Vacation in Marion!

Can't get the pictures to 'pull down' on Mom's computer, so the story has to follow....

We were in Marion on Sunday for Mom's Christmas party and then left the girls with Nana so we could get a few things done on Monday, plus dates have been very few and far between. The girls think they've been on vacation since Sunday, because all they've done is play in the snow (12 inches), eat, and sleep.....and then start over again! The pictures you saw above were the kids playing in Mom's backyard for hours on end. Fun was definitely had by all.

Cuzzin' lovin....me, Mitch, and Steve...two of my closest cousins. They're so sweet. Above, me and Chris...another favorite cousin. He thought I was excruciatingly heavy to be sitting on his lap!!!

Crazy, Dazy Snow Daze!!

We did get to school today and got in our half day. After all, it was only raining with a few little ice crystals thrown in for good measure. Marion started their day off in pure white, but the impatient, younger Hughes sibling had to wait....and wait...and wait for the white stuff. Finally, the angels sang and the heavens opened up. It started falling furiously about 2:30 or so and hasn't stopped. We're about 5, maybe 6 inches behind Marion, though. Hope it stays until we get there in a couple of days. Meanwhile, we're enjoying about 3 inches as we speak (6:30 pm).

Brookie tasting the very first snowflakes...right after lunch.

Cammie and Madi....just a dusting, but still very cold!

First icicle!

AAAhhhhh, lovin' this. Thank you, Lord!

Oh yea, Baby. Now it's starting to come down!!

Okay, so no accumulation in this picture, but Macy absolutely loves the snow. Has played in it until she's completely wet and looks like a rat.

Dasher, on the other hand, doesn't quite have the appreciation for it yet. Him's just a little too close to the ground....everything gets wet and cold too quickly.

Getting ready for supper at my bird feeder! I took this picture for my Mama!!

Christmas snow!!!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Just guessing there's no one out there that has some Christmas bedroom slippers as cool as these are.......hhhmmmmmm?? I won these at our Sunday School Christmas party. I love them. HO HO HO!!!

Grove Park Magic

Every year about this time, we head up to Grove Park Inn in Asheville. It is hands down one of the classiest, most elegant places in the world. I love everything about it....the location, the spa, the restaurants and shops, the fireplaces, and most importantly, the Christmas decorations and gingerbread house contest. Oh mercy, the detail that goes into these all-edible creations is just spectacular. DEMETRIA needs to enter this contest next year. She's my 'cake lady' in Black Mountain. Following are some shots from Saturday's visit.

One of the entries...this is a second place for the Teen division.Love this place.

Check out Cammie's specs! They're not prescription, just fashion specs, but aren't they cute?Brooke is standing in front of room 545. This is where the ghost of the Pink Lady resides, apparently. It is a ghost story about a lady who was thrown over the balcony or jumped over and landed five floors down, killing herself. No one knows the real story, but Brooke did a project on Mountain Mysteries and ghosts. She also included the Brown Mountain Lights in her research.

Thanksgiving Week!

Wow, what a whirlwind week. We had a great time in Marion for Thanksgiving after going into the mountains to get our tree on Wednesday. Leaves plenty of time to enjoy Thanksgiving Day without being so rushed. We came home on Friday to finish decorating, worked at the church's tree lot on Saturday, and VOILA...bought a new puppy in a spur of the moment, heart-tugging, buy-me-please situation on Saturday afternoon. Dasher was in no danger, mind you....he just really wanted to come live with us. Following are some shots of the entire week. There's a bunch.Thanksgiving Day........Thomas picked these for me behind Mom's barn.

Being lazy and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Nana checks out the sales for Black Friday.

Ready for the feast.

Modeling just a little...And some more....

Friday brought tree decorating and unpacking. On Saturday, we worked the tree lot as a family, bought a puppy, and I visited Cotton at his gallery.

We had very little traffic at the Tree Lot (at church), so Thomas decided to make sure he could 'operate' the tree thingy..what's it called? And yep, he could do it!Cotton and his new book he wrote (and my name is in the back)!!! HEHE! Ya'll want his autograph...or do you want mine?!Meet Dasher, the newest member of our family. He's such a sweet boy...8 weeks old and fat as a pig. We purchased him on a whim yesterday and he's already made his way deep into our hearts. Macy loves him and is very maternal towards him. Now she has a playmate!!It just wears him out to be happy all day long!!!

A weekend blast!

What a beautiful weekend. And, this one in particular was full of fun doings with friends and family! On Saturday, after working in the yard most of the day, we headed to the Brick House Tavern in Davidson for dinner with the Privotts. It's yet another one of my favorite places to eat!

Getting ready to go!

Get your head out of the picture, Michael!!

Such fun with that crew and a delicious dinner!

Thomas surprised us with tickets to see Carolina play basketball at the Dean Dome. We were excited to take the girls since they had never been in that dream of a place and it had been 2 years since we had been. Man, did that ever bring back memories. Geez....I love that place!

You always dress in UNC apparel for such events, but ya'll know me and my clogs...had to have something!!! I didn't have true Carolina blue clogs, but these were close.

And jewels....of course. Besides my charm that I love so dearly, the girls had Tarheel earrings too!

We took a quick (and I mean very quick) walk over to the student store. We ran short on time after eating lunch with Papaw...which of course we loved!

The girls had to strip down to camis for the walk over. It got so hot! They re-robed with t-shirts before going into the Dean Dome. I told them I was going to do the same, and boy did I get some mean, horrified looks from them. Just kidding, girls!

In front of the Bell Tower.

And again!

Yep! (And several others)

Roy's boys warming up. Missing Hansbrough and Lawson in a very big way.

Self portrait with dangling gummy worms.

Dance Team.....I remember!