Thursday, December 23, 2010

Rudolph the Underdog

A conversation we had today went something like this:
Hudson says " I like Rudolph".
I say, "Why, 'cause he's the coolest?"
H: "No, because he's the saddest."
N: "Why is he the saddest?"
H: "Because the other reindeer call him names. But Santa likes him and is nice to him."
N: "So you want to be nice to him, too?"
H: "Yeah"

I love how serious and thought provoking Christmas has become for this kid. I've been able to use the "you better not pout, I'm telling you why" line so many times and it works like a charm. Hudson also voluntarily cleaned house this morning to "make room for Santa to come". He's asked several times about our fireplace and where is our chimney?
He's been obsessed with the countdown to Christmas. We have a chain, a chocolate advent calendar, and a Santa's beard countdown, and he makes sure to do each of them diligently each day.
What's blown me away the most is he's been saying "I don't care what I get for Christmas." Or he's been asking me what he should ask Santa for. I thought every 5 year old knew exactly what they wanted for Christmas!?

Merry Christmas!

Saturday, December 18, 2010

December Fun

This December I wanted to do some kind of fun winter/Christmas activity with Hudson or as a family everyday. It hasn't gone so well, but we did manage to start out with making gingerbread houses, since that was something Hudson was really wanting to do.

We had Jeff's side of the family's kid's Christmas party. We had a really hard time getting everyone together this year, and it was kind of a last minute party, but it turned out to be good anyway.
Santa even came and brought a present for each kid. Hudson was still a little reluctant to sit on Santa's lap this year, but at least there were no tears...even a smile!
I would say this was the first big snowfall that Hudson put on all his snow gear and went to go play out in the snow. On this day he accomplished one of the fun activities I had planned for the month. I filled a spray bottle with water and food coloring so he could go spray colors in the snow. He LOVED it and used his bottle up in minutes.
I think it was later that day that Jeff took Hudson sledding at the Peteetneet school. I had never been sledding there before and I loved that they played Christmas music from speakers. They have the perfect hills there...aka not too steep and scary.


Every year Jeff's Uncle Les and Aunt Nancy have a hay ride. It used to be a horse drawn sleigh ride, but it is now a tractor pulled hay ride, with Christmas lights and everything. While you are waiting for your ride, they have a big army tent with a stove to keep it warm, hot chocolate, and bags of popcorn and suckers. It's so fun.
This year they even had a little train for the kids to ride in. Hudson loved it.

Hopefully we'll be able to squeeze in a few more of the activities we had planned. I can't believe Christmas is only a week away!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Friday, November 19, 2010

H:5, J:32


Hudson and Jeff both had birthdays this week. Hudson turned 5!

He started his morning out with a 5 shaped chocolate chip pancake.
Then off to preschool with his birthday treats to share with his class:




That afternoon we had a little birthday party for him with some of his friends. He wanted a "Bolt" themed party, but of course since the movie has been out for quite some time, there are no Bolt themed party things in stores, so I had to get a little creative. I made some homemade invitations with a picture of Bolt on the front.
Hudson asked for a pinata again this year, so this is what I made:


I think it turned out pretty good!

We started the party out with coloring Bolt pictures, then had cake and ice cream, played pin the tail on the donkey, Simon Says, Duck Duck Goose, and ended with the pinata.

He got really spoiled with all the nice gifts his friends brought him, but I didn't get any good pictures.

Hudson's Grandma and Grandpa Bell and Aunt Samantha came and brought Hudson some nice gifts, too, like the DVD "How to Train Your Dragon". I think he's only watched it about 12 times in the last 2 days. :)

I got him a stuffed "Bolt":
Jeff got him a Nerf gun (that had been hiding on a shelf since last Christmas...oops.)
And we also got him a new "big boy" bed and new bedding, painted and rearranged his room. I still need to get some things hung up on the wall, curtains, etc., but I think it turned out so cute! He loves his new bed! (Sorry, bad picture, but it gives you the idea.)


I of course didn't get any pictures of Jeff's birthday 'cause I'm a loser like that. Jeff came home early from work and I took him to the driving range at the golf course and we hit a bucket of balls. Pretty hilarious. Then we had to come home and take Hudson to the doctor for a check up and immunizations. While we were there Jeff ended up getting a flu shot and a pertussis shot...on his birthday, poor baby! Ha.
Then we dropped Hudson off at the neighbors again and went out to dinner and then to a shooting range where we went skeet shooting in the dark. Also hilarious. I hit 3 or 4 targets out of 25...Jeff shot 24 out of 25. I had fun spending time with him doing things he loves and I think he had a pretty good time, too!
I love both my birthday boys so much and hope they had wonderful birthdays!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Cleaning the Office

Wow, my office gets so cluttered so fast with bills and papers and all the random stuff I don't know what to do with while I'm cleaning the rest of the house and it drives me crazy! I finally got around to cleaning it thoroughly today and found some random papers with notes of Hudson's funnies, clear back from February! Oh my I need to do better at keeping up on the paper work around here (and writing down the funny things he says...I know there are a million more...most of them funnier than what I DO write down.)

2/11: Had a dream about a squirrel in a small box. He held the squirrel. It was a bad squirrel.






2/10: I was playing Wii, Hudson had a controller and thought he was playing along, but he wasn't. He said "We're rockstars!"

Started saying things that started with "My body..." :
My body feels thirsty.
My body feels hungry.
My body feels tired.

2/17: Had a dream about monkeys, zebras, and badgers in the basement.

H: Little owies can melt.

One day driving through the snow:
J: What gives you energy?
H: Toast and snow.

I think Jeff and I had just had a conversation about his GPS.
N to H: Find me my flip flops.
H: Why? Are we going in space?
N laughing: No.
H: Are we going to pick up satellites?

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Riders in the Sky


For a few years I've been wanting to take Jeff to a show at the Heber City Cowboy Poetry Gathering for his birthday. He digs that kind of stuff. But for some reason it always seems to come at such a busy time of the month and we're never able to fit it into our schedules. Well, this year I saw a little blip about it on TV and decided we were going...THAT NIGHT! Even though it was the 1st of November and Jeff's birthday isn't until the 18th, I decided it would be an early birthday present.
So I went online and bought tickets. It was for Riders in the Sky combined with the Utah Symphony, so it was a little unique. It sounds like those two don't mix, but if you watch all the old westerns, the music in them is played along with a symphony. So it was pretty cool. The Riders in the Sky are the guys who did the songs in Toy Story 2. Try imagining this song with the Utah Symphony behind it! (Pause music on sidebar to watch the clips --> )




They also had an awesome yodeler there, Sourdough Slim. Our concert was held at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City, so this is obviously not there, but he did this same song and it was insane! Make sure you watch the whole thing on this one!

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Halloween 2010

This year our neighborhood did a trunk-or-treat. I wasn't really excited about it since I like the traditional going door to door and seeing everyone's jack-o-lanterns. But the weather turned out to be cold and rainy, so the trunk-or-treat was held inside our church building, and I ended up being grateful we weren't out in the rain. We were done within an hour and were able to get home early, make dinner in a pumpkin which we took over to our neighbors to share and played Phase 10. So it ended up being a fun night.
Hudson was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle this year. The first year he actually wore the mask to his costume.

Cleaning out pumpkin guts to get ready to carve jack-o-lanterns. Hudson has been asking all week when he could "peel" his pumpkin. I feel bad we never found time until today to get it done.

Checking out his loot.

These are the cupcakes I made for Hudson to take to preschool for his Halloween party.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

New Baby Pics

I went to my first real doctors appointment yesterday (meaning with my OB/GYN, not the fertility center). He said yes, I'm pregnant, and everything looks good! Still 7 more weeks until we find out the gender...I can't wait!

This picture cracks me up. It totally looks like the baby is smiling, but I'm pretty sure that's not what we're really seeing!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

I've Been Tagged!

I was tagged by my friend Misty to answer and post the following questions:

1. Post your favorite picture and explain why.

I don't know if this is my favorite picture ever, but I sure love it and it makes me laugh every time I see it. I just love how fat Hudson was back then, and he was such a fun baby.

2. Time to admit it, name your favorite reality TV show?
Oh there are too many to choose from. At this very second it's probably Giuliana & Bill. Kind of random, I know, but they are going through fertility issues, so that's probably why I like it right now. Plus Bill Rancic is totally hot.

3. If you could go one place in the world where would you go? Who would you take?
I would definitely return to Western Samoa. It's the most wonderful, beautiful place in the world! I would take my love, Jeff!

4. If you won the lottery, name the first three things you'd do with the money?
Well, after becoming a big fan of Dave Ramsey, the first two are pretty boring, but then I'd have to do something fun, too.

1. Pay off all my debt.
2. Put money in savings.
3. Go on a nice, long vacation.

5. What is your main regret in life?
Probably not doing more with my talents. I wish I would have been doing art over all these years, and I slightly regret not going to school for it.

6. Where has your favorite trip been to so far?
See question 3.

7. How did we meet? Am I different from when we met?
Oh gosh, I don't remember. I'm getting too old! Either elementary or jr. high. I'm pretty sure Misty is different now...I hope we're different from our silly teenage selves!

8. Name something that irks you.
Oh gosh. What doesn't irk me? LOL. Hmmm, just the first random thing that comes to my head is when you wash a new article of clothing and it gets ruined the first time through the wash or shrinks in the dryer. Hate that!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Exciting News!


Yep! After 4 1/2 years of trying, endless prayers by us and by countless friends and family, several doctors and finally one amazing fertility clinic, we are FINALLY PREGNANT!

Here's a little run down of "the story" if you want. (It ended up being a little longer than I intended, sorry.)
Obviously we have been trying to get pregnant again for a long time. I've had Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome since before Hudson was born, which basically means I don't ovulate. My eggs don't get big enough to be released, so they stay inside my ovaries and develop into cysts (which are harmless). So the answer is usually a prescription of Metformin which helps to regulate your hormones and blood sugars, and Clomid, which helps you ovulate. Well, I went to doctor after doctor who have me the same dose of Metformin, and the minimal dose of Clomid. Basically they said, pop some pills and good luck. If it didn't work, the doctors would throw up their hands and send me on my way.
Finally I decided it was time to get serious and see someone who knew what they were doing. We had been hesitant about doing this in the first place, thinking we wouldn't be able to afford it. One day I found an ad in a local magazine for the Utah Fertility Center in Pleasant Grove. I just had a good feeling about it and decided to make an appointment. I was a little worried when they started me on the same path I'd already been on...Metformin and Clomid. BUT, they doubled my dose of Clomid, AND they were going to give me and HCG shot to help "boost" the release of an egg.
I was so impressed my first appointment they did and ultrasound of my ovaries and showed me the cysts which was visual proof I hadn't been ovulating. No one had ever done that before. Everyone there was super nice and I was impressed with everything they did. Even Jeff was impressed and for him to say that about a doctor's office is pretty impressive.
Anyway, I took my medication, and had lots of blood work done (the most expensive part of the whole process I think). Then after a couple of weeks I had to take ovulation predictor tests. After a few days of taking tests, I took one and it was positive, so I called the fertility center, they had me come in so they could give me an ultrasound to confirm ovulation. Once I got there, they told me it was a false positive test, meaning I hadn't ovulated yet. My heart sunk. I figured it meant I wasn't going to ovulate that month. But then she said there was good news. I had an egg growing right on schedule, and if it kept growing according to schedule, I would be ready to ovulate in a couple of days. I went back in a couple of days to check if the egg had developed, and it had. That meant it was time for the HCG shot to help the egg pop out of the ovary and send it's on it's way to be fertilized!
As I left the doctors office that day, I drove home without the radio on. As I was driving, I suddenly got an overwhelming feeling that things were going to work out as we wanted...very quickly. I felt overjoyed and peaceful, and knew that my Heavenly Father knew me and wanted me to know he loved me and was aware of the feelings I had had for the last 4 and a half years. I started to cry but had to hold back since I was driving on the freeway and needed to see! But it was a very special experience for me.
Anway, after that, it was the waiting game. The fertility clinic told me to go the hospital for a blood pregnancy test, then they'd call me with the results. I knew I couldn't wait for that, and didn't want to be told whether I was pregnant or not on the telephone by someone I didn't know. So I took a home pregnancy test. At first I was pretty sure it was negative, then a suspicious second line started to show up. I was suspicious because the HCG shot can stay in your system for up to 2 weeks (I was taking my test on day 15) and can give you a false pregnancy test result. I called Jeff and told him I wasn't sure if it was positive or not, but was starting to feel pretty sure it was positive, but didn't want to get my hopes too high until I had my blood test.
So I went to the hospital for my blood test around 11:00. They told me my results would be in in no longer than an hour. It was the longest wait of my life. An hour came and went...no phone call. Two hours. No phone call. I figured maybe they had gone to lunch and would call me as soon as they got back. Another hour. No phone call. This entire time of waiting I couldn't do anything but look at my home pregnancy test. Finally by 3:00 I couldn't stand it anymore and called the fertility clinic to see if the hospital had called them with the results. They said they hadn't so they would call the hospital and call me right back. A few minutes later I got the phone call.... "You're pregnant!"
I was in shock. And overjoyed. And in shock. Still kind of am.
So, we've had a couple of ultrasounds since then and so far so good! I'm 12 weeks along and due April 26th. I only had a couple of weeks of no appetite, but haven't had any real morning sickness. I've only thrown up once while brushing my teeth from brushing too far back and gagging! Otherwise, I've just been tired a lot.
We are so excited! Hudson has already come up with a few names for the baby. "Horns" if it's a boy, and "Smoothie Pie" if it's a girl!
I just want to say thank you to all of our family and friends who have thought of us and prayed for us all these years. We are so thankful for you!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Preschool and Soccer

Wow! It's been a while! Of course Jeff and I haven't done anything exciting lately, although there will be a post soon to follow that will be exciting, so stay tuned. But for now, it's a post all about Hudson.

He started preschool this fall. He was excited to go all summer, but when the morning actually came, he was really reluctant to go. I had to go in with him and stay for a few minutes, then left him in tears. His teacher said he was fine after a minute or two. This went on for a few days, then he got better. I still had to walk him in for a week or two, now he has been going in by himself and is so excited to go to school! He loves it! He has the best teacher and they do the cutest things. I'm always excited to hear about his day and see what he brought home. I have to admit I'm really liking having 6 hours a week to myself, although it goes by really fast. I could go for a few more.
Here are some first day pics: (the best we could get with the ham)

He had to have a Mario backpack since that's what all his friends were getting. Peer pressure in preschool!?



We put Hudson in soccer this year-his first time playing an organized sport. Again, he was really excited when we would talk about it, but once it came time to actually play, he was really hesitant and didn't want to play. We were kind of the mean parents on the sideline bribing and threatening the kid to play, only because we knew once he did it he would love it. We were right. After a couple of weeks (of torture for all of us) he finally wanted to play and he had a blast. His little team was so cute. Pre-k soccer is the most hilarious thing to watch! His team, the coyotes, only scored 2 goals the whole season (in the last two games), but by the end they were finally catching on!
Hudson was so funny. Every time he kicked the ball he would would stop and yell at us "I kicked the ball!" or come running over to tell us and give us 5, all while the game went on around him.
I think it was a great thing for Hudson to learn and grow and get some exercise!
Go Coyotes! Arooooo!



Always "needing" a drink every 5 minutes.

These 3 hooligan friends thought soccer games were actually wrestling matches. They spent most of the games wrestling each other out on the field! :)

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Hudson Funnies

8/12/10: (While cleaning and cutting his fingernails and toenails)
H: I can't believe how you're hurting me!

8/13/10:
H: I. am. a. robot. with. giant. ears.

8/13/10:
H: Is that daddy's shirt?
N: Yes.
H: Why are you wearing it?
N: Because I want to.
H: Well, you won't look handsome. You won't look handsome to me.

8/15/10:
Jeff was looking at shiny gold piece of plastic that looked like it had broken off a toy car.
J: Where did this come from?
H: Maybe a koala bear 'cause koala bears are shiny.

8/20/10:
Hudson saying the family prayer at night:
H: "Please bless Daddy's hair that it will grow".
I busted up laughing and couldn't quit, Hudson was laughing along with me, then after some scowls from Jeff, he finally joined in the laughing too. Needless to say, that was the end of the prayer!

8/24/10:
Hudson put on some headphones and said:
"Do I look like a foolish man?"

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Summer Days...

Here's Hudson layin' out in the sun...

Digging up carrots in the garden.


This is what he made himself for lunch today...

A couple of funnies:

H: (In a robotic voice)
I. am. a. robot.
Welcome. to. meet. you.
How. many. times. do. I. have. to. see. you?

H: (While wrestling with me with his tough guy voice) I'm gonna bust your skills up!
(A minute later) Oh yeah? You're stronger than me. (Not what he intended to say, I'm sure.)

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Snakes and Dragons


Hudson loves the movie Toy Story and quotes it quite a bit. He drew this on the driveway and said "There's a snake in my boot!". I laughed out loud it was so cute!


Here's Hudson sporting 2 of his newest possessions: a wiggle car and dragon jammies with a cape (on clearance at Walmart for $3!). I don't think he'll be without either much this summer.




Oh the things you can do when you're a dragon!

*******************

Hudson just cracks me up with the things he says. I need to do better at writing them down. Here are just a couple of recent ones:

7/13
H: Do you like the shade brown?

7/12
H: Can I have more ingredients? (noodles)

He also gets a kick out of calling me names that I have no idea where he hears them. The only ones I can remember right now are Amanda, Savannah, Dorthea, and Miss Johnson???

He also has a pretty wicked cowboy and English accent. He's such a funny kid.