2013 was SO good to us!

This has been an incredible year, so much that I feel I can't even put it into words. We haven't had a lot of changes this year but instead have been able to grow as a family and really enjoy our time together. But here is a SMALL recap:

Hadley finished up preschool last year and we made the finalized decision to enroll her at Crossings Christian School for kindergarten and here on after. We absolutely LOVE the school and she does too! The faculty is amazing, loving, and I feel so safe sending her to school each day. She started Kindergarten in August and is doing great. She loves to play with friends and is learning to read. She wants to play with a friend everyday and is definitely our social butterfly. I told Matt it already worries me that she may never want to be home! She does not like to watch tv but still wakes up at 6:30 so it is go, go, go from then until bedtime. She is still so girly and loves dressing up, painting her nails, and curling her hair. But she also plays about every sport imaginable and loves to be outside playing with her daddy. This year she has done hip hop, played soccer, basketball, tball, golf, and cheer. At this very moment she would probably say cheer and basketball are her favorite. Hadley has such a tender heart and just loves everybody. In January Nana went home to be with Jesus after 100 years! It broke Hadley's heart and she still talks and asks about her so often. Then in August Mama fell and broke her hip and Hadley was the only one in the house when it happened. She wanted to be at the hospital everyday and was really concerned about Mama being ok. She is so sweet to her brother...ALL the time! I mean, this is something I really can't explain. The kid literally would do ANYTHING for him. It never fails that the second she begins to play with a toy he has an absolute fit for that exact one. She gladly gives it to him even if we tell her not to. She lets him win every race, take his pick first, and watch whatever tv show he wants. She is a dream of a big sister...and daughter! Six has been such an awesome age!!!

Hudson is still wild! He is the absolute opposite in that he LOVES to watch tv and we actually have to limit it at times. He loves Dino Dan, Monster's inc, Despicable Me, Yo Gabba Gabba, and many others. And he is a sleeper! Not so much at naps but at night. We can put him down about 8:30 and he will sleep until about 10. Sometimes as early as 9 and sometimes as late as noon or 1. It is actually pretty great because when he wakes up he is still his pretty needy phase. However, I am anticipating lots of trouble when he has to start waking up for school in a couple years. Hudson is learning to talk much better and though he still leaves off the first syllable often he is pretty good at helping us figure it out if we need help. Used to he would get so frustrated but he is doing much better at staying calm and giving us clues. He has absolutely no desire to potty train and I think we may need to start enforcing it soon! He loves his diaper and though Im ready for undies I worry about how we will get pants to stay up on him. He is still super skinny though he is growing everyday. At only 27 lbs he can still wear 18-24 month clothes though his jeans are all too short. Hudson is definitely tempermental! He has hit the terrible threes and can throw the strongest, most strong willed tantrum you'll ever see. We have to be very creative with our parenting and it is a struggle at times. I really think he is so smart that he just knows how to work us and does his best at it. But when we arent having a "moment" he is so loving, cuddly, and sweet. He loves his sister and though he doesn't give into her and always wants his way, he is always sad when he wakes up and she is not here or when she has a friend and he doesn't get to play with them. At three years old Hudson loves cars, trains, dinosaurs, throwing and kicking balls, and all superheros. He is about as boy as they come which makes life so much fun!

Matt is still busy with his practice and its going great. I think it wont be long before he will be able to be at only one office but he's managing so far. He got a new assistant that seems to be adjusting well and after 6.5 years of practicing they have a pretty great system. He loves playing golf but doesnt get out as much as I am sure he would like. We have OSU tickets but for now he seems to be the only one that makes it up there. Hopefully, within the next year we can all go more often. Best of all, I think Matt is loving all the sports with Hadley. He is outside with her practicing and playing and I love to watch them play together. He is crazy about our kids!!!

I am now working 2 1/2 days instead of 3 and I LOVE it! I am only working one day at the jail and have picked up a day at another pedo office which has made me love my job even more. Its just a miracle that I havent shown up at the wrong office yet. I love all the activities with the kids right now and dont miss our down time at all! Both of the kids love to be on the go so it is fun for us to all get out and about with the whole family. I love my girl time with Hadley as well as my time with Hudson while Hadley is at school. I am learning a lot about boys and its an adventure! Matt and I try to make sure we make time for each other a well, if its just a movie, dinner, or tv on the couch. Life is crazy right now and we wouldn't have it any other way.

We feel so blessed by 2013 and cant wait to see what 2014 holds!

December extras

Its been a really cold December and we have spent most of our time indoors. But it hasn't kept us from having lots of fun with many picture opportunities. 

Matt brought home a new mini fridge for the media room and Hadley and Hudson loved the box. It kept them contained for a little bit as well!

Kristin sent me this picture while I was at work. Hudson's school had a little photo setup and Hudson was pretty excitted to take a picture on Santa's sleigh.

Hudson went with me to Target to buy the supplies for our gingerbread houses. Bad idea because on the Christmas aisle were MANY other things we didn't need...including cotton candy!

Helping with dinner...

One day after school Hadley and Hudson were playing with her dolls. He is so sweet to her when she has been gone all day and will do pretty much anything she wants.  Hadley told Hudson he needed to babysit while she went to the store. I thought he looked so sweet, watching tv and looking after her babies.

Spending quality time over the iPads.

A treat in hand is about the only way for a successful Target trip with this wild man.

I picked Hadley up at school one Monday for a surprise lunch date! She thought it was so fun. I told her to pick anywhere she wanted thinking we would go someplace special like Chilis, McAlisters, or somewhere else nearby. No...she picked Subway. We had a fun time laughing over our sandwiches and quickly headed back to school.  I definitely need to do this more often!

Hudson and Duncan swinging in Duncan's hammock swing. Hudson thought this was pretty much the coolest thing ever!

Rough time deciding on one sucker and we had to get out the door for Hadley's basketball practice. So obviously, he got all four!

On our way to pick up Hadley from school and he just looked too cute to not get a picture of him.

Kate's 6th birthday party. The girls played dress-up in Kate's many cheer uniforms. Hadley was given the OU uniform. Charlotte's mom thought it was pretty funny to send me a picture of her.

Playing slides and ladders with Hudson. They giggle the whole time they play this game. I love the second picture where she is making a face at him for beating her. He would just laugh, and laugh, and laugh at her!

Enjoying some nice weather and swinging outside. We had a fun day of chick-fil-a, playing outside, and then Lolly and Pops took the kids to build-a-bear to use their Christmas gift cards. Hadley picked out a puppy and Hudson picked out Rudolf. A fun gift idea!

Kristin's wedding

Hadley was asked to be a flowergirl in Kristin and Craig's wedding and she was just SO excited. She also felt that after having already done it twice that she was a pro! We drove up to Catoosa, OK on Friday afternoon for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. Hudson stayed with Mama and Papa and they were going to bring him on Saturday for the wedding. Kristin has some wonderful friends! They were so sweet to Hadley, did all they could to make her really feel like part of the wedding party, and were so supportive of Kristin. 

 

Hadley and the ring-bearer, Hunter. This kid is hilarious and had us laughing the whole time!

Swimming at the hotel Friday after rehearsal. After a few months of cold water Hadley couldn't wait to put on a swimsuit and go swimming!

Saturday morning we got up and had breakfast at the hotel. Then we went to the Hard Rock Casino to walk around, shop a little, and eat lunch. It was such a fun day with the three of us. It seems so strange to feel like Hadley is at the age where she acts more like our friend rather than someone we have to take care of. She was so good and we all had lots of laughs!

Hudson, Mama, and Papa made it to Catoosa just after we had finished getting Hadley ready. She just looked SO precious in her dress and I was impressed at all the thought that Kristin had put into the wedding.

Hudson kept telling Hadley how pretty she looked.

How cute are they?!?

A little something to entertain Hudson while the wedding party finished getting ready....

The wedding was held outdoors and for it to be December 28th it was surprisingly very mild and not really cold.

Here she comes..

Kristin had set up a kids table with coloring books she put together and suckers:

Before leaving Hadley wanted to sign the guest book all by herself. Kristin's friend, Taylor, helped her with some of the spelling but otherwise she decided what to write and did it all herself! She loves her Kristin!

 

 

Kristin sent me this picture the next morning telling us Thank You for letting Hadley be a part of her big day.

 



Here are all the photographers pictures that Kristin gave us. I love them all!

Hudson loves Kristin so very much. He is just crazy about her and called her a princess all night.

Hadley and all the girls:

She couldn't even sit in the chair because she wanted to see everything so badly.



Such a beautiful wedding and we were so happy to be a part of it!