Hudson's 5th birthday party

We celebrated Hudson's birthday "week" a little early this year since it fell over spring break. 

Nana made him these awesome cookies to take to school. He had so much fun being the birthday boy and special helper at school. 

Then this past Saturday we had a very small group of kids over for a little party. This was our first party where it was optional for parents to stay. Since he was turning 5 we told him he could invite 5 friends and that turned out to be a pretty good number. 

He told me he wanted to decorate cakes together so we did. Not quite as cute as they were on the box but lucky those kids 5 and under didn't mind. 

We set up a little racetrack from tape and they loved it. (idea from pinterest.com)

Hudson requested his favorite foods, Costco pizza and fruit. 

Then the kids made some Lightning McQueens.

They zoomed around the house doing laps. 

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Then they zoomed outside. We were so lucky to have a beautiful day outside. It was a fun day!

The gang minus Mason who was getting help after a fall. Clayton, Gage, Jack, Max, Ainsley and Hudson. 

The Scheck's visit

The Scheck family came through for a quick stop on their way from North Carolina back to Denver. They were visiting over their spring break and plan on moving there later this spring. We are excited to have family on another coast to go visit!

The cousins had so much fun together. We all went to Cabela's on a rainy day. 

They fed and fed the fish till we all were out of quarters. 

"Mommy, I go in there? Will they get me?"

They loved the animals, especially the animals from "Madagascar". 

Making sure they ordered the same thing at lunch

After lunch we headed to Power Play, a big arcade we had never been to and they had a blast. 

Jack was barely high enough for this swing and we were worried he might get scared on there as it went pretty fast. He grinned the whole time. 

Next they rode this ride that whips around and he never stopped laughing. 

The ticket collector

Paradise Park

We spent the morning at Paradise Park and had so much fun. We hadn't been there since Hudson as about 2 and they loved it. 

Shopping at "Hyvee"

Of course Jack loved the face painting area

Making Dr Suess hats out of cookies, marshmallows and icing.

Hudson did a great job assembling his hat

Jack ate the cookie before the demo started:)

February random's

Hudson's favorite new shirt.  

A yellow picture of Jack eating his new favorite breakfast - a veggie and egg breakfast burrito.

Nana taught Jack how to make sock puppets.

The boys got new umbrellas and couldn't wait to use them! Around Valentine's Day, Hudson had been asking for days to go to the "cheese dip restaurant". We had been battling some horrible colds with fevers that we passed onto each other for about a week. Finally one night after John got home from work, we made it and he was so happy!

More beautiful days this month! We met Nana at the park for lunch one day.

Helping Daddy cook

The boys making some art with window markers.

We went to our friend Ryan's 3rd birthday party at a local indoor pool and we had such a great time. John had to head back to New York this week for work and I took the boys alone so I didn't get any pictures swimming but here a few eating cake! Jack was a NUT swimming and didn't want any assistance in the water. He loved putting his head back in the water. Hudson loved the wave pool and seems to have an interest in swimming on his own so we need to get back into some lessons!

When we left the pool, as soon as we got in the car, Jack said "I really sure do like the swimming pool !".  This "really sure do" has become a favorite phrase of his. He is full of phrases these days. Here are a few more:
- When he walks into a room he yells with his hands in the air, "Surprise. Happy Birthday!"
- At the gym or church nursery, the workers say he will go around saying "Hey Mommy, come back here!"
- When I pick him up at the gym, he greets me with "Hi Mommy! I missed you!"
- If he he hears something he will put his hands on his ears and say "I hear sometin (something)".

Hudson was really sweet walking into church the other day and asked if we could drop him off first before Jack. I asked him why and he told me because it makes him sad when he hears Jack cry. Jack sometimes cries for a few minutes at church. He sure loves his little brother.

They love this dry erase easel....so much that we have to divide it in half.