How are we doing?

We have nothing....no house...no decorations...not a lot of clothes...very few toys...just not a lot of stuff....and yet....what we have found is we still have everything. With our friends and family present...it's all we need. But the journey to that understanding was a road full of lots of things.  Little discoveries.... that together...add up to happiness.....

 In the last 5 months I have found that these 3 are truly sisters.....through and through

 this dog loves me with his whole heart......

 these 2 are best friends......

 lots of Hardys  can sleep in one bed......and I am fine on the couch......

Christmas traditions can be shared.......

 you can put Christmas anywhere....hang it on the wall...but the most important place to put it...is in your heart.....

After 5 months any couch can be yours enough to nap on.....

it's ok to take a bath with a dog.....

 breakfast truly is the best dinner.....

 laughter is the best medicine......and sometimes a quiet house is over rated.....

 It's all about friends and family......doesn't matter what you are doing...whose team you are cheering for....just as long as you are cheering together.....

We are learning and growing...in a good way.... through this and so that is always a good thing! Every day is an adventure and some days are harder than others for sure...but we are getting there....one day at a time.

Countdown to 9

It's hard to believe that this little girl will be 9 in just a few days..her last year in single digit land for the rest of her life. Although it seems like 9 years has flown by...in some ways she seems so much older than 9. She is wise beyond her years...an "old soul" I would call her. She sees the big picture, this one. Mrs. Parrot called to tell me that she spent her recess picking up trash on the playground...for no other reason than it needed to be done. Her heart goes out to those in need and anyone having a rough time on any given day. She is lovely....and brilliant....and I love being her moma! She wants another surprise party this year so we can't wait to fill her in on the celebration when the time comes!

PTP Game Night

Every Thursday I am cheering on the North Oldham Middle School boys basketball team...but not this one. This Thursday, Jeremy went to the game I attended PTP game night with SK. She was the host for the game Spot It. She taught group after group of parents how to play.

 She was an excellent teacher for sure!

 She was so proud....and so happy to be here. I am so glad it was me who got to share this with her!

 It was a fun night with her friends as well! Great job girls!

Our Amazing Elves!

We were unsure how our elves would respond to us not having a home of our own. The littles, especially Rollins, were worried. He covered his bases November 30th by putting out sugar and crackers for them at the condo. He left them a note and hoped with his whole heart they would find us.

and find us they did! They arrived in tiny claw foot bath tubs just like the one we ordered for the new house! They brought Christmas bath and shower stuff too!

The littles were so happy! It really is just magical when they arrive!

And since then our elves have followed us everywhere! The nights at the Timmerings are really fun with 6 elves!

They have made us breakfast.......

arrived on Christmas trees and brought us Peppermint gum from the North Pole.....

 had shaving cream fights.......

Everyday it is a new adventure......but they have come through for us and this has been so fun for us on this very different Christmas without a home of our own. We are very thankful for our elves...Jingle Jack, Jingle Jolly, Jingle June and Jingle Johnny. 

Finding my Christmas....

We finished Thanksgiving and tried to find our Christmas. I will admit it was hard without the Christmas that we have know for the last ten years. Without our house...without the bulk of our Christmas decorations. We put up Mamaw's tree in the condo...with some of the ornaments we could find...the kids asking the whole time "where is this one" where is that one"....and I didn't know....and it broke my heart. I should have done a better job of packing and organizing it all. The Christmas stuff was mostly in the attic so it was the last to get moved out and it went in many different directions....sad but true.

Jeremy and I spent  a very long time going through box after box in our 3 storage units to find a few key must haves...one of them being our advent box. I was going though the motions...but I will admit I wasn't feeling it...but I wanted to.

It wasn't until we had a morning away....focused on Christmas...that I was able to find my very own Christmas. We took the girls to see Rudolph at Derby Dinner on Saturday morning. They were so excited!

We walked into to Christmas everywhere! Beautiful trees...lights....

and time carved out for each other.....a morning with the girls....who were delighted to be here and full of Christmas cheer!

 Stopping my frenzy...and sitting back to watch their Christmas happiness made me feel the warmth of Christmas in my heart for sure!

 The wonder....the magic...the love of Christmas.....it's such a gift!

The Great Boat Race

 Lila Ray so so excited about her carved Ivory soap boat for the Kindergarden Boat Race!

 But tragedy struck right before it was her turn to blow....her precious Ivory soap boat was in her eyes...and it was stinging..... oh sweet girl....

 But she finally got it together enough to blow her boat and she even won her race!

The Ivory Soap boat race is a right of passage at Goshen and I am so happy she was able to do it...soap in her eyes...and all!

Riggs at 12

So Riggs is 12 now....

and we have the Instagram birthday shout outs to prove it.....

 So what is Riggs like at 12? Well, he is beautiful for one...I guess handsome is the better word...but I think he is stunning. He is smart...but he doesn't have to try hard at school and I wish he did...a least a little bit. He made straits A's with out studying more than 15 minutes all year. He is funny...and witty...I laugh every day at something he says...and this is so refreshing because he was so often so serious as a child. He loves his friends...so very much. They mean the world to him and he treasures his time with them. He is active...he runs, plays basketball, swims,and loves to be doing! He says he is going to do The Escape from Alcatraz triathlon when he is 18 and the IronMan at 21. He is skinny...always hungry...but skinny. I love how I can have conversations with him now...about the world and just anything...he has an opinion and that is really cool..it's a new way I get to discover him and who he is. I think he is just the coolest kid....and I am very proud of him.

I see quite a bit of his back these days...as he leaves....always going off to do something with someone.....and even if we are all together he walks ahead...sure of where he is going...no long at my side for guidance...or behind me for my lead....

He is growing up...and I just love him more every day!

Thank you, Jack-Jack

I would like to take a moment to thank my dog, Jack, for the countless hours he has put into helping Lila learn to read. He has been patient and wonderful and has listened to more books than I can even count. He will listen for as long as she is willing to read...and some days that has been a very....very long time....so thank you, Jack....you are the sweetest dog ever....and Lila loves you so much for your support this year.

Riggs' Real Birthday- Happy 12th!

You have to celebrate on your REAL no matter what! SO today we celebrated Riggs's Real birthday on his Real Birthday! He chose Hometown Pizza with his buddies that could come!

 Of course, the Family and the Timmerings were there to celebrate too!

 I can't believe he is 12...next year he will be a Teenager! I hope we wishes to be little forever on his requested Dairy Queen ice cream cake. (sniff....sniff....)

 We opened presents ......

 and I love that he got a Flash shirt...he lived in his Flash costume when he was little!

 It was a fun night....

 Even the car ride home was full of laughter!

 Back at home the boys played basketball.....

 and he got more presents....

 all in all..I'd say he had a great day on his 12 th birthday! We sure love you, Riggsy!