Sk's first tooth fairy visit!

Sarah Kate lost her first tooth! It was the tiniest little tooth you ever did see......

 She was excited for her visit from the tooth fairy! She placed her tooth in a baggie under her pillow with this note......Dear tooth fairy, I would prefer books instead of money please....love, Sarah Kate

 And you know what that tooth fairy delivered! Sure enough there were 3 new books under her pillow the next morning and the tooth was gone! I love how much she loves to read and how kind the tooth fair was to her!

a year ago...

A year ago Jeremy and I were busy looking for just the right dog to add to our family. We looked at every breed, shape and color...it was quite the decision. As you know we finally settled on the Golden Retriever.....and eventually this pup right here....... our Jack-Jack

He has grown so much...and has been so much more work than I ever thought he would.....but at the end of the day he is the dog I wanted him to be....he is the dog that sleeps on the steps every night waiting for the kids to come down in the morning because he loves them so much...and they love him that much right back.

Trees for the littles

We started the tradition with Riggs.....on his very first Christmas he had his very own tree in his room.

   

 Ever since then the littles have had their very own trees...that they decorate and that has ornaments that are special to them...so there are four more trees in the Hardy house now! They love them and I love that they love them so much! This year SK added a pink cup cake to her tree in honor of her favorite book....Pinkalicious!

 Riggs was so sweet to help Lila with her tree....

 These two have a very special bond....

 Lila's is baby pink......

 SK's is hot pink......

 The girls were so excited to add the ornaments I let them pick out in Disney over fall break.....Ariel for SK and Belle for Lila!

 Riggs also did his tree tonight....

 He added XC medals to his branches! SO cute and SO creative!

Rollins was at a pajama party so his tree awaits him when he returns!

Finally .....it's time to deck the halls!

I look forward to decorating our home for Christmas every year. It is so nostalgic....getting the ornaments out and remembering where you got every one...and the warm cozy aura that the Christmas lights bring to this place we call home.  I just love it! I hang and place and tie ribbons on everything....but the tree we decorate together!

I love our old ornaments but it is always fun to add new ones too...like this one from the XC banquet...

The end result always takes my breath away!

Tonight we were lucky enough to hear The Drifters version of White Christmas at the conclusion of the tree decorating session...we all always dance to that one! Swirls of light and laughter filled the house tonight...it must be Christmas time!

A perfect Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was pretty much perfect.....

I was Thankful at every moment and never felt overwhelmed like I sometimes do at Holidays. I think it was still the lingering effects of Braden's seizure....that calm of remembering what really matters. 

As I finished cooking the littles watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade....randomly yelling with excitement  for me to come look at a float or hear a song....

 When finally the feast was ready....we gathered in prayer to Thank God for all our many, many, precious blessings....

 and then 18 of us swarmed over plates and dishes....fixing plates for littles....and taking in the yummy smells of Thanksgiving dinner

 Finally we settled at Tables and enjoyed our food and our family and friends!

 The little girls had their own table this year.....lace table cloth and all.....I thought it looked so cute.....

 Sarah Kate thought it needed it's own bottle of hand sanitizer to make it perfect!

 After Thanksgiving we celebrated the fall birthdays in our family! Sophie loved us singing Happy Birthday to her! Look at the face!

Madison is turning 18....and that is really hard to believe....I feel for my sister-in-law, Katie....she is having to slowly let go a little more every day. In a blink I will be there too....it all goes by so fast....

 Presents for all the fall birthdays!

 Lila had picked out his special doll for Sophie...and was so proud to give it to her!

 We visited....laughed.....

 and said our goodbyes.....

 Then it was off to Bumpa and Grandpas for more family and more food!

 My older 3 littles have their favorites at Thanksgiving and I love that...for Riggs it is pumpkin pie with whip cream!

Rollins loves my cinnamon apples.....

 and for Sweet Sarah Kate it is apple pie all the way!

 We are all Thankful for another Thanksgiving with Mamaw....she just radiates love!

 As Thanksgiving night fell I bathed the littles and they put on their first Christmas joms of the season!

 and Lila may have discovered her Thanksgiving thing after all....I am pretty sure she was in love with Aunt Katie's fall cupcakes!

It was just perfect and I am so blessed to have had such an amazing day with my family! Love and blessings to you all!