Hudson is 7!

Having to wait for his 7th birthday was absolute torture this year! There were tears and times that he thought there was no way he could make it another day. I would get so frustrated that weeks before his birthday he would wake up in a bad mood at times and its was strictly because he was thinking about his birthday. Then I would have to remember that I truly think his love language is gifts. And that goes for gift giving as well. He LOVES to show you how much he cares with gifts. He can hardly keep a secret when he has picked out something to give you and he gets so excited to see you open it. But he also REALLY LOVES getting gifts.

Needless to say, he woke up in the absolute best mood this morning. He came running down the stairs and was so ready to open presents. We decided not to open every single one but he did have fun opening most of them before school. He got Nintendo 3ds games, legos, clothes, Voltron transformers, and his own Hoverboard that connects though bluetooth to his phone. 

After opening presents we got ready for school quickly so we could play some more with out toys.

7. How is it possible? It makes my heart hurt and my stomach turn. Every year gets better but I will sure miss these stages of life.

I got to go to school and have lunch with Hudson on his birthday and then we did his birthday blessing. He wanted McDonalds for lunch.

For his birthday blessing he was able to bring a bag of his favorite things. He included his baby blanket which he takes every single year and it makes me laugh because it sits in the corner of his floor all year long until he has another chance to take it to school. It is "so important" to him 1 of the 365 days of the year. But it is sweet because it is more special to me as I remember it being his very first blanket. He also brought his Karate belt, his shark in a jar (that he also brings each year and it was matts as a kid), his Bible, and OSU hat, his wallet, and a picture of his family. Its always so fun to see what he brings each year.

Afterwards his friends went around a circle telling him what they each loved about him. He would just smile and said "thank you" after each kid. I couldn't have laughed more when one girl said "he can do really good splits" and another said "he judges our cheer competitions for us on the playground. " But overall, I heard "he is so happy" "he is so nice" "he lets others go first" and "he is always smiling" a lot. It was a little reassurance for me that school is going to be so great for him! 

When his friends were done Miss Mehlhaff said the sweetest prayer for him and it completely had me in tears. I love our school and I feel so blessed by all the kids teachers. 

After lunch I spent recess with him and watched Hudson and his new friend, Gray, play basketball together.

And finally, I went back up to school for Knighttime which happened to fall on Hudson's birthday. What a wonderful birthday surprise for his class to be awarded the "fruity award" this month. He was the first class to get it and its for the class that shows all the fruits of the spirit in the halls and around the school. He could not have been more excited!

There are just too many things to say about Hudson. He has the sweetest heart and loves all people and animals. He is emotional and sensitive which can be hard on him sometimes but you always know how much he cares. On the first day of school I told him there would be a new kid in his class and he needed to make sure he was included. He totally took it to heart and when I picked him up from school he and his new friend, Gray, gave each other a big hug goodbye. They have great friends since. All the girls love him! There moms are constantly calling or texting me to tell me how their daughter talks about how nice Hudson is to them. This makes me so happy! Hudson is a perfectionist...still. If he is not good at it he doesn't want to do it. But he has made huge strides and is gaining so much confidence as he gets older. He is loving all sports now and wants to play any and everything. He is really talking about flag football and he loves soccer, basketball, baseball, and karate. Hudson has some great friends and they all seem to gravitate toward him. When I have watched him play at recess he just hops from group to group playing with new people the whole time. Hudson is so smart. It amazes me how well he can read and how he already comprehends math so well just by watching and listening to Hadley. He has memorized some multiplication problems and can add big numbers in his head. I feel like all these qualities could help him go so far in life. He just wants to do well so bad. I will never forget talking to the pediatrician at his 3 year appt and crying because he was so strong willed that sometimes I felt like I had no control. He said to me that strong-willed children can be the most successful people. But that you need to direct his will and not break it. We got creative with parenting and I think he has turned out to be an amazing kid!

Every single night Hudson says the exact same thing to each of us. " I love you to the moon and back, to God's heart and back, and to everything and back, except gross stuff, private parts, and Satan" Haha. Every single night.

Hudson is a money saver and never wants to spend his own. And although he loves toys and always wants a new one there have been several times when I have to talk him into letting me buy him something because it worries him for me to spend my money. He thinks we will run out!


Hudson has so many qualities that remind me of me as a kid. And he has so many I am thankful for. He brings us so much joy and love and we are so thankful. He will be such a joy to watch grow up even if its happening much too fast for us! We love you, Hudson Jake!