our little musician

If you haven't had a good laugh yet today, this may be it.  Yesterday we spent most of the day at Roy's parents home.  We worshipped together in the morning, enjoyed a delicious meal together (thanks Sue), celebrated Ben and Jenna's "baby announcement" (yes, I'm going to be an aunt in October), and Hudson took an awesome nap in the afternoon.  If that's not enough, Hudson also got to try out Grandma Sue's organ.  Papa Ed had this great idea to keep Hudson distracted as we were waiting for dinner to be ready.  He is already making beautiful music at only 15 months (almost) of age.  Since both of Hudson's grandma's can play the organ we figured we better get him started early.  I'm still chuckling about this, 24 hours later.  Hopefully you enjoy it too.        

I can't quite reach the pedals, but if I keep growing at this rate I should be able to in a few months.  

 I'm ready to begin my composition.  Are you listening?  

Grandma says I must have good posture and both hands on the keys.  

I'm doing pretty well don't you think?!  

And I'm stretching for those high notes too.

Grammy B. and Grandma Sue this ones for you....

randomness

Here is a collection of very random pictures taken during the past 2 weeks.  I couldn't come up with a more comprehensive description of them besides "randomness."  Enjoy!  

Hudson's favorite book these days...Orange, Pear, Apple, Bear.  He will read it 3 or more times in a row and will go get it from the book basket and bring it to me.  

Daddy and Hudson playing on his car.  

The pots are still entertaining, especially when you can spend 15 minutes putting your socks in and out of them.  

Mommy and Hudson catching a picture together before our friends arrived for small group on Tues. night.  

We are trying to encourage Hudson to use a spoon more often.  He isn't very interested because he can be a lot more efficient with his hands.  Last night after having dinner on the deck he wanted to walk around the backyard, holding on to his spoon.  He always wants to be holding something in his hands.    

Going for a wagon ride with Afifa and Farah on Wednesday night.  

Mommy is so silly looking with her glasses.   

Hudson has just learned how to "blow a kiss," thanks to the good-bye song they sing at music class.    

red wagon

Recently Hudson got a red wagon.  It was a baby gift given from his Great Grandma Dorothy.  Since then she has passed on, which makes the gift even that much more special to us.  We waited to purchase the wagon until this spring since he is now old enough to enjoy it.  In its first few weeks at our house the red wagon has gotten LOTS of trips around the block.  Some days I think we go around the block 5 times or more.  If I say, "Hudson, you want to go for a ride in your wagon?" he goes and walks right towards it and starts climbing inside.  If you ever find yourself wondering, what is Hudson doing?  Chances are he may be riding in his wagon.  There are 2 seats in the wagon so he enjoys having a buddy in his passenger seat too, small passengers that is.  :)  All of the grandparents have joined in the fun of giving Hudson wagon rides too (Gpa Rog pictured here).  Thanks GG Dorothy for the wagon and all its fun rides.  Wish you could see how much I LOVE it! :)         

i created :: mini sweet potato muffins

A friend of mine (thanks Emily) told me about this recipe on http://weelicious.com.  I instantly knew it would be perfect to try with Hudson.  I'm always looking for new ideas for snacks or a quick "side" to do with his lunch or dinner.  Plus, this muffin is filled with a vegetable, so it can't get much better than that.  I adapted the recipe just a bit to make it even healthier for Hudson.  The little man has been devouring the mini muffins ever since.  They freeze well, so its convenient to just pull one or two out at a time. 

 

Mini Sweet Potato Muffins

1 cup whole wheat flour (original recipe called for all purpose flour)

1 cup old fashioned oats

2 T brown sugar (original recipe called for 1/3 cup)

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

pinch of salt (original recipe called for 1/2 tsp)

1 tsp cinnamon

2 large eggs, whisked

1 cup sweet potato puree, cooked

1/2 cup whole milk (I used whole milk because that is what Hudson drinks)

1/4 cup applesauce (original recipe called for canola oil)

1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place the first 7 ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine.  In a separate bowl whisk the remaining ingredients.  Slowly combine the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients just until they are combined (be careful not to over mix the batter).  Place 1 T of batter in each cup of greased mini muffin tin and bake for 15 minutes.  

puppy days

Last weekend (Easter weekend) we puppy sat.  Yes, you heard that right!  We had a puppy in our house for 3 nights and 4 days.  Shocking news coming from me isn't it?!  My cousin Madison was in a pinch and needed someone to care for her dog over the weekend when they were out of town.  After trying to help her figure out alternative options, we consented to having puppy Nutmeg for the weekend.  Let me make one thing clear, its not that I don't like dogs or I'm one of those moms/wives who never wants to have a dog, I'm just an outside dog kind of person.  Dogs need room to run, play, and explore.  Plus, I don't like the pet hair in my house.  With all that being said, I consented to taking Nutmeg, not only for helping Madison out, but also because I knew after the puppy left Hudson was too young to ask for a dog of his own.  :)  I also knew that Nutmeg was well behaved, slept a lot, and didn't have any accidents.  Now that I can handle!  

Our weekend was great!  In fact, on Monday morning I kind of missed having her around.  Hudson adored Nutmeg and talked to her in his sweet baby voice and pet her often.  He liked to pick up her water bowl and watch the water go all over the floor.  Mommy learned quickly to put the bowl up on the counter when Hudson was around.  :)  One afternoon while Hudson was playing he brought Nutmeg his stuffed animal and set it in her bed so she could play with it too.  How sweet!  We took Nutmeg for walks/run everyday and she did awesome.  Honestly, I wasn't a big fan of picking up her puppy poo but I finally did it myself by the 3rd day.  Yeah!  As our neighbors saw us out with a dog they were surprised.  I quickly told them it wasn't our dog, and we have no plans to get a dog, we were just puppy sitting.  :)  

Now I'm not planning to have a side job of puppy sitting anytime soon, but I would be happy to care for Nutmeg another time down the road.  Plus, we were given a Pizza Ranch gift card as a thank you gift (a big bonus in Roy's mind).  :)  I actually grew to really like this sweet little puppy dog.  Here are a few pictures...        

easter in photos

Hudson's Easter basket...

I put Cheerios and raisins in the eggs.  No candy for this little guy (yet).  

 We hosted both of our parents for dinner and GG Ells was here too.  

My mom had gotten Hudson an Easter basket and had filled some eggs.  We set the eggs around in the grass in our backyard.  Easy to see, not hidden.  And with the help of everyone, his parents and grandparents alike, Hudson was successful in finding all the eggs.  Good job buddy!    

 

And did I mention this precious little outfit?  It was a gift from Grammy B.  What a handsome little man!

Grandparents taking in the fun.

And a family photo to close out the post.  Happy Easter!    

i created :: easter cookie treats

So this is my 2nd Easter post, but not the one that the grandparents are anticipating.  That post is coming soon, I promise.  :)  Yet, this post includes something creative I wanted to share.  I love to bake.  These days it seems as if 3 times a week I am baking something.  We have started buying many of the baking essentials (brown sugar, flour, sugar, chocolate chips) at Costco because of the large quantity they offer.  Yet, my philosophy of baking is to bake and give most of it, if not all of it, away.  :)  There is no way that Roy and I can or should consume all of the treats I bake.  So last week I made a double batch of these Peanut Butter White Chocolate Chip Cookies (recipe found on www.espressoandcream.com) to share with friends and family alike during the Easter week and weekend.  They are filled with flavor and deliciousness.  I used left over cookie bags from our wedding, tied them up with flower ribbon I had left over from my classroom, and made the little Easter stickers in less then 5 minutes with the supplies I had in my create corner.  I gave several out at Bible Study on Tues. morning, shared with neighbors and friends throughout the week, and added them to the Easter table for dinner yesterday to share with family.  

    

we created :: resurrection eggs

In honor of today, Good Friday, I thought it would be appropriate to do an "Easter type post."  Roy, Hudson, and I are a part of a Global Life Group.  We meet at our home on Sunday evenings.  The individuals in the group have all taken the Perspectives of the World Christian Movement course (Roy and I took it in 2008) and have a heart for the world, missions, and internationals.  This past week when we met we made Resurrection Eggs.  Each of us made a couple of sets, to give away to some of our international friends and provide a means of sharing the Easter story with them.  In addition to the 2 sets I made for our international friends, I also put together (or helped children put together) another 8 sets.  I think they are a great hands-on tool to teach someone of any age the Easter story.  To make Resurrection Eggs you just take 12 empty plastic eggs and number them 1-12 with a permanent marker.  Collect the items needed (shown below) and print out the Bible verses to go with them (shown below).  Put in an Easter basket, share with a friend, or keep for yourself.  :)  You can find lots of different versions online, but I used this particular one because I liked the scripture verses that went with it.  You can also purchase them at a Christian book store, but are super easy and inexpensive to make.  Easter is still 2 days away, so you have time to make yourself (or someone special you know) a set.    

Here is our Global Life Group (split between two pictures so everyone is included) with our finished baskets.  

RESURRECTION EGGS

#1  - Bread

Matthew 26:26  While they were eating, Jesus took bread,
 gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”  

#2 - Coin

Matthew 26:14-15  Then one of the Twelve – the one called Judas Iscariot – went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?“  So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. 

#3  - Purple Cloth

Mark 15:17  Then they put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns  and set it on him. 

#4  - Thorns

Matthew 27:29  …and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head.  They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him.  “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 

#5  - Rope

Mark 15:15  Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barrabbas to them.  He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. 

#6  - Cross

John 19: 17-18  Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).  Here they crucified him, and with him two others – one on each side and Jesus in the middle. 

#7  - Nail

John 20:25  So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.”  But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” 

#8  - Sign

Luke 23:38  There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 

#9  - Sponge

Matthew 27:48  Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge.  He filled it with whine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 

#10  - Spear

John 19:34  Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 

#11  - Rock

Matthew 27:59-60  Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock.  He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 

#12 - Nothing

Matthew 28:6  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.  Come and see the place where he lay.    

14 months

Yesterday (April 3) Hudson turned 14 months.  What a big boy!  These days it seems like I can't give him enough hugs and kisses and tell him enough times that I love him with all my heart. :)  Something I say on a daily basis is..."he is becoming such a smart boy."  Its completely amazing to me to see him putting things together, making new discoveries, following directions, saying new words, and trying new things.  I am seeing more of his personality come out too, most of that being positive.  :)  A few highlights and accomplishments from the last month are...

...walking around the block for exercise

...saying "shoes"  

...helping Mommy put things in the garbage can

...having my first grilled cheese sandwich (Mommy's favorite one to mention of the long list of new foods I have tried)

...making sure all of the doors in the house (cupboard, bathroom, storm) are always closed

...walking vigorously and with more speed    

...not crying when Mommy leaves me at Bible Class

...going to sleep on my own all the time (usually after talking and rolling around in my crib for 15 minutes)

...drinking some whole milk

...sitting on Mommy and Daddy's lap in church (pretty quietly) and looking at books

...playing with Mommy's cell phone in the car when she wants me to stay awake until we get home so I can take a good nap in my bed  

...attending my first toddler music class at the library

...being outside as much as possible  

...sleeping in until 8:00am a few times

Happy 14 months Hudson John!  We Love You!  

the faces of hudson

What is a mother and father to do with all the pictures they take of their first born son?  I can't possibly post them all on the blog or certainly have no place to keep them if I printed them out.  Yet, each picture captures a new look or a different expression so I just can't seem to find it in myself delete them from the camera.  So today I decided to post a random collection of pictures of Hudson.  Some of them are more recent than others, but still fun (in my opinion and hopefully yours).  If nothing else, it will prove to be a reflective post for me to look back on someday and just remember a few of the sweet looks I get throughout the day.  Here are lots of pictures of Mr. Hudson and his thoughts...

  

I'm so glad Grandma Sue is coming to play with me today.  

This my best attempt at a serious face.  

I'm looking pretty handsome in my church shirt don't you think?  

I love wearing my pjs in the morning.  They are so comfortable.  

Seriously?  

Mommy, you are so much fun.    

Daddy, please pick me up.  

Daddy, I mean it...pick me up.  

What is outside?  A puppy?    

Hey mom, it looks like you got lots of groceries.  Does that mean its time for lunch?  

This is my morning, sleepy face.  I wasn't quite ready for pictures.    

I'm pretty silly aren't I?   

Mommy, when will Daddy be home from work?  I'm starting to get a bit impatient.      

Get me out of here!  

You are getting pretty close there with that camera.  Did you want me to smile?  

Cheese!  

What's up dude?  

Oh my goodness, I can't believe puppy Nutmeg is at my house?  

I love being a big boy and sitting on this chair.