Yes, SOMEONE in the Hardy Household likes to cook. I guess it isn’t hard to tell who. They even like to cook their jammies in the fireplace. 😂☺️

Fridays can sometimes get crazy! Today we had story time first. Lucy had a late night last night, so she was super tired. Before we even made it home from the library, she crashed!Lcukily I was able to let her sleep a little bit, because then we had Park Day. The kids absolutely love being let loose to run without a care in the world.  (For the most part. 😏)Lu lived climbing the play sets with Luke and Ava.It made her feel like such a big girl!She still loves her blankies though. I love holding on to the littleness for as long as I can.She thinks the higher you swing her the better it is!Such determination!“Look out! I’m a stomping monster!”Such Sass! 😂The boys are so anti pictures now. It makes me sad. They did have a great time tromping through the creek though. So glad they were only a little bit wet. 

We have been trying some trial classes for Lucy to get her involved in something just for her. With so many older siblings, “Lu Time” is often overshadowed. Today, Lucy had a trial gymnastics class. She LOVED it! She got right to work. I was so very impressed at how well she listened to her coach, Coach Jasmine, and could already do so many of the skills. Lucy especially loved the trampolines. I wish I could have taken more pictures, but it is kind of hard while chasing a toddler. 😄 I really think she is going to take off in gymnastics just like Natalie.We didn’t have any little bitty leos, so when we arrived at class and saw this Mermaid one, it was a hit! (Disney knew the right place to market! 😂)

Lucy took a trial tots dance class today. It was really fun, and I have to say the instructor was FABULOUS! She was so animated and well spoken. She knew just how to pull the kids in. I was very, very impressed! And I think Lucy was too. 😊She loved all the singing and music……and especially loved dancing up the wedge.This girl loves to be a big girl!😍

Lucy is really getting into our homeschool routine. Her favorite thing to do,right when she wakes up, is to go wake up the boys.That usually entails taking over their bed, whacking them on the heads yelling, “Get up boys!”, and then claiming their books and flashlights. She LOVES her brothers so much! At breakfast, she has to be part of what is going on. Someone knows exactly who has the best breakfast. Khaliyah won’t beg from anyone else, but she knows that Lucy loves her. (Now if we could just get Lucy to quit giving in. Khaliyah is going to be so fat when Brie comes home for Christmas! We’re going to get in trouble!)When the boys and I start our lessons, it is always best to get Lucy distracted, otherwise it becomes a power struggle. She LOVES to color!If we can get her going in her own book, she’ll stay put for quite a while. 

Life with a dog is quite an adventure. Especially this one! 😜

I sure miss the incredible birthday parties we used to have for Nate when he was younger. Nate always LOVED to help make his cake and plan his awesome activities with all his friends. Boy how times have changed. Now that he has to leave for school in the morning, even pancake breakfasts are hard to make happen. (We had to toss them to him as he ran out the door for the bus.) Tonight, Sam and I took him out to dinner at Razoos and brought him clothes shopping. He is such a handsome young man! I LOVE him so much and am so proud of him. Nate is SO very smart and talented. He has helped me understand photography so well. I am just amazed at his knowledge. It was so wonderful to be able to spend time with just him, uninterrupted by any of the other kids. 😊

This morning, we went to our usual early storytime because the boys wanted to go to Kid Mania for our Friday trip. Lucy enjoyed jumping among her pink and orange chairs after it was over, which is now driving the boys crazy. They are so ready to leave the library when Lucy and I come out, they dread when she goes running towards them.Today she chose orange……before she chose Pink! 😆 Luckily, the boys did not have to wait too long, because Lucy came right away when we said it was time to leave. She cracks me up though. She is always intently watching everyone else. She saw several kids walking while holding their moms’ hands, so she insisted I hold her hand. It is SO funny because she is actually very obedient and I usually don’t make her hold my hand if she doesn’t need to. By the time we made it to Kid Mania, Lucy was out. She actually slept for an hour and a half on my lap while Alex and William played.Lucy was so excited to wake up and see where we were.The boys were so good with her, and Lucy felt like such a big girl because they included her in their play.Little girl, with big plans, going LOTS of places. 

Today we woke up to cool glory! Maybe fall is actually going to happen after all! I LOVE being cuddled in warm snuggly jammies, instead of baking in a sauna every day. I was actually able to put Lucy in one of her new fall outfits today, and I think it is one of my favorites!It helped getting some awesome smiles of Lucy having Wesley playing across the street. She is such a ham!