happenings

 This was the first pillow I ever sewed (i've now done about 5, so you know, i'm a pro), and for some reason stella has taken to this thing! She picks it up and carries it around, snuggles with, etc. 

 Not the cutest picture of Hudson, but Stella and Hudson like to do things "together" more these days…i.e. if one is doing something, the other wants to do it. So thank goodness we have two costumes!! :)

 This month we've done some birthday celebrating for Hudson with a party, some visiting to new parks with Angie and Auntie Susie, some beach trips with Linda, and of course some pool time, coloring and playing around the house! Stella has started to lay on her tummy now when she's coloring or playing with something - quite focused she is!

 Another example of "togetherness" - reading, with no clothes on, while eating a little bite of dry cereal before dinner. Yes, we're real rule breakers around here, feeding our kids a snack before dinner!

 Stel with her Godmother, Sandra! Stella licked ALL the frosting off her cupcake, and left the rest. 

 Needing to be "wrapped" in the towel after a visit to the pool next door, stella likes to walk around with it, so i have to get it off the ground so she doesn't slip - which leaves her looking like a walking pink and orange burrito. 

 Birthday boy got a visit from his favorite teacher at the club we go to - teacher Kris! So sweet of her to come by, and bring him gifts too! 

4 year STATS

Today Hudson went in of for his 4 year check up! And to no one's surprise, he is still tall for his age!
Height: 42.5 inches
Weight: 44 lbs

He's in the 90%s for his height, not sure about his weight. we had to try out a different doctor, since we are no longer in Denver, so things were not quite the same. It's making me realize and appreciate the amazing doctors we had out there! Nonetheless Hudson did well with his check up, can see great, hear great, and drive any doctor a little batty in less than 10 minutes! :) No, he was fine, just being FOUR!

Our Hudson is such a bright young boy now! Not only does he count to 40, he knows all his ABC's (can identify, say, and write them - though sometimes needs help writing), his vocabulary is amazing and growing regularly, he challenges things just like he should at his age, and when you think he's just gonna send Stella falling down for the 5th time that day (doesn't realize how much bigger he is, etc.) he swoops in to give her a hug and kiss. He surprises us, makes us laugh, impresses us, he's respectful and sweet when he wants to be, challenging and frustrating too. He is such an extrovert, and loves being with and/or around other people. We'll be playing in his room, and if we leave him in there alone he'll either leave with us or ask us to come back in!

At four, he wears size 4T or 5T, size 12 shoes, sleeps from about 7:30pm - 6:00am, still napping 1-2 hours each afternoon. He loves his cars, trucks, trains, dinosaurs, sharks, volcanoes, water, water, water, his new bike, dancing, super heros (which he has never actually watched), coloring (only with red and blue, his two favorite colors), and anything new and exciting. He's a great eater, loves bath time, and tells us weekly that we are his best friends…and he is absolutely ours as well.

Friends, beach, family and fun!

 Trying out new things is the theme for this summer, and we had a great time with Angela at the OC Zoo, checking out the types of animals you can find here in California! And of course we enjoyed the petting zoo too!

 Stella and her curls…i could take pictures of her all day! Such a little model baby. Even when she's covered in Hudson's firefighter jacket!

 A couple weeks ago we FaceTimed with Lina, our former care giver. What a wonderful person she was to our family - we were lucky to have her teach/love/care for our kids while we were in Denver!

 Beach days are my favorite…not sure what we'll do with our time this winter!!

 Last month one of my very best friends, Chiraphone, left to live in Cambodia. She is doing great work, fighting to end sex trafficking, but I will miss her so much. It was great to be 12 minutes apart for a few months anyway!! I'm glad Shino is still here, and we'll get those fun visits in when we can!

 My boy. FOUR years old now. I can't believe it. What an infectious smile, and he has the loving spirit to go with it. This kid will change lives - watch out world!

 I am finally picking tomatoes from my plants - by the dozens!! i can't keep up with them actually! So a few folks have gotten bags full to try not to let them go to waste! Pretty awesome though to be growing my own veggies for the first time. :)

 A couple weeks ago Andy got free last minute tickets to the Dodgers game (through work), so we took the opportunity for a little date night! It was fun to do something different together, and continue exploring new things to do out here. I'm thankful for my husband - he's pretty darn awesome, even though I am not always great at telling or showing him I think that. Ultimately though, i probably got the better end of the deal in this marriage. :) Love you Darling. 

 The same weekend we had the baseball tickets we also had our block party AND Beyonce tickets (my early birthday present from Andy). It was a FUN weekend to say the least!!! Hudson was on this inflatable water slide for approximately 6 hours that day, not even kidding. He was in heaven!! Lots of people AND water - two of his absolute favorites for sure!

 To top it off they had a fire truck come toward the end of the day for the kids to check out. Both kids loved it of course! We are really happy on our street and in this town so far - great neighbors, beautiful trees, good schools. If we could get the freeway out of our backyard we'd be in this house forever i think!

 Andy got theses tickets for me months ago, after we talked about my regrets in not getting to see Michael Jackson in concert before he passed. I am still a huge fan of his, but expressed that Beyonce is another performer i would love to see live. Anyway, he got these for me and we had a fun time! It rained, and we weren't too big on the Jay-Z part of the concert, but overall it was a great gift, and a good memory!

 We love our visits with Auntie Susie and Uncle Rick!

 After 5 months of pulling my hair up in a ponytail and not wearing makeup hardly at all, i was able to get to the salon for a little cut! It was nice to take a little time for myself, and i'm loving the way my hair feels with those dead ends cut off!!

 Since we've had the kids, this blog of mine has largely become about them. I'm fine with that, but it's still worth writing about Andy and I of course! At least every now and then. :) I have to say we have really enjoyed our time together out here in California so far. Being more intentional about spending time together, going on dates, and working on our marriage has been a refreshing, fun part of our new adventure out here. I'd say our marriage is certainly not perfect, but we are a pretty good team, and I know that through thick or thin, we will be there for each other with all the love we can muster (which can look different when fatigue and stress set in, but that's the beauty of it!)

 Hudson rediscovered this cape from Sarah Inks Jones a couple weeks ago…and has since become "SUPER HUDSON!!" He's my hero for sure <3 p="">