Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!
I am so blessed to
have a wonderful mother. She and my
father raised 7 children. Anyone who can pull
that off deserves a tribute!! My mother
has taught me so many things. She taught me
the importance of hard work. She taught me
perseverance in spite of obstacles and difficulties.
She taught me to be kind and how to love. She
taught me to be honest.
She taught me how to have faith even when the world seems to be crashing down and all seems to be lost. She taught me to have a sense of humor. She taught me how to laugh and how to have fun. She taught me how to be a good wife and mother. I think the greatest tribute to her is hearing her own words of wisdom coming out of my mouth to my children and then repeated by her grandchildren. She is my inspiration. She is why I know that families are forever. I love you mom!

Spring Break

This week was  Spring Break.

Most Spring Breaks we don't go out of town

like many do. Why? Two words:

BUSY SEASON

But even though Daddy is busy,

we have a lot of fun.

Hannah had a great idea this year...

She decided to plant a fairy garden.

Did you know fairies like pansies, honeysuckle,
& canterbury bells?

I didn't.

But Hannah knows everything there

is to know about Fairyland and the Fae Folk.

You could say she is an expert.

We also did great girl stuff like

shopping and eating out...

Love my girls.

Hannah had another exciting idea...

"I want to get my ears pierced!"

Wow.

I guess she is not a baby anymore :(

But Hannah says she will always

be my baby♥

One of the traditions in our family

is Doug takes the girls

to get their ears pierced.

He started it with Alexis.

He went shopping with her one day

when she was two years old.

Little girl with Daddy

wrapped around her finger

asked to get her ears pierced (age 2!)

Daddy couldn't refuse.

(Mommy was so surprised, believe me)

Since then, it has been a tradition.

So Daddy insisted.

This is my big girl now...

Mornings

Alexis AKA The Blur,

recently commented on how I have
so few pictures of her lately.

Could this be why?

This is what our mornings look like.

Everyone grabs a quick smoothie or sausage biscuit

and literally runs out the door.

What happened to breakfast with the family?

After the morning rush I feel like
we've been through a cyclone.

The house looks like we've been through a cyclone.

I remember our elderly neighbors

Earl and Hazel Kevitch. I miss them so.

Earl was a concert violinist for the Utah Symphony.

He would practice with his window open.

If I took the time and stopped,

I could enjoy his beautiful music.

Even at age 90, he still had it.

One morning was particularly hectic for the Hardy household.

I had driven in and out of my driveway

about a half dozen times in a 20 minute period,

running kids here and there.

Earl noticed.

I had pulled in the driveway,

ran inside the house to grab something I had forgotten,

slammed the back door and ran back to my car.

I started pulling out of the driveway

when I saw Earl in the rear view mirror.

He was standing in the middle of my driveway.

I slammed on my brakes and got out of my car

to see what was the matter.

Earl said, emphatically,

"Rush, Rush, Rush. You are always rushing!"

He was right.

That is what I do best.

Earl told me to slow down and enjoy life.

I have tried. Then life starts catching up on me.

But every once in a while, I stop to catch my breath.

And try to listen to the music.

First Day of Spring!

Happy Spring Everybody!

What a beautiful day. The snow is melted.
Flowers are peeking.

Our little birdy is going crazy. I think he wants to be free.

So do we.

I think cabin fever has made us all a bit loopy.

Time to go outside and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air.

Spring is a sensory experience.

You feel it on your skin. You hear it in your ears.

You see colors that seem to have sprung up overnight.

The scent of spring is most powerful to me.

When I am permeated with the scent of hyacinths,

suddenly I am five years old

playing in my father's garden.

My father gave me hyacinth bulbs

for my birthday last fall.

I planted them in my front garden.

They were more than a birthday gift.

They were the gift of memories.

The Fort

Do you remember building forts as a kid?

I do.

My brother Rob and I would build fantastic forts.

They were our secret hideouts.
A place to dream and imagine.

I would read books for hours.

We would sleep in it at night.

I thought we were THE master fort builders.

Until now...

Hannah

(with a little help from mechanical engineering major Jonny)

built this fort while we were out to dinner tonight.

I didn't even know we had this many blankets.

Theirs kicks on any design I ever had as a kid.

This fort includes a big screen tv and refrigerator.

They even used the treadmill
as a working drawbridge at the entrance
to fend off encroachers.

Maybe we will have Family Home Evening

in the fort Monday night.

We can begin with...

"And my father dwelt in a tent." 

What were your favorite childhood projects?