Busted

And there go the ornaments

What fun

What a fun week we have had.

Hudson had his class feast


We had friends over to play


We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and were able to see all of the grandparents

(yep, that's the best photo I could do)

We went to watch airplanes


We picked out our Christmas tree

(again, best picture I could take. we need a new camera so, so badly)

We hosted my sister and her sweet babies for a night




It was a great week and we were spoiled with love, family and fun. I am very excited about Hudson going to school tomorrow and getting our house organized. We decorated for Christmas and put our tree up and that was a lot of fun. I love Christmas decorations and we really enjoyed having a house to decorate this year. Hudson & I went shopping Saturday and he picked out a shocking amount of penguin themed decorations. And at 50% off, who am I to say no.



We also learned that the Fresh Beat Band is coming in concert in April. This is Hudson's favorite show.

I am hoping tickets show up in Hudson's stocking. I think he would go bananas!

Happy Thanksgiving

Hudson was overly excited about his Thanksgiving feast at school today. I attempted a photo shoot and these silly faces are the result.

Thankful vs Stressful

My girlfriends and I had a discussion the other day about how stressful the holidays are. Sometimes I feel like I am so stressed and there is so much to do that I am not sitting and enjoying the moments.

We have 4 sets of parents, that's 4 separate times to set aside and celebrate. Someone always ends up upset about not getting enough time. Which is completely understandable. I wish we could devote one entire day to everyone. We are spoiled with wonderful parents and cannot imagine what we would do without them.

My husband gets only Christmas day off..... I guess that is what happens when you work in the sports industry and have all the College bowl games. Thank goodness he loves his job. So finding time to really celebrate the moments is few and far between. I feel like I have until Dec 1st to enjoy my husband and then I lose him until football season is over. Soon he will start working 16 hour days planning all of the bowl packages and traveling.... Hudson and I will be at home missing him.

Between parties, Hudson's school functions, shopping, wrapping gifts, and regular life, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas flies by. I often want to just wave a white flag and call for a time out to breathe, snuggle up with my boys and just watch a Christmas movie.

I spend Hudson's school days rushing around trying to make sure I have everything. Luckily, I am finished with his gifts but I keep thinking of other things he needs, advent calendar, Christmas books to read each night of December, teacher gifts, grandparent gifts, stamps for Christmas cards, family gifts, teacher gifts, Christmas pajamas, holiday decor, gifts for children in need, boxes to the military... it is never ending. Again, not a complaint, just a running list in my head.

I love Thanksgiving but I feel like we rush past it to dive into Christmas. We have so much to be thankful for and this year I hope that we can enjoy it and relax.

This weekend we enjoyed the Raleigh Christmas parade with Bebe and Lucy. Hudson & Lucy (his 4 year old cousin) are truly in love



They really enjoyed it and were both troopers for hanging out for 3 hours.


We spent that afternoon with our playgroup and my sweet cousins family at the North Hills tree lighting ceremony. They had so many great activities, bouncy houses, a real train, fake snow falling, the Sandbox band.... I wish I had taken more pictures but I guess I was too busy having fun. Hudson kept yelling for the bouncy house so I have a feeling when he sees what Santa brought him he will Lose....his... MIND!





Hudson woke up with a horrible, horrible cold yesterday so we spent the day in pajamas. Jon made cheese sausage balls and we watched the movie Annie. Hudson slept on and off but woke up coughing a lot. Today will probably be rough but hopefully I can get a lot done since we will be home all day.

And I am thankful. I do not want to sound like the grinch. I am thankful for -

A husband who loves and supports me. A man who I truly feel like God dropped into my life.

A little boy who brings happy tears to my eyes everyday. I cannot say enough what a joy he is and how much I love him.

Parents and in laws that I love and adore. People we could not function without.

A sister who is my best friend. There are many days where we talk 10 times a day and still have so much else to say and laugh about.

Nieces and a nephew who make our world better.

Hudson's playgroup and my wonderful mommy friends

My friends who are often my therapist and make me sane and laugh.

Hudson's school and teachers. He has learned so much and ask me everyday if he can please go to school.

My husbands job that he loves

Starbucks coffee... it just makes me nicer

2 months until my sanity is restored and life is back to normal.... at least that is what I keep telling myself.

"I love you" video

Hudson has started yelling "i love you" over and over when we put him to bed at night. It is the sweetest, sweetest sound. I recorded this video in the dark hallway infront of his room last night. Melts my heart.

Christmas shopping

Obviously this week my mind is on Christmas!!! I even have all of our Christmas cards addressed and sealed (benefit of being in bed with mono!)

My dear, sweet husband and I had a tiff the other day because he thinks I have gone overboard on Christmas this year. We agreed a while ago that Hudson would be getting a bouncy house. Those are pretty expensive and it is a huge gift. When Jonathan agreed that is what we would be buying he said "that should be all he gets."

The facts are-
1. Hudson is 2. He is not going to know if he is getting a lot or a little.

2. Christmas is not about gifts. We should not focus on that.

3. The child is spoiled. He has 9 Grandparents/ great grandparents who are overly generous. Plus he has Aunts, Uncles and his precious cousins.

And I know these things are true. I told it to myself every single time I found myself buying more things. But I cannot stop. This is the first year I feel like Hudson will really LOVE Christmas morning. He gets so excited when he gets a new toy, book, movie, etc. This is also our first Christmas in a house with room, a backyard and fireplaces for our stockings.

So I may have gone overboard. I finished shopping this morning. Or at least I told myself that. I pulled everything out while Hudson was at school so I could make sure I had it all. I got so tickled when I realized so much of it is firetruck related. Firetruck books, big trucks, a fireman dress up suit, fireman boots, action figures. It was pretty funny. I also know my Dad and Lisa got him a firetruck that he can sit in and drive! Boys.... they love firetrucks! He is also getting a lot of other small things like- more Tonka trucks, clothes, books, movies, art kits, puzzles, new board games, big dinosaurs...etc.

Truth be told, I just cannot wait to see his face Christmas morning. I know he is going to be jumping up and down. Is is December 25th yet?

Dear Santa.... aka my sweet husband

Here is my Christmas list honey....

These amazing boots

Joules.com Size 8

The Anna satchel Tory Burch bag


Michael Kors watch


A new camera



A gigantic pack of new tupperware

Sheets

and a Kitchenaid mixer


I will settle for just 1 thing :)

Weekend pictures

We spent the weekend at home because I still feel horrible. The boys got out some but for the most part, we were curled up together watching the Little Rascals over and over and over.






3 deer ran through our yard... that was pretty exciting. Hudson yelled, "I want one!"


Hudson is obsessed with playing in the refrigerator.


While we were cleaning up dishes last night we caught Hudson reviewing daddy's work on the table


Chalk is our new best friend, we spent about 2 hours enjoying the sun and building roads.


And this ensemble made an appearance at some point

Boots

It is no secret I have a boot obsession. I just cannot say no to boots. So you can imagine the squeal I let out when I found these bad boys the other day.... while laying in bed sick.





I literally had a total breakdown when I saw these



I am not kidding... I have never needed anything more in my life. I would cut my arm off for these boots.

Joules.com is my new total obsession.

Family updates

- I have recently learned that I must call my husbands name too much around the house because every morning the 1st thing Hudson says is "JON! JON!!!" This morning I called to Jonathan from my bed (that's what happens when you have mono) and I said "Babe?" Hudson took off running and said "babe? babe? who is babe?" He knows how to crack us up.

- Yes, you read that right. Mono. I had a terrible headache and was so tired for 2 weeks. I thought that being so busy was finally catching up to me but Monday night I thought I was dying. I went to the doctor and have mono. Fun, right?

- I cannot wait for Regis Philbin to retire! I am so glad Jessica Simpson finally announced she is pregnant and not just huge & fat. The Penn State scandal makes me sick to my stomach. Lindsay Lohan going to jail for 4 hours is a complete joke.... this girl will never learn.

- I do not understand people who are obsessed with these vampire shows and movies. I would rather do anything in the world than watch Twilight.

- My 2 good friends (and the mom's to Hudson's friends) are pregnant. Hudson keeps asking for a baby. I keep trying to figure out what to buy him instead. :)

That's all I've got for you now. I need to go nap before I pick up Hudson from school.

Family phtos

Our very talented friend Carl Hoverstad came over this past weekend to help capture a family photo for our Christmas card. I had a vision of us sitting so happily on our front porch, all smiling and looking lovingly into the camera while Bailey laid in front of us with a wreath around her neck........... well, this is what that vision looks like in real life



Needless to say, Bailey got booted from the pictures. But Carl did capture some great moments. Yay!!! Thank you, Carl!

Christmas ideas for Hudson

For 2 years we celebrated Christmas in the tiniest townhouse with no yard. Now that we have a good amount of space and a huge backyard my ideas for Christmas gifts for Hudson are a little much.

My original idea was a trampoline but Jonathan shot that down. After talking with some friends and other people who have some very similar things, we found this...

A sports bouncy house!!!!!!!!!! I love this idea. Yes, it is an eye sore but so much safer than a trampoline. And it only takes about 1 minute to blow up and you just deflate it and pack it way when you are done. Love, love, love it.

I also found this


Seriously?!?!?! This is the coolest thing I have ever seen! Hudson is obsessed with all things firetruck. And it has a radio, microphone, sprayer & shovel. He would completely lose his mind.

Here in lies the problem. Together these gifts are about $750. That's a little much right? There is NO WAY Jonathan will ever let us spend that much money. Especially since I have already finished Santa's gift and he spent a pretty penny. Hudson is so fortunate to be so loved (and spoiled) by so many people. Our parents and families are always so, so generous and he always gets way too many things. Oh decisions, decisions.

Christmas is not about gifts and we try to make sure Hudson knows that. He loves to talk about Jesus and I know that his favorite gift will be the new fireman boots that Santa made him.... that child wears some form of rain boots everyday. But these are an investment that even his friends will want to come and play with. And what's better than a bouncy house for a birthday party?!?!

Shocker!

Kim Kardashian is getting her 2nd divorce..... SHOCKER!!! After 72 days, Kim decided that she married because she wanted to believe in love not because she was actually in love. She spent $10 million dollars on a wedding that she now says she knew the entire time was not going to work out.


I have so many things to say about this.


1. Morgan... I told you so!
2. I shed actual tears watching the E! special showing their wedding.
3. I want that time and tears back.
4. Who spends $10 million on a wedding?
5. Who actually gets married to someone that they know is not going to work out?
6. Who calls it quits after 72 days and does not actually make an effort to save the marriage?

I openly admit that I watch all things Kardashians. I will also admit that I cannot stand Kim. She broke mine & Jonathan's shared boyfriend Reggie Bush's heart. (because she chose fame over him)


That family is so into material things and making money and yet I find myself still watching it constantly. It's like I am punishing myself.

This marriage completes my final thought that Kim is a joke. Anyone who does not value to sanctity of marriage is ridiculous. Marriage should be forever and something that you do not just give up on. (Especially when you spend $10 million dollars and make it a 2 hour E! special) Over the years we have watched her go from guy to guy to guy looking for love. This girl needs a huge lesson on morals!

I feel bad for Kris. He may look like Frankenstein and a monkey's baby but he appeared to have his stuff together. RIP Kim & Kris. Thanks for the 72 days of memories.

Halloween

Halloween was so fun!!! We had Hudson's playgroup over in the afternoon.... how cute are they?! They all looked so cute...and serious




It was cold and rainy but we took Hudson to a few houses. This was his first year trick or treating. We practiced a lot and right on cue he would say "trit or cheese" - I guess his translation of trick or treat. When our neighbor handed him his very 1st piece of candy, he turned around to look at us, threw his little fist in the air and yelled "YESSSSSSSSSSS! awesome!" It was so incredibly funny. He took off and said "nother house. more candy." So we bravely made our way to a few more
houses.






We love our neighborhood. Everyone was so sweet and we enjoyed meeting a lot of new people. We found a house that gives out pizza and beer for adults (total score!) and our neighbor gave our 6 different things... flashlights, notebooks & crayons, popcorn, candy and pretzels. So generous!

We made our way home because it was just too yucky out. Hudson was so happy to realize that people would come to our house. He answered the door every time and yelled "Happy Hallowwwwweeeen" as loud as he could. He was so sweet and even tried to give away his own candy. He loved every part of Halloween.