to avoid me until later that day when he was leaving. He wished me a Happy thanksgiving. When I asked what he would be doing he replied he was staying home but had an old high school friend in town for the Holiday. I wished him a joyous and gay time. He nodded silently then drove off???
This means a lot to me so please help me put the gayness back in the season. If this campaign does not work we may have to petition to have the lyrics of many of the Holiday songs we all know and love changed. Don't let that happen!

To all my family and friends I wish you the Gayest Holiday Season yet.

-Shane.

FEASTIVIST 2007

2007-11-21T08:58:00.000-07:00

It's all in the name...

2007-11-21T08:43:00.001-07:00

It has become a Brown's tradition to eat Thanksgiving Dinner the Sunday before the official holiday. So going with Brown tradition it was also vital to the event that it be re-named! After all, it would show great disrespect to the original turkey day if we called our event THANKSGIVING! So with mouths full of savory turkey and ____ yams (offical name not yet decided), the ideas began to flow. Feast Sunday(opposite of Fast Sunday) and other such variations were heard, when from nowhere the name Feastivist came out of my mouth. There were cheers and congratulations offered for such a fine name. And then that was that, from this day forward the Sunday celebration will be known far and wide as (drum roll, please!)FEASTIVIST! This creative process may seem a little unusal to a new commer so let me give you some history. While growing up my Dad never refered to a friend by their proper name. My friends were Leather Face, and Colonel Sanders just to name a few. Marci had a friend named (adjust voice to high pitch) kimmy, and who can forget the neighbor boy Mat..T. At some point new names were being assigned to food. I believe it started with Yuck Salad, and the most famous to this point, FART Cake(which one time was mistakenly called Ass Cake). So the evolution of re-nameing has lead us to this moment in time. May you all enjoy Thanksgivings and next year plan on joining us for Feastivist!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2007-11-12T16:31:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin Time!

2007-11-09T12:42:00.000-07:00

Time Flies!!!

2007-10-29T20:53:00.001-06:00

Anna's 4th Birthday Party

2007-10-19T07:56:00.003-06:00