Typical Jakob Weekend

This weekend marks the end of Jared's summer job...hooray! I guess Jakob could sense my eager anticipation or something. Maybe he is like an animal when it senses the rain...hmmm. Anyway, Jakob and I had a lot planned this weekend to fill our time and to help me keep from doing laundry! Friday morning, we went to a GREAT park here in Lubbock with some friends to play and then had a picnic together on the living room floor.

Then on Saturday morning, we went to a 'Farmers' Market' here in Lubbock that shall remain nameless. I am not certain that there were any real farmers there. I swear most of the things that were available were waxed and felt like they were straight from United without the stickers. So, Jakob and I left...I was upset that I wasted all that gas out there, and Jakob was upset that he didn't see any real farmers. Sad tale. So, we came home to play and still avoid the laundry! Here are some great pictures of Jakob 'flying' on my feet in the living room floor. Pay no attention to the neglected toe nails...they have never known a pedicure!

I absolutely love those smiles and adore his laughter. I wish I could bottle up and listen to it thirty years from now...sweetest sound on earth! Here are the other Jakob highlights from the weekend so far!

Jakob playing his bath-time trumpet...complete with the cushion from his potty chair as his hat. A priceless concert, indeed!

Jakob as "Bob de Bidda"...better known to all as Bob the Builder with a hard hat better known to all as a plastic mixing bowl!

seriously...

Today, Jakob and I went to playgroup at the church where he acted a bit strange...didn't play with anyone, very whiney, kinda clingy...strange. But, he did play hard by himself and was very tired when we started home. He fell asleep on the way home...a sure-fire sign that it is going to be a good afternoon! I had lessons today and was counting on him sleeping through at least the first two. He usually sleeps through the first three to four lessons of my afternoon, so that wasn't an unrealistic expectation. Well, not so much! Jakob slept for maybe 15 minutes, and then I heard him moaning on the floor behind his door. He was so tired and was just screaming, not literally, for a nap. But, I had a student, so it wasn't the time to prove a point or fight him for something I would never win. So, thankfully, he played in his room really well. He didn't interrupt more than necessary. It was a great afternoon! Then I went back to his room...

He hasn't touched the toys in that box in months, and today he decided that he needed to skip his nap and dig for toy treasure at the very bottom! He has a rude awakening awaiting him before bedtime tonight when we pick up his room! No false advertising here...we are definitely 2!

My Prince Charming...

Jared and I have been married just over 6 years. They haven't all been fairy tales and goosebumps, but they have been extremely blessed. This morning as I am working around our home, I am a bit overwhelmed by my husband's great love for me...thought I would brag a bit. I have alluded to a very rough spot in our marriage roughly two years ago. I hesitate to ever share all of the gorey details because some things serve no purpose under heaven except to bring glory to satan. I do want to share those things, though, that bring an awful lot of glory to our Father for our current situation. Two years ago, Jared and I realized and had to face our severe issues with finances, debt, and passivity. We had a six-week old baby and an unspoken gap between the two of us and the Lord. After much prayer and Godly counsel, we began the incredibly difficult battle of crawling back...back out of debt and back to one another. We have had very hard-fought battles with creditors, the IRS (grrrr...my blood pressure goes up just thinking of those 'dear' people), and each other, but we are the other side! When we met our problems face-to-face, my sweet husband went out and found ways to add to our monthly income...especially during our summers off from school. Jared has been a bi-vocational minister, an ad salesman for local radio, and a car salesman. He is the hardest working person I have every known...seriously. Car sales is not a glorious job and is certainly thankless as people assume the worst of you before you have even introduced yourself. However, Jared has chosen to spend each of his last three summers-off selling cars with the profits going to pay off debt and improve our home. I hold down the fort here at home and teach lessons during the summers to keep our year-round studio going. Its a team effort for sure, but Jared certainly puts in the massive amounts of sweat-equity during the summer. We have been able to pay off over 3/4 of our debt, purchase our first home, and enjoy some very fun times as a family. We will, in fact, be revolving debt-free next August. Praise God! This week is Jared's last week of this summer. I could not be more ready to have my husband back as the hours of a car salesman are long and completely unlike what we are used to during the school year. I am just a bit overwhelmed this morning at what an incredible man I have the honor of calling my husband. The Bible speaks of the foolish man who built his house on the sand...insert Jared and Carla Hardy circa 2006. The great thing about our God is that He is in the moving business...from sandy soil to solid ground.

The top picture is of Jared at Southern Hills, PGA Championship for our 5th Anniversary trip to see Tiger Woods play. The second is at Thanksgiving at my parents'...how I love him.

Two steps forward...three puddles on the floor!

Okay, so I am home and so happy to be back with both of my boys for the first time in just under two weeks! Hooray! Jared and I cleaned house yesterday...or at least the parts of the house that can't be closed off by a door! We had some friends over last night and had a great time! So, after a fantastic time with my kids last week at TCU and a fabulous day with my family yesterday, this day was starting out great, no matter what! Well, it got even better! I know, I am highly blessed among women...just wait, the ball drops in a bit! Jakob followed me to the bathroom and celebrated that mommy had t.t.ed (I have no earthly idea how to correctly type that word.) Then he asked if he could read his books. We have a goup of books that he can only read if he is sitting on his potty. We are just trying to help him get over the fear of the potty...nothing hard core here! So, we are reading on the potty when ALLELUIA! Jakob went t.t.!!!!! I calmly celebrated on the outside so as not to totally freak him out, while my insides were screaming and planning what I would do with the extra money each month I would save on diapers...I know, I am such a great planner! Ha! Well, since that moment this morning, he has peed THREE TIMES!!!! ...once on the kitchen floor, once on the living room floor, and once on his floor. Then, we removed our third pair of big boy underwear and reintroduced our Cookie Monster diaper. So, here's to determination...and my new wood floor that will be installed by the end of the summer! Just wipe it up...it may revolutionize our potty training efforts!

What a time to not have my camera!

Okay...so, I am in Fort Worth with my kids. What a day it has been. My last post was all uplifting, hopeful, and 'shmooshy.' NOT TONIGHT!!! I woke up this morning at 5 sick as a dad-gum dog...nauseated, stuck to a toilet, (my mom will be so embarrassed that I typed that!) and pale as all get out. I felt horrible...never mind the fact that I was leaving on a road trip where I was the navigational leader of our little caravan and driving a boat of a Suburban into the Metroplex with other people's children! Okay, so Jared bought be a bottle of Pepto, and I drank nearly the whole thing before I got to Snyder. I felt great! Hooray! We obviously made it safely, and our kids are doing great. If you have known me for very long, you know that All-State season ties me in knots and stresses the dog out of me. My top nine, though, are here and learning so much that will make it easier for all of us! I am so thankful for them and for our school district making this possible for them. Okay, so the other vocal coach and I arrived at our 'hotel' this afternoon. Its a Days Inn, and I chose it because it is only a mile from campus. We will be going to all of the sessions to observe and learn ourselves, so proximity was key. Days Inn, not the Ritz Carlton, but not Roach Motel either, right? Well, sort of. It is not nice. There is no other way to say it...but the best part is my room decor. I wish I had my camera to show you just what I mean. But here goes the descriptive version...2 double beds, black and khaki diamond patterned bed skirts, 'contemporary' yet southwestern coordinating comforters. Not bad, right? Okay, now let's look up...TO THE MICKEY MOUSE SPORTS THEMED WALLPAPER BORDER!!! I could not make this stuff up. It is red, blue, and yellow with stars, balls, rackets, bats, and running shoes. You have got to be kidding me...Thank you ladies and gentlemen, I'll be here all week...

Little Bit Crazy!

I am stealing away to leave a quick post and some pictures in the middle of a CRAZY day! I am leaving at 6 in the morning with nine of my top singers and taking them to TCU All-State camp. I am driving...insert doom and despair music HERE! AHAHAHAH!!! I hate driving with a passion...not to mention that I will be responsible for the safety of others' children. Prayers sent along I-20 will be greatly appreciated! I just returned last night from Oklahoma. My parents are keeping Jakob for the week since Jared is busy selling cars and his parents are heading to Isabelle's birthday weekend (Jakob's cousin). I was able to spend a few days with mom and dad. Their house is always relaxing since mom takes such good care of me. She always makes exactly what we want to eat, shops with me at Walls Discount Center (you HAVE to go if you've never been!) for endless hours, and just loves on me. I love going home more than anything. Last year, God blessed my insanely hard-working parents with a home that is out of this world! My dad has worked so hard his entire life, and I am so proud for them! Anyway...here are some fun pictures with Jakob from their house...he would move in if we let him!

Jakob, the great explorer!

Jakob and Poppy walking back up from the creek

Well, that's one way to take a drink!

All-Boy...no doubt about it!

Objects in these binoculars are closer than they may appear!

Jakob and Bubba in Perryton

The pictures below are of a lily mom bought and planted three years ago at their other house in Oklahoma. On July 14, 2005, Jared and I lost our first baby and found ourselves on a slippery slope for the next two or so years. A precious friend in my life, Erin, sent me lilies during that awful loss and spoke of new life and hope. We claimed and stood on Romans 5:5, "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts." This was around the time the Natalie Grant released the song "Held" as well. Of course we were drawn to the message of the words, but especially part of the second verse. "This hand is bitterness. We want to taste it, let the hatred numb our sorrows. The wise hand opens slowly to lilies of the valley and tomorrow." It just seemed that lilies were the reoccurring object the Lord kept interjecting into our path. My mom subsequently planted this little lily. After they moved to this house, it was the first thing that she transplanted into her exquisite gardens. It hasn't bloomed, though, this year while her other lilies are just gorgeous. When we left for church on Sunday morning, July 14th by the way, this bloom had opened up. I have chills even typing it. This is the first year since then when Jared and I can say that we are on sturdy, solid ground growing together in the light of the Lord. It was as though God in his divine way allowed that small, but meaningful blossom to open on this third anniversary just to reassure that indeed 'hope will not disappoint us.' He is truly the mender of broken hearts, marriages, families, and lives. How great is this love the Father has lavished on us? I pray this refreshes your spirit as it uplifted ours this week. God truly is the greatest Author ever to write a love story.

Light a Candle

This morning before Jared went to work, we were all three lounging in our bed watching Mickey Mouse hoping that the day would never really begin. So, of course Jared doesn't sleep with a shirt on, and Jakob was climbing all over him like a jungle gym. Jakob got very still though and perched himself on Jared's chest like he was riding a horse. Jakob pointed at Jared's chest and shouted "Daddy's candle!!!" We were quite confused as to what in the world he was talking about when all of a sudden, he let us know! Jakob grabbed Jared's nipple and said again, "Daddy's candle!" We could not stop laughing...Jakob quickly pointed out that he, too, had two candles. We stopped there in the family anatomy lesson for the morning.

When sidewalk chalk comes inside!

What is in the air today? Seriously, Jakob is making it one for the Hardy history books! I was folding laundry, and Jakob was playing in his room just now before his nap. When I went in to change his diaper, I saw it...somehow he had taken a piece of sidewalk chalk hostage in his room! The longer story here is that I have been working to re-do Jakob's room for a couple of weeks now. Today proved that I picked the right kind of kid-friendly paint! So, after frisking him of any other chalk pieces, he helped clean it up, and laid down to recharge for a sure-to-be-interesting afternoon! Here's to Jakob!

who IS this kid?!

I don't know how many of you are familiar with Playhouse Disney, but around here, it reigns supreme! There is a show called Higglytown Heroes that Jakob isn't really into, but he will watch it occasionally while he is playing. The Higgly friends fit inside of one another like the Russian stacking dolls.
So, when they are afraid, they 'stack' inside of one another, smallest to largest. Just now, Jakob comes into the living room and starts trying to put his feet down the neck of my t-shirt! I was like, "Buddy, what are you doing? You can't wear my shirt while I am wearing it!" In my mind I was thinking, "Oh, my goodness! What would Dr. Dobson say about my 2 year old trying to climb into my clothes while I am in them!" Jakob says proudly, "I'm Wayne, mommy...let me in!" Wayne is the name of one of the Higgly friends. I could not stop laughing! I swear, he is the funniest thing on two feet! And, no...we did not both wear the t-shirt at the same time!

Not so much the home of the BRAVE!

We had such a wonderful 4th of July! Jared had the day off yesterday and couldn't be called into work even if someone wanted him! Praise God! So, we decided to do some long over-due work in our front yard. We had a tree that looked like any other sad tree at the end of October when we bought this house. However, it still looked like the October tree in the middle of the summer, so it was time to put it out of its misery! Jared attacked with full force!

But, he did prevail, and our front yard looks more alive already!!! Thank you for working so hard on your day off!!!

We also planted out the front flower bed of our house. That's right...we are that 'green'...we take out of the earth and put back in! We have never had a home with so much shade in the front, so we are out of our floral comfort zone! We are trying ferns...we'll let you know if they survive the week! Oh, yeah, I need to go buy more mulch!

So, then after showers and watermelon, Jared, Jakob, and I headed to our friends', the Whites, house for the forth festivities! Actually, Jared and I teach their three children, Whitney, Bryce, and Barclay, but they are so much more friends than students and parents! We love y'all! They live in a fantastic neighborhood where everyone was shooting off brilliant fireworks. We were sure that Jakob would love it! WRONG!!! He was completely scared to death!

He basically stayed this way all night long! He did look up at the sky long enough though to say one of the sweetest things I have ever heard! "Wow! Wook at fwowers in de sky!" Yes, scary flowers in the sky...gosh I love him so much! Have a great weekend!

I spoke too soon...

So, about 5 minutes after I shared with you how much fun Jakob was...I found him filling a cup with toilet water and drinking it...need I say more?

Ahhh...Domestication!

The last few days around here have been great fun to watch! I am hoping to figure out how to post a video (I need a firewire, I think) to let all you see just how much fun the last few days have been! Jakob has fully come into his imagination, and let me tell you, it is hilarious! It was so surprising when he just stayed in his room after his nap and played. I could hear him talking in different voices: one for Donald Duck, Elmo, Cookie Monster, and some random dog! SO funny! He is all of a sudden way into cooking. He will take these plastic foods that I bought over a year ago in the Target dollar spot (could there be a better place on earth?!) and make meals for everyone. He insists that you must make noises to show just how much you are enjoying his burger, hot dog, oatmeal, or combination of the three! This morning, I was folding his laundry and he came into the living room and said, "I help, Mommy!" So, not wanting to stifle the spirit of domestic help, (I plan to have him doing all of the cleaning by age 5!) I gave him a stack of pajamas and asked him to put them in his pj bucket. He did it! They aren't folded anymore, but who cares! Thank God for the good that comes with the bad of turning two! Hooray responsibility!