Memorial Day Weekend

This weekend we packed the boys up and headed to Birmingham to see Momo and Granddaddy.  Luckily Aunt Pris and several of the cousins were in town so we were able to have a mini family reunion.  We began with a trip to the Birmingham Zoo.  Collin had a great time and he and Hollye Anne even talked Momo into riding on a camel with them.  They had a blast!  We then saw several other animals including Collin's favorite, the reptile house.  No trip is complete without a ride on the train, which all of the children loved.  We then headed back to Momo's house to see all the other cousins and introduce Parker to everyone.  We are so glad everyone was finally able to meet him in person.  We had a great time and cannot wait until Labor Day when we get to see everyone again!

Collin's Last Soccer Game

Today was Collin’s last soccer game of the season.  He seemed to really enjoy playing and loved interacting with his teammates and coach.  Although he did not score a goal, he progressively got better throughout the season.  He started off standing still just watching everyone and by the last game he was running around chasing the ball.  He absolutely loved his coach and Coach Melford made Collin feel like he was a superstar.  After the game his team had their end of the year party.  Collin got his very first trophy which he proudly displayed on his bookshelf.  In September he will try soccer again, this time with Coach Daddy.

Mother's Day 2012

Mother's Day is always a very bittersweet holiday for me.  I am absolutely blessed to have two happy, healthy, cuddly boys who I love with all of my heart.  I love them more than they will ever know and love to receive the cards and homemade presents they give me each year.  It is something I always look forward too, along with a few gifts from Daddy and the day off from doing my normal household chores:-)  It is hard, however, not to have my mom here to celebrate with.  The past four years have been very difficult without her.  Not a day goes by that she is not in my thoughts of something happens to remind me of her.  I wish more than anything she were here to see her grandsons grow up and was able to experience life through their eyes.  She always wanted grandkids to spoil and I know she would have adored them.  Little Parker appears to be carrying on her legacy with his blond hair and blue eyes, just like she had.  It is amazing how much he resembles her.  It makes me smile every time I think about it. Even though she is not physically with us, I know she is looking down on us and will always be an angel to my boys and I.  She was the best mother anyone could ask for, and I hope I can become half the woman she was.  I love you, Mom! 

Collin, Our Soccer Player

Here are some pictures from Collin's soccer game today.  Collin has yet to score a goal or even kick the ball for that matter, but he is having fun:-)  Mommy and Daddy always joke when the grandparents ask how his game was that he was physically on the soccer field, but that is about it.

Touch-A-Truck

Today we took the boys to the Touch-A-Truck festival in Alpharetta.  It was heaven on Earth for Collin.  The festival had every kind of vehicle you could possibly imagine including a trolley, limo, UPS truck, police car, SWAT van, big rig, ice cream truck, school bus, double decker bus, and video game bus just to name a few.  Collin loved it! His favorites were the big rig and a "Fun Bus" that had several activities inside and then a slide he had to go down to exit it.  Parker was  to little to get in any of the vehicles on display but was in awe of all the people and all the different horns that were beeping.  I am sure in a couple of years he will love it just as much as his big brother did. 

Parker's Baby Dedication

Today was a very special day in the lives of the Hardy family. Today Patrick and I dedicated Parker to the Lord. The Baby Dedication ceremony took place at our church, Northpoint. It was an awesome ceremony. They had a church staff member give a speech about the importance of raising children in a Christian home. Patrick and I then got to share the 5 traits we hope to instill within Parker with our family. The 5 traits are:

1. To love others
2. To know God and follow his word
3. Respect authority and others
4. To have a generous heart
5. Display self-control

Patrick and I plan to instill this traits in Parker through modeling and daily activities. We also vowed to start two habits in our family to assist in the teaching of these values. They are to read stories and say our prayers together each night and to eat dinner together and share our day or anything on our hearts. We were lucky enough to have our family vow to hold us accountable for teaching Parker these traits and promise to pray for us in our journey. Momo, Granddaddy, Papa, Aunt B, Uncle Jon, and Aunt Lotis all came to the event and vowed to pray for us and Parker in hopes that he will come to know the Lord and follow his Word.  What a blessing!

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it
~Proverbs 22:6

JCUMC Spring Carnival

Today Collin's preschool had their annual Spring Carnival.  Collin was beyond excited about meeting his pal Vincent there and exploring it all. As soon as we arrived Collin tested every inflatable they had to offer.  He loved them all!  He then followed his friend Vincent to the games where they won some really cool prizes like toy airplanes and cars.  We then rode the train as a family.  Parker was not too sure about it at first but seemed to enjoy it once it started moving.   Daddy and Parker then headed home so Parker could get some rest while Collin and Vincent explored everything else.  He was brave enough to ride on a spinning apple  and told the worker to make it go faster. It was going to fast the worker had to stop to let some kids out that got to scared. Needless to say he was extremely dizzy when he emerged from it.  When then went to the reptile show.  Mommy is not fond of reptiles and terrified of snakes so I sat in the very back while Collin touched everything that the man showed.  He even touched two different snakes!  He is defiantly not scared of anything!  We had so much fun at the Spring Carnival and cannot wait to go back next year!