Karate & Catch up

 Noah competed in his first karate tournament this January. He earned a third place finish in one of he categories: Randori. We were all super proud of him!

He also earned his third degree orange belt this term. He still competed with yellow belts for the tournament. We are so proud of how well he listens and works in his karate class.

 When we moved the boys bedroom downstairs and Jayden upstairs the marble game was rediscovered. I hoped to get a picture of all 4 kids playing together. It was fun to see them play exactly the same way I used to with my brothers and sisters.

 Last Saturday Grace made a homemade chocolate cream pie. She read the recipe in a book and wanted to try it. The pie was delicious with just a bit of help from mom to know when it was done cooking. Also reminds me of myself as a kid!

 We finally got snow! I was beginning to think we would have our first snow free winter in NC. We got about 3 inches 2 nights ago. Kids are still not back in school tomorrow. It is really cold and the snow and ice are not melting much at all. Jayden played "rugby" with the kids all afternoon. The girls played for a while and then Abby and they took turns being huskies and pulling each other around on the sled. Dad was not home today to give tractor rides and there is not a sledding hill in sight. I am either on the couch or my bed as my foot heals from surgery.

Yay for snow!

Hockey! NC style

 Jason's friend from work gave us his air hockey table. We have had a blast today playing each other. Grandma Smith taught Sophie about seeding and brackets and then helped her organize a family tournament. And, no surprise, Sophie then won the tournament! Sophie was first, Jason second, I was third and Grandma Smith 4th.

Luke & Noah's Baptism & Birthday

 On Tuesday, December 30, 2014 Luke and Noah were baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints by Jason. It was a really special day. Grandma and Grandpa Smith, Emilee & Talus and Bayden and Grandma Hardy were able to be with us. Mom and Dessa said the prayers and bore a short testimony. Dad and Logan Williams were the witnesses. Kathy Bellows played the piano, Jared Lindsay gave the talk about baptism and confirmation.

 Jason forgot his white pants at home so he got to wear this sweet baptism suit from the closet. Before the confirmations I bore a short testimony of the power of the atonement and how taking the sacrament and repenting can continue to cleanse us through out our lives. Also how proud I was of Noah and Luke for the choices they have made in life so far. But also, for what they do when they make a mistake and choose to repent and turn to the Lord.

Jared Lindsay & the boys

A lot more people from our ward came then I expected. The room was packed, Bishop Williams had to keep going to get more chairs. The confirmation circle included Peter Lindsay, Logan and Sherman Williams, Derek Pierce, Kevin Bellows and Grandpa Smith. Jason had a really powerful experience giving both boys the gift of the Holy Ghost. He felt the spirit differently then he ever had before. Luke said that he felt the spirit strongest as he was confirmed. Noah said he felt the spirit when he came out of the water after being baptized and I could tell he was feeling the spirit as I shared my testimony of the Savior. He actually teared up and I could tell from his countenance that he felt the Holy Ghost.Noah had to be baptized twice, the first time his hand was holding onto Jason's arm and did not get immersed. I felt so grateful for family to share the boys baptism with, and also a ward family that I feel so loved by.

I know this is not a great picture, it's the only one I got of the olive penguins we made. They turned out so cute!

 Happy 8th Birthday!

 Pinewood Derby cars! A gift from Luke and Noah's new cub scout pack. They are SO excited for scouts!

The girls presents to their brothers were a hit, instantly.

The talking hamsters from Grandma and Grandpa Smith, also an instant hit. These silly things repeat everything you say. Lots and lots of giggling...and potty language in little rodent voices. Grandma and Grandpa Smith also gave the boys treasure chests, Grandma Hardy and Papa ( in spirit) gave the boys cool hunting and fishing vests and their wolf handbooks for scouts.

Auntie Em being festive. Everything is always more fun with Emilee around!

Merry Christmas 2014!

Christmas Morning

I woke up at 6 and couldn't go back to sleep so I went out to read my scriptures and enjoy the quiet of Christmas morning. Noah heard me, he was awake too. So I went upstairs and read in he and Luke's room. Christmas eve we just read Luke 2 and the kids asked about the wise men. I explained a bit about the gospels and how they don't all have the same information and that the story of the wise men is in Matthew.  The boys and I had 30 minutes to wait until 6:30 when the festivities would begin. Noah asked if I would read to him about the wise men. It was so sweet. He and Luke listened so intently. We read Matthew 2 and discussed the wise men, and then a bit about Zacharias, Elizabeth and John the Baptist. It was an amazing beginning for Christmas morning. The kids decided to close their eyes until they were in the family room, I think the girls just couldn't wait!

 Having Sam and Dessa here made Christmas a lot of fun!

Noah and Luke both got football jerseys. Luke the Packers and Noah the Seahawks.

 

The boys also got long awaited pocket knives. By the end of the day they had both cut themselves. Live and learn I guess.

 Give Molly a squeeky plush toy and she is in heaven! We will see how long this ones lasts. By the time she destroys them I am so done with the noise of it, I am happy to throw them away!

 Luke painted this fresco for Jason and I at school. We opened it as the first present from under the tree. He is so proud of it and was so excited to give it to us. It will become a treasured part of our Christmas decorations now!

 

 This pin toy from Grandma Smith was a huge hit! It has been played with by all of us all day!

Santa brought the boys and Jason remote control helicopters. The boys, Jason and Sam included, played with them all day. They are harder to fly then you would think, but by the end of the day they could all land on the piano bench some of the time! Noah's crash landed one too many times and Jason found out he can order repair parts on line for just a few dollars. Good thing. I see lots of helicopter repair in his future...

Sam left right around noon to fly to Florida. I am happy he can relax on the beach but we will miss him. We had a yummy ham dinner, and waaaaay too much sugar and treats. Luke and I made a tuxedo cheesecake and I baked a pecan pie. Plus Santa brought a huge box of chocolates along with all the other goodies and treats. I remember once at Christmas as a kid that someone gave our family an enormous box of chocolates. I loved it! Reading the lid map and figuring out what to try. Putting a half eaten chocolate back that you didn't like...

By the end of the evening the kids were actually asking to go to bed! We had sunny, warm weather. I always miss the snow at Christmas, but I am grateful for all we do have. It was a great day.

Christmas Eve

 We made Gingerbread houses on Christmas Eve this year. It was a bit of a bust. I got a kit of 4 small houses to make a village like we did at Halloween. It ended up looking like a  village  which was hit by a small tornado. Everything kept falling apart. Next year by unanimous consent we will go back to a big house we decorate together. It was fun to have Grandma Hardy here to help. Uncle Sam mostly watched. It has been so fun to have him here too. His gift to me was to fix the shelves in some of my kitchen cabinets and take apart, glue and redo all the screws in the stools for the island. Whenever I have family to visit I remember how nice it is to have family here!
 We had our 1st Annual Hardy Family Carol Sing Along! Each of the kids played a carol they had prepared (except Luke. He did not practice his at all. So he and I played it together, his hands on top of mine. Hopefully next year he can remember and be ready) Craig skyped in and I promise Sam enjoyed himself...

 Noah played Away in a Manger, Grace did Jingle Bells, Luke and I did Oh Come All Ye Faithful, Sophie played What Child Is This, Angels we have Heard on High and the First Noel. Dessa contributed Silent Night and Hark the Herald Angels Sing.  I found a great website with free simplified carols and Primary songs both. It was fun to sing together and I am so proud of how much the kids have learned in less then a year of piano.

 Christmas Eve with Stockings

Christmas Eve with true craziness showing..

We read Luke 2 as a family, opened sibling gifts and had shrimp dinner. It really was fun to have Sam and Dessa here. Makes it all much more Christmasy. Grace made sure to leave some toffee out for Santa and carrots and oats for the reindeer. She has watched Santa tracker all afternoon and had us on a countdown to 8 o'clock bedtime to be asleep before Santa got to NC!

Happy Birthday Jason!

Jason turned 43 on the 22nd. He and Sam celebrated by getting up early and hunting in our woods. They actually ended up going for a few days. Deer won this time. Girls were super relieved to be honest. We celebrated with Ting and Wacky cake. Jason also got a bow. He and Grace have been shooting together and are both hooked.

 I took some pictures of the boys for invitations for their baptism and the chickens photo bombed. It is hard for me to believe Luke and Noah are almost 8.

Greensboro Christmas Parade

Last Saturday Sophie was in the Greensboro Christmas parade with her dance class. It was cold and rainy, but still fun. Gracie spotted a place under a bit of roof and we stayed mostly dry. Sophie got a bit wet, she had layers on under her tshirt and was dancing the whole time so stayed mostly warm. Sophie and Grace's good friend Caroline is in the black hat to the left of Sophie.

 This was my favorite balloon. It is fun to be at a parade that has helium balloons. Luke and Noah loved the bands. Some of them were pretty good. I remember the last year we went to this parade it was warm and sunny and we didn't bring anything to drink and ended up super thirsty. This year we stopped by McDonalds on the way home for hot chocolate. No one was impressed, me included. Not as yummy as I remembered.

                          Sophie, Noah, Logan, Luke, Devon, Bishop Williams and Tanner

Sherman Williams and each of his boys in succession have been our home teachers since we moved here to NC. We have watched each of them grow up and home teach us with their dad, our former bishop. Logan just returned home from France on his mission, Devon just became a deacon a few months ago and Tanner is a junior in high school. I love these men and boys. They have been faithful and consistent and I know I could call any time night or day to ask for help and they would be here as quickly as possible. Once when the kids were super little Bishop overheard at church that a tree had fallen in our yard. The next evening he and his family just showed up, chain saw and ice cream in hand, to clean up the tree and share a treat. My kids have grown up seeing first hand how home teachers help and bless in the Lord's place here on earth. The Williams boys have been an incredible example to us and I have enjoyed our time together. I hope I can post a picture like this after Tanner returns home and then Devon too.