Time with Loved Ones

 

This weekend we celebrated Grammy's birthday! Audrey and Addison wanted to pick out a cookie cake for her.

 

 

We went out to eat for her birthday. While we were out to eat, Grandaddy gave the girls their "cow checks". Each year he sells a calf and gives them the money to save for their college expenses.  This has been a tradition started by my Pawpaw back when I was little, so I'm glad the tradition carries on.

 

We also got to spend some time with Nana.  It was so good to see her.  My girls can always make her smile and brighten even her worst days.  They love their Nana.

A Week With Grammy and Grandaddy (part 1)

We didn't get to take a vacation this year so the girls and I decided to load up and visit Grammy and Grandaddy for a week while Corey stayed home to get some work done.  I wanted this week to be full of fun and exciting things for the girls.  So Grammy took off from work and we planned several surprises for Audrey and Addison.

 

One of the most important and exciting things that was top priority on the list was to spend some time in the pool.  We spent several days and nights in the pool.

 

 

I think these two girls became little fish!

 

Audrey used to be so timid and scared in the water, but she was so brave and worked hard trying to learn to swim without her swimmies on.

 

Addison had a blast and swam all over the pool! I was amazed at how well she did in the water.

 

Audrey finally got brave enough to jump off of the diving board.

 

Once she discovered how much fun that was, she jumped again and again and again and again.  All of the adults were exhausted from "catching" her.

 

Everyday that we had a free moment, we spent it in the pool.  It was so much fun to see the pure joy it brought to Audrey and Addison.

 

On the days that we spent at the pool, we usually enjoyed a picnic lunch and sometimes even grilled out and had dinner outside. 

 

We tried to visit with Nana daily and spend time with her at the nursing home.  We took her for a walk outside one evening.  Another day we took her out to eat at Cracker Barrel.  She had a great time and we enjoyed getting to visit with her.

 

This is 4 generations in this photo.  I'm very blessed that I have photos like this.  It is wonderful that my children get to know and love their grandmother and great-grandmother.

 

Can you tell they love their Nana?? 

 

Uncle Keith also joined us on our Cracker Barrel outing.  Here is Nana with 2 of her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. 

Wet and Wonderful Weekend

We spent last weekend at my mom and dad's house (aka Grammy and Grandaddy).  Although we endured rain most of the weekend, we still managed to pack in lots of fun.

While there was a brief break in the rain, we jumped on the golf cart (aka Grammy-wagon) and rode around the farm to look at the cows.  Audrey and Addison LOVE seeing the cows each time we visit. 

They think they are so big climbing on the gates.  I can remember that being something that I loved to do as a little girl, too.

When it was raining, my munchkins were dancing and playing in the rain or taking a walk under their Veggietales umbrella.

The rain showers didn't stop us from enjoying some sweet, juicy watermelon on the very warm days.

We took advantage of the carport and played with bubbles in it.  All of us ended up COVERED in bubble solution.  Baths were a necessity for everyone after this!

When we weren't doing these fun activities, we were visiting Nana at the nursing home or enjoying some good food.  Even though it poured rain the whole time, we still had a wonderful time making memories with our family.

Thankful

Thanksgiving: Part 2-

After enjoying time with Corey's family, we drove back to my parents' house to spend the night. The next day we were going to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family.

When we arrived, it was getting late so we quickly tried to feed the girls and get them ready for bed. I gave them some of their favorites for supper so they would actually eat something.

By this point I noticed that Addison was still very warm, but acting fine...until...she started eating. She put a piece of orange in her mouth and began screaming uncontrollably. It was awful. We thought she had bitten her finger or tongue. I knew she was tired so I didn't push the eating issue. She drank her milk and I put her to bed. That night she was very restless.

The next morning was the same thing. Fever, wouldn't eat and then I noticed some spots on her feet.

At this point, I have a fussy kid and am frantically trying to prepare our Thanksgiving meal. Thank goodness Corey and Grammy were there to offer some TLC when I couldn't hold her. I was racking my brain the whole time trying to figure out what to do and what was wrong. I was 2 hours from her regular doctor and I certainly didn't want to take her and sit at a "doc-in-a-box" with all the flu and viruses if it wasn't necessary. So I decided just to watch her a little longer.

We enjoyed some family time and a delicious meal.

Addison and Audrey both love the cows and the farm. So since Addison was feeling up to it at the moment, we took them to let them feed the cows and ride the tractor. These girls are becoming great cowgirls :)

Audrey and Grandaddy


Miss Priss-Audrey

Audrey feeding the cows

Addison must taste really good!

I know it's down there somewhere!

Grandaddy and Addison

Sweet Addison not feeling so great.

Addison-Such a big helper!

After this little outing, Addison became even more irritable. I noticed more and more bumps around her mouth and on her hands coming up and it dawned on me that we were probably looking at Hand, Foot and Mouth disease. So, I put in a call to our doctor's office. After explaining the symptoms they confirmed what I suspected.

For the next 3 days that poor baby cried and cried. She lived off of yogurt, Popsicles and milk. I was happy that she would at least eat something. Then finally she began to feel better.

It was a great Thanksgiving. I just wish for once we could celebrate a holiday without one of us being sick :/

Little Cowgirls

One thing I miss most about having moved away from my family is the farm. That is all I have known my entire life and I've loved what all I learned on the farm and the many fond memories I have of time spent there.

So it thrills me to take my girls there and see them enjoy the same things I loved as a young girl.


Granddaddy has some good assistants.




You've got to train them early how to feed those cows! :)

I hope they will always love being a country cowgirl!

Park Play with the Family

I have so much catching up to do with my blog posts...so I am going to be back tracking a bit.

A few weeks ago, the girls and I went back to visit with my family. While we were in town we went to the park to enjoy some playtime and sunshine. We took Grammy, Nana, Granddaddy and Uncle Keith with us.

Addison and Nana



Granddaddy and Addison



Both girls LOVED this little bridge. It is made of conveyor belt type material and it seems "bouncy" when they jump on it. They spent a lot of time bouncing and running across it.





This cracked me up! Addison couldn't get enough of this little contraption. She would hold on for dear life and laugh out loud the entire time. Notice the open mouth. You can almost hear her laughter.



And certainly Audrey had to play a little "hide and seek".

And Addison was "Just a Swangin'".

Then Audrey did a little clowning around...

...and roaring like a lion.

Nana with Audrey and Addison

Before we left, we walked around the pond and spotted this adorable family...

One kind lady shared some bread with Audrey so she could feed them.

We had such a wonderful day and made so many beautiful memories.

Christmas at Grammy & Granddaddy's

On Christmas Day, we enjoyed family time at Grammy and Granddaddy's house. We missed Corey tremendously since he was working at the fire station. But we were glad to have lots of love and fun with my parents and my grandparents. The girls had such fun opening gifts...and you guessed it...they were totally spoiled. Ok, yes, I got spoiled too ;).

Audrey opened most of Addison's gifts for her, but Addison enjoyed investigating all the toys.

(And a big thank you to my brother for taking over my camera for a while...I actually have proof that I was there that day :))

Audrey sporting her new tutu.

Showing off her hairstyling set. She said now she "can be like Mrs. Brandi". (That is a friend of mine since Kindergarten, who cuts our hair when we come back to town- see this post).

Audrey is modeling her new Dora boots.

And playing with her singing dog that Nana and Pawpaw gave her. (Addison was TERRIFIED of this thing.)

--But she got a little brave, as long as it was being still and not singing.

Nana watched as the girls played with their loot.

Pawpaw relaxed and snoozed a little on the couch. We were so thankful that he felt well enough to leave the nursing home for a little while to celebrate with us.

Grammy was looking through her new calendar we gave her. I made calendars with pictures of the girls for each family.

I'm so glad Keith captured this moment. Pawpaw and I were reminiscing about when he used to have Nana's biscuits and a Sprite ready for Keith and me each morning when we were headed to school. I enjoyed these few minutes of memories and smiles with Pawpaw. (I will explain about the biscuit warmer later...that is a post all by itself...)

A girl after my own heart! She loves taking pictures! :)

With my sweet big girl! Nana gave us some cookie cutters to use when we enjoy time in the kitchen baking cookies together. :)

Mommy and her girls!

Sweet sisters.

I love to see this smile and hear her laughter.

We even got a little "cheese" out of her...

While others were opening their gifts, Addison decided she wanted to assist Uncle Keith with opening on of his presents. She had a time slowly ripping the paper. Uncle Keith got a kick out of it because he was going to find out what his present was before his time to open gifts.

Someone is very excited about all of her gifts.

Audrey sings some Christmas carols for Pawpaw.

We had a fabulous day being together! At least until close to midnight...when Addison and I both woke up with a stomach virus :( Fortunately, we were at Grammy's house! She played nurse to both of us all night. I'm so glad we were there so I would have some help. And hopefully, no one will get those germs!

Thankfully the virus ran its course in a few hours and by the next evening we were feeling a little better.