Happy 11th Birthday!

I still can't believe these boys are 11! It just doesn't seem that long ago that they were my little babies. Noah came up with the idea for a raspberry and cream pie - it turned out amazing! Luke requested raspberry chocolate cake. The boys and I went to a movie this afternoon while Sophie and Jason were at the temple. When they got home we had the boys party and cake and pie for dinner ;)

Christmas 2018

Christmas Eve

Luke carved me a bird for my collection, Noah illustrated a scripture & Grace made me a Christmas crown :)

We changed one tradition this year and had the kids open their sibling gifts on Christmas morning. It was the first thing they wanted to do when they got downstairs. Seeing all 4 kids so excited about giving while Santa gifts were all right there wrapped and waiting was really cool. Luke could hardly wait for me to open my bird. He worked on it for a long time. 

Snow!!!!

This is the view from my front door right now. I love it. I miss the snow living here and am always so excited when we get some. All 4 kids are outside playing right now with friends. I love that too. The house is quiet and warm from out wood stove and peaceful.  Now if I can get something done today instead of snuggling up with a book ;)

 So Grace may not be quite ready for motherhood, which is totally fine. She has years to wait. This girl put her heath class robot baby in the washing machine at 11:30pm because she couldn't get it to stop fussing. We are all still laughing about it. She had tried wrapping it up in a blanket and putting it in the closet but could still here it crying, so she brought it downstairs and put in the washer.

Sophie, Grace, Abby Waters, Caiden Arny

The girls had their Winter Orchestra concert this week. They all played great. It is hard to believe these girls are all so grown up! 

Happy Thanksgiving

The Pikes and Sam and Allie came for Thanksgiving. It was super fun to meet Allie - she is wonderful! I worry that it was too wild and crazy for her, our house is pretty small for 12 people, including 4 loud boys. We (Pikes, Sam, Luke & I) ran the Greensboro Gobbler on Thanksgiving morning. It was soo fun. I think it needs to be a tradition. All around us were families celebrating together. The run raises money for First Harvest Food Bank. Luke got super festive and ordered a turkey hat weeks ago to run in.

It was all of the boys first 5K. I was so proud of all of them! Seeing these 2 cousins running together was so sweet. Tal actually threw up twice before we left for the race, but he was determined to run. Luke beat me by about 10 seconds - he had a kick left at the end and I so did not. I was happy with my  10 minutes miles ;)

After delicious turkey dinner we played the annual Hardy Bowl. It was so fun, super warm temps, Molly barking up a storm. Em is seriously amazing and got this selfie of us all on the trampoline. Luke being Luke front and center...

Day after we kept our newish tradition of getting outside to enjoy nature. We hiked in Haw River State park - super close, mostly just a pretty walk in the woods, but lots of fun. Ben and Sam pulled this tree down and the kids took turns bouncing/hanging on it. Ben is the master of always creating fun - seriously!


I am grateful to have family that is so loving. I feel blessed that our family is full of incredible people I love to spend time with.

Halloween 2017

 Super Girl, Weird Dad, Lucy Carlyle, Antony Lockwood, George Cubbins - characters from Lockwood & Co book series. Grace made business cards to hand to people when they asked who she was...we had fun making the costumes. Rapiers, salt bombs, chains are for fighting ghosts.

 Grace's pumpkin is SMOAK - a name and symbol from one the shows she adores, Luke did Harry Potter w/wand, Sophie's pumpkin is obvious, Noah did 3 cute faces, you could turn his pumpkin around and get a different face. This one was the cutest.

Not sure what Noah is doing here....

We met our neighbors, the Dogetts, this summer and asked if the kids could fish in their pond/lake.  Jacob Arny has caught the biggest fish so far, 6 lb bass. Luke has had so much fun fishing there! 

Luke & Noah's soccer team

WWII traveling airplane exhibit. I let Noah get out of school a few hours early and he and I went. I can't remember what the planes are, Noah could tell you. They all still fly which is super cool. Noah was in heaven. It was fun to see him so excited. When we first got to the air field a WWII bomber was doing a fly by. I wish I could have gotten a picture of Noah - it almost brought tears to my eyes. 

Puppies at the Farmer's Market. Sophie and Grace tried REALLY hard to bring one home. They were super sweet, but would get huge and take sooooo much work to teach and train. The puppy Grace is holding was named Greg and she LOVED him. Puppies this young just let you hold and love them.

Talus Baptism - September 2, 2017

Pikes before the baptism

 The kids and I drove to Richmond for Tal's baptism. He was baptized in the Pikes much played in and beloved James River.  

The confirmation was just family and a few friends from the Pike's ward. Tal asked Noah to say the opening prayer, Luke to talk on baptism, Grace & Sophie sang I am a Child of God with Sophie playing the ukulele and Grace led the music. Both grandma's shared their testimonies and Bayden said the closing prayer.  I was proud of my kids and there was a sweet spirit there.

  We had a blast the night before the baptism at the Pikes. Emilee is seriously always fun. My kids adore her.  We went out for pupusas as a huge group in a small restaurant where no one spoke english and then went back to the Pikes's and played silly games. It was fun to get to know Ben's parents and just hang out and laugh together.

I am so grateful for my family. Mom and Dad go into the MTC tomorrow morning, it was the last time we will see them before their mission. I can't believe I didn't get a picture of them with me and my kids. The older I get the more I appreciate and realize what a blessing I have with my parents and brothers and sisters.