Thomas, a Foundation, the Zoo and One Spicy Kid

Train ride tickets: $64.50.
Gas fill-up for a drive to Heber Valley, Utah: $30.
Watching the girls see Thomas the Tank Engine in person: Priceless.



Okay, so I stole this opening idea from Rick as he paid for our pricey tickets online who in turn stole this idea from master card's TV commercials, but what the hey...

Memorial Saturday we drove about an hour to Heber to have a 'A Day Out with Thomas". It was so much fun. And this Oregon girl got to see a more beautiful side of Utah-lots of green covered hillsides! We also saw Mt. Timpanogos still covered in snow. One must have to be a native Utahn to see the the indian maiden that is supposed to take shape before you eyes as you look at the ridge-line of the mountain, though. I still can't quite seem to see what others see! But the scenery was so pretty. Perhaps we need to take more drives like this as Cali thought black cows in the distance on the hillside were "giant black ants!" Silly Cali. ;)

The train ride was about 25 minutes long-just right for children. We basically went backwards for 12 minutes and 12 minutes forward with our bright blue smiling friend leading the way. The passenger car we rode in was disgustingly old, but I couldn't help get a little choked up inside while sitting there with the girls; sharing this moment in time with them with something they love. I'm sure Daddy felt the same. It was a great day.

May has been such a fun filled month. Cali's preschool field trip brought us to the Hogle Zoo early in the month. It was a chilly spring day, but sunny. Cali's favorite part was seeing the snakes! Mommy couldn't stomach the scent of the reptile exhibit, so she and Carice hung out waiting for Cali and Daddy. We rented a little wagon for the girls to cruise around in, but Carice preferred to walk. We shared an all American lunch together just before we left.

The following weekend we drove up to Farmington and holy cow! no more hole in the ground, we have a foundation for our home. I have to admit, half of my heart is shut off to all of this house stuff. I don't want to count it as mine until it's a done deal. For all I know there could be a lumber strike, and voila... no more home for the Moore4. Sorry, just a little gun shy. But again, I hope it does come to fruition. We need the room!

Cali has started some more sessions of vision therapy. At first it was just to help keep her on track before we moved, but now she needs it. She went for so long without her eye deviating outward, I though she has licked this intermittent exotropia for good. But it started to wonder out again. And she's been seeing double like crazy. At least we know that her brain isn't turning that eye off. For now, we work and have faith in her Priesthood Blessing that she will be healed.

She has been putting herself to bed starting this month. I told her if she filled up her sticker chart I would make her a cake. Well, looks like I will be baking soon. Way to go Cal! We are so proud of you! :)

Our confident little Cali is returning, I think. She goes to sleep now by herself (with a little help of Daddy's Ipod playing music to rock or lull her to sleep!) She said the opening prayer in Primary (telling Sister Abbot, "Can you whisper in my ear!") And she went up to the front of the chapel with the rest of the Primary children and sang their Mother's Day song, "I Often Go Walking". When she was done, I got a smile and a huge hug around my neck. I was so happy and proud. :)

It may sound strange, but I wanted to eat at IKEA for my Mother's Day meal. We went to lunch together as a fam, but for some odd reason, there was room in Smallland, the children's play place on a Saturday afternoon, so Cali went to play. So, I had my other two sweeties with me for lunch.

Carice is talking so well for being only 22 months old. "Mommy, what make?" She has said to me when she's curious as to what's cookin' on the stove. Or her cute, "I daught it." (I got it) if she retrieves something. And better yet, "I did it!" when she accomplishes something. She even counted to 8 one night. I couldn't believe my ears! She's getting pretty good at knowing her colors and loves to color with crayons and (unfortunately) markers. What colorful, messy skin! I just hate when she get marker on her thumb-sucking thumb! Ewww.. She knows some of the alphabet already and can repeat a lot of words that you say. She has her own little version of things: flip flops are 'bip bops', scrub is 'bub', milk is 'mouck', (and signs the word, too), slippers are 'bippers', and the most important... blanket is 'glank'. She seems to substitute the letter B for most everything, but when it comes to using the B sound as in 'blanket' our 'blue' - a 'G sound' comes out! :) hee hee. Cute Carice:) I must say as sweet as she is -- as Daddy says, (and i agree) she does give the best hugs and her cute little pucker for a kiss is so cute, but boy does she have a temper! Yeesh! One terrible night as I sat with her on my bed I asked her if she was Irish! "A redhead", Daddy quickly adds. But, nothing but beautiful blond strands are coming out of that little noggin' of hers. Actually, 'night terrors' have crossed my mind with her. Cali had them. For Carice, that night was like she had a tantrum. Was she asleep? They are a crazy phenomenon. She's a little spicy at times! :) And she can get this heavy brow and furrow out at you like Bert on Sesame Street. She's been better about not huckin' her food off her highchair try as well as the plate. That's always a plus :) Oh, the memories of our little ones.

We are American Idol fans and especially this year, having our little home fry, David Archaleta in the finals! But as our luck would have it, our TV broke on the night of the 2nd to last show. Crap. Oh, I was distraught!. We were able to watch a lot of the performances on YouTube and we did get lucky that they streamed the finale live. I thought little David had it in the bag, but David Cook came out 12 million votes stronger! :) But, it's fun to have a 'celebrity' in our home town. Maybe we'll run into David Archaleta someday. Crazy to think Rick worked just down the street from his high school in Murray. And by the way, we did buy a new TV, but ultimately decided to wait to put it in our new home. So, it sits in the box in our hallway. Hopefully, this summer it will be out and we will be watching it!

Well, you've come to the end of this post as well as the end of the Moore4 blog. I have decided not to do this anymore. Rick says he doesn't want to take it over. He does, however, have his own blog that you might like to check out and we have a Flickr account where he posts photos.

I've visited other blogs and have noticed that other viewers leave comments. The comment section on our blog sits empty most of the time and it feels as though no one wants to share our life with us. Sad. Maybe it's what I write. Maybe it's how I write. I know I can be a little emotionally raw and honest in my writing. Sorry if I've offended. Anyway... if there is someone reading this, maybe we can catch up when we see each other, if you want, otherwise we will see you on the flip side...