Letter to Mrs. Mary Ellen

Mary Varner has always had a special bond with Mrs. Mary Ellen at church.  They wrote notes to each other all the time, and Mrs. Mary Ellen always had some type of special happy to give to Mary Varner.  Well, a couple of months ago Mrs. Mary Ellen died in her sleep.  Our church had a memorial service for her, but she was actually buried next to her husband in Arlington Cemetery this week.  Her children asked if Mary Varner could write a note about their special relationship to be read at the burial.  This was the note that Mary Varner wrote all on her own.  I love the illustration of her with Mrs. Mary Ellen in heaven.  God and Jesus are the light!!  This makes my heart smile!!

Pretty Penelope

Janey's preschool class has a travel doll that goes with students when they go on a trip.  Well, Janey got to take Pretty Penelope to Mississippi when we went for a couple of days last week. When you have Pretty Penelope you are supposed to take a picture of you, and Penelope during your trip.  Then bring the picture to school to share with the class.  Here is the picture of Pretty Penelope with Janey , Mary Varner, and Grandaddy!

Oscar's 10th Birthday

Oscar turned ten last Sunday!  We sang "Happy Birthday", ate cake in his honor, and gave him a new toy (stuffed mallard duck).  Yes, we have now turned into the family that has a party for our pet's birthday.  Oh well, we had fun!!

Birthday Party

The Riddell side of the family decided to have an early Birthday party for Mimi while everyone was in town for Christmas.  Her birthday is not until the end of January, but we wanted to celebrate early. These are some of the many pictures Aunt Beth took that night.

A Day at the Camp

Every year we like to take at least one day to go spend at the hunting camp.  The girls had a great time riding in the field car (as Janey calls it), and the four wheeler.  Mary Varner even drove the mule all by herself with grandaddy only shifting the gears!  Janey said that she wanted to go hunting this year.  We got her all suited up, and then she changed her mind at the last minute.  Mary Varner did go out with Jim that afternoon, but they did not see anything.  

Varner Family Christmas

We picked up Allie and met Papa Doc at the Japanese restaurant the day after Christmas. (Janey did not want to get in the picture)

The Saturday after Christmas we met Brad and his family, MawMaw, and Judy out at Papa Doc and KayKay's house to eat and open gifts.  This was our attempt at a picture of Mawmaw with her great-grands.  Janey was not in a picture mood again.

I LOVE this picture of MawMaw and Mary Varner!!!

Christmas Day 2013

We finally got the blog to load my pictures again!! Here is a mixture of pictures from Christmas day.  

The girls coming down the stairs to see what Santa brought them.  Janey is behind MV so it is hard to see her.

Mary Varner posing in her greek goddess costume

Santa brought Janey the Bitty Baby twins( she named them Mary Bracelet and Emma), and a Sophia the First costume!

Jim enjoying Janey's other Santa gift.

Santa brought Mary Varner , Saige, the American Girl doll!

Janey had to introduce her new twin dolls to Christmas Baby.

MV playing with Saige and her horse that B'B' gave her.

Uncle Brad and Allie

The girls and I....do not know why Janey is making this face.

Janey was over the top excited about the twin stroller she got for her  new dolls from Grandaddy and Nana.

Mary Varner has been asking for a "real" sewing machine for over a year.  Well, she finally got her wish from Grandaddy and Nana. 

Janey and Mollie in their matching Cinderella nightgowns

Ben very patiently shared his new hot wheels race track with all the girls.

Singing, "Happy Birthday" to Jesus

Elder Family 

Morning snuggles with Grandaddy

Christmas Eve

We drove to Mississippi on Christmas Eve.  We met up with Brad and his family to have Christmas with B'B' and Mimi!   

 

 

The girls are ready to get started!!

B'B' gave Mary Varner a horse and riding outfit for her American girl doll

Janey loves Doc McStuffins! B'B' gave her this talking clipboard.

Mimi opening her gifts

Brad, Jennifer, Hayden, and Allie gave MV this huge makeup kit.  She asked for makeup to play in for dress-up and now I think she has more makeup than I ever thought about having.

 

Janey also got a doc mcstuffins doctor bag with supplies from Brad's family.  She played doctor on B'B' and Allie.  B'B' got her heart checked, and Allie (if you look close at her belly) is filling out her sickness on the clipboard while also being pregnant(per Janey's request).



It was cold on Christmas Eve.  Well, Jennifer told Hayden that he did not have to wear his coat so he did not wear one.  He was really wanting to go ride the go cart, but did not have a coat to wear.  This was him trying on Jennifer's coat hoping that it would fit so he could go ride.  It did not work at all....he could not put his arms down by his side!!

After dinner and presents with Mimi and B'B', we headed to Grandaddy and Nana's to settle in for the night.  Jim read the Christmas story from the Bible to the girls before bed. 

Putting cookies and milk next to the fireplace for Santa