Lila's friend party

While Riggs slept the day away after an all nigher of a sleepover we celebrated Lila's birthday with her friends!

We got the deck ready!

and soon the friends arrived to play!

She was so excited to slide and play and just have fun with her girls!

Are they cute or what?

She opened her presents and was so excited to get new barbies, a Barbie glam pool, a beautiful new headband, lip gloss and many other girly gifts!

We had tote bags with monogrammed hair bows on them filled with candy as party favors and she was so excited to give these to her guests!

It was a fun afternoon! She loved sharing her birthday with her friends!

a funny...typical...night

The water slide was delivered for the  XC team and Lila's birthday...and there were boys on it as dusk settled in.....it was almost Jack's birthday...he would tun 11 at midnight so I just invited those that were here to stay for a sleepover....

All the girls were out for a night out...dinner and a movie I missed...but at 11 they were dancing and so I made Jack a cake...put it in the oven...and ran up to Drakes to dance a few songs...why not!

I was back in time to ice the cake and decorate it for Jack to have right at midnight!
5-4-3-2-1......Happy Birthday, Jack!!!!

I love making these boys smile!

I just had to blog this night...so typical...a lotta bit for the kids...and a tiny bit for me...but just right for right now!

Patience

"Patience is bitter, but it bears sweet fruit.”

-Turkish Proverb

A few years ago the kids chose a tiny apple tree for Jeremy for Father's Day. It was not from a fancy nursery, my friends. This little tree came from Meijer. Honestly I never thought it would ever produce a fruit....it was never a happy tree. It was little and began growing crooked...but not the less it reached toward the sun. It has been hit by the lawn mower, lost limbs to storms and yet it's still here. Trying. Growing.  And the kids will ask"when will it grow an apple?"  And I always answer with a simple "someday".....Well friends it has been an exercise in patience...but today was someday.

 And I have two say it was the most perfect little apple I have ever seen.....and the smiles on the kids' faces were just as sweet.

Practice patience my friends....don't give up on anything or anybody...with enough love and enough time....we all have it in us to bear the sweet fruit...and some day can come any day for any one of us.

Bluegrass games 2012

The Hardy Boys were asked to be on a tournament team for the Bluegrass Games in Lexington! Day one brought 2 wins and some great soccer playing!

Day two we won our first game...

But the second game...the championship game...we just could not pull it out....

We came home with silver medals...

and Jeremy got a coach medal for all his help!

Yhea for Brad!

Brad has a new job so we went to celebrate!!!!

At our favorite spot...the Village Anchor!

My baby is 4 today!

Watch out world!

Lila Ray is 4 today!

 Where has the time gone...how did the baby get to be 4? But like it or not she is...
At 4 is is the most helpful...seriously, sister loves to help and loves to work. She will help clean, organize, sort, she just loves to have been a part of the end result...and she is so proud and happy to be a part of any task. I love this about her!

 She is also very responsible. At 4 her ability to see a need and take care of it astounds me. She walks and feeds Jack...with love....every day.

 She likes things to be her idea...and isn't easily persuaded....she is pretty stubborn.....ok....sometimes she is hell on wheels....

 At 4 she likes her own time......there are times during the day when she will go off on her own....to the play room...to her room...on the beach....and do her own thing...by herself. She is very social but loves her alone time too.....

She is beautiful...and happy...and her smile lights up the room, the world and most certainly my heart....

 She loves to dance...and will get down until she is sweaty and her cheeks are flushed...she loves the music...and she feels the music with her little soul...sister has moves and is full of passion.....

 If you are in....you're  in....if she loves you that's it...she is true. If you are in...you are lucky.

 She is temperamental about things....as much as she loves to dance...you may ask her to dance...she may run and hide her face...or she may show she everything she's got....if she does anything she does it with passion...IF she does it.

 She is my 4th...who is 4 today. The greatest suprise  I ever had....my wish come true. I still can't believe I wished for her on my birthday cake and I got her....somewhere in my life I must have done something really good to deserve the fun and love she gives my life everyday.
Nobody loves me like Lila Ray.....and I could not love her more......

Happy  4th Birthday to my sweet, sassy, helpful, passionate girl! I love you so!