Friday, August 31, 2012

Playdate friends for a lifetime!

These precious children have been friends since they were born...
 To begin this post, I am going to have to rewind 6+ years because that is where the story begins.  Six+ years  ago I taught with two amazing friends, Melissa and Jessica.  We were all starting our families around the same time and all planned on staying at home with our little ones.  Melissa got to be a mommy first and soon after I had Hudson we realized we needed regularly scheduled playdates...mostly for our own sanity!  So, we started getting together every other week to visit and play.
 Colton and Hudson...I remember the picture with the drum so vividly because that was the first time that Hudson really "played" with another child!
 Jessica then had Stone and our playdates of 2 soon became playdates of 3.
Hudson, Colton, and Stone
 Then, Melissa had #2:
Stone, Hudson, Colton, and Brody
 Soon after that, Jessica had Rowan...the only girl to the rowdy boys!
Brody and Rowan

 These crazy kids have seen each other almost every 2 weeks their entire lives!!  Colton just started Kindergarten, so our 2 week playdates will be moved slightly, but we know these kids will be FOREVER friends...just like their mommies!  :)
Stone, Hudson, Colton, Rowan, and Brody
I wish I could take credit for the pictures in this post, but I got them from my friend Melissa's blog...thanks Melissa!  :)

Monday, August 27, 2012

Hudson's ACTUAL birthday!

Hudson's actual birthday fell on a Monday this year.  He woke up to balloons hanging from his door.  :)
 He promptly turned the balloons into a hitting game...ALL BOY!!!

 After getting ready, he got to open his gifts from Mommy and Daddy.  Here he is showing us how old he is...I still can't believe he is FIVE!

 After having donuts with Mommy and Daddy, we met Avery and Griffin at Studio Movie Grill to see Stuart Little.  It was such a fun, special treat to see his friends on his actual day!
 That  night, we went to Hudson's favorite place for dinner and games...Amazing Jake's of course!  We have never been on a Monday, and it was truly AMAZING...there was only about 15 people in the whole place.  We had the best time riding rides and playing games.  Oh, and eating pizza too!




 Literally jumping for joy when a ton of tickets came out.  :)



It was such a fun filled day and I don't think he would have had it any other way!  Here's to his 5th year and many great memories to come!!!

Monday, August 20, 2012

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman!!

A few months ago when I asked Hudson what he wanted to do for his birthday party, he immediately said he wanted it at a bounce house place and he wanted a Superman party.  I tried and tried to convince him to do something other than a bounce house place because that is what he picked the past two years, but the kid knows what he wants!  So, I compromised by picking a new bounce house place.  :)  I found the cutest invitations on Etsy and LOVED them!!  They looked like a page from a comic strip!!
 Hudson's sweet babysitter (and my former 3rd grade student) came to the party.  He was beyond thrilled that Kylie came to play!
 Our attempt at a family shot before all of the guests arrived.
 Hudson was very serious before they got to start bouncing.
 Then, the bouncing began!!  I think everyone (kids and adults) had a great time bouncing and going down the giant slides!!
Griffin and Leslie
 Paw-Paw, Aunt Shani, Unlce Todd, Uncle Geoffrey, and Dena
 Hudson and Hunter kept Uncle Geoffrey busy playing basketball for quite a while!

 Daddy taking a break and Aunt Tara, Noni, and Aunt Tara taking a break.
 Hudson about to fly down.
 I normally order my cupcake toppers, but made them myself this year.  I was super excited at how they turned out!
 I also made the fun centerpieces for the tables...loved them!
 Hudson and I made monster cookies for his party favors and stuffed them in Superman cups with a Superman ring tied around the top with a note saying, "I hope you had a super time!"  

 Hunter and Aaron
 Uncle Geoffrey, Hudson, Aurora, Griffin and Greyson
 This bounce house place did the most fun thing...with 20 minutes left in the party, they gave all the kids a glow necklace, turned out the lights, turned up the music, and had disco balls spinning.  The kids LOVED it!!  This is what all of the adults were doing in the dark...
 Greyson, Aurora, and Griffin
 Uncle Geoffrey, Hudson, Hunter
 Sweet Colton posing for a picture.  :)

  A nice family slide...SUCH FUN!!
 Love the group shot of all the sweaty, tired kids at the end of the party!
 Hudson was all business when it was time to blow out his candles.


 During the cupcakes, a special visitor arrived...SUPERMAN himself came to Hudson's party.  The kids were so excited!!
 Hudson could not stop laughing...he didn't know what to think!
 Superman posed with almost everyone...we actually sent a picture of him posing with the thank you cards so the kids could remember meeting Superman.

 It took a while, but Hudson finally warmed up to Superman!





 All of the family with the amazing Superman!  I didn't notice until afterwards how the walls matched Superman's colors!  :)
 After the party, the family along with Leslie and Griffin headed to Chuy's for dinner.  YUMMY!
Aunt Fern, Dena, and Leslie


 Hudson and Griffin got some play time in with Uncle Geoffrey.
 When we got home, Hudson got to open all of his presents.  It was definitely a fun-filled day!!

Here's to #5!!  LOVE this boy!!!!  :)