Some Pre-Holiday photos

It has been a FUN month of December. Hudson is especially enjoying all of the holiday festivities. He has had so much fun shopping for gifts and even got to spend an afternoon with Nana picking out presents for his family. 

At the Brookside tree lighting. 

Making cookies

Making marshmallow snowmen for his friends and class.

Gingerbread houses

The boys have been playing so much together which has been so fun to watch. Hudson (most of the time!) is so sweet with Jack. Today they played in Jack's crib for the longest time while Jack was supposed to be sleeping! Here they are trying to break with tools in the laundry room. The door stays closed most of the time as Jack loves to play in the dog water.

"Cooking" on the floor 

We hope everyone is having a wonderful week before Christmas!

The Santa visit

All week long, since we didn't see Santa at Crown Center last weekend, Hudson has been asking to go see Santa. So instead of going trying to brave the crowds this weekend, we decided to go to the Santa at the local outdoor mall. Hudson is all geared up and ready to tell him Merry Christmas and tell him what he and Jack want for Christmas. There is no line there so we are sitting in the waiting area when Santa walks through the curtain to come get us. This is no tiny Santa. He is well over 6 feet tall. Hudson and Jack are playing near the wall in some empty cubbies. Jack just turns to him and grins and giggles which totally shocked us. I wish I had taken some pictures at this point. His face was priceless. Jack is obsessed with that Mickey Mouse Dancing toy that is in the stores now and I pretty sure he thought it was a close relative. Hudson became the most shy I had ever seen and hides.....in John's coat, under my legs, and in the wall. Santa leads us to his chair. Hudson won't come out of hiding and then Jack realizes he is not a character on TV and is clinging onto me for dear life (which isn't all that abnormal for Jack:)). After probably fifteen a few minutes, this is the photo we get. Then Hudson begins whispering for me to tell Santa all that he wants for Christmas so we did and then we left. On our way out though, Hudson stopped us and became so worried that we didn't tell him what Jack wanted. So sweet. I assured him I told him while he was hiding;). A memorable Santa visit indeed.

Preschool Christmas program and party

This week was a fun week of celebrating Christmas in Hudson's 3 year old preschool class with their Christmas party one day and their program the other day. 

The little guys enjoying snack. Their conversations with one another were so funny to listen too. One little girl was excited that she no longer had to stay in her room for quiet time but could come downstairs. The other little girl responded that she had an older brother that is so big because he is 5 1/2. CUTE!

We made some marshmellow snowman like these for the kids to take home. I got this idea and the one below from my crafty friend Nicole.

 The kids also took home Reindeer Food.

 For the craft, they made Santa's with their handprint. 

 Playing musical chairs. This little girl figured out really quickly she couldn't be out if she didn't walk around! 

 Story time. The kids were so curious as to which mommy's were there. They were so funny.

 And here are some quick photos from the Christmas program. I hope to get some video uploaded one of these days too because it was pretty cute to listen to these little voices sing.

Hudson spent a good half of the program looking for me with his "binoculars"! I was seated toward that back because I had Jack asleep in the stroller and I just couldn't get his attention. At another point, he had his finger UP HIS NOSE! He was so THAT kid! He wasn't the only one though! It sure was a cute little show though and the kids had so much fun. Hudson sings the songs from the show all the time.

Christmas at Crown Center

This past weekend, we headed down to Crown Center for all of the Christmas festivities and then walked over to Union Station to see the model trains and ride the train. It was a fun afternoon! We attempted to see Santa but the line was SO long that we didn't wait. Hudson was pretty bummed and insisted it would be ok to wait. We hope to see him soon!

Nana met us for lunch and Jack was so excited to see her after her trip to Santa Fe, that he greeted her with a huge hug!



 We didn't let Jack ride the train as he climbs out of everything right now but he enjoyed watching Hudson ride it and clapped each time he saw him come around the Xmas tree! For not even walking yet, Jack sure is a master climber and even climbs out of his harness in his high chair which as become a challenge! We didn't even use the harness with Hudson yet Jack escapes it.

 Hudson grinned ear to ear the whole time he rode that train.

 The boys loved watching the incredible model train display.

This is the look he is giving me as he throws the blocks on the floor! TROUBLE! He knows how to turn the charm on though with his big hugs and spontaneous kisses which makes up for it;).

Then Jack decides to stand up on the chair and make it rock back and forth. I wonder how many ER visits we will be making with this child!

The start of Christmas....

Thanksgiving 2010

We had a great time hosting Thanksgiving this year and enjoyed celebrating it at home. We have so much to be thankful for and enjoyed visiting with some special family and friends throughout the weekend.

Making turkey placemats for everyone with Aunt Sam



Jack loves eating with a fork but already showing his independence by insisting on poking the food himself. He will take it off if you do it for him!



Helping Daddy get the Turkey ready.

Checking on the turkey in the oven. He continues his obsession with oven mitts!

Hudson has discovered making faces at the camera now.

A preview of family photos.....