Knock and Run

We did the Secret Santa this year.  We made cookies put them on a plate, placed them on a door step and ran to hide.

With small children, "Jacob" who didn't understand the meaning of "hide and be real quiet".

At one house we hid behind a truck and little did we know.  When the owner of the house was looking out she could see all of our legs and feet crouched behind the truck.  Oh well, she invited us in and we were able to see her 3 day old baby.

At another house we hid behind their raised yard.  And Jacob was standing.  His little head poking out.  Emma kept squatting and then standing to see if they came out yet.  She was spotted.  This time the owner of the house yelled, "Thank you!"  We were laughing so hard, I am sure she heard us.

This year we were also the receivers of a Secret Santa.  They gave us the 12 days of Christmas in a giant stocking, presents wrapped for each day to open.  The kids had so much fun taking turns opening the presents.  There were stories, games, songs, cookie mix, hot chocolate, candy canes.  Each telling us what their family traditions are on the day before Christmas.  Thank you to who ever did this.  It is so nice to feel loved.

Christmas Letter 2009

Every year I say, "Next year I am going to send out birthday cards to everyone.  Next year I am going to pay attention to when my friends have birthday and make sure that I wish them a happy birthday, next year I am going to send really nice Christmas cards with a really great letter.  I will send them to all of those wonderful people in my life that have blessed my life so much."

Then the next year comes and well, it just doesn't get done.  Usually what happens is I get so excited about it.  Then I get hung up about what kind of photo we are going to take of the family.  What will we wear, where will we go?  Then I struggle with getting the cards, how much will they cost.  Well, if I buy cards then I wont have much money for the rest, photo's and stamps.  Then time runs out and I think well if I don't get them out by July of the following year then it is just too late!  Then we start all over again.

Two years ago, we went to Olan Mills Photography, the one in K mart.  We all had new black t-shirts on.  We looked really good.  We had fun it was great.  We got the photo's and Emma was in outer darkness.  I couldn't send that out.  So we went back, to have them redone.  They over booked their appointments.  It was a nightmare!  Kids looked good but they were not happy.  (because we had to wait so long!)  We waited for the prints.  They never came...  The lady that took our photos decided that she was not happy that we "made" her work overtime the night before Thanksgiving so she deleted our photo's.  We decided to NEVER have our photos taken at a place like that again.

So, last year Pa took our pictures, we had a great time, the photo's turned out great!  We got them printed.  I had cards to put them in.  I never got the letter written.  So, I now have a stack of last years photo's sitting in a drawer, wondering what I will do with them.  The plan was to send them out this year along with a new photo.

Every year I blame the "I didn't get a letter sent out" on having a new born or being pregnant.  Good excuses I think...

This year... the new photo never happened.  I have last years cards, I don't have any stamps.  And I am currently writing the really "great" letter!

What do you think so far?

Ya, not that great yet.

I would like to say this before I forget.  I really do love the cards and letters that I get in the mail.  I am so thankful that even though I don't get a card out to everyone.  I am thankful that you all still think of me and send one.  Thank You!!

It is my goal this next year to get the Christmas cards sent out.  My goal is to get them out by the end of November.  How great would that be?

This year has been a great year.  We have been happy and healthy.

Pa has had a steady job working for ASU.  He does photography work and online graphics.  He really enjoys what he does.  He also has found a love for learning about survival.  And working on getting our family prepared for emergencies.  He has taken classes on what to do in emergency situations.  He can if he chooses to be a first response person.  I think that is cool.  We also took a class together on CPR training.  It was the first time either of us had ever taken this class.  So nice to have that knowledge.

I have been so busy being a Mom.  For a while there I was trying to study to be a Health Insurance sales person.  But, I have decided that this is my season to be a MOM and I am so grateful that I can be a stay at home mom.  Yes it would be soooo nice to get out of debt and to have some "extra" money.  But it is my time to be with my kids.  I was having such a hard time getting the Health insurance information to stick in my brain, but I noticed that the more I tried to get it to stick the more the information was being booted out and replaced with kid and home stuff.  I mean who else will remember where that missing toy or shoe is.  I notice it as I am walking by, that info needs to be stored somewhere in my brain right?  So for now, I will be a MOM and take the Health Insurance information that did stick and use it for my family.  Some of that stuff is really interesting.  Some of it.

Emma is in 2nd grade now.  7 1/2.  The years fly by so fast.  When she was in 1st grade she was getting head aches almost every day from the stress.  We put her in a new school and she loves it.  She is one of the top readers in her class.  She is one of 14 students in her class.  She loves school now.  This year for Christmas she is asking for a guitar.  And she wants to learn how to sew.  She is such a good helper with her brothers and sister.  She also loves to take care of the chickens, she feeds the babies and collects the eggs from the big ones.  There are also times when she is  out cleaning the chickens run without being asked.  She also loves her alone time.  I am contemplating putting her in her own room.  She really seems to need her space.  But, on the other had if I give that to her I don't know what I will do with the other kids.  We only have a 3 bedroom house and it is very small!!  For now she is learning what it is like to share and how wonderful it is to have a little quiet time.

David is in kindergarden and is 6 now.  I don't know how he got to be 6, he was just  a cute chunky boy the other day, wasn't he?  I was so worried about sending him to all day kindergarden.  But he is in a great school.  The school that they go to is out of the principals home.  I think there are only 80 students in the whole school, K-8.  David has really enjoyed school.  He still loves to build and invent.  I love to see the wheels turn in his head.  He has such a tender spirit.  He is quick to help without being asked.  He is just a well rounded kid, that I feel so blessed to have in the family.

Abigail is 4.  She talks of going to school next year.  I don't know if I will send her.  She is smart enough, she knows most of her letters and can count pretty high, and she just soaks in all information.  And she keeps it there.  When I was pregnant with her, I was told that if I eat walnuts that it really helps the brain development and she will be smart.  I ate a lot of walnuts and boy is she smart.  Sometimes too smart!  She loves to talk and will sometimes ask us 10 or more questions at once then stop and wait for us to answer.  We can't keep up!  She wants desperately to be just like her big sister.  When we ask her what she wants to eat, she will say, "I want whatever Emma gets."  It is cute but drives us and Emma nuts.  She is also very loving.  She brightens the faces of pure strangers.  Is loved by everyone that comes in contact with her.

Jacob is 2.  I would like to say, "nuff said."  He is 2, he is busy, he is cute, he is adventurous, he is curious.  He LOVES airplanes and bikes and scooters and cars.  He loves to investigate how things work.  He's got to be in the middle of EVERYTHING.  He loves to work, especially outside with his Pa.  He loves to tease Abby.  He also loves to give her hugs.  He has a fun sense of humor, and is quick to laugh.  He is FUN!

I was thinking, this is the first year since Matt and I have been married that I have not been pregnant, had a baby or nursed.  I am me right now, I don't have those extra hormones running through my body.  I am really enjoying my kids because of this.  I am reminded that 2 year old kids really are my favorite age group.  I am also loving to be able to see and hang out with my older children, without having to meet the needs of a new born.  Now don't get me wrong, I love the new babies.  This year has just been a lot of fun.

Our pets... We have 6 adult chickens and 10 babies.  We will have lots of eggs this next year.  So excited!!

We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love, The Hardy's

Mom's Schedule

Scarves and Beanies

I have the honor of visiting an amazing lady (because of my visiting teaching calling).

She is always so kind.  Not only with words.

For Halloween this year she handed me a $20.00 bill and said, "Can you do something for me?"

I said, "Of course, anything."

She said, "Will you take this a get something for your kids?  I don't like all the scary parts of Halloween but I think all children need to have some kind of treat.  So, instead of me just picking out something for them, I told them they can get 4 things each from the $1 bins at Target.

The kids were so excited.  They looked and contemplated.  And looked some more then they looked at what the other siblings picked out.

They thought they were ready to go, when... they saw Scarves and Beanies!  Oh they could barely contain themselves they were so excited!!

But then they really had to think about what they "really" wanted.

They all carefully thought about it.  Looked at their items, put two back then came back to the winter apparel to pick out their favorite colors.

They were so excited when they got home.

They went out for a fun swing.

And might I add, they were happy to be around each other too.

Kids

David woke up last night at 12:00, he had to wake me up to find out if he could go potty.  Of course I said yes all was well, he went back to bed.

David then woke up at 2:00 am.  He was crying uncontrollably, I went in asking what was wrong.  He said that he can't stop crying.  I asked if he had a bad dream.  He said that he did have a dream but it wasn't bad. He was crying so much that we had to wipe his nose.  He then calmed down and said very bluntly, "Mom, you can go now."  He laid back down and went right to sleep.

Abby woke up this morning because she wet the bed.  Luckily this happened while I was in the shower.  No lost sleep.

Jacob was sick all day yesterday.  All he wanted to do was snuggle and he had a fever.  We gave him this "Miracle Mineral Solution" (MMS), and a blessing.  He woke up this morning happy and ready to EAT!  (He hardly drank or ate anything yesterday.)

Molting

Have you ever seen a molting chicken?

It is quite funny!

And a little sad.

Poor Hunter was so embarrassed by this stage in her life.

She tried to hold her head high.

But the other chickens would peck at those feathers.

So she would keep her head lower than usual just to hide the balding neck.

Poor, poor Hunter.