Censors.

Anna and I were laying in her bed night before last reading books. She chose Sleeping Beauty. As I read, we came to the part where Maleficent changes into the dragon and fights Prince Philip while he tries to make his way to the tower where Aurora is sleeping. Maleficent shoots lightning rods at the prince and creates a forest of thorns around him to slow him down, but the prince prevails. He emerges from the forest of thorns to see Maleficent transformed into a fire breathing dragon and hears her shout, "Now you shall deal with ME, oh prince!" Now in the movie, there is another line which Maleficent states, but I'm very sure they left this line out of the book purposefully. Since Anna has seen the movie a gabillion times, she knows the line...and knows it well. I found out how well she knows it night before last. I read the line, "Now you shall deal with ME, oh prince!" And in very dramatic fashion Anna continues, "AND ALL THE POWERS OF HELL!!!!!"

I suppose it's not like she cussing, but it just sounds so weird and wrong coming from a 3 year old.

A Special Request.

We were sitting in the kitchen eating some lunch...

Anna: Mom, you need to ask Santa to come back.
Me: Why does Santa need to come back?
Anna: You need to tell him to come back and bring me something.
Me: What do you need?
Anna: I need some nockulars and a movie called Peter Pan.
Me: What are nockulars?
Anna: You know those nockulars? (as she makes her hands into circles and puts them over her eyes) ...so I can see Nana's house.
Me: OH, binoculars?
Anna: Yeah.

FG Marathon: Part 1 Continued

This weekend was a whirlwind of stress and craziness...and I wasn't even in the wedding! It was fun to say the least and Anna had the best time of her life, or at least she acted like it. This is Jackson. He was Anna's date for the night (the ring bearer). He did a great job and was actually not a rookie when it comes to walking down the isle holding a pillow.

Jackson: "Girl, you need to get over yourself AND that basket!"

I decided to not carry my camera around with me everywhere I went on the day of the wedding. Although I know I missed some great shots, I wouldn't have gotten to enjoy the day as much and Anna would have had much less "instruction" and supervision if I had my camera. I just made sure she didn't lay on the floor or fall down any stairs and skin her face on any concrete before the wedding. I must have told her a hundred times in different ways how to do her "big, important job." She just kept nodding her head as if she knew what to do. She did very well at the rehearsal, but I was afraid that all the people in the sanctuary would freak her out. And there were LOTS of people there...I think like 400? Yeah, lots. So I stood back in the back of the church with her giving her a pep talk while the bridesmaids walked down the isle. Then it was her turn. She stepped down the isle like the pro I knew she'd be; walking slowly and dropping rose pedals as she went. Jackson, on the other hand, took off running and flinging the pillow around like a 2.5 year old should, just like in the rehearsal. Anna turned and looked at me as she walked as if to say, "What does he think he's doing?!" It was awesome. I ran down the side of the church and met her at the front and called her off to the side. She was concerned that she didn't throw all of her pedals. I was more concerned that she would freak out if she ran out of pedals. She did great. Sitting still during the ceremony, however, was a different story. But we made it through. Then came the reception. This girl took full advantage of the dance, the food and sweets, and a little freedom in a princess dress.
She was one of the first ones on the dance floor.


They had a money dance (?) and Anna wanted to dance with the prince.

Anna LOVES her cousin Abby (a junior bridesmaid) and didn't let the poor girl rest the entire night.

Anna's getting a little dance lesson from Brooke, the bride.

"Come on Abby! The night is still young!!"


This is Ava, Anna's other cousin and Abby's little sister. She wouldn't step foot on the dance floor, but got her groove on just about 2 feet from the edge.

Dancing so much can do an number on a girl's princess dress. Brooke's there to give Anna a little adjustment.

The line was very long to get food and we were all pretty hungry. Apparently J thought it was quicker to go to Church's (yuck!) for a little pre-reception snack. He was right, and Anna almost drank one of these entire cokes herself.

Like I said, I didn't have my camera during the ceremony, but the wedding photogs couldn't take their cameras off of Anna. It seemed like every time I looked over to see where they were (because I'm a stalker, you know) they had their lenses pointing right at Anna. I figured I'd order some from them when they get the wedding finished.

Flower Girl Marathon: Part 1

This weekend will be the first wedding that Anna will be in. The first of 3 in the next 4 months. Her dress is steamed and hung high up so she can't touch it with her grimy little hands. She is super excited about seeing Brooke in her princess gown and wearing her dress as well. I've had several casual discussions with her about her "big important job" she will have on Saturday. I'm keeping my expectations very low so maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised with her willingness to cooperate. We'll see about that. She has become a 13 year old lately and doesn't seem to like anything I say to her or do. She might be caught up in all the glamour and attention... which could turn out great or be a complete nightmare. I'll keep you posted.

The Results are IN!

THANK YOU EVERYONE for voting for me!!

See the results HERE!

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Update: polls closed early...don't know why.

Kin Konfustion

The other day, the kids and I were waiting for the FedEx man to show up in the car while we were parked in the driveway. It's a long, sort of ridiculous story, but the short version is that I didn't want to get the kids out because it was very close to the time he normally comes by. As soon as I got the package I needed to deliver it to someone...it was a Christmas card order so they needed them asap. I knew as soon as I got the kids out of the car and into the house, everyone would get tired and want a nap, then the FedEx man would show up. Then I'd have to get everyone back in the car to deliver the package. So we waited in the driveway. While we waited, Anna was asking who we were waiting for. I was telling her about the FedEx man, whose name is John. She knew him since he's been a regular at our house the past couple of months. I bet the neighbors think we're getting drugs delivered or something. But anyway, I was telling Anna about his job, etc. She started asking things like, "His name is John? ...like Reagan's daddy?" And I'd answer, "Yes, they have the same name. Reagan's daddy's name is Jon. He's your uncle Jon." We went back and forth and she seemed to be getting a little confused by all the different names of family members for some reason.

After 30 minutes of waiting in the driveway, I gave in. Grey had a dirty diaper and Anna was done. So we unloaded and went into the house. We were inside for about an hour when the FedEx man, John, showed up. Anna raced to the door as usual and as I opened the door Anna yells, "Are YOU my Daddy?!" I was trying to talk over Anna since I was mortified that we hadn't cleared all that confusion up in the car. I don't know if John heard her, but I'm not sure how he didn't.

John came again the day before yesterday and of course, Anna runs to the door. I open the door and again, "Are YOU my Daddy?!" He heard it that time and Anna's real dad (whose name is not John) was home. He yells back at Anna as I laugh trying to cover my embarrassment. John, the FedEx man laughed.

Today I turned "Bruce Almighty" on. It was on cable. Anna looks at Morgan Freeman and says, "Mommy, that's my grandpa....my other grandpa." What??

Mr. GQ

Elisabeth said that this is Grey's GQ pose. He's become quite the expert at pulling up onto the furniture. He's also a pro at smacking his head on things as he falls when his legs give out.

Fire Bugs.

They aren't as close as they look.

Gingerbread house.

...the intense concentration.

Our great friend, Teri, brought over a prebuilt gingerbread house complete with two bags full of decorations and little icing bags. I told Anna that she had to wait until her dad got home to decorate it. It was going to be a father/daughter project. I knew J would like to do that with her. So after asking me a gabillion times when Daddy was going to be home, or if she could go ahead and get started without him, he finally came home from work. After dinner they got started. It turned out very nice and Anna had a hard time leaving it alone. I think her finger was in her mouth licking off icing and other decorations every time I turned around.

J's fabulous wood pile "out back" made of pretzels.

Grey wanted to help.