A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

Okay, so most of us eat breakfast, but have you ever had one as cute as this? I love hard-boiled eggs and oranges, but look how much cuter it is when they are hard-boiled quail's eggs and teeny-tiny clementines! I just had to take a picture at the table this morning. Makes me happy just to look at it (I have to admit that, though my eyes prefer the smaller, my stomach much prefers the larger).
*David just smiled at his silly wife who wouldn't eat until she got the perfect picture of this adorable combination. That is just the way I am.

So, on that note....Last week for an activity at church, I asked the ladies to put 3 things in a bag that would describe them and their personalities. We had a very good time, and really learned a lot of fun little things about each other.

I decided that I would ask my family what items they would put in a bag. Here are our responses (I would love to hear some of yours, too!).

David:

1-Key to the church building--I do...

2-volley ball--...what I love...

3-Whatever book my wife is currently reading to us--...every day!


Rebekah:

1- book of fairy tales --love books, especially childrens's tales and all things Happily Ever After

2-bar of dark chocolate --may be my addiction, 70% cocoa (once a day, depending on the day, of course)

3-red and white polka-dot pillow case-- I love sheets too much, and red and white is the ultimate combination of colors, though I love all happy colors especially when complimented with white.

Eli:

1-Dinosaur book-- I love to study dinosaurs

2-one of my made up games-- I have made up many games, and like to make more

3-basketball--I'm pretty good at shooting hoops

Adam:

1-pencil/paper--loves to draw

2-sheriff's badge-- likes to play dress up

3-picture of my mother--"because I'm with her every second of every day" (good or bad?)

Gabriel:

1-big legos--favorite school time toy

2-Once upon a time...The three bears--loves books (this is his favorite today)

3-giant ground sloth--animals are his favorite thing in the world, the stranger the better (this is a real prehistoric creature he learned about at a dinosaur museum in Utah. For Christmas the boys got the toy version).

Isaac: (okay so not exact quotes)

1-a rolled up dirty diaper-- because this means it is no longer on his person
2-a bite-sized piece of anything--though he hates it being pried out of his mouth
3-his little easy-grip ball-- loves to feel the power of the pitch (also likes to do this with wooden blocks, plastic animals, etc.)

Always growing!

Here's to wishing there were more hours in the day (hours with entertained big boys and a sleeping 1 year old, of course), so that I could keep on top of all the things I would love to do--like blogging.

I had a first today.

I taught the lesson in Relief Society IN ITALIAN! I was asked to do it last Sunday and have to admit that my facial reaction wasn't pure pleasure, but I resisted the vocalizing of my concern since the sister just kept a huge smile on her face, waiting for the, "Si, OK", she hoped would come.

I decided that I would just have to do my best and not let myself worry too much about it. I was amazed how little I worried this past week, and how often little whispering ideas would come (mostly while on the treadmill in the early morning hours--always the best time for inspiration).

I wrote ideas down here and there and then spent one evening preparing it all. I read the lesson, about Elijah visiting Joseph Smith, in English first and then reviewed in Italian.

Wa-lah! Prepared. *I must admit to one crying break-down to my husband as I let him know how much I wished I could just convey all my thoughts and feelings in real, understandable, remotely grammatically correct sentences (I must remind myself that my grammar isn't always perfect in my own language, but...still!).

I had prayed all week for peace and the ability to at least be able to remember the words I do know--to do the best I am able.

I looked at those women (not a huge crowd) and realized that they know me and would love me no matter how much I butchered their language.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I will be asked to do it again. Not because I did such a great job, but because I have a lot to learn--it's all about the challenges, eh?!

*And you thought the title of this blog "Always Growing" referred to the boys (okay, I threw you off with the picture --isn't it fun?!).

Happy 11th Anniversary!

I can't believe it has been 11 years--it doens't seem like less,... but that just sounds too long for 2 as young as us (especially one as young as I).

I am so grateful for my David. To describe him is impossible--he is beyond words, but I just call him "Mr. Poppins" --go watch Mary Poppins (one more time never hurts) and you will see that she measures up just like David, "Practically Perfect in Every Way"!!

My David knows how to love me, how to comfort me, how to make me smile, and how to put up with my moods (wow, that is a lot to learn, even in 11 years).

The other day the boys and I were discussing an article in The Friend we had just read. I was telling them that when we make others happy we will, in return, be truly happy ourselves. That we shouldn't focus on our own happiness, but look at others and think of way to make them happy. Eli replied, so sincerely, "You mean like Dad does for you?"

I was blown away by his instant reply and was reminded of what a great husband I have and what he is teaching his boys!

I love you, Mr. Poppins!

*David cut my hair this morning--just another sign that he will do just about anything to make me happy.

Isaac turns 1 year old!!

Isaac seems to think he is big--

I often tell him that he's just little and that he should stop trying to grow up!

Well, On December 4th, 2008, he woke up all adorable...

...and turned ONE! Doesn't that just sound to big for a baby like him?

He enjoyed opening presents (lots of help from brothers and cousins), the traditional first- birthday, chocolate-frosted cake (though he added a twist and tried to choke on one of the Necco dots mom missed when she gave him his top section--hanging upside-down and being pounded on the back isn't the best new first-birthday tradition), and finished the day off with a nice bubble bath (I think this was his personal favorite part of the whole day!).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ISAAC-A-LOLLA!

We sure are glad you are a part of our family!

The First Thanksgiving, Moss style

Squanto and the chief

Pilgrim

Yeah, inspiring, isn't it?!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving blessings 2008

I know it is a bit late, but I just wanted to say a few of the things that I am grateful for this year.


Thanksgiving day here in Cesena, Italy was a very pretty day and as I looked out my back window that morning I was once again reminded of the reason I love living here--there are many good things, but my very favorite is the beauty and peace that surrounds our house. I have seen this view many times since moving in over 2 years ago, but it just never gets old! I am so grateful for the beauties of nature.

What a fun thing to have Josh and Deena's family out here. Thanksgiving really does just seem to be the prefect time to spend with extended family. It is so much more enjoyable to do all the prep for the big meal when there is family to chat with while you do it!

We are also grateful to good friends here from church and also the MacDonald family. I don't know what I would do without them while we are living here.

This Thanksgiving I was reminded how important it is to show love to our families. Angie MacDonald lost her 28 year old son just over a week before Thankgiving and as I heard and felt some of her pain, I looked at my own children. There are times they drive me crazy, but each one adds so much joy and interest into our lives. I pondered each individual boy and the roll they play. There would be such a cavity in our family at the loss of any of them. But I also felt a greater level of gratitude for my knowledge of The Plan of Salvation and the idea of Eternal Families. I am so grateful to know that these boys are mine forever!

Our family is so blessed!

SICILY--Mount Etna

Saturday was the last day of our Sicily trip and we wanted to go out with a BANG, though not literally, we hoped! We headed to Mount Etna—active volcano near Catania. We were really excited for this since we had seen the Volcano on the first day of our arrival, but had just driven past it. There is a crazy amount of lava rock everywhere, but then this volcano has gone off many, many times—is does little spurts often today. The last significant eruption was in 2003. As we drove up we could see the cloud of steam coming from one of the peaks (I think it is always there, possibly to appease the tourists, hee, hee).
We drove up as far as our car was aloud--it was gorgeous to see the golden fall leaves right up against that black lava rock. We then paid too much money and headed further up the mountain, crammed into a large “jeep” with lots of other tourists. It was a very “bumpy bus ride”, but was kind of fun too.
The wind where we got off was intense and thus started the torture of Gabriel Moss by his parents who weren’t about to miss this experience, even with a terrified, screaming 4 year old in tow. He just knew he was going to be blown off the mountain and was most often either latched to my leg, or clinging to my hand and begging me not to let go. Yes, to all of you who were also on the mountain that day, without children under 10, we do believe he will thank us for it one day (or not, but it was a cool experience for the rest of us).
We all hiked out to the places that had blown in 2002 and 2003. They were steaming and so cool, but you could get freakily close to the edge and I did picture the scenerio of Eli or Adam slipping under the rope-line and sliding down into the crater. Hence the, “boys, not so close!” remark—I think that should suffice! Uh-huh.
It was so cool up there. To think of the power lying just below us, that could go at any time—thrilling!
There was a cute Italian geologist that spoke some English and took a liking to Eli, with his questions and curiousity. He found rocks for Eli and told us all about the volcano.
The coolest thing was the ground of lava rocks. When you touched the ground it felt slightly warm, but if you dug just a couple inches down the tempurature was significantly hotter—so fun. Even Gabriel let go of my hand for just a minute to crouch down and feel it. Of course, I took this opportunity to take a picture. Gabriel quickly noticed I was not right at his side and screamed to me that I was not supposed to go away from him!!

After around an hour we headed back to the vehicle and headed a little waze down. Then we took a funivia ride the rest of the way down—probably Gabe’s favorite part of the trip.