Hudson (4) and Jack (18 mo)

 Here are a few pictures taken of the boys a few weeks ago by Tammy Pence (www.tammypence.com). We met at the park and the boys were way more interested in chasing geese and playing then they were in sitting for the camera, but she was so patient with them and got these shots that certainly capture their personality right now!

Summer is here!

 Summer officially started after we returned from our trip to Florida and we have been enjoying lots of play time! 

The boys constantly play on our sunporch and lately Hudson has been calling it his "office" and will drag Jack out there and tell him they have lots of work to do! Work, meaning painting of course.

 We took a trip to Deanna Rose with Max and Ainsley. Luckily we had lots of map readers so we knew where to go.

Despite a million attempts, we couldn't get them all looking at the camera.  But at least they are all sitting still for a moment!

 The boys that are so cute they get away with everything.

 Jack thought it was hilarious to spray Hudson with a water bottle. Finally he has some revenge around here!

 Sweet little boy. Here is is carrying my mop around outside.

Despite all of his toys, he picks a vacuum attachment and a watering can to play with! 

Jack is 19 months!

 Jack and his bud Tanner. They sit together....

 and they eat together. 

 Jack's strange food choices continue from Tanner's dog food, right to my southwest chicken salad. Jack's newest obsession is sauted mushrooms. I had never thought to serve a kid this, but he was in the backpack while I was making chicken marsala and ate so many out of the skillet that I had to make another batch so now he eats them nearly every morning in a spinach omelet.

Jack is also obsessed with animals. In addition to Tanner, he loves to watch the dogs across the street and his favorite movie is a video of animals at the San Diego Zoo. He will point to the TV and ask for "amals". He is talking more and more each day and starting to combine words too. His favorite combination is "one more" and he holds up his finger. He has also mastered his pig "oink" which I need to get on video! Hudson loves to show off his talent for anyone in public by saying, "Jack, make your pig sound!" Jack's favorite book he has memorized, "Moo, Baa, La La La". His other new saying is "pee-ewe" when he smells his feet. He cracks us up constantly. If Hudson takes something from him, which happens pretty often around here, he has now started to shoot him with a "Buzz laser". Despite the sibling rivalry, the boys really play together often. Hudson always misses him when he is sleeping and Jack looks for Hudson when he is at school.

Ainsley and Max's birthday party

We had a super fun morning at Jumping Jax this morning to celebrate Ainsley's fourth birthday and Max's second birthday. Hudson didn't stop running the whole time and Jack loved the big slides.  

Hudson and some new BFF's. Ainsley is on the right and grinned all morning long.

Jack consumed two pieces of pizza, a cupcake and a  piece of cookie cake. 

Hudson obviously had fun with the amount of sweat dripping down his face. 

The cute birthday boy. He loved his cupcake and immediately starting signing for "more" when it was done with a big grin. I don't know how he ever gets told no with that cute grin he has!

They had a great time at the party and when they got home, Hudson put his Toy Story tattoo on him and Jack. Jack loves it. Nothing like getting your first tattoo at 18 months;)

Jack's 18 month checkup

Sam came for a quick visit from CA this week and we were so excited! Hudson couldn't wait to see her and Jack quickly warmed up to her. She was here for her college graduation so we didn't get to see her much, but look forward to seeing her in Florida next week.

Last week it was 90 and this weekend it has been pretty chilly. Crazy midwest weather.

These are the most popular toys around so we bought a second. It was a great $2 spent. 

Jack had his 18 month checkup this week and did so well. He weighs 26 lbs (about 50th percent) and 32 inches (35th percent). This shows how busy this guy is as he had been at the tip top of the chart prior to walking! He got two shots and got his blood drawn and did so great. He hardly reacted for the shots and when he had his blood drawn, he looked up at the lab techs with a curled under lip but held still the whole time. As soon he was done, he grabbed Mickey and ran out of there waving and saying "buh-bye." It was pretty cute.

He is talking so much these days and repeating many sounds. His new favorite word is "pee" and lets us know when he needs a new diaper. He also uses this to point out where his brother goes potty outside. He says "waw-waw" for water, choo-choo and many others.

We have a busy week ahead as Hudson has his last week of school and we leave for Florida on Saturday. Hudson has a countdown for the trip and is so excited!

Mother's Day weekend

We started off Mother's Day weekend with a Mother's Day Tea party at Hudson's preschool. It was so cute. The kids helped fancy up with room with flowers and decorations and they each came out with a painted flowerpot. They were pretty cute. Hudson told Daddy he couldn't go because they didn't have any Diet Coke :). On his card he made for me at school, he said he likes watching TV and movies with me the most. HA! I am not sure if I should take that as a compliment or not but it did make me laugh. We did do a lot of that last week when both boys were sick.

On Sunday, Hudson picked out a new Nook for me "just like Uncle Evan's" complete with a purple cover". He was pretty excited about it and already is searching for new apps and books. I am glad he knows how to work it:).

Then we met Nana at the Kansas City Zoo! I am not sure if it really deserves to be called a zoo, more like a park. We spent hours there walking and pretty much only saw kangaroos and deer. Since when are deer enclosed at zoo's? We did ride the train ride though and the boys enjoyed that. From the tram, we did see an elephant which made Jack super happy. Here are a few photos from the day.

Hudson's Spring Program

Here are a few photos before we went to Hudson's spring preschool program this past week. 

 

Both boys doing the "cute face"

The neighbor's cat was spotted! They are obsessed with the neighbor's cats and  now Hudson asks for a cat nearly every day. Although today, I asked him while we were at the vet if he wanted a puppy and he told me"no", he wanted a baby. And then he clarified not a baby doggy, but a baby girl because he has a baby brother named Jack already. HA. Sorry, Hudson, no cats and no babies any time soon :).

Hudson and his preschool singing songs about rainbows. I'd have more pictures but Jack insisted on holding my camera during the show and saying "cheese" while he attempted to take some pictures. I didn't dare take it back as it kept him still and quiet for the show.

Getting his end of the year certificate from his teachers Mrs. Simons and Mrs. Green