October

I am so behind! And the longer I wait, the more behind I end up. So, I'm going to start fresh today. I really can't believe it has been over 2 months since I posted to my long.  How embarrassing.  If you follow me on instragram, you get the good stuff from the blog daily.  I always thought I didn't post a bunch because I didn't take pictures. That's not the case, I take pictures ALL day long. 

Life has changed drastically, starting today I am now a work from home 100% time mom. I am thrilled to get to spend every second with Hudson. However, it's going to take a lot of adjusting.  I'm really sad to be leaving the actual office atmosphere but I know it's what's best for both Huddy and the office. Maybe that's why I'm so gung-ho about blogging again?

Anyways, Hudson is now 18 months old.  He is a HOOT! He keeps me laughing seriously all day long.  He talks so much.  I know I wouldn't be able to remember every single word he says at this point.  I will just throw some in as I explain these awesome pictures below.

 We still are walking daily.  It sure has gotten really cold in the morning but my sanity needs the walking- just as much as the dogs do. Oh yeah, Kona got bit by a dog up the street a couple weeks ago- it was sad, she's healed. Hudson knows to be gentle (he isn't still though) with her ear because that's her "ouchies" Our walks are kind of becoming difficult some days because we live so close to the park (wee- I am not sure if he's saying swing or if it's because we say wee as we go down the slides or both...) and so Hudson just yells to go there as we walk past it.  Another thing he sure does love is cars. Another thing we're bound to pass on our walks.

 Since my sister, Kelsi, had her baby the last part of September Hudson actually went to a daycare while I worked those two days a week for the month of October.  Yesterday was his last day.  I never took him, Daren always did.  He apparently cried a lot. But he was always ready for me to go in the morning before they left.  He was absolutely in shock the first couple of times he went.  I think it actually was really good for him though.

 I wasn't joking when I said Hudson has a car obsession.  This was a new car he had gotten.  I asked him to please put it by his face and say cheese.  Well, couldn't get mad at him cause he still did it.

 Need I say more? Seriously, loves cars.  This huge VW bug is now at our house.  Wheels are falling off, mirror is broken but he LOVES it regardless.

 We went to the pumpkin walk.  He calls pumpkins ball.  I try to correct him but no need.  He still thinks the horses by our house say Moo....or that all his drinks are juice. Except if you're ever lucky enough to hear him say water (walla) or banana (baaalana) you'll giggle...anyways the pumpkin walk was good.  He didn't understand it still but I had a good time!

 Then he finger painted his pumpkin.  He was super nervous at first because we had some paper on the table for the mess and he must've thought he was getting more shots because he freaked out.  But once he got the hang of what was going on, he loved it.  I will let him finger paint more often, it was fun!

 It snowed...and it snowed a lot.  It was Hudson's first time really getting to go out in the snow.  I tried to encourage the whole snowman thing.  Than we were both too cold and went inside. Thank goodness it's warmed back up....slightly.

 He got to hang out with Eva again.   She prepared a little tea party for them, they played with stickers, and even got to each lunch together.  I hope they get to play again soon because they love each other. Oh the hugging that was going on. It was adorable!

 For a short period, after he had turned the shower on himself in the tub, he was terrified of bathing. It became the biggest chore to fight him to sit down and let me clean him up.  Well, after the finger painting he started doing a little bit better which triggered me thinking maybe I should just get the water dye things.  That did the trick.  Sweet boy loves his tubbies again.

I missed so many good things that have happened.  Hudson is a character.  He is still in love with the MJ music videos.  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is another favorite of his.  He is becoming a much more difficult eater than he was as a baby.  Hopefully that too is just a phase. I just wish I could put into words just every little thing he does that makes me laugh.  But take my word for it, he's a goooooood time!

Kelsi's Baby Shower

 My sister, Kelsi, is having a baby.  After her throwing me a wicked awesome baby shower before Huddy's grand arrival..  Andria and I took on the challenge to throw a wicked awesome one back right at her. Many (and I do mean MANY) months ago I began thinking up what I could do to out do the shower Kelsi had for me.  Thank heavens for pinterest because it helped out A LOT.  But it all had to start with which direction we were going to go.  As soon as I saw a tea party themed party I knew that was it! My grandmother Boston gave Kelsi and I some china a couple of years ago and we had always joked about what on earth we could do with it.  Well, I figured that out now didn't I?!  I think one of the best parts of the whole planning was that Kelsi wasn't allowed to know the theme of the party because she would start helping plan the whole thing (or get ideas in her head and be let down)  I really don't think the party could have turned out any better, if I do say so myself.

Now, since I am obsessed with food and overly critical of food given at a party, I tackled the menu first.  I'm sorry if you follow me on instagram because I really did become obsessed with my croissants.  I made my own croissants! I am a believer.  They are the most delicious croissants I have ever tasted in my entire life.  It is a three day process but it's TOTALLY doable!  Try them, they won't disappoint.

 Next was the pink cupcakes. I got the brillant idea from pinterest to bake them in the little paper ketchup cups because they hold their own shape so you can just make them on a baking sheet all at once.  BRILLANT! Also, I made some purple sugar to sprinkle on the top.  My, my, my...I'm good aren't I? {Humble too}

 I even made my own buttermints

 Everyone got their own tiara! I had the best time planning and getting ready for this shindig. 

I believe the guests all had a really good time as well.  Now, next thing I'm looking forward to is baby girl actually making her arrival!

Summer

I can't believe summer is coming to an end.  I am nervous about what life will be like in the winter with a very active little boy. I hope I can grow to love snow more because I'm sure in no time I will be spending a majority of my time out in it. 

I think Hudson is at an age that is incredibly fun (I think I have said this before) but seriously, the past few weeks have been hilarious with my little man.  He is very interactive.  He has a reaction for every thing that is said. 

 He knows what he wants (most of the time...we still have those times where he's frustrated just to be frustrated) like wanting crushed ice for dinner.

 He has started to "read" to me.  I absolutely could eat him up most days.

 He LOVES being outside.  Hudson knows when the word outside is said and will run to the nearest door.  He hunts bugs.... grabs rocks.... puts his hands in the dirt.  Hudson is all boy. It freaks me out but I surprisingly was catching some of the bugs along with him(SHOCK!)

 One of the best "play pens" in the world is our tiny little deck.  He sits for HOURS during the day out there.  With his "ca"(car)

 If we're not out on the deck we're riding our bike to play at the park near our house.  We even attempted to find a different park within riding distance....it let to no where. Oh well, I guess the short bike ride is fine.

 Brushing his "te" is another thing he really likes doing. I won't complain.  It may not be the best job but as long as he cooperates and lets me help for a little while we're good!

However, I complained about him getting sick on our vacation.  Little did I know it would prepare me for the saddest night we've had.  He woke up with a 103 temp. at 2 am.  It was devastating. And since then we've both still had the sickies.  One day they'll go away!

 Overall, I believe I have the happiest kid in the world.  He's entertaining, sweet, and loveable. I tried to post a video of him saying his favorite saying "Good girl"  But it wouldn't work.  He talks so much these days.  His newest words are hello and Chris. I can't even keep track of how many words he knows....he has A LOT! Guess he's a chatty like his mama.

Boston Family Vacation 2012

This all started a couple months back, Dad and Kelsi have a conversation.  It led to Kelsi planning an entire family vacation to fulfill my dad's want of going to Bryce Canyon. The family rented a little (and by little I mean not little at all, it sleeps 20 or something) cabin in Duck Village (?) near Panguitch Lake.

Thankfully, as I've said before, I have a dream child who was a CHAMP on the  5-6 hour drive.  He didn't even really sleep and wasn't really grumpy in the slightest.  He just talked to his dad on his phone, learned to "snap" his fingers, and ate food.

Kelsi, Chris and the two of us were the first ones there.  It was nice to do some relaxing right when we get there before the family fun began. The cabin was really nice.  Much better layout than the past cabins we've rented. Best part of the cabin was it's creek in the backyard, the hammocks on the back porch, and the wi-fi (how sad that I am that kind of girl now)

Day 2 was a near nightmare.  I'm not going to sugar coat it.  It was probably the most frustrating day I've had with Hudson ever.  The plan was Bryce Canyon- which is about an hour away from the cabin- Holy Smokes! Let me back track a little, before we left Logan, Hudson definitely had some sniffles.  I didn't think anything of it because I can see he is getting 4 (yes 4) new teeth, 2 of which are molars.  He had a runny nose then so why should I have worried over that.  Oh, he was MISERABLE.  The poor boy had a cold and I was completely helpless- I didn't drive there, there was no grocery store to buy cold medicine at- He seriously screamed (not exaggerating) for a good chunk of the morning.  Can you see in our faces that we're not ok? "Smile damnit" is what my face is saying to me.

I am actually glad I am a stubborn, not wanting to miss any of the action kind of gal because I finally strapped him the baby-to-go and all seemed to be well. If I had left, I wouldn't have been able to hike Bryce Canyon (with that extra 22 lbs) and see it.  He took a good snooze and all was well later that afternoon. 

 Day 3 was MUCH better.  My parents and I (with Hudson, just assume if I say I, I really mean the two of us) took a good walk and he took a long nap (we're still a week later thrown off of our napping schedule) and boy, that Huddy boy's attitude is much better with some sleep.

 Truth be told, I was a lazy son of a gun that day.  HA! It's vacation right?  At one point Audrey stayed back with Hudson and I at the cabin.  I think Hudson really loves having another kid to play with.  Besides when on Wednesday when he's at the babysitters, he doesn't get to see kids.  Do you see that face? He was so happy.  He even kept trying to kiss her.  But she was "too busy" for that.

 Day 4- We went bright and early to Cedar Breaks for a hike.  I don't really constitute what we did as a hike.  But it was beautiful and the girl ate a few too many Red Vines over the course of the trip so a walk did me some good.

 Later that afternoon we stopped by an animal museum.  I don't know what I was picturing, but what I saw wasn't it.  That was some ANIMALS.  Hudson loved it.  He loves saying what animals say right now- all of which say moo or rawr.

I took a lot of pictures for Daren because I felt that was something he would have loved to see.  I just knew you wouldn't want to see them so I cut it down to a few that I thought were kind of awesome.

 Hudson got to feed the deer.  He struggled with it but once they finally licked the corn out of his hand he squealed! And was done.  He definitely loved it.  But wanted to just "moo" with them rather than feed them.

 After that adventure, we headed to Mossy something or other.  It was a waterfall.  The trail was closed but some family members (not me) went off and made it to the waterfall.  It was getting super hot at that point to me.  I let Hudson go into the little stream for a second.  Bad idea, that boy is a fish I tell you. He was upset to not get back in.

 Day 5 was literally spent all day in the car. You would think with the lack of sleep Hudson got he'd want to sleep in the car.  Wrong!  I think Hudson and I are done with car trips for awhile.  Except, I do have to admit some of the best times were definitely had in the car- Cry Baby gum chewing, being stuck while they were herding their sheep, Atomic Fire Balls,  singing many great songs but mainly Coming to America.

And for your viewing pleasure, a video of my darling boy.  It really doesn't do it justice.  He loves electronics  and turning them on.  There was a cd player at the cabin with a delightful cd already in it.  It was a band (I had to do my research I didn't even know if it was just a mix that someone had named this) called Alter Bridge.  Oh my laws, my child loves heavy metal apparently.  Who doesn't love a good early morning dance party.  He was doing a bunch before I was able to hurry and grab my camera.