Getting Mamaw's Christmas on!

Lila and I went over today and got Mamaw all ready for Christmas! We spent the whole day over there and we treated her to a chili cheese coney dog from Sonic too! What a gift...to spend the day...unhurried and full of Christmas spirit with the most wonderful lady around!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Mamaw!

We gathered at Bumpa's to celebrate the birthday of one of the best ladies I have ever known

Eva Charlene Hardy

We had supper...

put candles on her cake....

 and made wishes with Mamaw!

 As a special birthday treat, SK played "Happy Birthday" on her guitar for the birthday girl!

 It was precious!

 and she was so proud!

a date with my beauties!

Bumpa took us to see Beauty and the Beast!

They loved the whole experience!

The plush velvet seats were fancy.....

 the intermission coke was "the best"!

 Sk loved the program!

 It was just a fun a fun Sunday afternoon with the girls!

 Mamaw and Heather came too...so it was all the Hardy girls!

 I loved being able to share this fun experience with them!

Heading to the Mountains

We have been non stop....running...literally eating, breathing and sleeping XC. With state looming before us...we decided to take a few days of fall break and head to the mountains.

I was so excited to just.....be.....just be with my family.

 And the littles were beside themselves as well....they love the Smokey Mountains!

 I love them too...but I love stepping away from home to spend time together the most. I felt wrapped up in the warmth of family the minute we stopped to get the key to our cabin.

 We got there later in the day so we decided to head to the aquarium. The aquarium there is lovely!

 Grandpa and Bumpa were along with us on day one....and so was Mamaw.....it was so nice to bring her back to the smokeys and just be with her.

 It was a great first day of our little get away! We were excited to head to the mountains tomorrow!

A new Christmas eve tradition

I put up and take down Mamaw's Christmas decorations every year. She has stocking for the grandkids and she always puts little goodies in them....but they never seen to get presented to the kids. When I take down the decorations I am always putting the stocking stuffers from her in a baggie. I just thought maybe we could make an effort to let her give these stockings to the kids...so she could give them. So I went and got Krispy Kremes and invited everyone to meet over at Mamaw's for coffee and doughnuts with Mamaw on Christmas Eve morning.  Right away the kids were ready for their stockings!

 and Right away I realized this was the best idea I may have ever had....Mamaw was positively thrilled to pass out her stockings....seriously, this lovely lady was beaming.....and my heart felt like it might pop right out of my chest.....

 As they opened their stockings and sorted through the trinkets she said......now this is what makes Christmas fun!

 She was so happy.....she is just the most wonderful person I have ever known!

 The littles filed into her arms for hugs and to say thank you....and she loved every minute of it!

 Then we tore into the doughnuts!

 It was a Krispy Kreme Christmas!

 Since it was warm the littles headed outside for a Christmas game of football! Oh what fun!

 well....all the littles but k-kate....she was happy to stay inside and read a Christmas book to Bumpa....

 We ended the morning by playing pass the present.....and then we were off to get ready for Christmas eve! It was the best Christmas eve morning and a new tradition for sure!

Happy 83rd Mamaw!

Today we gathered to celebrate Mamaw's birthday....she is a living legend in my book.....one of the best....one of the best of the best really.

She was so happy just to have us all together in one room...for her that is enough. I cooked a nice dinner and everyone was here...even Uncle Gary in from Florida!

These are the faces she loves the most...... her Great Grandchildren.....all 6 of them!

I could not love this lady more.....it was an honor to celebrate her birthday with her!