First days of spring

The past two days we've spent lots of time outside enjoying the beautiful spring weather!  Aside from the pollen, it has been absolutely perfect.  Thankfully, the pollen doesn't bother us, so we are soaking up these warm days.

We've done lots of swinging...

Picnics and play time with friends...

And, yesterday our play group celebrated the first day of spring with some frozen yogurt!

I have mentioned it before, but I just love this warm weather we are having and the kids do, too!  It's been so nice to be able to play outside, take long walks/runs, and soak up the sunshine.  I'm sure it will cool off a little before it gets warm for good, but that will be just fine with Harper, who is asking me everyday when she'll get to wear her jeans again.  Speaking of Harper, she is my funny little copycat.  She likes doing everything I do, including putting on her deodorant in the morning. Ha!

Weekend recap (a few days late)

Our weekend started out on Friday night when the girls set up the leprechaun traps we had made that afternoon.  Unfortunately, they didn't catch one this year, but the leprechauns did leave them some chocolate gold coins hid around the house and some green milk, so they were excited about that.

Next it was off to Handley's soccer pictures and her second soccer game.  Turns out we were playing a really advanced and intense team.  I think the score was probably 400 to 0...it was that bad.  The kids didn't really know any better, but it sure was painful for the parents to watch.  The worst part of it was that Handley got nailed in the face with a ball someone had kicked during the game.  This only came after one of her little girl friends got kicked in the face with it twice!  Handley cried and sat on the side for just a minute, but then she was right back out there, so we were proud of her.

That evening we had a couple's shower to go to, so Gigi and Papa came over to babysit.  After the shower we stopped by the house so I could put Hudson to bed and then we went out to dinner with our friends Jen and Justen.  It was a busy day, but tons of fun.

Sunday I had a baby shower to attend and Robby to the kids to the park to play, feed the ducks, and have a picnic.  When I got home I spent the afternoon switching the kids closets for their spring/summer clothes and that night we had dinner club at Bryce and Sarah's.  We always enjoy the company of our friends, so it was lots of fun and because it was so nice we got to dine outdoors.  Jen snapped these pictures of Hudson and I, and I just love them because it captures how much I love him. :-)

Hudson - 8 months

Hudson is 8 months old today!  I feel like this past month he has really changed and grown up so quickly.  He still isn't crawling and really doesn't seem to have any interest in it.  I've tried putting him on all fours a few times and he just cries. Ha!  In the past two days he has become quite the roller though.  If he's sitting down he stays sitting, but if he is on his back, he will roll all over the place.

These pictures were taken tonight after his bath. He was rolling around his room and in the last one you can see he made it across the room and would have kept going, except that he ran into his chair. :-)

He is so sweet and so good.  We all fall in love with him more and more each day and I could not have asked for a better baby.  I am wishing I could just freeze time right now!

At 8 months Hudson:

• is sleeping a million times better!  He goes to bed around 7:30 PM and the past two days I've had to wake him around 7:45/8 AM.  He does usually wake once a night, but it's nothing like what he was doing before.  
• takes two naps a day.
• gets so excited when it's time to eat and especially when he sees his baby food jars.
• still prefers baby food, but now eats some finger foods, too. 
• is picky about food textures.
• has become quite attached to his pacifier.  He generally only gets it in the car or when he is getting ready for nap or bed, but as soon as he sees it he will grab it and stick it in his mouth.  
• acts shy when people talk to him.  He will smile, but then quickly "hides" his head in my chest. 
• loves rolling around and does it from side to side now. 
• usually sleeps on his side or stomach. 
• definitely has a favorite toy (a small maraca that I keep in the car) and gets so excited when I give it to him. 
• is a cuddler and loves to give hugs.  
• has the most squish-able checks and legs. :-)
• loves his big sisters and is adored by them.  He's constantly smiling at them an in most of these pictures he was cracking up at Handley dancing around for him. 

Speaking of his big sisters, they are so silly.  This evening Handley transformed herself into a super hero with her blanket tied around her shoulders and a shoe box on her head.  She kept singing "Super Hero Handley, here to save the day, flying to all the nations, I'm going to save the day!"  Not quite sure where she comes up with all this stuff, but I love her imagination.  

"saving" Harper 

Donuts with Dad

Today was Donuts with Dad at pre-school and the girls have been looking forward to this day all year long.  This morning they were so excited to get dressed, put on their special jewelry that Robby had brought them home from his last trip, and head off to school.

They made some really cute artwork and gifts to give the dads.  Handley's class also made ties for the dads to wear (attached on their shirts with tape).  Check out her answers...so cute!

Robby even got to go to chapel with Handley's class, something she was thrilled about.  Harper, on the other hand, was not thrilled when it was time for Robby to leave.  Apparently she had a major meltdown and was sobbing because she wanted him to come on the playground with her (something that wasn't allowed).  Robby had told me she was really crying and upset when he left and again when he saw her on the playground.  Harper cries very easily though so it didn't surprise me.  I guess it did shock her teachers though because when I picked her up Mrs. Deborah was telling me that it took her forever to calm down and that of all the kids, Harper was the last one she ever would have expected to get upset like that.

While the girls were off having donuts with Robby, Hudson and I ran some errands and got some things marked off the to-do list.  He is such a sweet little shopping partner and so good.  I just love him to pieces!!!

Meet Pepe

Pepe (pronounced Pep-ay) is the class mascot from Handley's class.  Each student gets to bring him home for a few days.  During this time the kids are supposed to take him places and have the parents document what they do together with pictures.  Before taking him back to school, each family writes up a little report to tell about what Pepe did at your house.  It's supposed to be in the kids' words and parents are encouraged to dictate what they say.  There is a notebook that all of the reports go in and we had fun reading all about Pepe's adventures with Handley's classmates.

Handley got to bring him home once before in the fall, but had been waiting and waiting for her name to be drawn to bring him home a second time.  Friday was her lucky day.  Below is a copy of what her report said, which was mostly in her own words.

On Friday afternoon, Pepe and I had a rest on the couch.  

 We watched Clifford. Then we played outside and he rode in Hudson’s car.  He thought that was really fun.

Next it was dinner time.  Pepe ate a good dinner with me and then was ready for bed.  He slept in my American Girl doll bed in my room.  

Saturday morning we had our garage sale.  Pepe helped out with the sale and then we went to my first soccer game.  He cheered for me and that helped me to score a goal!!!  

When we got home, we helped with the garage sale again and he even got to meet my Uncle Trey and Aunt Stefanie.  He thought they were fun.  

After that busy day, Pepe was sleepy, so it was off to bed for him.  

On Sunday he slept in while we went to church and then we played outside again.  Pepe got to swing and he loved swinging.  

Just before bed, he got introduced to something I love to do...body slams.  Body slams are when you throw somebody on the couch or bed.  I threw Pepe on the couch and he thought it was VERY fun. 

I would love for Pepe to come back to my house again!

Handley's first soccer game

Today was a big day.  Not only was it Handley's first soccer game, but it was also our neighborhood garage sale.  My friend, Christy, and I had planned and organized it and we had about 25 families selling and it was insane!  We had planned to begin at 8 AM, but before we could even open up the garage doors we had people pushing their way in.  For at least 2 hours straight we had a sea of people swarming our house.  We were thrilled though because we got rid of a lot of things and made some money, too.  It was a win/win.  The only bad part of the garage sale was that today was Handley's first soccer game and that meant one of us had to miss it.  She really wanted Robby to see her game, so I stayed at home with Hudson to manage the sale.  He ended up taking a 4 hour nap (!!!!) so my job was pretty easy.

Robby said she did great at the game and had so much fun.  When she got home she ran up and told me she scored a goal!!!!  I couldn't believe it, but was so happy that she did so well.  I really wasn't sure how this whole soccer thing would go, but she seems to be loving it and was incredibly proud of herself today.  I can't wait to see her play next week.

After looking back through the pictures Robby took I noticed two things.  She always seemed to be right in the middle of the pack and wasn't afraid to go after the ball.

I also noticed that she has a really "fancy" kick and gets her whole body into it and does something crazy with her arm.  Check out her form. :-)

Harper told me she cheered really loud for Handley and gave her a big hug during her water break.  Handley takes water break very seriously.  When my parents were here she was telling them all about soccer and told my mom, "There is this thing at soccer called 'water break' and you get to get to stop and get a drink." Ha!

Trey and Stefanie stopped by this afternoon to check out our garage sale and Handley introduced them to her class mascot, Pepe.  More on him tomorrow. :-) Stefanie was so sweet to bring the girls a little treat bag filled with stick-on earrings, glitter nail polish and candy.

Wearing 'apris' and 'waterproofs'

Yesterday the high was 73 degrees.  In my book, that makes it warm enough to bust out some of the spring clothes.  The girls were thrilled to get to show a little skin and wear "nothing on their arms."  We opted for capris (or "apris" as Harper calls them) since it would be chilly in the morning.  They were also excited about sporting their new shoes.  I explained to Handley when we were buying them that they are waterproof and would be great to wear at the lake, for the playground, etc. so she now calls them her "waterproofs." 

While I love seeing my girls in sweet spring clothes, I think I got most excited about seeing my baby boy in shorts.  Those legs are something else!  It's obvious he isn't missing any meals. :-) 

I'm looking forward to the warm weather coming and staying around.  Next week it looks like the temperatures will be in the 70's all week.  That might just be enough to make me pack away winter stuff and switch all their closets for spring. 

Also, I just wanted to give one last reminder about voting for us.  You can vote through this weekend and if you have just a few seconds we would really appreciate it!  The link is below.  Just click the link, check the box beside our picture and click vote at the bottom of the page.  Thank you! 

http://blackdressredwagon.com/2012/03/blackdress/12048/