Moran Family Fun

Last year after Christmas I felt like a terrible, consumerist American because of the obscene amount of gifts under our tree.  It was way more than anyone needed or even really wanted.  This year Jared and I wanted to make things smaller (less gifts given, less money spent) and we did but I still feel as if we could have given the kids less.  Maybe next year we'll really cut back? The girls slept in Christmas morning (hooray!) so we didn't head to the living room and start opening presents until around half past eight.  We have a tradition on Christmas morning that whoever finds the pickle ornament gets to open the first present.   I think this year it took longer than ever for them to find the pickle.  They just kept looking and couldn't find it anywhere until . . .  Madison found the pickle! I don't think she'd ever found it before so just finding it was pretty exciting plus she got to open the first present of Christmas. I think ...

Giving your kids new pajamas on Christmas Eve isn't anything new, but it is something we've never done in our family before.  It always seemed like a fun tradition but I didn't feel like adding it to the list of things that I had to get done during the holiday season so it never happened.  Then this summer while I was in Alabama I found some coordinating flannel on clearance and bought it with the intention of making Christmas pajamas for the whole family. One would think that from July to December I would find some time to make those pajamas.  Instead the fabric sat on top of my sewing to-do pile, silently mocking my plans of everyone wearing matching pajamas on Christmas morning.  Finally, eight days before Christmas I got started sewing thinking that if I sewed one pair of pajamas a day I would finish in plenty of time, especially since I'd already given up on making pajamas for Jared and myself.  Instead, I made two pairs the first day and then didn't do a...

Like last year the girls put together a Nativity play for our Christmas Eve.  Also like last year, we loved seeing them act out the story of our Savior's birth and hearing them sing Christmas hymns. And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.   (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)    And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.   And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)   To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.   And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.    And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in t...

Samantha turned eight yesterday and eight is another one of those big and important birthdays in our house because when you turn eight you can be baptized.  Samantha's baptism isn't set to happen until the new year so she gets two celebrations for this birthday - the first was for her actual birthday and the second will be for her baptism, which I'm sure I'll write about later. We always try to make sure that her birthday is separate and it's own thing and doesn't turn into an extension of Christmas Eve.  Usually we celebrate her birthday in the morning and afternoon and then make the switch to Christmas Eve around dinnertime.  This year we celebrated by going out to Chili's for lunch and then coming home for presents and cake.  A few pictures of her big day: Samantha is a special girl and we are blessed to have her as part of our family.  She loves music, math, and reading.  She's got a great smile and is friends with everyone ...

Natalie's Kindergarten put on a cute little Christmas play last week about Santa Claus and his reindeer.  Natalie was serious about the program and worked hard to memorize her lines and learn the songs.  I took a little five minute video of the main portion of the play.   It's all in German and was put on by a bunch of five-year-olds so it might be difficult to understand.  Basically, Santa's reindeer don't want to pull the sleigh this year.  They are tired, their hooves are cold, and the sleigh is too heavy.  The reindeer look through Santa's telescope and see all the children who are looking forward to a visit from Santa and decide to pull the sleigh after all. We love Natalie's school and all of the fun things they do with Natalie and the other kids!

Jared had surgery earlier this month to repair a hernia that has been bothering him for a while now.  Surgery is never fun, but there are some benefits - like this pile of Christmas cards all addressed, stamped, and ready to send off around the world.   I had mentioned to Jared that I didn't think I was going to get around to sending cards this year.  There was just too much else going on that took priority over Christmas cards.  However, you'd be surprised what one man can accomplish when spending his days sitting on the couch with little more to do than sleep and play video games.  Christmas letters written and Christmas cards assembled and ready to go all in one afternoon. Thanks Jared!

Natalie celebrated her sixth birthday this weekend after being five and three quarters for what seemed like an eternity.  I'm not sure what it is but  if seems as if there's something special about being five years old.  It was a bittersweet feeling when I tucked her in bed the night before her birthday and she reminded me that this was her last hug and kiss as a five year old.  However, it's wonderful to watch her growing up and to have such a sweet funny girl in our family.   This year Natalie was very specific about what she wanted her birthday to be like.  For dinner there should be grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup.  She wanted cupcakes, not cake, for dessert.  Natalie also dictated a detailed birthday gift wish list to me.  Mostly she wanted polly pockets and chocolate.  She woke up on her birthday excited and happy and ready to party.  She spent a lot of time reminding everyone that she was six and that t...

Last week was full of music for our family.  First Madison's band concert, then the Frauenchor concert, and finally Emily's band concert. I'll start with Madison's concert, which was quite good.  She is one of the only freshmen playing in the high school's advanced band.  For the winter concert she played twelve different percussion instruments!  I'm always impressed when I see her playing and moving from instrument to instrument.  For much of the concert she played the timpani, big drums that are tuned to different pitches with pedals.  She also played a lot of percussion instruments that look fun to me like sleigh bells, vibraslap, triangle, and the cabasa. Playing the timpani And getting ready to play every instrument on that stand and well as a couple of other ones! Before every concert I ask which song is the best one so I can take a video of at least one song.  Madison told me the second song was her favorite so I recorded that one and...

This blog is dedicated to the Seven S's of Sarah...The greatest wife, mother and woman I have ever known. 1. SWEET - This S can be taken numerous ways.  First, she is the SWEETest women to those around her.  As I get to watch her, I see everything that makes her so amazing.  She always seems to put a great amount of thought into the things she does for others.  For instance, she has been doing the 12 days of Christmas for me and bought me a small pill dispenser for my vitamins that I take to work.  She noticed that I take a small plastic baggie with me everyday and thought of getting me something nicer.  When she sends friends and family members gifts it is always something they want or would really like.  She is also SWEET because she bakes the best goodies!  She made some delicious cup cakes for Natalie's birthday and wouldn't you know it, it was exactly what Natalie wanted. 2. STUDENT - If anyone loves to learn it is Sarah.  ...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here.  Maybe I can come up with another song title to put in this post?  Something about dreaming of a white Christmas maybe?  We're feeling pretty good about all the snow around here because last winter wasn't snowy at all.  I'm sure if the snow continues for too long then we'll start complaining about how cold things are, but for now we're enjoying the snowy weather. As I was making dinner Monday night and watching the snow fall outside our kitchen window I thought to myself, "We should take a family picture tonight out in the snow!"  Because I'm the Mom around here, all of my crazy ideas must become reality.  Emily was on board immediately and set to work choosing everyone new clothes so we could coordinate.  Jared thought I was nuts but kindly went along with my plan.  After dinner I set up the camera and we all ran outside to shiver and smile.  These two photos are a little...

November 30 - All last school year Samantha took ballet and we both kind of loved it.  I loved that her ballet classes were held at school during the school day. We didn't have to add another activity to our evenings.  She liked the dancing and the ballet clothes.  This school year her ballet instructor is no longer teaching at school during the school day, but instead is teaching on Monday nights.  Since that doesn't really work for our family and never will, Samantha is no longer an official ballerina. However, she doesn't let that stop her from dancing and wearing ballet clothes. Here's what I love about this picture (that Abigail took by the way).  I love the way her hair is swinging around her and you can only see parts of her pretty little freckled face.  Also, I like that you can see that she is about to leap off the couch and at the last second she must have turned because Abigail called her name. I love that this photo is a candid s...

November 29 - Natalie has needed a hair cut for a long time now.  Her hair gets sort of stringy the longer it grows and most days I can't see her sweet face because of her messy, stringy hair.  Every time I mentioned her need for a haircut Natalie would strenuously object, saying that she was trying to have Rapunzel hair.  This week I finally convinced her to let me cut her hair and I have a princess Barbie to thank. After her morning shower one day I mentioned that because her hair was wet (her hair is thin and doesn't hold a style very well unless we start from wet) I could do a more fancy hairstyle. She asked if I could give her Cinderella hair and wanted me to model her hairstyle after her Cinderella Barbie's hair.  I sensed my opportunity and went with it.  "Natalie" I said, "Cinderella has shorter hair than you do.  I can give you Cinderella hair, but I'll have to give you a little haircut first."  She immediately agreed to a tri...