Our Hardie Home

Because I would have never married Chris if I didn't like them.

2009-11-09T19:27:00.005-05:00

I have a great set of in-laws. They nicely complement our family dynamics, and as noted above, I would have never married Chris if I didn't like them. Especially Dawn.
At a very young age, I clearly remember thinking that I had to like my boyfriends mothers and she truly like me, or there would be no hope for the relationship. Some people will marry their spouse because they don't really care about the anything but that person, but I HAD to care about the people that raised my husband. I didn't want to think about how upsetting my in laws were, how the imposed on our family, or then mean things they may say, etc.
Thankfully I haven't had to worry about it. I was blessed with clairvoyance on the in-law situation. They have been wonderfully supportive, and are wonderful grandparents, even if they do things differently than what I or my family would do, especially when it comes to voting :)

I also realized while posting this, besides birth pictures with the kids, I don't really have enough of pictures with their grandparents.... hmmmm sounds like we need to bring the camera to their house.

We are blessed to have a running car...

2009-11-08T11:17:00.004-05:00

Our car that we currently are in possession of it truly wonderful. It holds the kids, and friends. Ramsey can lay out in the back just fine without having to worry. The pedals adjust so that it will fit Papa's LLLOONNGG legs and my crazy short ones. You can see it in the background.

Sadly, we got the use of this car after our wonderful Grandma died this past spring. It all happened so fast, and at the time so unexpected.

We miss grandma so much, but I know she is thinking that her great grand babies are safe as they drive to karate, play dates, and the store safely. Especially after one terrible afternoon, when the brakes went out on the spare car.

Just another Guardian Angel looking over my shoulder.

Alarm Clocks that giggle...

2009-11-07T13:15:00.006-05:00

I was blessed with very rambunctious little man, who thinks it is his job to wake me up by jumping on my bed, pulling the covers off, and tell me to move over. These morning cuddles are only going to last for so long, and I will take what I can get from the Monster.

Usually this alarm has coincided with Saturday Morning Cartoons with the Papa, typically that means while they have been doing this...

I was catching some quality pillow time.

Sir Edward Burne-Jones Study for the sleeping princes in the "briar rose" series

6TH BLESSING

2009-11-06T16:24:00.004-05:00

#6 Sweet babies to watch.

I knew that I wouldn't be a mother to many, but I get to play with lots of kids. It is such a blessing to have a way to help with the family finances and help out friends with their childcare. Then I can be the stay at home Mom that I enjoy being!

Copying an idea

2009-11-05T18:34:00.014-05:00

One of my visiting teachers is listing on her blog a blessing a day for November. That is so neat, and I think I am going to copy her, or at least try. If I was trying to emulate anyone, she is the one to try to be like (she is absolutely heavenly so much that she glows!)
So... Blessing Number 1...through 5 (it is Guy Fawkes day, so I am a bit behind on the daily count)

#1 TURNING ONE YEAR OLD.

The Doctors Didn't think it would happen, due to my heart defect, they also said in the years to come that having kids wouldn't happen. Let's hope the prediction of needing an Aorta Replacement doesn't come to be either!

#2 This guy I married

Because he is just the other half of me. The fun half, as I have been told.

#3These cuties

They love each other and cuddle with each other. Read to each other, roll on the floor together, and run to hug every time they come home. They are just way too sweet, even when they color on the wall, slam doors, and make mess.

#4 A Sibling or 7 to Spare

If one lets you down there is always another one to fill its place :)

#5 Never aging Parents

This is my only picture on the computer with both of you in it, but you pretty much look the same. Even if it has been 35+ years since this picture you wouldn't believe they could be old enough to have a kid as OLD as me! Dang I hope I got the "young" gene!

He's just a Dancing Fool

2009-11-02T19:24:00.008-05:00

Our Monster and Monkey LOVE SYTYCD, and every week they watch it. I want to point out that all of these dances are very specific to what was being performed on the show, and that THE MONSTER will Dance the entire hour. These are just blips of the entertainment.

Hip Hop

Contemp.

Tap is NOT his fav...

Jazz, trying to do the leg kicks...

Ballroom, well I can't remember if it was salsa, mamba or what.

The Happy Dance had to finish way too soon.

2009-10-27T20:17:00.002-04:00

By Monday, which was yesterday, I had written off the company and the interview, and the prospective employment. That was until they called to give us a heads up that HR would be calling with an offer in a couple days. Of course I was super excited, but also trying to keep a level head.

If you haven't heard by now, and really who hasn't, but although we did get a job offer, it was an offer we had to refuse.

The Company would have been nice to work for, but unfortunately the pay for the area, relocation, and all that goes with it wasn't going to work out for us.

I guess it is back to the drawing board again. SOMEDAY SOON WE WILL HAVE THE MOST AWESOMEST NEWS!!!

Kids Pre Trunk or Treat @ School

2009-10-27T19:57:00.001-04:00

Just because the love each other!

2009-10-25T10:19:00.000-04:00

The Monkey

2009-10-21T18:59:00.002-04:00

My Monster

2009-10-21T18:50:00.002-04:00

I had to wonder if somewhere, someplace had frozen over...

2009-10-13T16:18:00.003-04:00

Ok, so I NEVER post on my blog anything religious, as I do not want to affiliate my blog with religion. BUT... for the FIRST TIME IN SEVEN YEARS I have visiting teachers in my home. Sad a bit, as way back when Megan and Becca were my VT's I got visited ALL THE TIME... guess I am not just as likable in my old age ;)

This month the focus of the message is nurturing the next generation, perfect topic for moms. I haven't even glanced at the message yet this month (I am so behind on everything) but I LOVED THIS PART!

"Take care of your little ones. Welcome them into your homes, and nurture and love them with all of your hearts. They may do, in the years that come, some things you would not want them to do, but be patient, be patient. You have not failed as long as you have tried" ("Words of the Living Prophet," Liahona, May 1998, 26–27; "Excerpts from Recent Addresses of President Gordon B. Hinckley," Ensign, July 1997, 73).

YOU HAVE NOT FAILED AS LONG AS YOU HAVE TRIED... somehow I don't think Jillian would agree (BL FANS!), but as far as parenting goes I guess as long as you have tried do right by your family, and taught them what is right OVER AND OVER again, if it hasn't sunk in yet, it isn't going to... I have a few more years of grinding those thoughts into my little ones. All others are just lost causes...

As a side note...

Chris has a job interview on Thursday...probably nothing will come of it, but hopefully something will soon!

I LOVE TOOLS!!

2009-10-03T08:50:00.004-04:00

I finally broke- down and purchased one of the best tools for my tool box. These handy dandy little screw heads are part of a screw extractor set. Now those pesty stripped screws have a way to be removed. And soon Thierry wont be able to pull everything out of his closet.

Today's Task, remove the old door hardware from the frame, and put the replacement door on.

I love getting new tools!

Spooky Disney Christmas Carol Train Pictures

2009-09-23T12:04:00.002-04:00

Tiny Tim

Scrooge

Marley

Tiny Tim
Belle

Monsters' New Love

2009-09-14T08:27:00.002-04:00

I have been able to start babysitting again, starting with an adorable, 2 month old little girl. Our Monster is in L-O-V-E.

But then again, who wouldn't be in with this precious little one.

2nd grader in the house!!

2009-09-09T17:56:00.005-04:00

My Kindergarden Baby

grew to be such a baby faced 1st Grader...

Now 2nd grade is here, and look at that little girl face!

Thierry and Amandine on the first day of last years school year...

Look how much they have BOTH grown!

Thierry was sad to see his sister go, but it was really all show!

The Christmas Train

2009-09-08T10:44:00.004-04:00

This past weekend, if you went to Greenfield Villiage, you would have noticed an extremly large crowd of people gathering, due to the Disney promotional Christmas Train, that came to town.

Christopher and our Monkey went together, Friday morning, before she was to head off for camping with her Grandparents. She was pleased as punch, because she got Papa, all to herself. She loved her Daddy-Daughter Date!

Just a thought...

2009-09-06T08:55:00.002-04:00

I am so tired of hearing about the Presidents' plans to address the children during school hours, about "yea! stay in school". I am not thrilled that it would be allowed for mass distribution, via any media outlet, to be shown to children in public schools, without parental approval. It is at times like this that I really wish I had the patience to be a home schooling mom.

It isn't because I don't like the man, I don't really know him besides what the media wants you to know, and what his PR people will lead you to believe. It isn't because I don't believe in most of his policies, because they aren't horrid, just being thrown together too quickly for the happiness of uninformed citizens. What I don't like is that you have to wonder why he has to do it doing school hours, at a school near you, and that the teachers have suggested lesson plans on the discussions that "should follow" the broadcast.

I wouldn't send my kids to a conference at church without us present, and I wouldn't send send them to school the day of a "national broadcast". I would want to be there to discuss our families position on the topics being discussed, answer her questions, and hear her remarks. What ever happened to families gathering together to listen to the evening news, presidential debates, and actually forming opinions together? It is called Bad news is good news, so people had to screen the news from their kids, after all what 6 year old needs to know the news of a 2 year old being shot, and left for dead, or that people they idolize are being tried for assault, drugs, murder, or committing suicide.

Wake up, and open your eyes. Detroit has a perfect veiw of voting in the wrong guy, time an time again, and yet they still let it happen... not only political, but social as well.

Luckily our Monkey only has a half day of school, as it is her first day back after the summer break. So I don't really have to worry about what the teacher might have up for discussion. If she comes home with a paper asking her what she thought of the broadcast, we can sit with her and talk about it. Good or Bad, while watching it TOGETHER.

I really don't anticipate it being negative, after all this president has people that write his speeches for him and his targeted audiences, but still... I WANT TO BE THE PARENT in my child's life, not let the school administration try to be me.

My Baby had a Birthday

2009-09-02T15:36:00.004-04:00

Amandine's Highlights for August...

Best Birthday Present... a new baby to hold, she loves our new friend that will be over during the week.

She has a new Aunt, and she seems to be just right, afterall, she let her be a flowergirl....

She had her first REAL sleepover, with her bestest friend Shelby...

Mami made her a cake with all but one color requested flower...

Sunday Dinner for her Birthday, her Mami made her dinner request of:

Macaroni and Cheese with sliced Hotdogs...Uncle Tadj was thrilled...

She called us, while on vacation, to tell us that she told her Mami her dinner selection... then giggled..."and you know what Mama? We are eating that right now too!!!" Nana had made it at her request with their birthday celebration too... I hope Nana took pictures.

She was a princess this Month at Uncle Caleb's Wedding, and goofed off with Uncle Ian...

Looked like royality while, doing her flowergirl responsibilities...

And is having to say good-bye to her best friend, was NOT a highlight, at least she is only moving acrosss town, maybe when she visits Nana, she can swing up to visit her too.

Can you really believe that this was my baby???

Sorry, no pictures for you!

2009-08-29T11:03:00.003-04:00

Chris and I just got back late, last night from our week away at Hilton Head... let me say first, I think we will go back, and 2nd, we didn't get to do what I had planned....

BECAUSE.....

shock of my life, after 10 years of being married, Christopher slept in EVERYDAY till after 9am!!! For those who may have never met my husband, he is an early early riser, usually up by 6am and at the gym. We were lucky if we made it there by 10am. Breakfast by noon, and by then the morning beach time was spent.

We did make it there one day, and it was beautiful, warm, with a slight breeze. The following day we had planned to return, but the skies threatened and delivered rain. Plus, there were quite a few antique stores to be seen.

Maybe in a few days I will post the one or two pictures that we actually took, but mainly any pictures we have are for our eyes only... and no I don't mean that in anyway but in, "why would you want to see a picture of Chris reading his book on the beach?"

I do plain on reviewing the island for you... eventually. But today, I think I need to plan on picking up the kids, or at the very least, unpack.

Grandmother Reel

2009-08-23T11:01:00.005-04:00

Over the past week, I was able to visit with my Great Grandmother on our way home from Calebs' Wedding. I keep wishing I could go down with my grandma in tow so we could get a real 5 generation picture, but for now this will have to do.

I am so please that I was able to get this picture of my kids with their Great-Great Grandmother, you can tell how she looks at them that she just loves the kids. Almost 7 years ago, I guess that is when I was able to really visit last, Amandine was only 2 months old, now my baby is going to be 7 in just a short time.

I was determined to get a picture of Amandine with her Great Great Grandmother, afterall she is named for her family.

I took this picture, because I always love to see what passes from generation to generation. I have always known I had my mothers hands, but recently I noticed they are my grandmas' hands, and here I can see that they really are my Grandmothers hands. Down to how we all scratch our arms...aren't genes wonderful!

Misc Picture Posing

2009-08-06T08:14:00.001-04:00

November/December 1981 Caleb is brand new... Can you believe he is getting married in just 9 days!!!????

Pretty Perfect Day...

2009-08-01T20:57:00.004-04:00

You know those kinds of days, the ones that you base the rest of days on. Where, even though the night before, you went out and stayed out to party like you used to, woke up kinda early but felt GREAT! Realized when your youngest is up and dressed and that the quiet you hear isn't because he is into something he shouldn't be, but because he has left the house with the Papa and his Sister.

And then the happiness continues... you actually get more done before noon than you have in a long time, like...

Made 6 dozen of these, complete with chocolate drizzle Finishing up on design detail on wedding thing...

Making not one, but two of these...

And then getting the hold a new baby for a little while.

Working on Wedding stuff

2009-07-29T13:52:00.006-04:00

I have decided, that there are no flower girl baskets I like on the shelf, I mean really really like. There are no matching ring bearer pillows in the style and color I would like either. So in an effort to make it all very special I am going to ...GASP... create my own!

I am playing with design ideas today, scanning the Internet for ideas, on gathers for decoration, ribbons, and flowers to include on the ring bearer pillow. Then I after that look is complete, I will continue with the flower girl basket, as that HAS TO BE PERFECT! We like this basic style for a basket, but instead of the jewel, having silk roses in two shades of pink, Navy blue Fabric instead of the pink, as shown, and a pale pink in place of the brown. I have no idea how to create the handle look as above, probably mom does.

After playing with some ideas, I LOVE this look, with the Ribbon and Flowers, but I want more of a gathered fabric look of the one below.

Only instead of it ending with an inch on the bottom, for it to go completely to the corner.

And this one I love the big bow, as it would showcase the Button we purchased to have as the simple center. But the bow is too big to show the gathering of the sides.

We have purchased the Fabric, a quilted navy blue fabric, with light floral detailing, and a splash of sequins, as well as a silky pale pink fabric. We even have the pink roses to play with... so here goes on my next craft project. I will keep you posted on my endeavor.

FUN PICS OF THIERRY

2009-07-24T22:17:00.003-04:00

The True way to my kid's Heart... Share whatever you are eating or drinking. Here Uncle Justin is doing his best to make a new friend of an untrusting child, by simply sharing his slurpee he has made a new friend in The Monster. And Taylee is enjoying the benefits too! Splash Zone Fun, this kid can't get enough of playing in the water.

MMMMmmmm.... I really have to wonder how my children are so tiny, all the do is EAT! And of course it is rarely something healthy when Mama isn't looking.

and yes I have noticed... Thierry doesn't seem to own a shirt. 16 months old and already trying to show off his physic.