Gingerbread Cookies

Morgan has been BEGGING to make gingerbread cookies since October - and we finally got down and dirty this morning. We made our dough last night and let it set up overnight. Morgan was all too eager to help with the flour! I think I was skipped over the day patience was handed out, I really did try to make this fun.

I think out of this batch - I was able to transfer 2 to the cookie sheet!

Kolton couldn't stand it, he just had to help decorate.

Here's the finished cookies.

Morgan's cookie - she ate the head and decided she didn't like them. Nice!

Budding Chef & Fun

Kolton has started helping with dinner, and doesn't complain!
Clowning around with Dad!

Mixing cookie dough

Morgan did an EXCELLENT job mixing the dry ingredients without making a big mess!

Here she is hiding from the camera - licking the spatula!

Mogan insisted on taking my picture - here's her view! Hahahaha! My Meemaw made me this apron for Christmas while we were in England...I believe it was 2004.

I had to show Morgan how to look at the camera so she can actually "see" her target and I told her to aim it a little higher...

Nothin Like It

Earning her keep and going crazy

Morgan doesn't know this is work - so please, don't tell her!

I never know what I'm going to find on the camera when I go to post these - Kolton has a magnetic hold on the camera and loves to film Morgan.

Morgan's Thoughts

Tonight we treated the kids to some Christmas light-seeing. Morgan was so excited that she was able to wear her jammies and no shoes. About 10 minutes into the drive she started asking for her TV, to which I told her, "No, we're listening to Christmas music." Then she started asking, "Are we going home?" or "Where are we going?" and back to wanting her TV on. It was quite an exciting outing for her. Once we returned home and walked into the kitchen, this is what I hear:

Jamie: "Morgan, wasn't that fun?"

Morgan: "It was kind of boring."

------------------------------------------------------------------------
A few minutes later she was looking in the fridge and decided she wanted a jello fruit cup. I asked her if she could reach it....her reply:

"Of course I can!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
While eyeing her presents under the tree, she asks me:

"Is there a snuggie in there for me?"

December Snow

We woke up to snow this morning and Morgan was dying to get her hands in it. So when we got home after breakfast, she insisted on going out even though she didn't have all the proper attire and it was melting! There wasn't a lot to begin with, but it really did cover the grass early this AM.

Breakfast w/Santa

Applebee's had Breakfast w/Santa this morning and you wouldn't know how enthusiastic Morgan was to see Santa from this picture! She was thrilled until we got there and then she refused to sit on Santa's lap or talk to him...so he made ME have a sit down. Poor guy! I told them that we've learned to be more flexible with Morgan - crying or smiling we take the picture anyway!

Mmm, bigger appetite!

Morgan has actually been telling me she's hungry lately and surprising me by how much she will put down. I made homemade chicken noodle soup the other night and she ate two small bowls of the noodles! I think we're going through another growth spurt!

Santa at the Garden

Santa visited the Botanical Gardens for the walk through nights of the Galaxy of Lights. These were taken with the mobile, so they're not real clear, but it's better than nothing! Morgan went running to him and sat on his lap and even told him what she wanted for Christmas. We promised the boys they wouldn't have to participate this year.

But Santa wouldn't have it any other way! Kolton was walking out the door and Santa kept waving for him to come back! So the boys obliged...hahahaha!

All Worn Out

We've been home-bound so long that just going to the gym this morning tuckered Morgan out! We got home and she asked if she could sleep on the couch...poor girl.

Craziness

This is what happens when we're not looking...

My Name, My Name!

My best friend Name (aka: Renee') flew in on Friday for a long visit. We played Super Mario Brothers (the original NES game) on the Wii, Hand & Foot, Rummikub, and Guesstures while she was here. Sunday wasn't so fun, I ended up pretty much bed-ridden with a migraine - but it was AWESOME just having her here. It was so natural with her here, so we're hoping she'll come back again - soon. It's a shame this was the only picture that was taken during the visit...but oh well. At least we got this one! I was sad to see her go, but she did have her life to get back to. I will try not to be selfish of her! Morgan just loves her Aunt Name!

Daddy's Girl

Pumpkin Carving

Jamie helped the kids carve pumpkins while I was out to coffee & shopping with a friend. I think they did a fantastic job!

Kaden's

Kolton's

Morgan & Dad's

So Sad...

Morgan has been coming in to bed with us for so many nights, I've lost count. We never had this issue with the boys, they always shared a room and had each other. I finally got fed up with being woken up (not to mention the ink incident), that I told Morgan that she was not allowed to sleep in my bed any longer. I put the child door lock on my bedroom door handle and this is what took place. Kolton found her sleeping outside my door. She's telling us that she has bad dreams and is scared in her room...I'm at a loss as to what to do. We've tried night lights, closet lights, bathroom lights, monster spray, etc...she told me she'd rather sleep on the floor by my room than in her bed.

Mushroom Head

Are there any words at all to describe this?

Artist on the horizon

I left her to her drawing while I fixed dinner. Just a week or so ago we got onto her for drawing all over her feet and hands...so we're constantly reminding her to draw on paper only. Shows how much she listens! This is not the first comforter/sheet set she's ruined, she did this to her Neopolitan set, too! Any suggestions on how to get purple ink off of a dry clean only comforter would be great!

Here she's trying to hide against Bubby Kaden so I won't take a picture, because she knows she was naughty. Rotten little girls! I think she's been more destructive than the boys were...sheesh!

Strawberries

Of course, once I pulled out the camera - the attitude appeared, too! Oh well.
I have tried for so long to get Morgan to eat strawberries (actually, any fruit other than apples, bananas, and watermelon)...and she finally tried them and LOVES them! I can even get her to dip a few in yogurt!

Kolton's work

Here's what we get when we find that Kolton has had possession of the camera!

Salad Maker

Morgan helped make salad, and then to my surprise she just started eating the shredded carrots and just about everything else in there!

Mmmm....coffeeeeeee!

Drinking the last cold drops of Mom's coffee!

Painting

Morgan's painting a pumpkin magnet for Daddy...it started out green. I thought she was really going to do a fantastic job. I praised her, of course, but then she added brown and pretty much took away any "prettiness" that could have been! Oh well, it kept her busy for a while and made her happy - that's all that mattered.

Music Makers

Kolton introduced Morgan to Wii Music, and she chose to be a cheerleader...she had so much fun with Bubby!

Off to the Zoo

While the kids were on Fall Break, we decided to take a trip up to the Nashville Zoo...and we chose a perfect day! It was gorgeous weather!

Here's Kaden helping Morgan get up on the hippo. He's such a good big brother, very attentive.

Kaden even took Morgan up through this...

Morgan loves to swing, though she kept asking to swing in the handicap swing.

All the monkeys - look, Mom's not behind the camera for once!

Morgan spotted Dad and got his attention.

Watching the monkeys was like watching the boys - one was constantly aggravating the other one (that was content by himself)! We could've stayed for hours watching them.

This elephant was chewing on a log, and Morgan kept asking to go over...she insisted the ellie was her friend.

Giraffes aren't as interesting as other kids.

Off for some vittles.

After eating we promised Morgan a ride on the carousel, which Kolton wanted to ride, too. It was so funny, he's so anti-affection in public...doesn't even want me to get near him. So as the line got longer and longer, I waited for my perfect moment. As Kolton came around again, I yelled out, "HI, KOLTY"!!! I think he and Jamie about died, but for different reasons - Jamie about busted a gut laughing. I heard another mom say, "he's thinking, aw Mom"! It was priceless.

"The Look"

Morgan's second ride...on an OKAPI.

Look what got caught in the Meerkat Manor!

Jamie's view as we were heading back towards the play area.

Morgan's not sure of the serpent...

She saw Daddy on the other side, so she did finally go through.

Dad's turn.

Morgan finally mastered the shaky bridge, and then had to stay and play a while.

More swinging.

Morgan enjoyed a sno-cone as we left the zoo. She was so tired, once she passed this over to me she was asleep within seconds!