Merry Christmas to all our Family and Friends!

In our last Christmas newsletter, we informed you of our choice to accept a job offer in Las Vegas, NV.  After the holidays, we loaded up all our previously packed belongings and drove west for two days.  We spent the next half-day driving around and perusing apartments, then selected one in nearby Henderson (I insist upon the distinction) by early afternoon, signed the lease, moved in, and returned our rental truck by dinner time.  Those of you who’ve known me longest are probably rightly shocked, but this is just the sort of care-free and go-with-the-flow spontaneity I’ve learned to usually tolerate and mostly appreciate in Devin. 

Anyway, we feel the Lord has guided us here and we’ve been happy with our decision.  Everyone always asks us how we like it here, so I should probably address that question.  We like it – Devin loves his job, we’ve made good friends at church and with Devin’s co-workers, we appreciate living in a city with a temple, we enjoy the mountains and living in a dry climate, and it’s been awesome to live closer to my family in Salt Lake and do more with them.  We’ve also made some happy memories taking advantage of all the fun and family-friendly things there are to do in the valley - particularly camping and some neat cultural activities, like seeing The Phantom for Valentine’s! 

In March, Devin got to “shift” to Denver for work for a couple weeks, and Becca and I flew out to join him for one of the weekends.  We had a great time at the Butterfly Pavilion, Zoo, dinner with Devin’s co-worker and his family, the temple, and Red Rock Amphitheater, besides swimming a few times at the hotel. 

May was by far the most exciting month of the year for us.  To celebrate 3 years of a very happy marriage, we went to New York City!  I had never been before, so we really crammed in every sight-seeing opportunity possible (be it known that a vacation Devin-style is not a thing of relaxation) – it was a very memorable time, and I think my favorite part was seeing the Statue of Liberty.  This trip actually was planned to coincide with the wedding of Devin’s older brother Brett to Andrea Cibelli – which festivities took place in New Jersey.  It was a beautiful occasion and fun to see all the Moore clan, as well as to get a much-approved-of addition to the family.  

Just before leaving to go to the East, I became aware that I was probably pregnant and felt that pretty keenly during our vacation.  I waited until Mother’s Day, however, to take the “official” test; we are expecting Baby #2 sometime around January 11^th!  We are waiting to find out its gender, as we did with Becca - we are also currently taking name suggestions as we haven’t come to any conclusions on our own. 

As I stated before, we’ve had a lot more chances to visit and be visited by my family, or to meet half-way at the family Cabin – which have made up the rest of the highlights of our 2012.  Gratefully, these visits are too numerous to give details about, but have meant a lot to us. 

I had a short season of house-hunting before we put an offer down, which was soon accepted by the seller.  It’s a short sale, and that was 2 ½ months ago, so we’re still patiently waiting to hear from the bank and trying not to get too excited. 

Looking back over this past year, there is no way to tell all the growth Becca has gone through!  She turned 1 the day after we moved in and will turn 2 the week the baby is due.  She was just starting to walk and say “Dada” and “Mama” when we arrived, and now I can’t keep up with her (partly the belly’s fault) and she’s saying full sentences of 7 or more words!  She is so smart and entertaining – she loves to read and do puzzles and play outside and mother her stuffed animals, and she’s learning to sing and was recently potty-trained.  We are so proud of, and thankful for, our good little girl.

As for me, being a stay-at-home-mom and home-maker means my life revolves around Becca and cleaning and sameness, but it’s the best job in the world.  I am learning and growing SO MUCH as a mother.  I started a book club, and have joined the Pinterest craze and am trying to make more time to be “crafty”, which I enjoy.  I am also in the Primary Presidency at church and enjoy working with the children there. 

I am so proud of Devin – he has worked so hard this year!  In addition to his job at Kimley-Horn and Associates (a great company that he loves to work for and is learning tons with), he also completed his thesis and will OFFICIALLY graduate with his Masters this month.  Hooray!  Devin’s also in the Elder’s Quorum Presidency at church and still, he finds time to be the best husband in the world and a devoted father (he’s Becca’s favorite play-mate). 

We hope you’ve all had a wonderful year like us, and that this next one brings you even more blessings!

With Much Love,

Devin, Karina, Becca and Baby

A Little Moore

Do you like Becca's new shirt? :)  She's excited to have a little playmate - coming January 2013.  

Miracle Grow

Alma 34:24 says, "Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them".  We have been working hard at remembering to pray for our little pomegranate tree, tomatoes, basil, cilantro, parsley, marigolds and especially our bell peppers!  We're trying to grow everything from seed this year, and the poor peppers have already failed once.  I had given up hope for them (as they were supposed to sprout several days ago), and was just about ready to dump the soil out of the peat pots and try again, when this morning I was greeted by this OH SO HAPPY sight! 

Say My Name, Say My Name

A couple days ago, and totally out of the blue, Becca started calling me "Mommy" instead of "Mama"!  I love it!  It makes my heart sing to hear it.  She started calling Devin "Daddy" some of the time, but still often says "Dada".  We've worked a lot to try to get her to say her own name - right now, she's "Beh-py".  

Bringing Honor to Our Family

Devin is still currently involved in Corporate Challenge (I believe I posted about it earlier - but it's a city-wide, three month long, multi-sport competition between companies that are put into teams to encourage health and foster networking).  This last Saturday was the swim meet and Devin had volunteered to be Coach for his team, "Corporately Challenged".  

Here he is in all his Coachly glory, giving instructions before the meet began.

Becca and I decided to come cheer him on, even though the meet took place during Becca's afternoon nap. Here's a rare shot where Becca was actually sitting on the bench with me - she was not inclined to stay put with all that water so close and so many people to meet.

Can you see the excitement in his eyes? Devin misses swimming.

After warming up in the pool, he's more than ready!

Becca wasted no time in making a best-friend-of-the-afternoon, they were pretty cute together.

I was happy whenever her interest in people won over the lure of the pool water - but mostly I was dragging her away from trying to step in to wade on the pool steps.  She wasn't happy about that.  I brought her swimsuit on the chance that she'd be able to get in the pool, but unhappily, I forgot a swim diaper.  Kind of crucial.

Dad had a little break and graciously supervised some splash time.

She's learning her daddy's love of the pool.

But honestly, she doesn't have much of a choice in Devin's mind! :)

Which is wonderful in my opinion, I wish I could swim better.

Maybe she'll be a life guard like her dad too one day; she's obviously got the looking cute part down:

I love to see how much these two enjoy each other!

Becca gave Dad a victory hug after he won his first race, the 200 meter free-style:

She was so pleased when he waved before his second race, the 100 meter free-style:

Last minute warming up of the arms:

On his mark, set...

...GONE!  I tried to get a close action shot of Devin swimming, and for my efforts became soaked and got this gem (no, I did not fall in, I just forgot how much he splashes when he does his flip-turn):

This is the best I could do - Devin is the one in the lead.  "Good form, Peter!"

Devin placed first in his second race too!  Huzzah!

His third, and last, race was the 50 meter back-stroke.  I decided to film this one:

And he won again!  Afterwards, Becca and I stepped out into the sun to try to dry off a tad.  She didn't mind that I gave her a mo-hawk, but didn't care for the sensation of a wet shirt sticking to her chest.

Becca got to look like a mini-Olympian with her daddy's THREE GOLD MEDALS draped about her neck!

We are so proud of Devin!  I loved watching him "in his element".

New Strawberry Swimsuit

Grandma sent Becca a cute swimsuit for Easter, so we (okay, I) had to have a little photo shoot before we jumped in the pool.  Doesn't she look so adorable?

Here's a lovely view - I wanted to capture the tropical prettiness; I still always feel like I'm on vacation when I go to our pool area!

And here's the two I love most!  What a happy and blessed life we have!

Temple

Last Friday, we went as a family to the temple.  I took my turn first while Devin and Becca had lunch by the fountains.  Even though it was quite hot, Becca always loves spending time outside.  Especially if Dad will hold her upside down and dip her head into the fountain.  

Mom is not quite as fun and tried to confine her to the shade, but we still had a good time chasing birds and singing songs.

Breakfast Bonding

I am fairly certain that when Becca gets into Primary, she'll love to sing the one that goes "My daddy is my favorite pal...it's plain to see I want to be like him in every way!"  Becca LOVES her time with Dad, and it's a rare treat to get to enjoy breakfast on his lap instead of being relegated to the high chair.  She was so pleased, she couldn't stop saying, "Mmmm!" and giggling.  

Lessons Learned

The other day I re-learned that I should heed the Spirit's promptings more closely when I am told to put away that giant bag of Cheerios that I left sitting on the kitchen table after breakfast. Who knew Becca was getting so tall with such a long reach?

And then I learned that while it IS a great thing to swallow that momentary burst of frustration, and to just sigh and run for the camera....

"Hmmm...did I do something I shouldn't have?"

"I guess not, since Mom is taking pictures - I must've done something cute."

This is her pose when I tell her to "smile"

...it is NOT a good idea to leave room for more mess making (even if it does create a cuter picture).  Which lesson unfortunately only came to me as I was taking this picture - and it was too late.

"Mom doesn't seem to mind, I'll just dump out the rest!  How fun!"

Mmm, a pile of Cheerio goodness. 

"Oh my! How will I clean this all up?" Just kidding. I'm sure that thought never occurred to her.

And then I learned a really easy way to pick up a million Cheerios.  Oh wait, NO I DIDN'T.