Post your wish lists!

Yes, the official name of the blog is still "Moores' Christmas." So it's time to let your wishes be known. Also, to add those wishes of children yet too young to log on. Let's get started!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, replete with the realization that we all have so much to be thankful for. And one of the things I'm most thankful for is this family -- all of ya. I wish I could spend the day with each and every one of you, yet I wish you the best wherever you are celebrating.

Brawl of the Wild

The annual game that divides the family. Ben and I had dreams of making it to Missoula for the game but Mother Nature kept us in Billings. Here in Billings, Miranda and her kids, Joey, Ben, my parents and I are going to watch it from the warm confines of our house (Picture to follow). Here's to a Cat's victory in a tundra-esque Missoula! Anyone else watching today?

Ryan's Address

Hello Moore Clan:

Well, Ryan has officially landed in his home away from home for the next few months. I wanted to post his address in case anyone who wasn't assigned a week felt the inkling to send a letter or box or even an email his way.

1LT Ryan Schulte

C CO TF 1-163rd

COS KALSU

APO AE 09312

Thanks for thoughts, love, and support!

megs

It has been a relaxing visit to Chicago. Abe and Dez have been busy, so it made more sense to hang out, instead of chasing after a lot of "visit to Chicago" activities. Yesterday, we watched the ND-Utah game from the warm, dry couch in Chicago, rather than the cold, wet bench in South Bend. Abe and Dez then treated me to a stupendous dinner last night at the North Pond. It's great to be here, and they are wonderful hosts.

Great Trip with Abe and Des

We had a great weekend with Abe and Desiree out in Utah. We watched the TCU/Utah which was disappointing for me but gave Abe hope that Notre Dame might have a fighting chance this Saturday. We also had a kickin' game of Laser Tag in which Carter smoked us all and the boys triumphed over the girls. But to be fair, I am pretty sure that Kaitlyn got me quite a few times with her random spray of firing. :) We also had some great late night games and a fun drive in the mountains. It was great to have 'em!! Thanks so much for coming.

WILL TURNS 5!!!

Will is FIVE years old today! Such a sweet little boy enjoying the sun at Hauser Lake. Hard to sum up in one post what a blessing this guy is to Kelly and me, but here are 5 words that come to our minds: Conversationalist, Problem-solver, Instigator, Comedian, Breakdancer.

Just one example of how unique Will is can be seen in his request for a green firetruck cake. Not just any green, but "a green that is more beautifuller than a green apple."

LOVE YOU SO MUCH, WILL-BOY!!! God bless you!

Love,
Dad and Mom

Halloween Fun

So, Briana just told me she had uploaded all of her halloween pics to facebook (so lame!!). But as a non-facebooker I think ya'll should post some of your dressin' up pics here for Grama and I. (Bri and I also decided that we are probably the only two people in the family -if not the world- that don't facebook.)
So here we are: Mikayla was the White Queen from Alice in Wonderland, Carter was a Zombie Skateboarder, Kesiah was a dead bride (I know it is morbid but she has wanted that costume for three years so I finally gave in), and Kaitlyn was a lil Fairy.
Really think ya'll should post yer Hallowed Halloween pics as well. :)

Grilled-Cheese

So with Halloween and the obnoxious month of October now on the backburner, we can focus our respective attentions on the upcoming, and perenially most important, months of November and December. With last years landmark breakthrough of the Post-Turkey Day Grilled Cheese Burn Off in mind, I would like to know if we are planning the event again for this year. I think the results of last year, while still very controversial, left us all impatiently wondering what next-year would hold. Well, my dear family, "next year" is a mere 3 weeks away, and hardly a whisper of Cheese-Grilling can be heard. I motion to reopen discussions, criticisms, trash-talking, bragging, and all sorts of analytical and competitive banter on this here blog. I further motion, as many of us struggle to find time in our daily citizenry, to institute a family commitee on extra-holiday family development. This inter-generational committee would regularly discuss, in the public forrum of the blog and/or facebook, the organization of family events surrounding the major family holy days of obligation (i.e. Christmas, Family Picnic, and Thanksgiving.) I believe this committee should be selected by each generational group as defined by the the committee's inagural dicision on election perameters. To form the inagural committee, I take a quick break to catch my breath then continue my motion to form the committee by volunteer, discernment, then lottery decision. The members of this committee must keep the best interest of family unity, fun, and interclan dialogue as first and most precious priority. Adherence to committee decisions are to be left to each clan leader or head of household, holding qualification as defined by future committee decision. Any comments, criticisms, and lauds regarding the formation and purpose of this revolutionary committee are welcomed and democratically encouraged by any and all family members.
With love and sincerity,
Nick

Happy Birthday Mike!!

Seeing as Mom and Dad no longer realize their children are still around, as they are caught up in their grandchildren, I thought I would remind everyone that today is Mike's birthday. He's the big 33 today, and the only consolation for him on that age is that it was Larry Bird's number. Anyway, hope you had a great day Mike, and you are an awesome older brother!

Flag Football Champ!!

I just thought I would give a shout out to Carter whose Flag Football team just won the 7/8 Division Championship. He was a great quarterback this season and well known for his long bomb. Jerry was a fantastic coach and we had a really fun team. Go Steelers!! :)

HAPPY 29TH BIRTHDAY BEN!

Today is Benjamin James Wingerter's 29th birthday. He had quite the birthday weekend...visits from Jake, MaryBeth and Nate, a trip to the play off game and just hangin'. We wish we could be there to celebrate with you...but we are sending our love all the way to Dallas!

Love you Ben! and we can't wait to see you in a few weeks...

Mom and Dad

Masters Man

With a break in the birthdays it's a good time to congratulate my old man on getting his Masters Degree. Back in August after a lot of hard work, my dad received his Masters of Science in Financial Services from the American College. My mom thought it would be a good idea to steal Shannon's graduation robe and make him pose and, much to our surprise, he obliged. We're all very proud of you. From the emails that we've sent back and forth at work, the new designation (MSFS) looks great beside your name. Nice work, padre.

Drum Rolls, Trumpets, etc. The Christmas Names are Here!

Well another Christmas in the making!  The names have been drawn and here we are!  The first name is the one giving and the one behind the dash is the one receiving.

Connie - Annie

Bill   - Tommy

Jan - Connie

Marc - Mary

Johnny - Jan (lucky duck)

Annie - Marc

Tommy - Jimmy

Jeanine - Bill

Mary - Johnny

Jim W. - Jeanine

Jimmy - Jim W.

Rika and family - Sam

Abe and Dez - Jake

Hannah and family - Madison

Briana and family -  Shannon

Mike - Ben

Matt and family - Abe and Dez

Joey - Randa and family

Meg and family - Nate

Jen -  Rika and family

Molly - Nick

Nate - Bri and family

Shannon - Jen

Randa and family - Meg and family

Ben - Mike

Jake - Hannah and family

Nick - Matt and family

Sam - Molly

Madison - Joey

So, there they are - in the books for 2010.  Next will be requests for lists and ideas so you might as well just get them out there!

New Wells Manor

I went over to Missoula on Friday to play music at Sean Kelly's. It was also a great opportunity to visit Maurika and family. They're all doing well. They've been moving over the last few weeks, and are not quite done with the process. But they are settled into a new place at 339 E. Beckwith (Missoula 59801) just a couple blocks from U of M. It's a nice house on a corner lot. Here's an exterior shot from the street. Congratulations to the Wellses, and best of luck with completing the move!

That Time of Year!

Well, Connie texted and asked if we had drawn names for Christmas yet.  I didn't respond (cuz I didn't see the text - really) so she called tonight.  We decided that we need family input.  Do we want to do families like we have been doing for the cousins and individuals for the siblings and spouses?  So, we will make the decision by the weekend and either draw or not depending on what everyone wants.  I will do a facebook message to all of those with facebook too.  Let me know!

Ryan's Address

(Sorry to post this on top of Jen's.....Make sure you read hers!!!)

Thank you everyone who volunteered to send a letter or package to Ryan! I am getting the list together so hopefully you will get something in your email this week. And to answer Connie's question: You are assigned a week and can ship your stuff during that week or right before it. There is really no guarantee for when things will get to Ryan; the military shipping system isn't the best. Thus another reason to pack things VERY WELL! Flat Rate boxes are the way to go.

Aurie: We have an address for Camp Shelby but nothing for overseas right now.

For ANYONE who wants to send him a little letter or whatever down in Mississippi, he is there for another month. Here is that address:

1LT Ryan Schulte
C CO 1-163rd CAV, 116 CBCT
BLDG 2490 25th St
Camp Shelby, MS 39407

(It might change the address to Hattiesburg, MS automatically - don't freak, same thing. )

Update

Well, I figured since Mom decided to let you all know the news of my passing the bar, I would update you on the happenings in my life. From August 15th to September 17th I attended Officer Development School (ODS) in Newport, RI. I loved every minute of it and am so excited to continue my studies at Naval Justice School, which is also in Newport. The picture of me in uniform is during graduation and is when I received my first salute from my Senior Chief. It is tradition that when you receive your first salute, you give the individual a silver dollar. Well, since silver dollars cost about $22, I handed Senior Chief a good ol' dollar coin. Anyway, I flew back to MT and will be here until October 10th, when I will fly back to Newport to begin school.

The reason for the first picture is to show everyone where I will be stationed following Naval Justice School. I will spend the first two years of my Naval career in Guam. It is a tiny little island surrounded by tons and tons of water and far far far away from MT and family, but I am really excited about this opportunity. I know that I can be stationed anywhere in the United States, but my opportunity to go abroad is limited, so I decided to jump on this and voluntarily chose this as my first duty station. I know a lot of you may be thinking "why?" when I could have chosen San Diego or Jacksonville or Corpus Christi, but I am thinking "why not?" I know that it will be a huge adjustment and an even bigger change for me, but I am looking forward to the challenge. I graduate from Naval Justice School on the 17th of December and I will drive back to MT to spend some quality time with family before heading off on a 14 hour flight to my new home.

Over the next couple of years I will be depending on this (and facebook for those of you actively on it) for keeping in touch with family, so make sure things stay current! Thank you all for the support over the years and I am so blessed to have such an amazing family who cares and looks after each other. I am sure I will see you all (hopefully) before I ship out, but I just thought I would give you all a little update on where I will be going.

Love always,

Jen

SHE DID IT!

A huge congratulations to Jen!  She passed her bar exam and is off to Naval Legal school October 10th.  We had no doubt that she would pass and we are so dang proud of her!  Onward and upward, Jen!  Love you much!  Dad and Mom

Happy Birthday, Jimmy and Nick!

Today marks the birthday of Jimmy and Nickolas! YAY! Hope you both have a great day today. We love you tons~