Gold trievers

Jeremy's mom got him a Golden Retriever desk calendar for Christmas. It sits on his vanity and every few days he gives Lila a stack of the ones he has ripped off. She thinks this is the gift of all gifts...my gold trievers she yells as she run to show them to everyone! She wants every one to see them but no one to hold them but her...she says...they're real special. She especially loves to show them to Jack...and he sits, as her pillow, until she has finished showing him the last of her gold triever pictures.

Her first dance

Tonight Jeremy asked Sara Kate to go her her first dance! This Friday night there is a father-daughter dance and I got tickets for them to go! Daddy asked her and she said yes! I have ordered her a new Valentine dress and I am so excited for them to spend some time together and dance the night away!

weekend review

It was a busy but great weekend!

I laughed with friends and rebuilt bridges....

Bridges the littles could sense and felt safe enough to walk across.....

Riggs found himself at the foul line and sank the shot!

Jenna ran ten miles and we were there to cheer her on! So proud of her!

 Since it was a little warmer and the sun was shining...we took Jack for his first long walk...or that was the intention.....

 At the corner of Interlaken Lila stopped...and I had to carry her the rest of the way

 Jack met a new friend...Sage Block. They were instant buddies!

We celebrated Ryan's 11th birthday with him and I was sentimental as we talked about him going to middle school next year.....

 I took a run with my Riggsy and realized his shoes truly are as big as mine....

We ended the weekend by picking up Jeremy who had trouble finishing up his practice marathon but he will get it...and by having chicken pot pie at Gran-Grans followed by warm baths and warm towels. It was a good one...truly it was!

Spring Fever

SK tried on all her beloved flip flops from last year...and they were, of course, too small. She can't wait to get new ones for the spring. Today I caught her going through all the spring clothing catalogs picking out the spring and summer clothes she likes the best. A girl after my own heart!

Supper Conversations

After a long day, when we gather at the table, you just never know what will be the topic of conversation. Tonight was a fun one...I just want to remember. we were sitting there and Sarah Kate asked why McBride was not on her birth day plate. She is after all, Sarah Kate McBride Hardy...truth is...it just wouldn't fit...but this opened up a conversation to baby names. Sarah Kate piped up that when she was a mommy she was going to name her babies Lilly McBride and David...because David is such a nice name. To my surprise Riggs announced without hesitation that his children would be named Hannah Jane Hardy (which is what he begged me to name Lila and I truly did consider it..it is so pretty), Lilly Danielle Hardy, McCoy Jeremy Hardy, and Jack Shawn Hardy. So funny that at 8 he plans on four kids..two boys...two girls..and I love the names...how cool is the name McCoy? where did he get that? Colt McCoy maybe? who knows! Rollins then announced he was going to have twin girls...Hallie and Hannah and one little boy named Ryder (which was the next boy name on my list had we had another boy). They got a piece of paper and wrote them down so they would be remembered forever. It was so funny to hear them talk about something so far away from their lives now...a future so far away...I mean, Rollins is still upset because he has not lost any teeth yet. And one day, I do hope to have all these babies...tons of grandchildren to love and spoil but for now I just want to enjoy the parents of my future grandchildren while they are my babies.I was reflecting on this as I did the dishes after supper and the kids had scattered  back down to the play room. I was lost in thought when Riggs opened the door from the basement and came and wrapped his arms around me and said....I know the person I marry will have names she likes and family names that she might want to use too...the names I picked tonight are just the names I like so they are just ones I will share with her, ok mom?  I hugged him back and told him that was wise and thoughtful. As he bounded back down the stairs to rejoin his basketball game...going back to being a little boy...I stood there in prideful astonishment about how sweet and truly wise that was for him to consider his wife's feelings and opinions about baby names...he is 8...only 8, but has a heart wise beyond his years. Whoever Riggs falls in love with someday....whoever she is...and I know she's out there somewhere.....she is a lucky girl. Sending you love, sweet girl, out there somewhere in the world...I hope you love my Riggs more than life one day...because in his own way...he is already loving you. 

still working on the clothes...

I'm still working on going through these clothes. I have made some progress! I have made two trips to good will and have taken clothes over to sweet Davis Gray and precious Henry Howard. It makes the heart happy to send these clothes off to a good home. I hope they get played in, ice cream dripped on them, and that Ashley and Marcia make special memories in them too.

Can't think of anyone else I would like to share my treasurs with...and they get my sentimental heart so that is a bonus! ;)

But moving on I have been going through the totes with some of the smaller clothes in them..more of Lila Ray's things and I just wanted to be sure I took the time to reflect on her things too...because they are just as special but much more tender at this point since she is the baby..the last one.

The first time Lila wore this was at Mamaw's surprise birthday party..it was a little big but she had to match the other three for such a special event! Mamaw held her and I remember standing there and thinking how lucky this baby was to be loved by such a special lady. Lila laid on the floor and all the kids talked to her and she was all smiles!

Now this one...really makes me smile....the first time Lila wore this we were in the Smokey Mountains..it was Lila's first trip there!

After a long day we came back to the cabin for a nice bath and to make smores by the fire. I put her in this sweet cream number and thought she was the sweetest baby in the universe. So precious and delicate..ten minutes later she had a blow out and that was the end of that.
 I had stuck these pajamas in her bag as an extra pair. They were cute..VERY sassy...with leopard and rhinestones...but not really what I would have chosen as my favorite for my baby. But when I put them on her...look out! She was a button! So cute...and they were so her...I swear she knew I had put something sassy on her...she was all smiles! It was in this moment, I think I realized that Lila was Lila..and sassy was more her than delicate. Leopard and rhinestones was more her than cream ruffled velour....and it still is!

a little glimpse of the future......

Tonight we went to Little Mustang night at North Oldham High School. Little mustangs is a basketball program run by the Varsity boys basketball team and their coaches. Riggs really looks up to these older boys and they are so good with the kids. It was an exciting night for Riggs! He was so pumped up about going to see North and his coaches play tonight and Jeremy and I were excited to go with him.  I had assumed it would be a family night for us..on on one time with Riggs...watching the game...and talking about someday when you are in high school....wrong. When we got there, Riggs met up with all his many buddies and was off to sit far away and watch the game with them.

so far away...took this with my zoom lens :(

 He really is getting big...finding himself...and developing a social network all his own. At half time he ran out onto the floor with confidence as they announced his name. He was so cute and I was so proud of him!

the neighbors

“Even though we've changed and we're all finding our own place in the world, we all know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face, we'll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us, nothing will ever change so much to the point where we're not all still friends.”

-sex and the city

We had a really nice night out with the neighborhood crew to celebrate the January birthdays. We went to Maker's Mark and although it was a couples evening...as I looked around the table at these women...these neighbors...these friends....I was flooded with good memories with each of them. Memories that brought a smile to my face and warmth in my heart.  We are the neighbors...the friends who see each other at our best and at our worst...the ones who pitch in to bring a meal...watch a child....or send a text of encouragement on a hard day.  There have been hiccups but no matter what there has always been love.

so sensitive

they are both so sensitive......Riggs came down the stairs one morning this week...excited beyond excited for a cross country assembly the school was putting on to celebrate Goshen's state win. He saw right away I was not in "go" mode...and soon realized there was no school due to snow. He was so disappointed and silent tears fell from his sleepy eyes..and he went and sat on the couch. Jack noticed right away and went and laid his head on Riggs' shoulder...Jack stayed there until Riggs stopped crying and seemed to relax. Riggs is sensitive in that he is easily disappointed...Jack because he can sense sadness. I find that I am amazed on a daily basis with what Jack brings to our family.He is a Golden retriever who truly has a golden heart.

Trying new things

 Sarah Kate and Rollins were at Bumpa's and so Riggs, mom, Lila and I went out, by Riggs' choice, for Chinese. Riggs loves rice...especially chicken fried rice, but tonight he tried some new things as well. He is branching out..this one. I love when you can give your child an experience and I have come to realize that all experiences count. Holding a tiny worm in your hand can be just as important as seeing the Statue of Liberty is person. Big and Little...experiences change and mold you...some a little...some a lot...but they all count.

He tried egg drop soup...won ton soup, Chinese fried noodles and sushi tonight. Some of it he liked...some if it he didn't but he tried it..and that is what matters.  Although he didn't realize it he was also trying something else new tonight..one on one time with his baby sister. This dynamic doesn't often happen but tonight it did and I loved watching them together. There were fish in a pond in the restaurant and Riggs took her over to see them. He talked to her about them and showed them to her...and she look up at him with such love...he eyes said....I adore you, Riggs and I know Riggs loved spending time with her tonight too.

Joy Boy

Be Joyful because it is humanly possible.

-Wendell Berry

Rollins, with his energy and laughter, brings so much joy to our family! He is full of pure joy and his heart is full of immense love for life. He is an amazing little boy. I can't believe I was chosen to be his mother...I am oh so lucky and oh so blessed!

another puppy post.....

 It's yet another puppy post...I can't help it! I am in awe of how much she loves this puppy! Where the other three, at age 2, got a baby brother or sister Lila got a puppy...and she couldn't be happier! This week they had back to back doctor appointments. Lila for her Flu...cost $25 copay..and she got  a sucker for her treat. Jack for another UIT...cost $171...he got a meat filled bone for his treat. So we are certainly spending the money on Jack, but the love he brings to the family is priceless!

so big...so little

When the boys got home from school I went through their backpacks as usual..and inside Riggs' take home folder was the information for Kindergarten Registratin for K-Kate. I literally stopped breathing for a few seconds. It can't be time yet...Sk can't leave me..she is my BFF..she helps me so much, I can talk to her about almost anything...and this sweet, precious, smart, amazing child fills my days with such joy. She is just a baby!And in the same breath is so big...more ready than the boys were to go to school.

I looked over at her and she was eating cereal that she had poured herself at the table....so big! She was chatting about away about her nook and some books she wanted to down load...so big.  She used words like prefer and amazing as she talked...so big!

 And as I walked over to kiss her sweet, milky white cheek...because I was feeling sentimental and loving her so much in that moment...I looked down to see her little toes peeking out under her shirt...she was sitting like she did when she was a baby...so little...so,so little. Why can't they stay that way?

Daddy's turn!

The snow and Jeremy's schedule with work and iron man training finally connected and he was able to take the boys sledding! It was super cold-like 20 degrees but they had a ball!

Heaven help us...Lila has the flu!

When Lila is sick...she is MISERABLE! She cries and whines and wants to be held every second. Nothing makes her happy..and she is just pitiful...God Love her! It has been a long couple of days...poor baby!

Hardy kids...I'd like to introduce you to Big Boy!

Mamaw and Grandpa too will sometimes make reference to getting a "big boy"  when Daryl was little..and hot fudge cake...and the kids have no clue really what that means. There are a few Shoneys left and certainly not all of them have a Big Boy statue out front...but while Shoneys is still here I decided to introduce the kids to big boy on yet another snow day! The first thing they loved was the ice...ity bity..and my favorite kind.

They loved the curly staws and they ate eveything on their plates!

And now they know what it is to experience Big Boy...a silly but fun lesson for a snow day!