Valentine's Day 2022

Valentine's Day arrived on a Monday this year.  We ordered heart shaped pizzas for lunch and invited some friends over to join us.  Special days celebrated with those we love are even sweeter.  

That night we had our annual Fancy Family Valentine's Dinner.  

This was Ivy's first year participating and I'm pretty sure it felt like any other evening to her.  

Greta was excited to have another excuse to wear her purple dress.  

My mini me, Greta Alice

Mimi had some gifts for each of us.  Greta received another audio to add to her Adventures in Odyssey collection.  

Hudson got the new devotional from Louie Giglio.

 

Daddy Daughter Dance 2022

Greta and Roy attended a Daddy Daughter Dance on Saturday, February 12th.  This is one of Greta's most anticipated nights of the whole year.  I found her dress on Amazon and grabbed the pearls and shoes at Target.  She was just smitten about the whole outfit and it was fun to spoil her a bit.  Roy's suit and tie coordinated perfectly.  This picture is one I think will be displayed at Greta's high school graduation party. It's an accurate reflection of how she adores her Daddy.  

One on one time with our kids seems hard to make happen.  Therefore, nights like this are extra sweet.  

A pink rose for his beautiful daughter.  

Ivy was so sad about not getting to go along.  She had tears and didn't want them to leave.  We kept telling her "when you are older you can go too" to which she kept repeating.  

Roy and Greta had dinner at Ruby Tuesday's.  

Greta ordered sliders and mashed potatoes (because she was worried about ketchup and French fries being too messy with her dress).  

The Daddy Daughter Dance was held at a church and was a Little Mermaid theme.  

Greta with two of her CC friends (and Ariel).  The girls dresses even matched the decorations.  

Making a mermaid bracelet with friends

I promised Hudson a date that night too.  I asked a few babysitters to stay with Ivy but things didn't work out, so she came along too.  We had her get "fancy" and put her dress on to make it feel special.  

I got sweet and sour chicken and Ivy LOVED it and kept asking for "more rice, so yummy."  

 

Party with Friends

The snow was mostly melted so sledding wasn't really a good option for Hudson's party with friends.  After considering our options we decided to go bowling as an activity instead.  

We are so thankful for this great group of buddies Hudson has.    

Greta had some friends join for bowling too.  

We ordered pizza for dinner.  What other option is there really for a hungry group of boys?  

I made the fruit and veggie trays to look like the Olympic rings.  

After dinner it was time for games.  

Next on the agenda was a Mario Cart tournament.  It was sweet to watch them cheer each other on.  

We had gold medal sugar cookies for the dessert.  

The same person made these who made his 10th birthday cookies.  

This boy is just GOLDEN!  

Another round of Apples to Apples before it was time for everyone to head home.  

 

Winter Olympics Decorations

As Hudson has gotten older we have certainly made less "pomp and circumstance" of his birthday parties.  I guess it is just part of getting older.  Yet, he still welcomes having a party theme and putting up decorations so I go with it.  I figure he won't want to do this forever so I just as well embrace it while he does.  The plan was to go sledding with his friends and then come over to our house for pizza and to play games.  Since the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies was on the evening of his birthday I suggested we make it a Winter Olympics party.  It just fit the activities (sledding and games) for the party and the current events.  Hudson embraced the idea and things came together.  

The birthday #11 out of pictures.  

The welcome table...

I gathered things we had around the house that I thought would work...Hudson's USA flag, Greta's gold medal from gymnastics, a homemade Olympic torch, Roy's winter hat and gloves, a Winter Olympics book from the library, a few pictures of Hudson playing in the snow and snowflake confetti from Ivy's first birthday party.     

I bought the flags on Amazon and we put them everywhere.  

This flag garland came in a huge strand so we swooped it all over the ceiling.  It actually felt a bit like an Olympic village.   

The message board read..

This flag garland was recycled from the CC Celebration last April.  

Hudson being silly with the touch we made.  Let the games begin!  

 

Celebrating with Grandparents

We celebrated Hudson's 11th birthday with his grandparents on Saturday, January 29th.  We enjoyed dinner together, opened gifts and had birthday cake.  I am thankful for the many "big celebrations" we have hosted over the years but having these small low key parties are pretty sweet too.    

We continued our tradition of giving him a birthday book that coordinates with his theme.    

A morning game of Quirkel with Mimi.  

Doctor Ivy took good care of her patient.  

Then it was story time for the princess.

We went with a Winter Olympics party theme, since his birthday was the day of the opening ceremonies.  I originally only put 10 candles on his cake...oops!  

Snuggles with their Papa Ed.  

 

2.3.22

Our Hudson John turned ELEVEN on Thursday, February 3rd.  Didn't he just turn ten!?    

His birthday was on a CC day so he got a special assignment during the Large Group opening time.  

Greta gave her presentation on Hudson.  She showed pictures of him through the years and told about some of his favorite things.  

I am so thankful for the sweet friendship they share.  They certainly have their moments and get into each others hair, but for the most party they adore each other.  

Hudson requested Jimmy Johns for hist birthday lunch.  Roy joined us, which is always special.    

We brought some birthday treats for the afternoon Essentials class.  A simple popcorn bar provided students and mamas with a sweet treat during class.   

For dinner Hudson asked that I make spaghetti casserole, green beans, garlic bread and fruit salad.  Food is one of the ways to this boys heart.   

Greta made Hudson a scavenger hunt (and did all the writing herself) that had 11 clues. The gift she bought him (using her own money) was at the end.    

Time to open his gifts from Mom and Dad...

He got the game Catan, a LEGO set (from Greta) and tickets to a Mercy Me concert.  

Brownies and ice cream for his birthday dessert.