Another attempt at randoms.

Okay, here's the deal.  I'm trying to blog on a regular basis but the thing is, I just am not that interesting.  Once again, stealing Hailey's thing.  Here goes:

• We got a REAL tree this year!  I am tickled with it.  It's sooooo pretty.  The thing I didn't think about before my decision to get a real tree is that I would also have to purchase lights & a tree stand along with the tree of course.  After all that, I could have bought a really nice pre-lit artificial tree & used it year after year.  Oh well, it's still more fun with a real tree!

• My brother got a job!  WOOOOOOO!!  He has been unemployed since April after a VERY raw deal with his ex-employer.  Times are tough & I know it has been a long 7 months for him.  No one is more happy for him than I am though & I wish him the best.

• The last time I did randoms here, I talked about how we had a mouse.  Sitting here this very minute, I just heard the trap snap.  I jumped out of the chair because I'm scared like that but SCORE :)

• Mallory is getting Dance Star Mickey & a kitchen for Christmas.  She doesn't need clothes or shoes even though I selfishly went to gap.com & filled up my shopping cart with stuff for her because I just can't resist Baby Gap.  I then asked myself, 'what am I doing??' and clicked the X to end that.  Point is, she does.not.need.clothes.  Her wardrobe could clothe ten little girls.  I need toy ideas.  Or books for her age.  She loves books.  

• I have been let down about 28 times today because I keep thinking it is Wednesday.  Booooo on Tuesday.

• I have quit the gym :(  Lately, my lunch hour has been filled with errands & well who wants to go to the gym in the dark at 5:00 after working all day??  Not me.  I am racing home as quick as possible to get little boo.  Still, I am disappointed in myself for not going the past few weeks.  Once I get out of the routine of going, it is nearly impossible for me to start back.  No bueno.  But please keep asking me A Manning!!  Hopefully, I will surprise both of us one day, ha.    

• My parents cooked for us tonight.  Chicken on the grill, cabbage & fries.  Sooo good.  & so nice to not have to worry about what to cook!  On that note, I think I'll call it a night.  Good night y'all :) 

Baking Cookies

It seems ever since Mallory has been born, my mom has been dying to do one thing with her:  make cookies.  They got to do that Friday.  I always have to work the day after Thanksgiving with the exception of this year.  A sweet coworker offered to take my place so I could have some quality family time.  How nice!  Mallory & I spent most of the day at grandmother's house baking.  We had so much fun & I can't express how wonderful it has been to spend four days straight with my little boo.  It's the first time we have been able to spend this much time together in well....too long!

Mallory & Grandmother mixing up the dough

Wrapping up the dough to chill 

Patting out the dough.  I think this was Mallory's favorite part!

This girl loves to do the dishes!

Decorating

& finally eating!  nom nom nom

We can't wait to bake with Grandmother again!

Happy Thanksgiving

We have had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  We all went to my parent's house for lunch, 15 of us!

  I think it is safe to say that what we are most thankful for is this little girl!

Here is Grandaddy (my dad) washing the turnips

Ashley & I working hard going through the Black Friday ads

Lovebirds Joseph & Ashley

Mallory & I

Joseph & Mallory playing.  She loves to throw those cards around and say "mess!"  I guess she is used to hearing us say she has made a mess, haha.

This is a first!  I was 'picking the turkey neck' to put the meat in the stuffing & gravy.  It was seriously gross & I did not eat stuffing or gravy due to this task.

Mallory's little cousin Dawson.  Mallory & Dawson are the first babies in our family since my little brother who is now 26!  We all LOVE the excitement & joy that they bring.  Today (and ever since the littles ones came along) we kept saying, "what did we ever do before they were here?!"  They are definitely the life of the party!

Mallory & Dawson playing together.  They really like each other!

My Grandaddy & older brother Jason.  Bless his heart, Jason slept most of the day because he is used to working night shift.

Grandmother taking a short break from cooking to play a game with Mallory.  She worked so hard today & prepared a fabulous meal.  We love her so much for everything she does!!

We get kinda crazy like this.  This is Joseph's idea of fun.  Mine...not so much.

Ashley & Dawson playing

Mallory & I putting a puzzle together.  (Yes, I changed out of my sweater into one of my mom's shirts because I was hot)  Mallory was such a sweet girl ALL day long.  I have to say, I LOVE this age!

This is possibly the most photographed turkey ever.  The cook, Joseph, sure was proud of it!  It was really good!

Dawson about to chow down on a turkey leg! (Kidding!  He's only 6 months old!)

Ashley & I acting like we had done all the cooking!  Actually, Ashley did cook sweet potato casserole...me, nothing, ha!  I do love this girl...we had so much fun today!!  After being the only girl & growing up with two brothers, it's so nice to have her around.  Her sweet mama joined us today too.  They both fit in perfectly with the family!

Two of the cooks, Joseph & Daddy, being silly

Second bottle of wine - gone!

The carving of the turkey...

Mallory doing the dishes.  Her highlight of the day, ha!!

 We spent the evening with Patrick's side of the family.  Granny Pat was playing ball and had Mallory rolling laughing.

Of course, the day would not be complete without coloring!

Grandaddy Oneal & Grandma Deb getting some sweet sugar before bedtime.

I'm really sad that we did not manage to take a family picture of the 3 of us all day long.  All in all though it was another wonderful Thanksgiving.  The list of things that my family & I have to be thankful for is countless & we thank God today & everyday.

Thanksgiving Eve

It's the night before Thanksgiving & I'm doing something I've never done on this night before.  I'm sitting home.  Our church has always had an annual bake sale the night before Thanksgiving & it is our biggest fundraiser of the year.  I'm talking layered cakes go for $500+.  It's that big.  So I am really sad to be missing it but Miss Mallory decided she was going to go to bed tonight at 6:30 & I am staying home with her so Patrick could go to assist the auctioneer.   

I never know what to do with myself when I have free time like this.  I could do something productive (like fold the pile of clothes sitting on my couch) but instead I always end up getting on the computer & watching The Real Housewives.  Atlanta is on now...good entertainment :) 

Tomorrow, we are getting up early (probably earlier than I want, since the little miss had such an early bedtime tonight), going to my parent's house & doing lots of cooking & eating & family time.  Ahh good times with lots of pictures to come!         

Texas

Patrick came home today from a hunting trip in Texas where he snagged this baby:

He wasn't home long before he had to go do a little work.  Then he drove up in this:

This litter spreader is what Patrick spends the majority of his time in these days.  He brought it to our house because he will be spreading in the field in front of our house tomorrow. 

We took Mallory for a little spin in it.

These are Mallory's sweet new cowboy boots Daddy brought home from Texas.  He also brought her and I vests too!  (not matching).  We love our presents.  Not too bad for a guy who sports a Pacific Trails jacket, ha!

We are glad that Daddy got to take a vacation and have some fun, but we are SO happy to have him back home!

Perfect Fall Weather

We had a beautiful fall day with highs in the 70's.  We took advantage and snapped a few pics:




She had just fell down; looking at her hands and saying 'dirty'

 



Standing in our driveway.  I think the leaves are at their peak right now.

 



She's fast!  Love the colors this time of year!

 



Actually standing still a second!

 




Standing in the bean field in front of our house.  Beans were just picked!

  

Coloring & Squeaking

That's what Mallory has been up to the past few days.  She has become borderline obsessed with coloring lately.  So much so, that I am pretty sure I have spent more money on coloring books this week than gas!  We are stocked up now though...at home and at both babysitters houses.  

When she is coloring, she likes for me to be coloring with her.  She wants to sit in her chair and she wants me to sit across from her and for us to color at the same time.  So growny!

These are Mallory's new squeaky shoes that she is in love with.  I got them here for only $15 including shipping.  If she doesn't have them on, she brings them to me and holds one foot out for me to put them on her.  

My only complaint is I wish the squeakers could be removed.  Won't be wearing these to church.

Edit - I have now realized the squeaker can be taken out.  Now I love these just as much as Mallory!

Mike's Farm

Saturday was our third attempt at going to Mike's Farm.  The first time we had planned to go was on a Sunday and we found out at the last second that they are closed on Sunday's until after Thanksgiving.  We planned to go the next Saturday (which was the weekend before Halloween).  Big mistake!  The haunted hayride had begun and the lines were insane.  If we had waited, we would have been on the hayride after 9 pm and eating in the restaurant between 9 and 11.  Waaaay past Mallory's bedtime.  We finally had a successful trip last Saturday.  I am probably the only person in the world that thinks Mike's Farm is overrated, but Mallory had a good time. 

Here she is with daddy.  I had to joke him about his jacket.  We were getting in the car to leave and he told me he was going to run back inside to get a jacket.  He came out with this khaki jacket that looks just like something my Grandaddy Billy would wear to church.  I asked him, "Seriously, that's your jacket?"  He says it's the only one he has.  I know what I'm getting him for Christmas now.  

Mallory loved the bunnies best.  She really was not supposed to be in the pen with them, but daddy likes to break the rules. 

Waving at the bunny

So cool mom!!

She needed a little snack

Mallory says 'hay' a lot and always points out hay when we are at my parent's house, but oddly enough she was scared of it when I tried to sit her on the bale to take a picture.  

Get me outta here!

She loved to push the stroller

Mallory and I checking out the goats

Pushing the stroller some more

I've seen enough of Mike's Farm.  Bye y'all!!