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.

Nana's Birthday Party

 

This lady is one of the most precious women I know.  Anyone who has ever met her can say that she made a tremendous impact on his/her life. She has touched so many hearts during her years.

 

We were blessed to be able to celebrate another year of life with her.

 

The older I get, the more I realize what a treasure the older generation is to us younger women.  Especially when you become a mother, their wisdom is priceless.  I am so thankful that my children have the privilege of knowing this kind-hearted, loving, godly woman as their great-grandmother.

 

This year we chose to celebrate her birthday at the nursing home where Nana now resides.  They were kind enough to allow us to use one of the activity rooms so our family and friends could all be together to celebrate.

 

Keeley made an AWESOME strawberry cake (one of Nana's favorites).  We went all out with party hats, candles...the whole works!

 

Nana enjoyed the fun and fellowship.  Audrey and Addison even got her to act a little silly.

Gifts for the birthday girl!

Nana with her great-granddaughters, Addison and Audrey.

This is 4 generations!

 

Me, my dad, my mom, my brother, Keith;

Addison, Nana, Audrey

Nana with Uncle Jim and Aunt Carol.

Donald and Linda Scott came to celebrate with us.  They are dear friends (really they are like family) who visit and care for Nana all the time.  Every week they bring her cake, a diet coke and give her a manicure.  What a precious couple!

 

I'm so glad we got to celebrate this special lady in such a wonderful way!

We love you, 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. 

Audrey and Keith's Celebration

This past Sunday we had a celebration at Grammy and Grandaddy's house for Audrey's 5th birthday and Keith's Recruit School Graduation.  We were hoping that family members that wouldn't be able to travel for Audrey's "big" birthday party would be able to join us for this one since it would be closer to their home.

Audrey- the "birthday girl"- thrilled about turning 5 years old!

While some of us were finishing up preparation for lunch, Audrey and Addison entertained the rest of the company.  They had Nana "fishing".

Then Addison decided that Nana needed to toss the fish into her net.  It was good therapy for Nana and apparently lots of fun for Addison.

Audrey got to show off her Happy Birthday crown.  She was excited about her pink birthday balloon.

 

I just love the look on Audrey's face while everyone is singing "Happy Birthday" to her.  It looks like she just can't wait to blow out that candle and make her wish.

Addison didn't want to be left out of the celebrating so we had to include a little candle in her cupcake, too.

Mmmmm.....Yummy!!

I'm pretty certain Addison enjoyed that icing. haha  She made sure to lick every bit of the icing from the cupcake.

Uncle Keith had his own cupcakes that read "Congratulations" with the candles. For the record, he didn't eat ALL those cupcakes on his own.

It wouldn't be a birthday party without gifts, right??

Aunt Carolyn gave Audrey some money so she could go to Build-a-Bear and create her own stuffed animal.  Audrey can't wait to make the trip there.  She has already been telling me what she wants to make.  Of course, she changes her mind daily, so it will be interesting what she will choose to make once we go.

She also got some art projects to do.  Aunt Carol, Uncle Jim, Keeley and Brantley gave her a precious outfit and some stickers.  They were kind and bought Addison something, too, so she wouldn't be left out.  Addison got a wooden puzzle and some stickers.  She loves putting the puzzle together over and over.

Since Nana was unable to attend Keith's graduation, he put his uniform on for her to see him dressed up and so we could get some photos of them together.  I love this one of the two of them.  She was so proud of him.  Nana teared up when he walked in wearing his uniform.

The girls gave Nana some loving, too.

And since were were taking pictures, I took the opportunity to get one of Nana and me, together.

Our family...(we were missing Brantley and Corey)...and yes, Addison was showing off how well she can pitch a fit like a true 2-year-old...but at least we got a group picture.

It was a wonderful day and I am so glad that most of our family were able to join us for this special time. 

This was the first of the birthday celebrations for Audrey.  The fun has just begun.  She will be celebrating all week, so there will be more fun memories posted soon.

Halloween 2011

This Halloween I had an adorable Ariel (Audrey)....

...And a BUSY little bumble bee (Addison).

I do think they were the most adorable Ariel and bumblebee in this neck of the woods.

We don't usually take them door-to-door knocking on strange people's houses for candy. There is just all kind of crazies out there and I'm not all that fond of finding them. So we usually limit their trick-or-treating to a few family members.

This year we started our trick-or-treating adventure at Aunt Carol and Uncle Jim McGriff's house.

I was a HAPPY mommy because they had fruit for the girls instead of candy! :)

Then we visited Aunt Carolyn. Every year we have gone to her house. She always has something special and wonderful for the girls. Not just regular ol Halloween candy.

The girls love visiting with and loving on her.

Next, we made a stop by the nursing home so Nana could see the girls all dressed up. Audrey and Addison had balloons to give to Nana to brighten her room.

Here is Nana with her two special trick-or-treaters.

Last, we went to the church for their Fall Festival/Trunk-or-Treat. They both enjoyed playing the games and getting LOTS of candy.

I'm fairly certain that the pony ride was the favorite.