Maddie Ann is finally here!

After a very long wait...I am so pleased to announce the arrival of my first great niece.....Maddie Ann-Marie Pike!

She came into this world on March 27th at 10:29 am weighing 7.4 lbs and was 19 inches long!

 Such a little baby who will change us all in a big way!

 I could not be more happy, or more proud of Alex.....he will be a wonderful father to this little one....

 Truly there is nothing better than a new baby! We are so excited to have one in the family again..she bring a new love...a new hope...and a new promise to the world!

 What a wonderful Easter present for us all!

 Alex and Sarah we are so happy for you and wish you all the love and support you need as you enter this amazing journey of parenthood!

 I took dinner over last night...and got to hold her...smell her...and kiss her newness! I found the perfect dessert to take too! You can't have enough pink with a baby girl!

Welcome to the world Maddie we already love you so much!

Easter set back

We have had a major Easter Set back...the stomach bug hit out house in a big way! It was two days of misery for me, Riggs and SK! Sarah Kate and I slept together in her bed with a puke bowl between us the first night and the second night as I tried to help Rollins as he was throwing up I passed out and hit my head on the door frame of the boys' bathroom. Good times! I still have a headache.....

But we are trying to get back on track for Easter and Spring break...we may not get it all done but we will do our best!

We snuck in a Spring break pedicure.....

 Got Easter baskets ready for everyone...including these we are delivering to Creasy Nature Preserve for the birds on behalf of the XC team.

 We dyed our Easter eggs.....

 and have them on display!

So much to do....so little time...oh headache please go away!

Dress up Days

The days of dress up are fleeting...I know it...so I am enjoying them so much these days!

Egged

We woke up to a knock on the door and an Easter basket on the front porch! Inside was a note saying we had been egged! 

There were 24 eggs hidden in the yard...even golden ones! The older three hunted before school and then re hid eggs for sleepy head Lila.....

She loved waking up to this special Easter treat too!

 What a fun way to start the morning!

overnight camp

Big news! We signed up Riggs for camp at Country Lake this summer! His first overnight camp ever! Big deal for him and a really big deal for Moma!

Lucky....oh so lucky!

This St. Patrick's Day I feel lucky!

Oh so lucky!

I feel lucky to start my day with Lucky Charms with Green milk. It's not necessarily the cereal but the look on the littles faces when they saw what was in the bowl...the curiosity of the green milk....and that look....that look they get then I do something special for them. I am lucky to know that a few drops of food coloring won't always get me that look...that one day it may even get me an eye roll....but today I know I am lucky to get "the look" so I am happy for that.

I am lucky that we had a lazy morning together as a family ...and that we thought we should just stay lazy and cozy together in the house. I am even more lucky that Riggs did not want to continue the lazy morning and that he wanted to go to church..... so cute as a button in his green gingham shirt and sperrys he went.

 We were lucky to get a few flakes of snow today...they were so pretty falling from the sky......

 and Rollins looked precious with the flakes settling on his golden hair.....

 We were lucky that even with the snow...signs of spring were around...I needed that hope for warmth...and it was there...

I felt lucky to run to target and see this in the back seat.....two round face littles...comfortable in each others space...happy and content together....

 I felt lucky for an afternoon Uno game with Gran-Gran .....and how Lila can play all by herself now as her colors and numbers are easy now.....

 I felt lucky to have green snicker doodles in the kitchen.....

 and green littles there too.......

 I felt lucky to have my house messy but smelling like vanilla.....

 and lucky to have a dog who loves us all laying on the floor....

I hope you felt lucky.....and loved this St. Patrick's day......

I know I did....

A night with the Bolingers

We headed out for a night with the Bolingers to celebrate Jessie's birthday!

We went to places in Louisville I had never been but fell in love with!

Our first stop was the Garage bar! What a fun place full of character and southern charm!

They make their own tonic...it's sweet....and amazing! A must have if you go!

 Next stop was Sergio's House of Beer! Jeremy has been here before but it was new to me...not a place I would think about because I am not a fan of beer.....

 But it is the coolest place ever! There are over a 1000 kinds of beer there! It is one of the top ten places to drink been in the world and it is right here in Louisville! Such a cool place! I just fell in love with Sergio...we are now Facebook friends.....just saying"! We were there till we closed it down at 2 am so I rang in St. Patricks Day here which was so fun!

 I didn't try a sip of any of it....but loved it none the less! It's so fun to go to new places!

It was a fun night and we loved getting to know the Bolinger's family!

Outdoor track begins

We laced up the racing flats and headed to our first outdoor track meet of the spring Track season.

 It was supposed to pour rain all day....but the clouds parted......the sun shone....and everyone was all smiles as we enjoyed the warmth and comfort of the sunshine we had been missing.

 The Hardy boys were nervous.......

Riggs was nervous because...well...he just is....that is how he gets before a race.....

 and Rollins, who has not found his run yet....I think he felt some pressure....he was uncertain on how he would do....and he was scared to death that Ethan was going to beat him today because Ethan has really been running well in practice and has improved so much....I am not used to seeing Rollins scared....or nervous...he usually just rolls with things....and it just doesn't suit him....

 The 1600 was the first event...four times around the track.....Riggs was ready.....

and he won the event....not the time he wanted still a good race.

Rollins and Ethan ran together the first two laps....

 and then it happened......Ethan pulled ahead....on the third lap and Rollins just didn't have it in him to get back up there......

 and Rollins did what I have never seen him do....Ever.....
on the fourth lap his shoulders slumped....the tears fell....and he lost the fighting spunk that makes Rollins who he is.....

He cried for almost 45 minutes....at one point sobbing into my chest "I have been replaced"...he was broken....and it was heartbreaking.....he was done and did not want to run anymore and to be honest I wanted to go home too..it's just too much to feel that pressure. He is 8 years old and this is his identity? He is so much more than a runner.... oh so much more. I searched my heart and looked to see what the lesson was here.....and the lesson was to not give in....and to not give up....and that doing your best is all you can ask.....so we went back to the 800 knowing that he would get beat again....but knowing that winning was not what were were looking for today.....today we were looking to facing our fears.....getting back out there and doing our best....even though it hurt.... I think it may have hurt me even more than him....it's not natural to set your already broken boy up to get knocked down again...oh it was hard....

But I was so proud of Riggs today...for the way he ran...

and for giving up his spot on the relay team to Evan because he wanted to run it.....for the compliment parents gave him for the way he encourages the little ones.......

 But mostly because he was a good brother today.....
A really good brother and I was so thankful for that relationship today.Riggs was there for Rollins in many ways today. Rollins got back out there and ran the 800 and yes, he got beat again...but the point is..... he got back out there.....

and as the races ended....and the relays began...the pressure slipped away....and Rollins came back...the sweet, happy boy we know and love.....

Rolls was tired....he truly was emotionally drained.....but he ran the relay with the 3rd graders....

 It was a great way to end the day.....with them working together...as a team....

 I just want it to be fun for them.....but I also understand that they care.....and because they care not every race...not every meet will be full of joy...sometimes they will face disappointment. They are going to get beat....cry...and get mad...but they still love it.....and as long as they love it I will support them with everything I am.

 At the end of the day.....I knew it was ok...because  Rollins told me that when he lost to Ethan it hurt....but he wanted to be sure Ethan knew he was not mad at him but he was just disappointed in himself.....and that is the Rollins I know and love...putting others first.....even as he deals with his loss. Today was not just about loosing a race to him...it was more about loosing his place...it's just how he sees it. So we have some work to do to be sure he knows he is so much more than a runner and that with his heart he is a winner every day....and maybe....just maybe he will find his run along the way.