Christmas Eve

We had such a wonderful Christmas Eve this year. We started off the evening by going to the 5:00 Family service at our church. The past few years we have attended the 3:00 Children's service, but I have REALLY missed the candlelight part, so we braved a new one this year. Hudson could not have done better! I was really nervous because he spends Sunday mornings in Sunday School...hasn't been in the sanctuary with us in a few years, but he did fantastic!! He did great taking communion and LOVED holding the candle and singing Silent Night. After church, we headed to Poppy's house for a yummy dinner and gifts with Kelly's side of the family. Hudson received many Batman gifts and was ONE HAPPY BOY!!

LOVE this face!!! Not sure who is happier...Hudson or Uncle Todd!

Uncle Todd, Hudson, and cousin Marcus

Hudson with Aunt Tara

We got home REALLY late, but still continued with our Christmas Eve traditions. First up, opening new jammies from Mommy & Daddy.

After setting out cookies, milk, and carrots, Hudson snuggled up to read Twas the Night Before Christmas. :) He kept telling me to read faster because he needed to go to bed so Santa could come. It was HILARIOUS! We haven't had that fast of a bedtime ritual in ages!

Such a fun, family filled evening!

Golden Tickets

We started a new Christmas tradition this year that I found on Pinterest that was a HIT! The day before Christmas Eve, we went to put Hudson to bed and when we pulled down the covers, he found these tickets:

He immediately decided that Haddy (our elf) put them in his bed. They were Christmas express tickets which meant even though we were all in our jammies, we were to immediately go get in the car and go look at Christmas lights!
He wasn't excited or anything!! He immediately started jumping up and down and couldn't believe that he didn't have to go to bed right then!

We also told him that he could get ice cream or hot chocolate for the road and he chose ice cream. :)

We went to Deerfield in Plano to see some beautiful lights! It was beyond packed though, so we only got through a few streets. (We know to go earlier in the year next year!)

Such a fun night...this will definitely be a tradition we continue!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

The week before Christmas a few of us met up in Allen with the kids with the idea of taking a Santa picture like last year. Even though we got there at 10:05 and checked in, the wait was already an hour and 45 minutes! So, we ended up letting the kids play their hearts out in the little houses, have lunch at Mooyah, and then play some more by the giant Christmas tree before heading home. It was such a fun morning!

The kids were mesmerized by the giant tree!

Landon, Grant, Ellie, Wyatt, Tanner, Nora, and Hudson

Merry Christmas 2011

Our 2011 Christmas card. :)

SANTA!!

I think it's safe to say he liked the big guy this year! :)

Riding The Polar Express

This past weekend, we headed to Grapevine to ride the Polar Express again. We have done this the past several years, so Hudson was really excited to do it again.

He started out the evening by drinking hot chocolate on Noni's lap while waiting for the show to begin.

He loved walking through the "snow" with Daddy trying to catch the snowflakes.
Waiting for the fun to begin.

First up, Mrs. Clause. Hudson loved talking to her this year. :)

Then, he caught sight of the big guy! LOVE the look on his face...he was so excited!!

This year, Santa gave each child a bell.

I think it is safe to say that Hudson rang his bell the rest of the trip! :)

Such a fun tradition!!

Polar Express Party Day!

Last Thursday was Hudson's party day at school. It was a Polar Express theme, so he had to wear jammies to school of course! :)

Here he is before heading off to school.

I got to go to the party and when I got there, Miss Amber was just sitting down to read The Polar Express to the kids.
After drinking their hot chocolate and making jingle bell necklaces, they had a book exchange. He and Adan exchanged books.

His sweet class with their books.

They ended the day by singing Happy Birthday to Jesus and pointing up when they said "to you" each time. :) Love it!

Hudson with darling Miss Amber in her super fun Grinch jammies! :)

Such a fun day! :)

Birthday Party for Jesus

We went to our church's annual Birthday Party for Jesus a few weekends ago, but this year Hudson was so excited because his friend Landon was there! These two had SO MUCH FUN going around to each station together. Precious!

You can't go wrong with the bean bag toss!

A little putting...

The hit of the night was definitely the guys making ballons "things". Landon and Hudson were mesmerized by this teenager...it was hilarious! They both picked a candy cane to be made...

...and promptly turned their candy canes into swords! Of course!

How cute are these two?!?

Two Special Ladies

Hudson has been fortunate to have a FABULOUS babysitter for over two years now. Jamie has come every Wednesday and Thursday afternoon to watch Hudson while I tutor and she is definitely like family. Hudson absolutely adores her. Sadly, we had to say goodbye to her last week because she is headed to Texas Tech to get her degree in nursing. We are SO HAPPY for her, but there were tears shed by all when she left last week. :( She has promised to come visit when she comes home to see family and we are going to hold her to it!!

Hudson and Jamie

You might remember Miss Amanda from posts when Hudson was in gymnastics. We hated saying goodbye to her last August when Hudson quit gymanstics. We promised to stay in touch and we finally got to see her a few weekends ago! Hudson asks about her on a weekly basis and always tells me he misses her. So sweet! So, she came over for lunch and to play and Hudson was beyond excited!! We have promised to not let so much time go by before we see her again!

Hudson and Miss Amanda
We have been beyond blessed to have so many wonderful people in Hudson's life...he is one lucky little boy!

Annual Playgroup Christmas Party

This past Monday was our annual playgroup Christmas party. I can't believe that Hudson was only 4 months old at our first one...crazy! Alli hosted the party and the kids had an absolute BLAST! They did two crafts, ate pizza, watched part of a movie, and played, and played, and played...you get the idea! They play so well together and it is so fun watching how "old" they seem now...they have such great imaginations and there was a lot of good guy/bad guy stuff going on. :)

Here they are looking all grown up:

Porter, Quinn, Sutton, Landon, Reid, Tanner, Hudson, and Chapman

Hudson decorating his tree.

The kids eating dinner and watching Cars 2.
Some of the mommies...so sad...Amy and Annie had already left at this point.
Meredith, Alli, Brittney, me, Kara, and Cara

These girls and their sweet kiddos are definitely something to be thankful for this time of year...LOVE THEM!!!!

Hudson's 1st Christmas Program

This past Thursday was Husdon's first Christmas program at school. He was SO EXCITED! He couldn't quit talking about how he would get to be "on stage" and how he was going to be a lamb while singing. I have to say that I was beyond excited to watch him in his first program. We got there early and Noni saved us second row seats while we took him back to his classroom to get ready. The 3 year old class performed first and they were adorable. Then, it was the Pre-K's turn. I was excited again when Hudson was front and center! Then, the program started. He started out singing... ...and doing arm motions...

...and then quickly become DONE with the entire thing. He stared at me the rest of the time with this face:

Sweet love...

Poor thing. He was definitely ready to go and had no problem making a quick exit when it was all said and done. Oh well...maybe next year! :)