ballet to cheer

Lila had her last ballet class before her recital this morning!

 and tried her first cheer class that night! She was so excited and happy to be there with JuJu!

 She loved it and Jazz went with us and loved it too!

Cheers to Cheerleading for Lila! 

Broken heart...broken arm

Rollins is tender...he just is....it's one of the best things about him...his sweet, tender heart. At recess he was playing tag and when he tagged Eve she stumbled and fell...and broke her arm....and Rollins heart. He was beside himself and cried and carried sadness and guilt around for days.

It helped to get her a friendship necklace and he wrote her this note to go with it....

With extra love and a lot of talks he finally let it go a little and was able to begin to heal his broken heart. I have a feeling her arm will heal faster than his heart.

Oh sweet Rollins!

Mothers Day 2013

We started Mothers day with breakfast at Waffle House!

and then headed to Churchill for some time betting the ponies!

I loved spending the afternoon here with my littles and my Moma!

It was crowded and Jenna's family could not find a seat so I saved the box next to ours and that's where they landed and it ended up being so fun!

It was a beautiful day and every one had a ball!

We ended the day at Bumpa's house for supper! We had to get in our Mamaw time for sure!

It was a great Mothers Day and I felt happy and loved all day long!

Fishin'

I love fishing.  You put that line in the water and you don't know what's on the other end.  Your imagination is under there.  ~Robert Altman

We are so lucky to have the pond...just right up the road...a short walk or a quick bike ride away...

The kids love fishing and I love that they love it!

 It's time together with friends and nature and that is a perfect way to send the day!

little moments

“Sometimes it's the same moments that take your breath away that breathe purpose and love back into your life.” 
― Steve Marabol

I love to blog about the big moments...the birthdays...the celebrations..but I never want to forget the little moments...the ones that over time add up to be the sweetest ones.

Like nights...after bath....rolling around...jumping...and playing on our bed.

 I love these little moments......they fill me with such contentment.....to have this time all together with my littles.

last track meet of the 2013 season

The boys headed to North Oldham for their last track meet of the season....

and man it has been a long one.

 both of them have struggled....physically and mentally this season...and it has been hard

 they were happy this was it......and to be honest so was I.....

 they just don't like track like they do cross country....and this team was not much of a team....and they did not love it...and did not improve...and the list goes on and on...

but when the gun went off....they ran...just not with their hearts....and this track season has definitely shown me that for the Hardy boys that is the strongest muscle they have.....

today went like most track meets his season have....it ended in tears and frustration.....

 so glad it's over.....they meet a break.....a little summer fun mixed with running for their own reason and because THEY love it....

A little surprise.....

SK had just completed a little trail run...and she ran into Preston at the park.

They took a little...ordinary walk....and found something extraordinary....

 right by the trail was the most precious little fawn...so tiny...so new....what a treasure!

Life is just full of suprises!

four

When I took these pictures...I thought I would be blogging about SK and her desire to start running like the boys. She decided on this day to take a lap and run a bit.....

But as I sat down to do a quick blog about that....it hit me that this day was about so much more.

Because 3.......

plus one.......

is four.

And 4 is my number.

 1.....Sarah Kate decided to do one thing. 2......Lila decided she wanted to go with her for support...3.......and so Rollins decided to go with Sarah Kate to support and time her...and......4...... Riggs offered to go to Support and Time Lila.

It sits on my heart so well that they have this support system all right here....and on their own they love and support each other....
I'll run with you......

You run with me.....

I will support you......encourage you.....and push you....

I will be at the end....waiting for you.....to celebrate if you are happy or to catch you if you fall....

and I will be there every step in between.......

just in case you need me.....

and no matter what these 4 have each other to love each other....for a quick run around the block....and for all the days ahead of them......and that....well....that just makes me happy...times 4.

Calm waters

Yes....Riggs Hardy changed my life. All my children have....but the change from not a moma to being a moma...that is the biggest one....hands down.  I entered the Ocean of being a parent with hope and love for sure. Most of my "first" as a parent happen with him and tonight was just another "first" I can add to my life.....my first experience with being the parent of a Middle Schooler. Tonight Jeremy and I went to North Middle School Parent Orientation.
We sat there listening to everything.....to everyone.....there were moments I teared up.....lots of times I laughed...just taking it all in....for the first time. I felt like I was in a life boat with a life vest on as I listened to how my waters were going to get rough and the best things I could do to brave the storm.

 They talked about schedules and curriculum but the bulk of the time was spent talking to my heart about what I can expect from my son...as he moves from my sweet, wonderful 10 year old to the 11 year old middle schooler. I am sitting there thinking about his face at 2....big, blue eyes asking for Deuce (juice)...and they are telling me that I can say goodbye to sweet and welcome with love a child who is a storm of emotions.....moody, sensitive, impulsive, rude, unaware, self absorbed, a child who seeks to belong and often does best away from home, who desires to test limits, and will listen to Dad more and Mom less....just to name a few. It's the beginning of the slip...as they begin to slip away from you...as a parent you have shined on the pedestal they have put you on....but I am getting ready to be replaced in a big way by friends and acceptance even more than I already have been. It's one of those things I wasn't prepared for....as a parent...you think in your head that you have until 18...high school...but the slip comes so much sooner......enjoy every second of 10 and under, friends. The slip will come no matter how close you are to your child...it's a part of life...a part of growing up.I just didn't realize it would come this soon...but here we go......
 At least we all have new Spirit Wear to celebrate the slip and to embrace middle school with hope and excitement.....stormy days with rough water.....gentle days with calm water....no matter what we are there.

 And for the moment we will enjoy the fleeting tickles on the bed that bring smiles.....some times he laughs now...and sometimes he gets mad...it's all part of the slip....he truly is just the like weather....unpredictable and ever changing.

and I have promised to remember this......as I go into days when he won't want to sit by me...or may ignore me....or say things he doesn't mean as his emotions explode around him

I can't change the slip....or the fact that he is growing up....but I can continue to love him and calm his waters. That is what the Middle school counselor said.....calm the waters...but whatever you do DO NOT get in the boat.  Be the light house. 

Wish me luck to my days ahead of hurricane winds mixed with gentle breezes as he slips a little more every day....

 and here's to calming waters for us all