Celebrating my birthday!

 It was so pretty we decided to head up to the club for my birthday dinner....it was so warm we ended up eating outside!

 We ate and had my favorite Cookie cake!

 I made my official birthday wish with my favorite littles by my side!

 and opened my presents with lots of love and lots of help!

 It was a wonderful birthday for sure!

and to top it all of....I am the proud owner of a new iPad! I was so excited and shocked but thrilled! We took pics right away with it to break it in!

Here's to my birthday and a colorful year ahead!

still....

our time alone is few and far between...it's rare...it's precious...and it is loved....still.

Anthem 5K 2012

The boys have been doing track this winter, but they have not had a meet yet...

I could tell they were itching for a race so we signed up to do the Anthem 5K this morning! They were surprisingly nervous but excited!

My boys were so funny...all dressed in green...warming up at the start line...like they were getting ready to run a full Marathon. It was funny to watch people look at the boys...they looked at them like they were so cute....so little to be doing a race with 10,000 people. A few people even jokingly said "I'll try to keep up with you" to them...and the boys smiled and just nodded, but I could tell they wanted to say "You will be eating my dust". I realized watching this that the boys sure don't see themselves as "baby runners"....they really don't...but they sure looked like babies on the streets of downtown Louisville surrounded by 10,00 people to me. 

 This was Rollins' first big race like this...and he was so cute...and so happy to be there!

 It was exciting to all be at the start line together...as the race started we exchanged "good lucks" and "I love yous" and then we were off...all running our own race!

 The order of finish for the Hardy Party was Riggs, Rollins, Jeremy and last but not least...me.  The good thing about being last is that when I crossed the finish line my boys were right there cheering for me...and Riggs was proud of me and that sure felt good.

 Uncle Jeff ran too and we were able to catch up with him at the finish line!

 Jeremy tried so hard to catch Rollins and got so close...just 5 seconds behind him...but he just couldn't pass
him...so bragging rights belong to my 7 year old for sure!  I made this pic and told him Just Bieber was so proud of him....he got the biggest kick out of that!

Holiday Sip & Strokes

As a Christmas treat Bonnie Kay took Heather and me to Sip & Strokes to paint a Christmas painting. I will admit I was a little nervous.....I am creative but not artistic at all! I was happy to sip on a little wine before I began my first stroke!

 It was so fun and in the end we all had paintings that we could not believe we painted!

 I really painted that....can you believe it!?

Thanks, Bumpa, for a fun night out! I can't wait to go back!

pink panties!

Tonight was just a good for the soul kind of night! My girlfriends came over in their pajamas to hang out...laugh....and enjoy a drink called the "pink panty"! So we went with the theme! Pink panty decorations....

and don't you just love my pink panty cake!

It was the best night! It just felt so good to be in my house...in my pajamas....surrounded by love and laughter!

I blew out my candles and made the best wish!

My BFF throws a mean pink panty party....I love her so! I wonder what story Ruthie is telling in the back?

Can you hear the laughter.....see the friendship!? It's there!

The funniest thing was when Laura Bolinger busted out a henna tattoo kit! What?!

So for the next 14 days this is my back....living on the wild side at 35! ;)

Miss Marcia went the shoulder route!

We just laughed.....

and laughed.....

and laughed.....

Oh it was the best birthday!

The theme of the party led to some pretty funny gifts!

It was so fun...but also really nice to just sit and talk...and learn a little more about these wonderful women that I already love so much! I can't thank my friends enough for sharing this night with me! You all are amazing, beautiful, worthy women with the most beautiful hearts and I am so happy to call you all my friends! Happy Birthday to me, indeed!

Big Brain....Big Heart

I love it that Sarah Kate can read and write now. I love it that she can put her thoughts on paper...spell...write sentences...write stories. It's something she had been missing...and now she can do it! I am so proud of her! It's even sweeter when he big brain and her big heart work together which they so often do....... I love you. You are the best mom....she wrote today! 

The pumpkin Patch at Gallrein Farms

Sarah Kate took her first official field trip today! Her class has been studying the life cycle of a pumpkin and so off they went to Gallrein Farms in Shelbyville! I am telling you...this kindergarten class is beyond precious! Look at those sweet faces!

 Mrs. P is absolutely amazing...she is everything you would want in a kindergarten teacher! I love so many things about her but I really like how she pulls those babies on her lap and squeezes  them with true, heartfelt love!

 They did a corn maze and that was so fun for them!

 They loved feeling independent and so big!

 Then the wagon came for our ride to the pumpkin patch!

 Sarah Kate and all her class mates picked out their very own special pumpkin to take home!

 This little girl is truly amazing...and I love seeing her in school! It just suits her....she loves to learn about everything. She is so smart.....

 But she is also a lot of fun!

 Itchy hay...let's jump in...why not! Don't let the tutu fool you...sister can play and romp with the best of them!

 And she loves her friends.....can't you hear the giggles?!

 Her class is just darling...and they all had the best time!

 We fed the animals and SK was happy to share her corn with her class mates....she is so sweet!

 I was so happy to be there to see this fun, amazing day! I am so thankful that my life allows me to be present for these days.....because I sure wouldn't want to miss them!