It's the little things that mean the most.....

When I pray for these children my prayer is for them to have kind, loving hearts....this is our life...our journey...our Hardy Hearts....

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

in the shuffle

Rollins Alexander is one amazing kid. He is pretty good at everything really...so well rounded. He is smart and tries hard at school. He is athletic and excels at running and soccer. He is funny and full of energy and oh so fun to be with! He is kind and a really good friend and always puts others first. He is so good...sometimes he gets lost in the shuffle. He and I will be making something in the kitchen and in the girls come and want to help.....head down he leaves to make room for them.... to make it easier...even if you beg him to stay. He will be cuddled with me on the couch and Lila will say she wants to sit with me and so he gets and finds another spot...even if I try to get him to stay. He makes things too easy sometimes so I guess that is one thing he is not good at...demanding his time. But I just love him so much and I appreciate him so much. On Sunday morning he got up early, as usual, and I heard him so I got up to and asked him on a breakfast date...just the two of us. He chose McDonald's and he sat across from me with his sausage McGriddle, his big sweet tea and his contagious smile....and we talked and laughed and enjoyed our morning. As we packed up our things to leave he said "finally I got to do something with just you and not the girls" which tells me does need this time and these little moments. He gives me so much of his little heart every day...I just want him to feel not only loved but special. I want him to know that he makes my life better just by breathing...that he inspires me to open my heart to life every day.  That I love him differently than the other three...his entrance into the world demanded a piece of my heart to stretch with a scared longing that will always be a part of the love I have for him. I try so hard every day....I guess that is why they say one lifetime is never enough......

Friday, February 24, 2012

happy Friday!

Came across this oldie but goodie of Lila Ray today...and wanted to share!
Happy Friday! Enjoy every delicious second of your weekend!

Painting it up!

With 45 days of p90x under my belt...I was feeling strong ( dying laughing here) and oh so ready to paint it up to celebrate Meredith and Jenna on their birthdays!
It was so much fun to have a private party room!
We gathered at the studio...suited up in our aprons...put out our food spread...and got busy!
There is something so exciting about a blank canvas....oh the possibilities!
My BFF was happy as she could be...and she could not be more beautiful!
I made brownie parfaits in little paint cans just for the occasion!
It was so much fun!

Amanda was full of ideas and so helpful! She is quite the painter!
We had a ball...and at the end of the night we all went home with awesome paintings and great memories of our evening!
and party favors....we went home with those too! It's so fun to plan parties for people you love!
Paint your heart happy, friends!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Right now...

Right now she never misses a moment to cook with me...she just pushes her chair right over and climbs on the counter to help. Right now she is finding the beauty and love in friendship and loves to be with her friends. Right now she is demanding and will ask you once for something and then say "I thought you were going to (fill in the blank)....get my drink, tie my shoe, color with me. Right now she loves "the brothers" and tells they they are "beast" because she know they love to hear it. Right now she works out with me every day and insists on wearing her own work out clothes. Right now she wakes up almost every night and slips in beside me in my bed. Right now her favorite princess is Belle and she loves cinnamon toast.  Right now she is relentless and will ask you the same thing over and over until you break...Moma can you paint my toes....Moma can you paint my toes...Moma can you paint my toes.....pink? Right now she gives me lots of kisses and takes a lot of my patience since we are together most all the time.  Right now I know I should let her do more things for herself but since she is my last I am having a hard time doing that. Right now she can dance and shake it like nobodys business.  Right now I love her and her... her beautiful green eyes.... and her sassiness. Right now I am thankful she is mine.

After Church Brunch

At Church we are doing this series called The Story...it is a series for all ages to go through the bible. We began...as luck would have it...in the beginning. It is a very interesting series full of history but oh so much more.What hit home with me today was the story of creation compared to other theories...and as I listened to it all the one thing that really hit me what that science based theories are based on accident...something happened either fast or slowly but it just happened...just evolved. With God as our creator nothing is an accident,but rather has a great purpose. No matter what I do not believe I am here by accident or that my children are here by accident. I know in my heart that we are here for a purpose...that we all are. We all are a brilliant piece in this puzzle and our lives have meaning and beauty in their own unique way. After church the Schaffners invited us over for brunch.....and I was able to be thankful for the purpose of my path and the path of my friends and family. 
 And you wonder how will they change the world in their own little way.....
 or their own big way......
 and you pray as Momas you are guiding them just enough to let them shine.....and be the change they are destined to be......

back in the water

The girls started swim lessons in the hopes that they will be ready for the pool by the time the pool is ready for them. Wish us luck!


Monday, February 20, 2012

I had a dream that we went out..

It was like I was in a dream on Saturday night.....we got a last minute invite to go out and we went. I looked up at 7:30 on Saturday night and I was sitting at a large round table of adults....and laughter...and man did it feel good.
 It was a happy dream for sure.....and it was so good it included my favorite dessert on the planet...Peanut Butter Creme brûlée from Nappa River...it is like heaven to me!
 We had the best dinner and conversations and then headed to Drakes to join the Cougars on the dance floor!
 I danced and laughed....laughed and danced...and then I did it all over again!


 It was so much fun...I just didn't want it to end! I hope I  have another dream like this one again very soon!

Cheering JuJu on as she turns 7!

Julia celebrated her birthday tonight at Gym Time with a cheer birthday party!
Everyone had the best time!





We are so happy we were there to celebrate this funny, sweet, sassy little girl who means the world to us!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

one to remember

It wasn't a game his team won....or one that was played down to the wire. The other players on his team may very well forget this game all together...but not Riggs. For him this was one to remember.   He threw up this deep three pointer and.... swish.... it went in.....
 The guys congratulated him and his smile was priceless.....
and then he thew up this one......and wouldn't you know it...this three pointer went in too...

and his endless smile just could not be wiped away....
 it lingered.....

 and lingered until finally it faded to just a tiny smirk....but every time my eyes met his....it grew wide again...

 It's just one of those games...that he will carry with him forever...that he will remember forever...

a slice of cheese cake...a slice of happiness

We had my dad down to celebrate his birthday. I know his heart is broken from my brother and I know there is really nothing I can do about it.
As a parent myself...I can't imagine the pain...the heartbreak. As a parent I have been compelled to comfort and heal my children through any pain....big or little....physical or emotional. It's always nice to be comforted at any age I guess. If my grandma Taylor were here she would have comforted with food. Every year for Dad's birthday she made one of his favorites......her Cherry Cheesecake.So that is just what I did...I made her cheese cake...hoping a little bit of Moma's love would somehow be here for his birthday. This little slice of cheese cake gave him a little slice of happiness.
He seemed to really like the gesture...

and I hope he made a wish for peace.....
My relationship with my dad is so different...it's like he is the father to Heath and Brent....but he and I are more like nice neighbors......who live a few streets over...I'm here...and if our paths cross we smile but life seems to go on even if our paths don't cross. It's hard to explain.  He doesn't really know me or my life or how my children are my whole world...all of them...all four of them equally. But he did tell me before he left to be sure and not be so busy trying to do it all that I don't enjoy this precious time right now...that it was too late for him...he had already missed out on that time with his kids...and it was a regret he has to live with. I just don't think that way....it's never too late to live Happily Ever After in my world....

 I do spend time with my littles...and feel like I soak up every moment I can of their childhood...this is not a spot in my life I feel I will have the regrets he has...but for a moment...it was nice for him to to show me a fatherly gesture...an moment of genuine advice....and I listened and soaked it up even though it didn't really apply to me ....that's how hungry I am for his love.....No amount of cherry cheese cake will make that hunger go away.
So as he got back in his truck and headed home with the rest of the cheese cake I stayed here and had my own afternoon....and afternoons like these...filled with jumping on the bed....love...giggles and tickles....sure fill me up in the most delicious way!







Saturday, February 18, 2012

the sisters


"A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost."

-Marion C. Garretty





Friday, February 17, 2012

Bus stop Birthday

Today was Julia Rose's 7 th birthday! We welcomed her home at the bus stop with a silly string and shaving cream fight!
 Oh man was it fun!
 The whole gang was covered from head to toe!




 
As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.

Yhea....it was messy...yhea is was crazy...yhea I  had to wash 5 people....5 coats...and five pair of shoes...but it was worth it...our JuJu Rose is worth it...
Happy Birthday, Julia Rose Timmering!