Day 1: The Cowboy Museum and Ute Lake

We left home around 2:30 this morning and have driven in five different states since then.  Here's a brief recap of our first day:

We ate breakfast at a rest stop in OK that had tepees!  Really, that's so much more exciting than regular tables; couldn't TN come up with something creative like that...guitar-shaped tables or something along those lines.

Our first major destination was the Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma City. The boys had been looking forward to this for a while, and they weren't disappointed.  In fact, we all really enjoyed it. I hope to post pictures soon.

After the museum, we piled (or crammed) ourselves back into the van and drove through Oklahoma and Texas.  The scenery was beautiful!  I wanted to belt out How Great Thou Art at the top of my lungs, but I refrained, fearing that John (usually a good traveler) would awake and start belting something out at the top of his lungs.   And it would not be great.

God's creation is beautiful, isn't it?

Edit: It's 10:45 Mountain Time, and God's plan is different than ours.  We were rained (or blown, or lightning-ed) out after watching a beautiful sunset over the lake.  Now we are driving through the night (again) to make it to the Painted Desert by sunrise.  

All this to say, we are not at Ute Lake, we do not normally drive through the night, I do plan to post pictures in the near future (tomorrow?), and God's ways are not always ours.

On the Oregon Trail

A family of eleven gets the bright idea to drive from Tennessee to Oregon, and back again.  And they plan to camp along the way.

I realize that the above sounds like the beginning of a joke, because only a crazy family would take nine children (including a nursing baby) on a three week camping trip.

So I guess that makes us crazy.

Daddy is speaking at a math conference in Portland and we are all going along for the ride, miles upon miles of it.   The covered wagon is already in the carport; the fearless explorers are stocking up on venison jerky and Oreos; and we are getting ready to hit the Oregon trail in just a few hours.

William and James playing in the van before filling it to the brim

And we are EXCITED!!!!!

We plan to roll out of here around midnight tonight (Sunday); knowing us, we will probably hit the road around two a.m., Monday. ;)  So...unless there is an ocean or two between you and Oklahoma City, beware of a sleep befuddled family touring the Cowboy Hall of Fame some time tomorrow morning.

We plan to blog frequently, Lord willing, so check back for updates on our big adventure!

Joy

Update from Johnnycake

Hi everyone, this is John (better known as “Johnnycake”) reporting.  Delie thought it was about time to post some new pictures of me, but she really should be doing more productive things.  I have therefore taken this project into my own hands.  By blogging myself, I can show you my most flattering pictures.  Just take a look at this one for example:

I know.  Pretty cute, huh?  You just gotta love my double chin.  Here’s another one: 

 That one was taken when I was trying to get the internet cord.

Let me tell you, that is pretty fun.  It’s also a great way to get attention.  You should give it a try.

This next picture shows me making a really good looking face.  Yes, I’m handsome alright.  Delie just looked over my shoulder and said I sounded conceited.  She just doesn’t know what it’s like to be this cute.  

I’m pretty clever, too.  Recently, I discovered a great box under a piece of furniture in the kitchen.  That box was full of cookbooks.  I knew right then and there that if I was ever going to be a good cook, I had to take a look at those.  But not everybody agreed with me.  That is to say, they kept moving me back into the living room to some boring toys. 

Then Mommy got the idea that she should get rid of some of those wonderful books so that they would all fit on the same end table.  She filled a bag for Goodwill and moved the rest of them.  Next, she told George to fill the box with my toys.  I was not so easily fooled.  Not at all.  I thought it would be polite to play with them for a little while, so I made the best of it.  But today Delie saw me doing this:

She seemed to think it was funny.  I’m not sure why.  Maybe she’ll understand when I’m a great cook and filling this blog with my recipes. 

For now, however, I should probably go take a nap so that I’ll be all energized for whatever mischief comes my way.    

Until next time, 

Johnnycake

Happy 7th Birthday, Thomas!

Today, our precious Thomas turned seven years old.  As a birthday blog post, we decided to take a walk down memory lane and remember the past seven years.  Whether you have or have not had the blessing of knowing Thomas for his entire life, enjoy this little glimpse of Thomas Chapman Moss, the birthday boy.

0 years, months, days, and hours

Just minutes after the surgery, one of the nurses took this picture of Mommy, Daddy, and Thomas.   He was already so handsome and cute (can't you see his lips?) and he only gets more so as the years go by.

1 year

Thomas quickly adjusted to the normal life of our (ab)normal family.  He liked to play in the garden, get into mischief (such as the time he dug into a red velvet cake when no one else was around), and laugh.  Come to think of it, he still laughs a lot.  He has a very contagious smile; when he breaks into a grin his whole face lights up.

2 years

One year later, Thomas hit the "terrific two's" full force.  He liked running, eating cookies, and playing with his favorite stuffed  animal, a dog named Jack.  

3 years

When Thomas was three years old, something very special happened--he became a big brother to William!  Now he was a big boy, teaching himself to "read" and to harmonize.  His sense of humor was developing, and his vocabulary was broadening.  His nicknames were also growing in size, including Monkey, Tomasi, Woo Woo, and I'm-going-to-eat-you-up-cute-boy.

4 years

At four, Thomas was fast growing up.  He enjoyed all things books and all things electronic (computers, microwaves, alarm clocks--you name it; he liked it).   He liked to learn and discover new things  by experimentation, such as the fact that it is not a good idea to swallow a penny ;).

5 years

Thomas at five was exciting, fun, and laugh-out-loud hilarious.  Picture a five year old who is equally comfortable in church clothes and in a clown costume, who talks confidently about both lap tops and astronauts--and you've pictured Thomas C. Moss, the boy who has lived all of half a decade.

6 years

The past year has been a whirl, and as I watch Thomas grow and mature I can not but marvel at God's work in his life.  Thomas is becoming a little boy who loves truth, who loves learning, and who loves his family.  A typical day for him includes reading good books, learning about nutrition, doing math problems, playing board games with his brothers, exercising with his sisters or by himself, and playing the piano.

And now he's...

7 years!

We can't wait to see what God has in store for Thomas this year, but we know that--just like Thomas--it will be something exciting and out of the ordinary.  

We love you, Thomas, and wish you a very

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Love,

Daddy, Mommy, the girls, and the boys

Dreaming of a white...March

A couple of weeks ago, we went to sleep to falling rain/ice and woke up to...

this.  

A winter wonderland is very rare around here, so of course we weren't content to simply view the outdoors from the comfort of the house; we had to go out and experience it! 

Even Mommy and John came out for a little while.

                   

William and I got to try out the slopes together.  Oh, how I love this little boy!

George, Anna, and Delie--a.k.a. by their long-time nickname of the "Muddy Buddies"--got tired of plain old sledding and had to try standing up.  The bottom of the hill always looked like a proof of the domino effect, but they enjoyed it while it lasted!

Thomas loved sledding, and--true to his personality--the more unusual, the better!

Daddy and George raced

We were so glad that Daddy was able to stay home from work Monday and Tuesday.  Sledding, hot cocoa, and movie-watching is always that much better when Daddy is here.

We had a great mini vacation to "Colorado"--or the back field.  Our family will always remember this as the best sledding snow in Moss history and as a wonderful restful (sort of) time with each other. 

Joy