2007 Year in Review

Gideon and pal Ethan

Once again, the end of the year snuck up on us, and we didn't get cards or letters into the mail. Hopefully you don't mind an e-version of our "Year in Review," since the last four months of the year are already detailed in previous entries. But we did more this year than move, so consider these the highlights.

After wanting to visit our friends Jim, Jen and Ethan Richard (not to mention Dave, Bob and Kap!) for the longest time, we actually got to visit them in L.A. twice this year, both times in March.

The first visit was coupled with the MovieGuide awards which we attended as guests, not nominees. As wonderful as it was for Graham to win last year, this time we were able to relax and enjoy the fun. The gal who won second place for the Kairos Award last year was also there again. We had a great time catching up with her and meeting the this year's nominees.

We also got a chance to walk around Beverly Hills before the event and during the show met a few more celebrities (Stephen Baldwin and Ioan Gruffudd & fiancée Alice Evans. We later heard they were married on our anniversary!). A big thank you to the Richards for watching the kids and letting us enjoy an evening out!

Our second visit south we got to spend time with all the Richards including sister, Lisa whom I had never met. They had a great time watching old videos and talking about the good ol' days in Northridge. Gideon and Ethan had a great time playing trains and eating their meals at the kids' table.

This visit also included our first trip as a family to Disneyland, thanks to a great deal on tickets through Fresno Pacific University. Mark, Shiloh and the girls met up with us there which made it an extra fun day.

We weren't sure how the kids were going to handle the long day, but they did great! Gideon had a "stunned" look on his face most of the day, but it was a happy one. His favorite things were the Teacups, the Winne the Pooh ride and the firework show. Hannah enjoyed the lights and the ambiance.

And even though we rode few adult rides, we all had a great time. Every now and then Gidders still makes reference to his big day at Disneyland.

This summer, we decided to finally visit Yosemite since it was so close and neither of us had been there in years. We also hadn't been camping since I was four months pregnant with Gideon, so we decided to rough it at a great site just north of Yosemite park. Dave and Brittany met us there, so it was also a perfect opportunity for us to hang out with them.

The park was absolutely gorgeous (needless to say) and we were able to see parts of it we hadn't see before. (Graham saw even more, as he spent over an hour literally chasing down the shuttle on which he had left our camcorder and digital camera.)

The end of summer brings us up to date with the start of this blog. To recap: In a matter of five weeks, I interviewed with Central Washington University, was hired, we all moved to Ellensburg, and the rest is history.

It was an awfully difficult decision to move away from our wonderful friends, family and workplace, but we absolutely love it here and wish that we could somehow have the best of both worlds.

Thanks to all of you who sent Christmas cards, pictures and newsletters. It's been wonderful hearing about your year, and it's good to know we haven't been forgotten. We hope you had a very Merry Christmas and continue to receive God's blessings in the upcoming year.

Stay tuned for more Moes adventures in 2008!

A Very Moes Christmas (photo album)!

(As always, click to enlarge photos!)


Merry Christmas from Ellensburg!


Hamman (& Moorlag/Moes) family tradition - Christmas cookie bake


Hannah approves!


Decorating is Gideon's favorite part...OK, maybe second favorite part


Friend from work, Selmah, joining in the fun





Sledding on Christmas Eve




Me and the kids, ready for the Candle Light service


"I'm ready for my presents!"


New goggie! Thanks, Grandpa and Grandma Moes!


"Salty" and "Percy" - newest additions to the train collection


"Thank you, Selmah!"


Our priceless gift!






Gideon, View-Master of the Universe


The adventure begins...


Can we build it? Yes, we can!

Our trip to Bavaria!

Last Saturday we make a little trip to Germany...well, not really, but close. Just one hour north of Ellensburg is a great little town called Leavenworth. Somehow at some point, the city decided that they were going to create a town much like the authentic villages of southern Germany. From the flower-filled window boxes to street signs in German (with "Strasse" and "Weg" instead of street or way), it truly felt as if we were in Germany.

The main reason we went on the day we did was to experience their annual Christmas lighting festival.

After a traditional ceremony complete with "Ricolla!" horn players in Bavarian clothes, various colored and white lights filled the trees, lit up the downtown gazebo and outlined the buildings. It was absolutely magical!

Activities included shopping in the quaint specialty shops, sledding and snowball fights on the hills of the snow play area, eating chestnuts roasted on an open fire (not just a line in a song, they really do it!) and Christmas songs being sung by a live men's quartet. You could also ride in a horse-drawn carriage through town or drive a few blocks down for a sleigh ride. It was the ultimate Christmas experience!

Unfortunately the experience was enhanced by the freezing cold weather. I couldn't feel my feet for most of the evening and poor little Hannah just whined and cried most of the time (we think her feet may have been frozen, too since she finally stopped crying once we got in the car and cranked up the heater). So after visiting an outdoor grill haus, enjoying the best kielbasa I'd ever had (Graham had a good ol' German bratwurst), we headed home. I couldn't completely feel my feet until we got back to Ellensburg. Come to find out, it was 15 degrees! No wonder!

So once the weather gets a bit warmer, we'll visit Leavenworth again and hopefully be able to stay a little longer (or maybe we'll wait until October when Unca Da and Tante go there for Oktoberfest!).

As always, be sure to click on any photos for which you want to see more details!

More winter pics

Just wanted to share a few more photos from our winter walk Sunday afternoon, which included the making of our first snowman!

Holiday events

One of the reasons I haven't blogged in a while is because we've been so busy with various holiday events. Without going into a ton of detail on any of them, here's a quick recap.

Thanksgiving: we spent Thanksgiving with the Franz family (formerly mentioned as our new Arnie and Brenda). Joyce suffers from extreme fibromyalgia, but is a wonderful homemaker and friend. Wolfgang (originally from Germany) loves telling stories and has been sharing his wisdom with Graham from the stock market to good places to camp and ski in the area. I baked/took a pecan pie and a pear pie, both of which turned out delightful! We had a wonderful day and couldn't have asked for a better day despite being far from family.

Lighting of the Downtown, Friday after Thanksgiving: after a candle lit walk, the entire town enjoyed free cookies and hot cider as Safeway lit their Christmas tree. Then we continued on to the famous Davidson building for live ballet in the window, a stroll through the "Streets of Bethlehem" and decorated trees inside the Clymer Museum. The weather was FREEZING (literally), but everyone said it was the biggest turnout yet!

International Office Potluck: Someone once told me that community isn't something you wait to happen, it's something you build. So I decided to plan an office potluck since there seemed to be so much separation and people who didn't even know each other. The event turned out great, and we not only had tons of delicious food, but everyone was so happy to meet each other. After introductions, Mike (my boss) introduced me as the new social events coordinator for our office, a title I'm very pleased to hold.

Percussion concert: last Wednesday we attended the CWU Percussion Ensemble winter presentation. They only performed five pieces, but one was a 15-minute marimba sextet. Needless to say, IT WAS AWESOME! Gideon enjoyed seeing the tympani and actually sat still for two and a half songs. A big thank you to Graham for letting me indulge while he entertained the kids in the lobby for the remainder of the concert.

A Christmas Carol: Graham and I had our first date night in Ellensburg on Friday. Joyce and Wolfgang watched the kids, so we were able to enjoy a live performance of "A Christmas Carol." We sensed a hint of the true meaning of Christmas being emphasized, particularly in the end when the audience was encouraged to joined in the singing of "Oh Come All Ye Faithful." Afterward, we got a chance to try out one of the locally owned coffee shops which have to admit was quite good!

So that was our last two weeks. This week is finals week at school, so things are going to get pretty quiet around campus which means time for projects! We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoy these next few weeks as you prepare to celebrate Christ's birth!

Our home and the blizzard

We have a two-fer for you this time. Just a couple quick videos, the first of the "blizzard" that hit us Sunday morning (partly on the way to church!), the second a video tour of our humble home. Both from Sunday. Sorry about the poor video quality. Graham accidentally had the camera set to low resolution. You'll get the general idea. Enjoy!

Our first snow!

It begins...

Sunday morning we woke up to our first Ellensburg snowfall! Most everyone said the first snow probably wouldn't stick, but after church it was still snowing. After our Sunday naps, it was still snowing. After dinner, it was still snowing and everything was completely white! It was so beautiful and even a bit magical. The kids LOVED it and didn't seem to mind having to wear gloves or big puffy coats.

Graham and the kids went out to try and build a snowman, but Hannah just wanted to knock it down like blocks, and Gideon enjoyed body slamming any form that Graham could create. Needless to say, there never was a snowman, but they sure had fun in the process!

Monday morning going to work, I had to basically excavate the car, but I have to admit it was kinda fun! A lot of the snow melted by the afternoon, but this morning it was 24 degrees when I left for work, so everything left turned to ice. All of the car doors were frozen shut, so I had to come back inside for a cup of water to pour on the door. It seems so silly to sit in the driveway for 20 minutes waiting for the car to defrost, only to have a 3 minute commute. But I guess
that's life of living in a small town with snow!


Don't forget, you can click on any of these pictures to enlarge them for a better view. (All but the last few that are hosted on Photobucket!)


On the way to church...






Inside the car


Church... Small but cozy?


Incoming!


Off to work in a winter wonderland



Time for fun!




New princess boots!