Cleaning out!

I am in a cleaning out mode at our home. Maybe I am nesting a little too, but whatever the reason I am in maniac mode. I want all the toys put in their place and cleared out (because I know she will have new ones come February)and I cleaned out my closet a lot. If I have not worn it in a year or two, I got rid of it...lots of good things but I am just tired of it all!

So I asked MR to help me clean out her toys to make room for the ones she got for Christmas. I said for her to pick some toys she thought we could pack up or give away to little kids who don't have as many as she does (trying to teach a giving heart).

She comes back to me with the 3 Wise men from her Little People Nativity Set (we still have our Christmas decorations out), and said "Mom, we can get rid of these 3 Wise men...they already gave their gifts to Baby Jesus." I said, "No MR, those Wise men belong to your Nativity set and will be packed up in our Christmas...try again." Next she comes back with a post-it note that she had been coloring on, "I don't think I need this anymore." Once again, I told her "Try again." Then she came back with a silk pillowcase that she pulled off a pillow in her doll bed.

I give up!

Country Christmas

We spent a couple of days after Christmas down in SW Georgia. I apologize for not having very many pictures, not sure what was wrong with me! Anyway, we had a great time seeing couisns and spending time with family. (Be sure to scroll down and see a couple of videos!)

MR and D would not give the go-cart a rest! They loved riding it and it was the only time they were not fighting with each other. MR had no problem being chauferred by D the whole time.

One day we went to Grammy and Granddaddy Bill's house for lunch and some marshmellow roasting.

Being fed a marshmellow

Fireworks with Daddy and D.

Wild cousins playing!

On the road again

Day after Christmas, on the road to Memaw and Granddaddy Riley's house. What you don't see is that the dogs are in the 3rd row seat and more stuff is packed in the very back. I seriously don't know where we will fit a baby when he gets here!

Santa came!

Once again, Santa was too good to Miss MR!

And he even remembered Baby Nix!

She was so excited when she saw everything. (We are working on the getting the video placed here.) She just kept walking around and pointing. A little confusion on the new outfits for Me-chelle (Bitty Baby) and Julie (American Girl). She thought Santa brought her "new" ones, so we had to explain that Santa found her babies and dressed them in their new clothes. Who knew Santa had soooo much time! The new art desk and "play" school center is the biggest hit. She can sit there and play for hours.... And her favorite gift, the Scotch tape that left on her desk... "just what she wanted".

Checking out Baby Nix's stash.

Video! (Please excuse the pregnant belly shot at the very end...the camera operator thought it was funny.)

Getting ready for Santa

While we were setting out the goodies for Santa, MR decided to pose for the camera multiple times.

Oh and by the way, our Santa specifically asked for Coca-Cola, so he got a small bottle, as well as a cup of milk, a coconut macaroon and a sugar cookie. He is very particular!

Merry Christmas from the Anglin's!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

And we wish you a Happy New Year for 2010! Our 2010 is looking like a busy year for us, starting with Mary Riley turning 4 and then the arrival of James Nix!

Reindeer Dancing

At MR's dance school, they performed a Reindeer Dance for the parents. Tu-tu cute!

Something amiss in Bethlehem?

Something is not quite right with the Nativity scene below, you ask?? Maybe it's because the participants look like they are in a parade or lined up at school. Either way, you are correct something is not quite right. But our little mischievous 3-year old likes to play with the Nativity set quite often. And today is was time for a parade around Bethlehem. Usually Baby Jesus is going for a stroll in the doll stroller with Bitty Baby Me-chelle, or being wrapped up in blanket for nap time, or even being packed in a purse for some little trip to town, but today He got to participate in the parade as well.

All aboard the Polar Express

MR is all about the Polar Express story this year. We read it almost nightly and usually when we are done reading it we hear the train near our house. She will get really quiet and say, "Mommy, listen....I hear the Polar Express." So cute!

We actually have the Polar Express relatively near our home, just up the road in Chattanooga.... so of course we had to go for a ride! It was lots of fun for all of us!

Visiting some of the retired trains.

Having a little snack in the depot and sooooo excited!

Aboard the train waiting for it to leave the depot.

MR's favorite part of the whole trip...the Yahoo. Sorry Mr. S.C.

And the gingerbread cookie.

We finally made it to the North Pole and Santa Claus came aboard the train! He visited each child and sat down for a chat. He asked MR what she wanted for Christmas. She told him clothes for her baby brother. Then when Santa left she got upset because she forgot to ask for something for herself. One of Santa's helpers came by and she told her to tell Santa she also wanted bubblegum for Aunt Ju-Ju's house because she can't have gum at our house.

Mrs. Claus came by with bells for everyone!

Even Baby Nix got a bell!

The conductor stopped by for a short visit as well!

AHHHH... Christmas Cards!!

While I love receiving Christmas cards, I always start getting stressed out when they start showing up in the mailbox! My anxiety over our family card starts and each day that goes by the anxiety increases. I actually received our first card on Nov 30, from one of my college roommates....SERIOUSLY??!!

Anyway, I am happy to report our card proof has been finalized (after a week of trying to find the "perfect" card), now I just have to get them printed which should only take a day or two and then I can get those babies addressed and in the mail. Hopefully before December 24th :)

Sam has returned

Sam, our friendly elf from the North Pole, has returned to our home. Thank goodness! He arrived while we were in South Georgia for Thanksgiving and pulled out all our Christmas decorations. He did a little decorating but left the majority for us. He also brought MR a little note thanking her for letting him come back to our home and reminding her of the rules. She got so excited to see him and keeps asking for just a little hug.

Hopefully Sam will help with MR's "listening" problem and keep her on track during the Christmas season. We shall see!

Happy Thanksgiving, Part 2

Both of our families live within 20 minutes of each other, so we headed down to the Anglin place after lunch. MR had a great time with all her cousins there as well. Thad's sister, Angie (aka Aunt Mimi) from Texas was there with her kids, Tripp & Megan, who we haven't seen in years. Now they are teenagers who played very nicely with our little kids. Thank you!

Riding the new go cart with Daddy.

Sweet cousins, MR and Sarah Anne.

Riding the golf cart with Aunt Mimi, SA and Baby Matthew.

Cute cousins hanging out in the go cart.

Riding the horse & buggy with Aunt Becky and Linda.

Cooking with Memaw.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Every year for Thanksgiving, my extended family gets together for a large gathering at lunch. Usually we have about 50-60 people attend. This year, my mom hosted the event. It was a great time for us to see my cousins and eat some very good food!

MR playing with Uncle Tommy before "The Big Feast".

New Ride

Christmas comes early at Grammy and Granddaddy's house. Since MR was down for Thanksgiving, she got her Christmas present early...a new Princess Car. She was so excited! She called to tell me she had "her own car with a real radio in it." It is so cute to see her drive it, which she can do very well. She takes it very seriously.

The Deer Hunter

MR was down at my parents for several days before Thanksgiving. My dad, who is a HUGE hunter, had a deer stand setup in the yard. And let MR play on it (something he would have never let me and my sister do when we were kids).


The funny thing is, MR would climb up in the stand and my dad would run around pretending to be a deer, while MR tried "shoot" him. Yes, I know this is probably not the most appropriate game for a 3-year old. But she loved it!! I am sure I will have some explaining at school soon. Thankfully she did not watch him gut a real deer this trip, but I know that is coming.

So here is MR in the deer stand (decked out in camo overalls and pink Hello Kitty boots), shooting her deer.

Now, MR gets to be the deer.