Santa Train

While we continued our trip south toward the Strains' house in Charlotte, we had the opportunity to stop off in Spencer, NC at the NC Transportation Museum where we got to take a train ride with Santa! We met up with Morgan's godmother Melanie and Ethan, and our dear friend Jennifer and her daughter Maggie. Jen and I have been friends since 5th grade, and Mel joined the group in 6th grade. Because I am a military brat, and completed many moves since leaving Goldsboro, NC in 1993 I haven't retained many friends. But these two gals are very special to me and hold very special places in my heart and in my life (Jen was in our wedding, Mel is Morgan's godmother). It was so great to have the opportunity to do this fun event with both gals and their kids. It was Morgan's first time meeting Maggie, who is such a cutie!

Morgan (4 1/2 years)

Maggie Mae (22 months)

Ethan (4 months)

Ethan meeting Jennifer (Magoon) Tate.

Morgan was happy to be out of the car and stretching her legs. We had to wait about 25 minutes before we were able to board the train. We finally got on the train and got settled. The girls were both warming up to the group. Maggie was talking and dancing to the music. Morgan was pretty much thrilled with watching the train cars outside. And Ethan? Well he just charmed the pants off of his Auntie Jen!

Santa's elves came around and handed out candy canes and oranges. Then the big man himself made an appearance. Maggie was happy to see Santa. Ethan wasn't too impressed....he's already seen Santa twice already! Morgan was shy as expected. She isn't a big fan of strange men OR people dressed up (remember she's terrified of the Pirate Parrot and Chuck E Cheese!).

She loved the train though, and I have a feeling this will be a bi-annual stop as long as Morgan's Mutti and Papa live in FL.


Overall it was a great time. Three friends, 20 years, 2 of 3 kids.....back together for a short time. It was so great to spend time with the two ladies who meant so much to me in grade school (and still do!).

On the third day of Christmas...

As our Christmas celebrations continue, we drove our little blue sleigh south to Nannie and Big Pop's house so we could celebrate the day of our Lord's birth a little early with the Tenney family. As it is an even year, this Christmas Day we will be with Mutti and the rest of Mama's family, so we all gathered in central WV a little early to exchange gifts, laugh like crazies, and enjoy the company of family.


Morgan has been really enjoying this Christmas season. She loves that Christmas includes lots of time with her extended family. She asked Nannie today if she and Big Pop were packed and ready to go to Florida with us!


This is Morgan singing Run, Rudolph Run....about the little girl who wants a doll who cries and wets. It makes more sense if you can hear the song, I promise!


Morgan and Great-Grandma June. She sure does love her Grandma!

Helping to pass out the presents

Morgan and her stack of presents :)

So, on the third day of Christmas, Morgan received many gifts, including...

The Polar Express from Aunt Joyce and Uncle Phil

Aurora and her fairy godmothers from Aunt Amy and Uncle Chris

a Strawberry Shortcake remote control car (the biggest hit of the day)

Rapunzel

and a zebra striped dress from Great-Grandma Tenneyyyyyyyyy :)

Tomorrow we pack up here and begin our trek southward. We are looking forward to warmer weather, but we'll miss spending more holiday time with the Tenneys.

Pray for us tomorrow as we continue our travels.

Sledding!

For the first time since the girls have been alive, there has been enough snow while the whole family was at Nannie and Big Pop's to go sledding. I don't know who was happier, the girls or Janet :) It was COLD, but that didn't dissuade our happy crew from donning a ton of clothing and tromping up the hill behind the farm house to make many runs down the hill.

Making the first run with Julia

WHEEEEEEE.........(and a crash right after that!)

Our angel, making a snow angel

Once toes got frosty and noses were frozen, the girls headed back to the house. Before they came in, they decided to build the cutest snowman ever! Short and squat, it was adorable.

Building a snowman

The happy snowman building crew....Julia, Aunt Amy, and Mo

The finished, beautiful, snow-WOman

Pictures Preview #2

Here are a few more pictures from the photo shoot with Brianna after Thanksgiving. I couldn't show these earlier because the first picture was given as a Christmas gift from the grandkids to their grand and great-grandparents. I think the first picture is awesome....all three kids looking AND smiling at the camera!

Morgan (4 1/2), Julia (4), and Kole (1)

On the second day of Christmas...

On the second day of our Christmas celebration, as we prepare to fly south for the winter, we decided to let Morgan open her gifts from us and the gifts we had here already from family. Oh and the penguin above? Showed up on our doorstep with a note saying he was defecting from the arctic circle because it was too darn cold up there. His name is Rico and Morgan has fallen in love with him!

And on the second day of Christmas, the presents underneath our tree revealed:

Earmuffs, gloves, and a Dora Explorer hair accessories kit from Great-Aunt Karen

A Magic Light Brush set from Shay and Ethan

Beauty and the Beast, a travel art kit, and Alvin and the Chipmunks 2 for the ride south from Mama and Daddy,

a Hello Kitty Christmas stuffed animal from Morgan's little friend, Summer (4 months old!)

awesome green boots, clothes, and a clock puzzle from Great-Aunt Linda

and a Barbie and some great clothes from Great-Aunt Anita and Great-Uncle Richard!

I wonder what the third day of Christmas might bring?

On the first day of Christmas...

Christmas celebrations have begun for Miss Morgan and the rest of the Tenney clan. We headed over to Morgan's best (adult) friends, Josh and Anna's to have some holiday Chinese food, good laughter, Mickey's Christmas Carol, and PRESENTS :)

Morgan had a great time distributing her stickers to Anna, who as you can see was well adorned with them!

Morgan in front of the Robinson Tree

Morgan really wanted Josh and Anna to open their gifts and was excited when it was finally time to help Josh give out gifts. Surprisingly she was very patient and waited for all the adults to open their gifts before she asked about hers. But then it was time.....

It was Rapunzel and Flynn Rider from the newest Disney movie, Tangled. We had taken Morgan to see Tangled on Saturday in anticipation of tonight's presents. The movie was really cute, and Morgan was so happy to have "A-PUNzel" and Flynn Rider.

It was a fun night with great friends, and Morgan fell asleep with her newest friends tucked under each arm.

X is for Christ

Tonight was Place of Grace's annual Christmas program. Morgan was excited because she had to tell everyone what X stands for....X is the Greek letter for Christ! She and I decorated her letter X with sparkles and snowflakes.

She was also excited about singing Run, Run Rudolph. The kids all wore cute reindeer antlers and red noses that they made in class. Her most favorite verse is the "rock n' roll electric guitar" to which she plays a mean air guitar!

It was a fun program. We laughed and laughed and laughed at all the adorable kids doing cute kid antics in front of over 100 people. If you need a good chuckle, go to a day care Christmas program. I promise it will be a great time!