An Art Lesson with Ms. Lillie

My in-laws have the very good fortune to be friends with a husband and wife team of amazing artists. Over the Thanksgiving holiday week, Ms. Lillie invited Morgan and Julia up to her house for an art lesson. Morgan was so excited! They painted a few pictures for the holidays with Ms. Lillie's guidance. The got messy and loved every minute of it!

The most exciting part of this art trip was the girls got to paint on a piece of slate. Lillie loves to paint on slate, and we have a couple that she has done in our home (including an amazing giraffe duo that she did for Morgan's birth). Lillie drew with chalk on the slates and the kids were able to paint their own snowmen.

I am so proud of Morgan and her finished product! She did an amazing job and it is something I will treasure the rest of my life. Not bad for a 4 year old, right?!

Decorating Nannie's Christmas Tree

One of the Tenney Family traditions is to put up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. This year was no different. The girls were beside themselves when it was finally time. Morgan couldn't get off the box. Julia couldn't get away from the ornament box. They were so excited. Even though they weren't listening well, it was so amazing to see how excited they both were over the simple joys of the season. I can't wait to put up our own tree at home!

All cleaned up and ready to decorate in pajamas!

Morgan and "her" tree....Nannie has two smaller trees that sit on either side of her fireplace. The girls think these are their trees. So cute!

What a bunch of cheesers!

Trying to be patient as the tree is unloaded from the box. It was hard!

Trying to level the tree

It was decided that more serious "tools" were needed

The kids, all tangled up in beads

Carefully choosing places for their ornaments

She had a great time, but doesn't quite understand "spacing out the ornaments" :)

Morgan said "Look Mama! I made a M with the beads!" I am so proud.

Happy Thanksgiving (in pictures)

Thanksgiving Morning Tradition

Five years ago I started a Thanksgiving tradition with Morgan and Julia that I plan to continue as long as they will let me. Each Thanksgiving the kids get their first Christmas present of the year. In that present they will always find a new pair of Christmas pajamas (always matching for the girls, at least so far) and a toy that usually has to do with the holiday season. This year the girls were really excited, although I am not sure they will remember next Thanksgiving that they get to open a gift....they are still a little young. It just makes me happy to watch them open their gifts and get excited about the holidays. It's a great way to start off the holiday month.

Here are the kids anxiously waiting to open their gifts. Or at least the girls were. Kole wasn't too sure what was going on!

Tearing into their gifts and finding....turkeys!

New Christmas Pajamas

Morgan loves this little guy!

The Thanksgiving Turkeys, Julia, Morgan, and Kole

Being silly

Isn't she just beautiful?!

A Visit with Mr. Thirsty

Today was Morgan's appointment with Mr. Thirsty and the dentist. The first thing she asked when I told her we were going to the dentist was if Mr. Thirsty would be there! So cute :) She's only been twice, so I am impressed that she can remember little details like that. Of course, she always remembers details, she's got a mind like a steel trap.

When we got there Morgan charmed the staff with her manners (unprompted....I was so proud!) and her curly, crazy hair. She hopped right up in the chair and opened up her mouth. Her biggest complaint was having to lay back in the chair, but mostly she hated the little bib-thing that they put around her neck.

She has twenty beautifully white teeth. Unfortunately, suspicions of cavities revealed at our April appointment have come true :( She has four cavities and now we have to go to a pediatric dentist to have them taken care of. Great. I HATE the dentist (sorry Alaina!) I don't want Morgan to hate it too. I am so nervous about the appointment on December 7th. I hope it goes smoothly and Morgan does well. I feel so bad because I am the one who mostly brushes her teeth, so it's my fault she has cavities. Ugh....Bad Mom Award goes to me this month!

I asked Morgan to smile big....aparently her eyelid muscles are tied to her mouth muscles :) She's so funny! So keep us in your prayers on December 7th that Morgan will be peaceful and cooperative, and that Mama's nervousness won't show through!

Mountaineer Football--Game 5

It's time for more Mountaineer football! Saturday was a gorgeous day, perfect football weather. It was an unusually mild November day, so Morgan got to go to another football game. She was excited to go because Big Pop, "Uncle" Matt and Tyler were all at the house the night before and she got to ride to the game in Tyler's big truck! She also got to see our seat-neighbors Ms. Sharon and her husband, whom Morgan just loves.

The night before the game she was exhausted. She sacked out early in Mama and Daddy's bed since she was letting Big Pop sleep in her bed.

Morgan and Monkey tailgating

Morgan, Daddy, and Big Pop

Morgan really enjoyed her day, and Daddy reported she was very good at the game. It will be her last this year, which makes her sad, but she is ready for basketball season!

It's Definitely Fall

The temperature has fallen drastsically, the trees are nearly bare, coats and hats have come out of hibernation. Fall has hit North Central WV. It even snowed here on Saturday! While there isn't much I love about fall, one of the things I DO like is seeing Morgan in cute winter hats! Below she is wearing another Omaggin, handmade for her by Aunt Cecelia's Oma (grandmother). Patrick dubbed the hats we all get from her as Omaggins rather than tobaggins, and it has kind of stuck. She always makes the most beautiful hats, and the one Morgan has on below really looks great with her hair and eyes!

As you can see Morgan is participating in one of her favorite fall activities, the annual running (through) of the leaves! She had a blast today (see below for video).

Someone told me there are only 46 days left until Christmas.....which means that fall won't be around much longer as winter is ushered in. The good thing about that? We are one more day closer to summer! Hope you are enjoying your fall, wherever you may be.

Little Kickers MVP

Morgan's first season of soccer officially ended today. Morgan was excited when she got home from practice. She got a shiny medal for participating, and was named the team's MVP. Coach Dana said that in the beginning of the season Morgan would not even get near the ball, and today while scrimmaging, Morgan stole the ball away from Coach Dana!

We hope to enroll Morgan in soccer in the spring. We will wait and see if she still wants to play. Even though there were many frustrating days, I am glad we finally got her involved with a team sport. She's a great little player, learned so much, and made us proud. Below she is pictured with the woman for whom she would collect flowers for while on the soccer pitch :)