This year Rose's class Easter Egg Hunt and party was a total bust.  The weather was AWFUL.  It was pouring down rain.  The kids were all soaked.  The pre-school had a leak.  The moved the hunt to inside the Sanctuary (which was working out OK until somebody tracked muddy shoes upstairs on the carpet).  I snuck out of work for about 30 minutes to grab a few pictures.  Sadly, I missed the twins egg hunt.  I heard they had a blast and Mills and Maryn worked as a team.  Mills collected and Maryn ran behind with the basket.  I will have more pics to come of my hunt with them at our church the following day.  I think Rose had a great time all in all.  Anytime there are cupcakes, no school, and momma comes to class is a great day!

what kind of face is this???

Rose wore Maryn's Easter Dress to school that day....  Yes, Rose is wearing a 2T dress and that is the same size Maryn wears.......  only difference in the two is the length - and that is not by much!

EASTER EGG DYING

Basically I lost my sanity for about an hour!  MESS would be an understatement!  But the girls had a blast and we could check that off of our Easter Season "To-Do List"

GIVE KIDS A SMILE DAY MISSISSIPPI

Rose's class came to my office for a field trip and dental screening during Oral Health Month (February).  They had a great time ... and they had a million questions.....

"Miss Cassey how many times do elephants brush their teeth?"

"Hey, Hey, Hey Rose's Momma, do you pull everybody's teeth?"

"Mrs. Hard'in'sing?  do you tell people they have breath like monsters?"

... and my all time favorite ...

"Rose, what yo' momma does is nasty!"

THE PRINCESS BALL

A FATHER / DAUGHTER "DATE NIGHT"

Oh be still my heart.....  Talk about a gut-wrencher for this momma.  I let Rose curl her hair, wear make up, and she got to pick out her own dress for the extravaganza.  She looked like a teenager to me and my heart literally snapped into pieces inside my chest.  Time please stand still.  I have to say, props to our Church, the "Ball" was totally over-the-top and a complete success.  Flowers galore, amazing decorations, high school girls as waitresses dressed in prom dresses (a.k.a. - real princesses), and chicken strips with mac n' cheese for dinner.  I mean, come on....  why was I not invited???  Mark could totally tell that I was a little on the bummed side at reaching this milestone so here is a glimse into his desperate (yet total failure) of a conversation we had on our ride home:

Mark:  Don't be so sad.  They said that after Easter they are hosting a Mother/Son event so you can get to participate too.

Me:  Did you seriously just say that?

Mark:  Oh S***, Sorry.......

GETTIN' THE LAST HARDIN "BABY-FIX" ... AND IT'S A GIRL ...

It sounds so finite doesn't it???  The LAST ONE.  The caboose.  The End.  The start of a new era???  She may not have been mine but I felt just as much closure as Ramey.  Bittersweet as a mom (or an aunt).  Sad but exciting.  (wait, is this my baby or Ramey's?).  I dunno.  I cant remember my life the last 18 months so I really dont know.  I'm holding fast to the dream of our future:  the beach with no babies, the sleep-overs at Phyl and Grand-daddy's house (like a real sleepover not the ones where they are basically baby-sitting), road trips with no diapers and sippie cups (like the kind where we rent an RV), trading off weeks in the summer for VBS and camp and all that kinda stuff, like Kid-Cousin stuff yal???  The fun stuff. The juice.  The sole-purpose behind having cousins???  Bam, Bam, BAM - I. Cant. Wait.  Our Hardin Crew has just made the last turn and they are on the home-stretch.  

FREEDOM - HERE WE COME!!!!

Meet Miss Hollins

The "BABY" of the Hardin Family

A+ FOR EFFORT

Bless her skinny, wimpy bones ...  she tried with all her might!  Denver was a BLAST and it was a much needed mother/daughter weekend get-a-way.  It could not have been any more perfect!  Rose gave skiing her best shot and that is all a momma can ask for!  Maybe when she gets a little stronger and can control her legs a little better she will conquer the slopes with a little more power!  I have high hopes!  Enjoy the pics and Happy First Birthday LARK!!!