Way back when

Highlights from the month of January...

We enjoyed nice weather that was warm enough to play outside!

So peaceful!!Can't believe he is one!

Hudson the multitasker-He would not put down his balls to hold his bottle.

Highlights from Hudson's 1st Birthday party...Duck shaped sandwiches for lunch

When Hudson saw the decorations he started saying "quack, quack"

1st encounter with cake...

Forget the hands, lets go for a nose dive!

"Was I supposed to do that?"

Stunned

Celebrating our Savior's Birth: Christmas 2011 (in pictures

Hudson's 1st Christmas! He found a box of goldfish in his stocking and was happy!

Ethan was thrilled to have TWO candy canes

Christmas blessings!!

Christmas bounty

Another SCORE for Hudson: puffs

"Don't even think about taking my puffs away!"

Ethan was the present "expert" this year. Hudson just loved the paper.

Examining his lion traveling pillow

The boys new train table

Enjoying the Christmas decor at the Grove Park Inn

"What are we doing today, Mommy?" (the December edition)

Each morning as I am trying to quickly clean up the breakfast mess, figure out what I need to pull out of the fridge or freezer for dinner, keep Hudson from eating all the crusty food he threw on the floor last night during supper, start a load of wash...you get the picture...Ethan ever so sweetly comes and asks me...

 "What are we going to do today, Mommy?" 

My mind is thinking laundry, dusting, diaper changing, cooking, and grocery shopping. But when I look at his smile I remember that to him, every day is like a new adventure. Sometimes he just needs a little guidance as to what that adventure will be. Hudson innately discovers those adventures every moment of every day. We are often rescuing him from obscure places (Like the other day when he was stuck in a small space between the wall and the toilet.) Or the time Ethan had Hudson handcuffed to the table...

I dedicate this post to remembering what I really do every day!

The policeman, Ethan, hard at work, catching all bad boys who steal toys.

"What, Mom? Is there something wrong with my hat?"

Gotta keep busy hands busy...my solution to distracting Hudson while I cook supper.

"Mom, this basket is for sitting in, not toy storage. I will thank you if you remember that."
He pulled all the toys out by himself and then plopped right in.

"I know I saw Mommy decorating this tree, but she forgot something.
I think I'll put this camel right in between those branches."

As I was cleaning the kitchen, I came over to the table to see Ethan sitting right in front of the
package of Oreo cookies. He looked at me and said, "Mommy, these cookies are really
good. SOMEONE is going to have to buy more of them."

Score on some "new to us" outdoor toys and so thankful to live in a state that has
somewhat mild winters.  Little boys NEED to be outside!

Ethan thought his rainbow colored pancakes were awesome! A little food coloring goes a long way.

Hudson is a food machine! My full time job is constantly
putting an array of food in front of him to keep his tummy full. 

Simple Pleasures

South Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Home...lots of miles on the road winding down to a holiday break at home. Sometimes I feel like the little train from the "Little Engine That Could" chugging up the big hill, saying, "I think I can." So thankful that God gives grace for every single situation that happens during the day. Not only does He give grace, but He gives us the simple pleasures of life that make me smile along the way. Here are a few smile-makers from November...

Hudson learning that the camera makes a bright flash. He was prepared! 

This is Hudson after a 8 hour car trip. I'm passed out on the floor next to him. (Just kidding)

We got to stay with Grandma & Papa in PA over Thanksgiving.  These are the vehicles the boys used to get there.

Visiting Papa at his store

One way to keep a 10 month old  contained...playtime in the pack n play.

Ethan's turkey

When Ethan found out we were going to celebrate Grandma's birthday, he couldn't wait to see her blow out the candles

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful for my cuddly little Hudson

And my inquisitive lighting bolt, Ethan.

Ethan learned how to play Uno. Here he is playing with my Grandpa and my mom.


It's kind of fun to look back on the month of November! But now that we are in February I better get caught up on a few months worth of posts! Hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving way back when :-)

Happy Birthday Hudson!

Then...

Now...

photo by www.photographybyoh.com

Who can find the similarities?

 Hudson, we thank the Lord for loaning you to us as a precious gift! Every time we share with you how much God loves you, we also pray that you will soon understand the extent of that love. You are God's creation, God's child. He has a specific plan for you. But right now, you are teaching mommy and daddy more of God's love for us and how much we need to depend on Him. We love you, buddy!

The Truck Keeps Rollin'

(Time to catch up where I left off! Yes, another blogging break...this time, I needed to recharge!)

October found our truck rolling along through Texas. This was a new state for us to stay in. We found out there is more to Texas than farms and oil wells. Driving through Houston around 5pm, we found all the people that live in Texas too! After setting up our trailer for the night and putting the boys to bed, my husband kindly informed me that there are other things that live in Texas too...like alligators, biting ants and scorpions. He told me to be on the look out for those types of things. Believe me, I was! Thankfully we didn't meet any of those critters, but we did find where the mosquitoes go for the fall/winter. 

Our neighbors this week were several horses. The boys could literally look out their window and see a horse about 20 feet away. Ethan enjoyed helping me feed the horses apples. Hudson loved watching the horses move toward us. He thought the noises they made were funny, I guess, because he giggled and giggled whenever he heard a whinny.

Hudson is completely fascinated by the front loading washing machine we have in our trailer. No matter what toys he is playing with at the time, if he hears me working on the laundry, he comes crawling over the watch it spin! Because our washer and dryer are located at the back of our trailer, our whole trailer shakes up and down (like turbulence on an airplane) while the washer is on the spin cycle. Maybe that is why Hudson likes it so much!

Hudson enjoying his first haircut

From Texas, we made a 2 day trek back to South Carolina. We enjoyed driving along the Gulf of Mexico through Louisiana and Mississippi. I wish I would have taken pictures of what we saw! I'm guessing it was some sort of bayou. God's creativity is magnificent!

Since I couldn't find a pumpkin patch in Texas, we hit up the one by our house while home for the week. Hudson kept looking at the pumpkins and saying "ball."

All I can say is "mobile mischief." That's my label for Hudson! Poor kid keeps touching the tv like he can take part in what he is watching. He has even brought his small basketball over to the tv while Jonathan was watching basketball. All the barricades that used to work when Ethan was little are like pushovers for Hudson. He WILL get where he wants to be...no stopping him. What a fun week we had at home!

My little man and his Yo-yo