The Story Family

Trick or Treat 2010

2010-11-02T14:20:00.002-05:00

Mason, Brooklyn, Caitlyn, Addyson, and Hudson ready to start Trick or Treating! We met at Dodie and PeeWee's house and made the rounds. Mason and Brooklyn lead the pack, running from house to house! They were adorable!

My pirates were too busy for a picture, so this will have to do!

I hope you all had a Happy Halloween!

Halloween Festivities...so far!!!

2010-10-28T19:28:00.004-05:00

Halloween isn't even here yet, but we have been celebrating since last weekend. My pictures are out of sequence, but you can see a little of what we have been up to. Here is Mason with his two sweet friends, Whitney and Waverley at his party at school.

Mason's whole 3-year old class after Trunk or Treating this afternoon. They all had a blast going to each trunk and filling their bags with all of the great treats!

I love Mason's expression as he is checking out all of the decorated trunks. There were spiders, scarecrows, Batman, pumpkins and much more!

Hudson's class collected lots of goodies, too. They were a little more skeptical about all of the decorations, but they loved their candy!!

Hudson carrying his heavy load! Actually, he didn't want to put any of his candy in his bucket. He carried as much as he could in his hands and when they were full, he would pass the candy to me to hold. If I put it in his bucket, he would just scream and take it out. I guess he thought someone might get it if he wasn't holding onto it!!!

Hudson, Mason, Carter and Ally before school.

Dodie had a Halloween Party at her house last weekend. When the party was over, she gathered the grandkids to carve pumpkins. They had a great time and Dodie carved some awesome pumpkins!

Mason playing the Witch Ring Toss at the Halloween Party.

Hudson checking out the Hula Hoops.

Brooklyn, Caitley, Addyson and Mason before the fun began!

I took the boys to the pumpkin patch to check out all of the different pumpkins. I couldn't get a good picture of them except when they each took a break and had a seat on a pumpkin. At least it's a picture, right?

Mason and his choosen pumpkin.

First Dove Hunt 2010

2010-09-16T14:43:00.003-05:00

Mason, Scott, Carter and Mr. Sam went Dove Hunting last Friday evening and had a blast! Mason was so excited to "shoot" some birds with his buddy (don't worry it's just a BB Gun!) Sam and Scott shot the birds, then let Carter and Mason "shoot." Mason has been begging to go back every day since. Hopefully they will have many more hunts together!

Mason and Carter ( I don't know why the picture is flipped, sorry!)

My boys before the hunt. Hudson was sad he didn't get to go, but it won't be long until he's tagging along!

Cash even got to go along for the hunt!

Mason so excited he could barely stand still for a picture!

First Day of Mother's Day Out 2010

2010-08-31T14:15:00.004-05:00

Both of my babies started Mother's Day Out today. Mason woke up ready to go to school and see his teachers and friends, but Hudson was a little more skeptical. But the good new is, they both went into their classes without a problem and were smiling and happy when I picked them up this afternoon!

I really wanted a picture of both of them this morning, but Hudson was not participating. This is the best that I could get!

Mason ready for his first day in the 3 year old class.

Hudson ready for his first day in the Toddler class.

Hudson heading down the sidewalk toward school. I don't know how he got this big!

Mason and Hudson ready with their backpacks and lunch boxes in hand.

Hudson, Mason and Whitney meeting in the parking lot. The sun was a little bright this morning! Mason is lucky enough to have Whitney in his class. He told me they even sat together at lunch. Well, actually Whitney sat by him because she likes him so much, is what he said! How cute!

Big brother showing Hudson the ropes as they wait for the doors to open to head to their classrooms. Hudson got a little clingy when we got inside the school, but was fine after we found his classroom.

Hudson in his class, playing with the puppy puzzle.

Mason checking in before he starts the day in his class

And since the boys were being well cared for at school, several Mommy's got together for brunch at Margo's and treated ourselves to pedicures!

Happy First Day of School!

Lost Pines Vacation 2010

2010-08-30T21:24:00.003-05:00

This past weekend, our family went to Lost Pines in Bastrop for one last get-away before the boys start Mother's Day Out. We have heard so many wonderful things about it, so we had to try it out. It was amazing! The boys played hard for two days straight. They swam in the pool, floated the Lazy River, ran on the splash pad, rode bikes, played on the playground, went on a wagon ride, roasted Smores, and much more. They even had a kid-sized buffet with "kid foods" like mac and cheese, hamburgers, fruit and cookies, of course. If your family is looking for a "kid-friendly" place to vacation, this was a great spot!

The kid's buffet!

Scott and Mason in front of a huge Pecan Tree.

The cute playhouse on the back porch of the hotel. Mason called it "Mason's Hotel" all weekend and designated one room as his and the other as Hudson's.

Mason loved riding this tricycle all weekend. They even had small ride-on toys for Hudson, but he'd rather try to ride the big bikes with training wheels. Oh my!

We did lots of relaxing!

Chilling out in the Lobby.

Roasted Marshmellows and made Smores on the last night.

Got to check out the Lost Pines Longhorns, T-Bone and Ribeye. Aren't those appropriate names for cows?

And even went on a horse-drawn wagon ride around the facilities.

New Hobby

2010-08-02T15:14:00.004-05:00

The golfer getting ready

Pee Wee giving some pointers

Uncle Bubba getting his stance and grip all lined up

Look at that form. A pro already!

Watching his ball down the fairway

Putting it in

Cooling off!

I think Mason has found his new hobby! Scott, my dad and brother took Mason golfing yesterday for the first time. When Mason heard that Scott was going to play golf, he was determined to go with him. So off they went in the heat of the day to play. I was on stand-by because we all assumed he would play one hole and be bored and hot. But, that was not the case at all! He stayed and played all 18 holes!!!! Can you believe it? He had the best time and was already asking this morning if he could play golf today. He even slept with a golf ball last night! I see many more golfing adventures ahead!:)

Family Reunion at the Lake

2010-06-15T19:11:00.005-05:00

The whole crew, minus Hudson, he was napping.

Enjoying a dip in the pool before hitting the lake

Hudson and Jackson playing in the dirt

Riding in the boat

Pushing a load of dirt

Working hard

Mason and Hudson playing with the dump trucks once again. A huge hit this weekend!

This past weekend we went to the Jones Family Reunion (Mom's side of the family) at Lake Buchanan. The kids played and played and played. There were tons of kids all around the same age and lots of chatting with cousins. I can't wait to go again next year and see how much the kids of changed and to catch up again with family!

Fearless!

2010-06-06T21:01:00.002-05:00

The cousins (Mason, Hanna, Hudson, and Bradley)

Hanna and Hudson

Mason waiting for his turn

Hudson chillin' in the pool

My boys have become fearless around water this summer! We went to Round Rock last weekend and swam at Volente Beach with Scott's parents Saturday, then went to his brother's house Sunday to play on their big water slide. Hudson had as much fun, if not more, than the big kids. They are going to keep us on our toes this summer!:)

San Antonio 2010

2010-05-31T20:38:00.004-05:00

Last weekend we headed to San Antonio to the JW Marriott Resort for a little family vacation with my parents and brother's family. We planned to get there Thursday and hang around the hotel, go to Sea World Friday, play at the pool all day Saturday and head home Sunday. Well, we should have known that all would not go as planned. Hudson started running a low-grade fever Wednesday evening, so I took him to the doctor Thursday to make sure his ears and throat were clear. Doc said he was fine, probably just teething. So we picked Mason up from his last day of preschool and got on the road.

We reached the beautiful hotel and knew that we were set for a fabulous weekend with our family. We enjoyed good food at the hotel restaurant that night and took Mason swimming in the amazing kids pool. The kids pool was 2 ft deep at its deepest and had three slides, fountains, everything. Mason loved it!

Friday we loaded up to head to Sea World and on the drive began to notice that Hudson was not feeling well and Sea World was not going to be good for him. So we dropped everyone off and took Hudson to the doctor. Unfortunately, he was not going to be able to participate in the rest of the vacation. We got a lot of one-on-one time playing in the hotel room.

But Mason loved Sea World! Aunt Kara even had connections that made it possible for them to got behind the scenes and pet a baby penquin and a whale. How fun!

The rest of our vacation was spent swimming and doing activities at the hotel. I even was able to enjoy a massage!!! It was a great start to our summer, just hopefully next time Hudson will be able to participate a little more.

Happy summer!

Mason taking a break

Hudson was finally feeling a little better before we left on Sunday so he was running in the grass with the other kiddos.

Friday Night was Smores night out at the fire pit, so we headed out to get a snack before bedtime.

Mason enjoyed every bite!

This is my attempt at getting all four of the "big" kids to take a picture together. They are all looking, right? (Brookly, Caitlyn, Mason, Addyson)

One of the kids activities was to paint a rubber duck and race it around the Lazy River. Mason is concentrating on giving his duck just the right "look" for the race.

There was even an arcade that the boys loved. The racing games were their favorites!

Hudson checking out our toy box in the hotel room. All he wanted to wear was his diaper and hat. Go figure!

Mason had a blast at the kid pool, but his all-time favorite was the big-huge intertube slide that he rode over and over again with Scott and I. Last summer this child would not even let water splash on his face and this summer he is going down big slides. What a difference a year makes!

Swimming with the armadillo

Mason and Daddy stopping for a picture before going down the slides again.

Quality Time

2010-05-12T13:32:00.002-05:00

My grandma, Nanny, has been with us this week. The boys have loved spending time and playing with their great-grandma. I love seeing my boys make memories with Nanny because I cherish all of the memories I have with her and continue to make each time we get together. It is so special to see the bonds growing stronger between Nanny and my boys!

Nanny and the boys

Loving their snuggle and tv time with Nanny

Hudson

Mason

Sweet brothers

Slippin' and Slidin'

2010-05-06T09:55:00.004-05:00

Mason and Sophia loving the Slip and Slide!

Ready, Set, Go!

Hudson watering the grass

Playing with Ms. Margo

All three enjoying a popsicle after their fun in the sun!

We went to play at Sophia's house yesterday afternoon. The boys ran, splashed and slid for two hours straight! I'm so glad we have good friends that love to enjoy the sunny weather with us!

Happy Almost Summer!:)

March of Dimes Walk

2010-05-02T20:34:00.002-05:00

Saturday morning we headed to the March of Dimes Walk to walk with team "Gidley Girls." The boys were loaded up in the jogging stroller and had their fans in hand, courtsey of Pee Wee. We had a great time and even better, money was raised to support a great cause!

After the walk, we headed to Conroe for the afternoon. It was a busy day, but we all had a great time. We even got to see Nana, Papa, Gran and Aunt Jack!

I hope you had a great weekend, too!

Baseball Players

2010-04-28T09:20:00.003-05:00

Mason really enjoys playing baseball in the backyard. So, last weekend Scott bought a "real" bat and baseballs, along with bases for him to practice "big boy" baseball. He impressed us with his skills!

Hudson isn't going to let Big Brother out do him. He's ready for baseball, too! It was so cute watching him run after Mason around the bases.

Loving these boys!

March of Dimes

2010-04-20T15:01:00.002-05:00

As many of you know, my precious nieces were premature and had to spend many weeks in the hospital after their birth. Thanks to the March of Dimes and their research, Addyson, Brooklyn and Caitlyn are beautiful, healthy little girls. Please take a minute to check out Kara's post about the upcoming March of Dimes walk. If you can donate to this great cause and/or join us May 1st in College Station for the walk, please do so.

Give your babies a big hug and a kiss today, for each child is truly a blessing and a gift from God!

Buddies

2010-04-08T21:01:00.002-05:00

Hudson met some buddies at the park last weekend and had a blast. I can't believe Kandi got one with them all looking at the camera and looking content. Way to go, Kandi!

We look forward to many more playdates with these guys. :)

A Happy Easter

2010-04-05T09:53:00.006-05:00

The gang- Addyson, Caitlyn, Brooklyn, Hudson, Mason, Whitney

Mason

Precious Caitlyn

Adorable Addyson

Sweet Brooklyn

Daddy and the boys after the hunt.

Dodie and Hudson

Hudson putting one egg in the basket, all of the others he threw because he thought they were balls.

Mason gathering up all of the eggs.

The boys enjoying their Kit Kat's that the Easter Bunny left on the back porch!

We hope everyone had a fantastic Easter!

School Egg Hunt

2010-04-01T14:06:00.002-05:00

Mason had his Easter Egg Hunt at school this morning. His teachers had such a great idea! Each kid brought an egg carton and used it to collect their eggs. This way each child hunted for the same number of eggs and no one had more than anyone else. So smart, Miss Sara and Miss Andrea!

Mason is showing off his eggs here! He barely made it in the door this afternoon without opening them all up to see what goodies were hidden inside.

Hudson had to help with the hunt, too!

He just had to check to see what was inside:)

I hope everyone has a wonderful Good Friday and Easter Holiday!

I love when Mason reminds me of the true meaning of holidays. When he got in the car today, I asked what he learned in chapel. He told me they put flowers on a cross because that is where Jesus died. I told him that Jesus died for us and we would get to see him in Heaven one day. A huge smile spread across his face! I love teaching my babies about my Heavenly Father.

The Past Few Weeks

2010-03-30T14:49:00.003-05:00

It has been a busy past few weeks around the Story household!

Mason had Cowboy Day at school. He made a stick horse to take through an obstacle course, got to roast marshmellows at the campfire, dig for treasure and make Trail Mix! He had a blast and was the cutest little cowboy!

I had a doctor's appointment in Houston, so Mom and I decided to make a little trip out of it. We spent the night in a hotel with the boys and took them to the Hermann Park Zoo. I think the highlight for Mason was staying in a hotel. Both boys loved the zoo. Hudson loved trying to make the sounds of each of the animals, while Mason was interested in what each animal ate and where they lived. I foresee a lot of zoo trips this Spring and Summer!

Then I went to New York for a few days with some girlfriends. We stayed in my cousins apartment, which was in a perfect location. We walked through Central Park, looked at the Statue of Liberty, shopped in SoHo and ate lots of good food! We had a blast!

Last, the boys went on an Easter Egg hunt this weekend at Mom and Dad's church. Mason was a pro at finding all of the eggs. Hudson didn't understand that he needed to put the eggs in his basket, so he picked up an egg and threw it at the parked cars. We have a little work to do there!

Hopefully I will be better at posting soon. There is a lot going on and since the weather is finally getting nice, we spend a good part of our day soaking up the sun!

Library Time

2010-03-08T13:45:00.002-06:00

Since the weather is dreary today, I decided to take the boys to the library to check out some books and kill some time before naps. We haven't been to the library in WAY TOO LONG as was apparent by their craziness. At first, they were excited, but calm, and read several books at the kids table. But then Hudson started running away, Mason would try to help by going to get him but Hudson thought he wanted to play chase and the chaos began. I tried to chorral them and head to the check-out line, but they were fired up. I quickly got the books checked out and got them to the car. On the way home Mason said, "I am wild today!" At least he was speaking the truth, right? We may not be heading back to the library for a while!

Snow Fun!

2010-02-24T13:15:00.004-06:00

Can you believe it snowed here yesterday? Mason had a blast playing in the snow and watching the huge snowflakes float down from the sky. At first, he wasn't so sure about what was going on, but after about an hour of snow, he knew it was going to be fun. He just ran and jumped and threw snow until Scott and I were freezing and made him come it. Hudson didn't get to enjoy the snow as much. He spent most of the afternoon napping, so I threw in a picture of him and Mason from a few days ago. They are great buddies that spend most of their days tickling each other, playing trucks, running in circles or playing kitchen. They put a smile on my face each and every day!

New Pics

2010-02-12T14:05:00.001-06:00

We did family pictures about a month ago. Stephanie from Lee Street Photography did an amazing job. Check them out on her website. www.leestreetphotography.com, go to Galleries and Story Family. Thanks so much, Steph!

How do you do it???

2010-01-21T20:22:00.003-06:00

I have been trying to get a good shot of the boys together for a LONG time. I don't know how it is done! I feel like I have tried everything, but either they are both looking away, one is crying, one is running away, something besides looking at me! These are the results from my attempt today. At least they are both standing still, right! :)

Here are some happier shots of my handsome boys. They both were shooting hoops today and having a blast. Hudson quickly learned how to make a basket, following in big brother's footsteps. I feel like I don't have a lot of pictures of Hudson smiling and showing off his personality, so I caught a few smiles on camera today. Enjoy!

Outside Fun!

2010-01-17T20:15:00.002-06:00

The boys and I were SO excited to play outside today! The weather has been so cold and rainy that we haven't been able to get out near as much as we need to (both the boys and me!).

Birthday Boy!

2010-01-10T20:04:00.004-06:00

I can't believe my baby is ONE! The past year has flown by. Hudson is a complete joy to our family. Mason and Hudson are best buddies and play together really well. We had our family over to celebrate with lunch and cake. Hudson LOVED his cake and was covered with cake and icing from head to toe. He had to take a trip straight to the tub!

Hudson gave us a birthday treat, too. He started walking!!! He is going everywhere, from toy to toy, person to person, and even to other rooms. It is so fun to see him accomplish this milestone. We are so proud of our big boy!!!

***For some reason I can't write anything by my pictures, sorry! If anyone knows how to fix this, please let me know. I think they are all out of order, too. Sorry!***

Guitar buddies

2010-01-10T19:58:00.002-06:00

The boys had a blast this afternoon playing their guitars on the bed with Daddy. I love seeing all of my boys hanging out together, having a good time! I know there will be many more moments like these!:)

A Christmas Post.....Finally!!!

2010-01-07T09:45:00.002-06:00

We had a fun-filled Christmas this year! Both boys loved all of the Christmas lights, trees and gift-giving that came along with this special time of year. Mason loved looking at the Christmas lights, so we drove through the "free" display many times. We went to Breakfast with Santa, which was a fundraiser for Mason's school. Both boys sat with Santa, but Hudson was entranced by the white beard. We also got to see Mason sing "Go Tell it on the Mountain," and "Away in a Manger" at his school's Christmas program. He did a great job!

Christmas morning was a little overwhelming to the boys. Mason got his first "big boy" bike and Hudson got a ride-on toy, which they both loved. Scott and I loved seeing their faces as they took in all of the many sights of Christmas this year. Mason is beginning to really understand the true meaning of Christmas, which is so sweet to us.

I am glad that we are getting back into our daily routine, but we had an amazing holiday season. Can't wait until next year!

Check back tomorrow.....someone is turning 1!!!!!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Mason!

2009-11-30T21:21:00.000-06:00

Tot Clock Giveaway

2009-11-23T22:33:00.001-06:00

My friend Lindsey is giving away a really cool gadget. It's called the Tot Clock and will have your kiddos sleeping like a pro. Right, Lindsey?? You have to go to Adam and Andrew's blog to enter. Hurry, you have to leave a comment by midnight tonight!

Food Bank Challenge

2009-11-18T09:24:00.002-06:00

Here is a challenge that we are going to do. I challenge you to stretch your $10 and make a difference! Click the link on the left side of my blog for more information.

Leave me a comment if you plan on participating in this challenge. It is something small we can do that will make a huge difference in someones life!

Carnival

2009-11-10T10:30:00.003-06:00

Driving the trucks with Sophia

Flying on the super fast whales, these spun around and flew up in the air. We thought Mason would be scared, but he had a huge smile on his face the whole time!

Ringing the bells on the boat.

Choo-Choo!!!!

The BIG prize that Daddy won for Mason. Way to go, Daddy!

Riding on the huge slide with Daddy.

Flying on Dumbo.

Halloween '09

2009-11-01T11:40:00.005-06:00

Happy Halloween from Cowboy Mason and Hudson the Horse!

I love this picture! Mason saying "trick or treat" at probably his favorite house of the night. They had a hand sticking out of a plant (see on the right) that Mason was so intrigued by. He wanted to just hang out and check out their cool decorations.

My precious horse. He's way too busy these days to stop and smile for the camera so I get this look often.

Hitting the streets for some candy with Austin, Kynlee, Hudson and Mason.

The whole gang, Mason, Hudson, Caitlyn, Brooklyn and Addyson.

Halloween has been a week long event at our house. Last weekend was the Halloween Party at Aunt Sammye's, Thursday was Trunk or Treat at Mason's school, Friday was a Hay Ride and Trick or Treating in our neighborhood and last night was finally the real thing....HALLOWEEN!!!

We headed to Dodie and PeeWee's house after the Aggie game and got ready to see some of the neighbors. Mason has been practicing saying "trick or treat" for about 2 weeks now, so he was excited to finally use his new phrase. The weather was perfect and we had a great time with the Three Little Pigs (aka Addyson, Brooklyn and Caitlyn) and Austin and Kynlee. We had a great time and I think I had the most adorable cowboy and horse ever!

Pumpkins and Party

2009-10-29T19:18:00.004-05:00

Last night we carved our pumpkins to get ready for Halloween. Mason was really much more into the cleaning and carving then I thought he would be. Here he is with his prized pumpkins!

Mason and Daddy getting all of the seeds and "guts" out of the pumpkin.

Getting ready.

At Mason's school today they had Trunk or Treating, but the weather didn't quite cooperate so they trunk or treated in the hallways. Here is Mason's class before they headed out to collect their goodies. Look at how talk he is compared to his classmates. My goodness!

We had to snag a picture with one of his best buddies Queen Sophia!

Mason and Adam were comparing their loot. I walked up to the table and heard Adam saying, "It's Halloween!" and Mason answered him back with, "How much did you get?" It was so funny listening to them carry on their very important conversation about the amount of candy they recieved. So cute!

I had to include a picture of my little guy. His favorite thing to do these days is pull up on ANYTING AND EVERYTHING! His balance is getting better and better. I am predicting that we will have a walker by his birthday.

And here's one last group shot of Mason's class about to head back to their room after making the rounds. They had a great time and Mason is looking forward to our neighborhood party tomorrow and Trick or Treating on Saturday. We have a busy few days ahead! More pictures to come...

Halloween Party

2009-10-27T10:04:00.003-05:00

Cowboy Mason (The guns were the biggest hit!)

Caitlyn, Whitney, Mason, Addyson and Brooklyn

Whitney and Mason

Playing Ring Toss

Enjoying snacks and juice

On Saturday afternoon, Aunt Sammye had a Halloween Party for all the kids. It was so much fun!!! She did an amazing job putting games together, like ring toss, bean bag toss, fishing, bowling and even had delicious snacks for everyone. Hudson had to stay home with Daddy because he was running a fever, so just Mason and I went. Hopefully he will be ready to trick-or-treat this weekend in his costume.

One Proud Mama!

2009-10-27T10:01:00.002-05:00

Last night before Mason went to bed

we were coloring. He wanted to make an "M" so I drew some dots for him to trace and he did a fairly good job. Then he grabbed another piece of paper and wanted to write his name. Being a teacher, I was beyond excited that he was wanting to write!!! So we did one letter at a time and I didn't help him. So here is my sweet Mason's first time to write his name! Aren't you so proud?!?!

Dear God...

2009-10-21T20:22:00.002-05:00

As Mason was picking these beautiful "flowers" out of the yard today, he was saying:

"Dear God,

Thank you for making these beautiful flowers for my Mommy!"

Ahh, melt my heart!

Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-21T20:12:00.003-05:00

We took the boys to the Pumpkin Patch yesterday to pick out pumpkins to decorate. They had fun checking out all of the pumpkins. Mason at one point had about 10 pumpkins lined up in the grass. Hudson enjoyed picking his out, too!

Picking out a good one. (Sorry, I don't know why this one is side ways.)

Such a big boy posing with the pumpkins.

Sweet brothers!

Ranch-Time Fun!!!

2009-10-19T20:07:00.004-05:00

All ready to go in his camo.

Practicing for the big hunt.

Getting ready to head off to hunt with PeeWee.

Playing under the carport while Mason was hunting.

"Hunting" for deer from inside the house. (Addyson, Caitlyn, Brooklyn, Hudson)

My Dad's birthday was this past weekend, so we all loaded up to head to the Ranch to celebrate. The weather was beautiful, so we spent a lot of time outside playing. The kids dug in the rocks, drove their dumptrucks, rode on the Gator, ran, played baseball and so much more! Mason even went hunting with Scott and my dad on two different afternoons. He was a little disappointed that they didn't get to "gun" a deer, but maybe next time. He was all decked out in his camo and took his new gun that my dad bought him. It is a play gun that is very realistic to teach little ones how to safely handle a gun. This was our first trip to use it!

We had a great time, hopefully we can go back again soon! Happy Birthday, PeeWee!

Snackin'...

2009-10-15T20:48:00.004-05:00

On Watermelon!!! The boys got up from their nap yesterday and Mason wanted some watermelon. As soon as Hudson saw Mason eating, he had to have some, too. They both had watermelon juice dripping from their chins, LOVING every bite!

Backyard Fun!

2009-10-12T20:51:00.002-05:00

Cruising around watching the dogs.

Looking for deer.

Champ and Cash playing "Keep Away."

It finally wasn't cold and raining this afternoon, so we headed outside to play for a little bit.

Everyone, including the dogs, were beyond excited to run and play. Hudson was "running" all over the patio and into the grass in his walker, while Mason was playing soccer, driving his dump truck and playing on his "playground."

Game Day

2009-10-12T20:45:00.003-05:00

Scott and Mason went to the Aggie game Saturday. Mason was so excited to go, but unfortunately the weather was cold and yucky. He stayed until a little before half time and then I picked him up. He was so cute dressed in his Aggie gear to head out with Daddy. Whoop!

Morning with my boys

2009-10-03T10:17:00.003-05:00

Yummy Sweet Potato Pancakes from the Deceptively Delicious cookbook.

Mason "cooking" up his desserts.

Hudson eating his "food" rather than "cooking."

It's just me and the boys this weekend, so we decided to make Mason's favorite for breakfast this morning....Sweet Potato Pancakes. Mason helped me get them ready, then both boys "cooked" while I finished up the cooking. Hudson got to try pancakes for the first time this morning and LOVED them, too. I think these are going to become a staple in our house. Since they do have about 3/4 of a sweet potato in them, I don't feel bad about pancakes for breakfast. They are getting in their veggies, right?!?

Silly Boy

2009-10-01T10:07:00.001-05:00

Here is Hudson's new face that he likes to make. You just can't help but smile at this silly boy!

Have a great day and SMILE!!!

Play Date

2009-09-21T19:13:00.002-05:00

Sophia and her parents came over for dinner and to play last night. After dinner, we heard these two laughing up a storm. We went to see what was so funny. We found out they were playing "light sticks" with the crayons and thought it was hilarious!

Oh, how the laughter of little ones can make your heart smile!

Ready...Set...Go!

2009-09-14T20:15:00.002-05:00

Disney Live

2009-09-12T21:04:00.003-05:00

This was his expression during the whole show!

The whole gang, Mason, Addyson, Brooklyn and Whitney. Caitlyn was sitting on the back row with Dodie.

Mason and Whitney clapping and dancing to the music.

Mason and his Handy Manny toolbox he got after the show.

We took Mason to Disney Live Friday night and he LOVED it!!! He wore a grin from ear to ear the whole show. He really got into the music when they wanted everyone to do the "Hot Dog" dance from Mickey Mouse. His only disappointment was that Pluto didn't show up. We told him he was napping in his dog house and that seemed to make him happy. All of the Disney characters from his favorite cartoons were there, Mickey and the gang, Handy Manny, Little Einsteins and Tigger and Pooh! He had a blast!

Baby H

2009-09-12T21:01:00.000-05:00

Here's my new favorite picture of Baby H!

Brothers

2009-09-10T09:48:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was a rainy day, so we had fun at home playing! Mason and Hudson have started playing together more. Or at least playing with the same things, so I snapped some pictures yesterday. Mason loves to play with puzzles, so Hudson joined in the action yesterday.

Hudson wants anything and everything that Mason has. Being the sweet big brother that he is, Mason gave him this toy to play with (i.e. chew on).

Next thing I knew there was a band playing. I had gone to do some laundry and when I returned Mason was drumming and Hudson was playing the bells and tamborine. It was noisy, but they were having a blast!

My little drummer

Following in his brother's footsteps

Hudson has graduated to sitting in the bathtub like a big boy this week. I can't believe he is big enough to sit and play, but he is. Mason likes taking a bath and splashing with him, too, which makes our job easier because we can get them both bathed at the same time.

I love seeing these two boys play together. I know we will have our fair share of arguments down the road, but they are precious giving toys to one another and watching each other in complete awe. I am so in love with my baby boys!

Future Fightin' Texas Aggies

2009-09-05T20:20:00.001-05:00

This afternoon I took the boys to see one of my best friends growing up and her little boy, Cash. They were all in their Aggie gear so we had to get a picture. Mason didn't want to participate, so here are the little guys. Hudson and Cash are about 2 months apart. Whoop!!!

P.S. Not sure why there is a line in the middle of the picture, but it's the best one I had.

Up and going!

2009-09-03T09:40:00.002-05:00

Hudson has not been happy staying in one place lately. Whether we have him playing on the floor, jumping in his jumper, or swinging, he doesn't seem to be content for long. So, I decided to get out the walker. From the first second that I put him in, he was grinning from ear to ear and cruising all over the house. He is a pro at moving backwards and has figured out that by jumping he can move forward. I will say I have a much happier camper on my hands, thanks to the walker!

First Day of School

2009-09-01T09:23:00.002-05:00

Today was Mason's first day back at school. He was excited to go and be in the "big kid" class this year. Last year we had a difficult time at drop off throughout the whole year, with crying every day. So I have to say I was a little skeptical to drop him off because I didn't want him to cry. Well, I had nothing to worry about. He ran right into the classroom and started playing without even looking back to Scott or me. We both kissed him goodbye and he was on with his day. It is amazing what a summer of growing and a year of difficult goodbyes can bring. I think he is going to have an amazing year and I look forward to all of the things he will learn with Mrs. Sara and Mrs. Andrea!

With Daddy before heading out. Doesn't he look so big?

I had to throw in a picture of the little man. He is sitting up by himself and playing all of the time. He is working on crawling, but he's not there yet. I am getting the walker from Kara today, so I think he will be a happy camper when he can move around. Both of my boys are growing up so fast!

Vacation '09

2009-08-25T21:05:00.004-05:00

We spent last week in Port Aransas with my family. All of the kids had a blast playing in the pool, in the sand at the beach and the Aquarium. Hudson wanted to be right in the action with the big kids. At the beach, he was only happy when he was in the direct sun splashing in the water. I guess he's going to be a water baby like the rest of them!

Mason and the girls pushed their dump trucks around the back patio while swimming in the baby pool and enjoyed filling them with sand at the beach.

Friday we went to the Aquarium in Corpus. Mason ran from exhibit to exhibit checking out the animals. His favorite by far were the otters. For some reason over the past few weeks, he has been asking me what an otter looks like. I tried to describe it to him and even showed him a few pictures, but when he saw one in real life he loved it! Hudson was mesmerized by the bright colors and fish swimming by. He enjoyed watching the dolphins jump out of the water during the dolphin show, as well.

Mason and the girls (Addyson, Caitlyn, Brooklyn) posing before dinner one night.

The silly girls enjoying the baby pool. (Caitlyn, Addyson, Brooklyn)

There will be pictures from the actual beach soon, but I didn't want to take my brand new camera down to the water to get sandy and salty. Mom had her camera and is getting the pictures to me soon! We had a great time and look forward to many more vacations!!

Family

2009-08-25T20:54:00.004-05:00

This past weekend we went to Austin to visit with Scott's family that was in town from Italy. We had so much fun catching up with cousins, aunts, uncles and Gran. Here is a picture of everyone hanging out for the afternoon.

This was also the first time that all of the cousins had been together. Since Sean and Antonio live in Italy, it is a little difficult to get them all together. Gran loved seeing them all play together. Can you tell that Hanna is a little out numbered by the boys?

Random Pics!

2009-08-03T13:42:00.002-05:00

Jace, Riley and Mason enjoying a tasty treat after eating lunch this afternoon.

Hudson sitting in a big boy high chair for the first time when we went to eat dinner the other night.

My sweet hubby and me at my 10 year high school reunion last weekend.

Just thought I would share a glimpse into our past week. Enjoy!

Thumb-Sucker!

2009-07-24T13:26:00.002-05:00

I think we may have a "thumb-sucker" on our hands!

Bounce with the Cousins

2009-07-24T13:21:00.003-05:00

Addyson, Mason, Brooklyn and Jackson climbing up the slide.

Mason and Brooklyn

Caitlyn

Mason went to Bounce yesterday afternoon with his cousins Addyson, Brooklyn, Caitlyn, and Jackson. They had so much fun jumping and running everywhere. I didn't get a picture of them all together, but here are a few to share!

Story Vacation

2009-07-20T11:28:00.003-05:00

Bradley, Mason and Hanna had fun learning how to play Chinese Checkers with Nana. Mason really didn't get the hang of it, but loved playing with the marbles. Maybe next year he will grasp the concept a little better!

The dump truck, sh0vels and buckets were the biggest hits with Mason. He pushed the truck for hours and dug many buckets full of sand.

The cousins posing in a huge shark's mouth when we went into town one afternoon.

Hudson sacked out on the beach while the older kids played.

Roasting marshmellows on our last night.

This past weekend we went with Scott's family to Port Aransas. We had a blast playing on the beach, at the pool, playing games inside, roasting marshmellows and much more! The trip down was a little rough, but once we were there the kids played and played and played. Mason was so tired when we got home that we put him to bed at 7:30 last night and I had to wake him up this morning at 8:40 because we had to take Hudson to a doctor's appointment. We can't wait to do it again next year!

6 Months Old!

2009-07-10T13:36:00.002-05:00

Can you believe my baby is already 6 months old? The time has flown by with baby Hudson. We had his 6 month check-up yesterday and I just wanted to pass on his new stats. He is one big, healthy boy!

Weight: 17 pounds 10 ounces (50th percentile)

Length: 29 3/4 inches (95th percentile)

4th of July

2009-07-05T20:03:00.002-05:00

We spent the past weekend in Round Rock with Scott's family. We went swimming, ate LOTS of good food, took pictures with cousins, saw friends, and played. It was a busy weekend but so fun! Hudson played inside where it was cool most of the time, while his "older" cousins and brother played outside at Nana's house.

Mason and Bradley drove their Jeeps all over Nana and Papa's yard, down the slides and crashed into everything in sight. Oh what fun these boys have together!

Charging on with his Jeep.

We went to watch the fireworks in Cedar Park and it was a zoo! We parked blocks and blocks away from the park where we watched, but it was worth it once we got to our final destination. Papa bought light sticks for all of the kids so they had a blast waving and swirling with their sticks waiting for the show to start. It was after 11 when we got home, but they all enjoyed it. Even Hudson was mesmerized by the flashing lights and loud booms from the fireworks. It was an action-packed weekend full of fun and memories!

Firefightin' With Uncle Adam

2009-07-05T19:51:00.003-05:00

A family shot when we were visiting Uncle Adam at the Fire Station.

My big boys!

Mason and Uncle Adam having a blast spraying the water in the road and on cars.

Mason and Uncle Adam

Driver Mason talking on his headset.

We went to Round Rock to visit Scott's family for the 4th of July weekend. Scott's brother, Adam, is a fireman in Cedar Park so we decided to take the boys to see him at the Fire Station while we were there. Mason loved the fire truck, especially when Uncle Adam let him drive and talk on the headset to Daddy. After he drove for quite a while, Mason and Uncle Adam sprayed the big water hose out in the street and "washed" one of the other firemen's car. At the end of the tour, Mason and Hudson both got their own fire helmets and other goodies. Thanks, Uncle Adam, for a wonderful afternoon!

Hudson's Dedication

2009-06-30T13:21:00.002-05:00

This Sunday Hudson was dedicated at church. So many of our family and friends came to support us in promising to raise our baby boy in the church and to teach him about God. I didn't get as many pictures from the day as I would have liked, but here are the best ones that I came out with.

Mason and Daddy were playing after the church service. Our family and friends came over, too, to enjoy a brunch to celebrate our little Hudson.

Miss Renee did a great job during the service. She even included Mason in the service, which he thought was really special.

Nanny and Hudson were cuddling together after church. He was pretty worn out after a full morning at church and visiting with friends. We are so thankful for all of our family and friends that joined us Sunday. You really helped make it a special day for our family!

My Boys!

2009-06-25T15:15:00.001-05:00

I am so blessed!!!!

Our Cash Baby

2009-06-25T11:42:00.004-05:00

Cash is demonstrating "down" for us. Even with us standing right there he stayed. It was amazing!

Scott, Mason and Cash. Cash was super excited to see Mason.

Hudson checking everything out.

Me and Cash before we headed back to College Station.

As many of you know, Cash has been at Doggy School outside of Giddings since Memorial Day. He is learning to sit, down, heal and fetch, along with not barking. We went to check on him yesterday and his progress is amazing! He walked out with his trainer calmly on her left side and sat when she stopped without having to be told. We could tell he was excited to see us, but he continued to do what he was asked. Cash walked up to Mason and gave him a big kiss when he was "free!" They were both so happy to see each other after a month. Mason has been asking for Cash all day today and doesn't quite understand why he didn't come home with us yesterday. We will have to go back to visit soon. Cash has about another month and then we will bring him home to continue working on his good behavior.

Best Buddies!

2009-06-17T19:17:00.002-05:00

I love seeing my boys interact together. They love being together. Hudson's eyes light up when he sees his big brother. Mason has started asking to play with Hudson. When I ask what they are going to play, the answer is usually "monster trucks." Mason lines up all of his trucks and we put Hudson on his quilt to watch. Also today Hudson was playing on the floor and Mason was looking at some books. I left the room and Hudson started crying. I heard Mason tell him, "It's okay Hudson, Mommy will be right back." It just melts my heart! My prayer from the time I found out I was having another little boy was that they would be best friends. So far they are!

Fun at the Lake

2009-06-17T19:04:00.003-05:00

Mommy and Hudson hanging out in the shade at Hanna's party

Mason in mid-scream at the lake. He was having a blast!

It was naptime, so Hudson just sprawled out.

Hudson admiring Hanna.

Scott and Mason floating in the lake.

(Disclaimer: Scott wanted me to add to this that the water park we were swimming in requires life jackets. He wanted everyone to know that he doesn't normally wear one while tubing!:)

This past weekend was a blast. First we went to Lake Buchanan for a Family Reunion on my mom's side. We played outside all day Saturday and ate lots of great food! Mason met so many of his cousins, while Scott and I got to visit with family, too. Scott rented a boat and took everyone out for rides and tubing. Mason and I had so much fun tubing before the lake got too choppy. We were so busy playing and keeping up with kiddos at the Family Reunion that I don't have any pictures. I am so upset for not taking any pictures. Before I knew it the weekend was over and I didn't have any pictures to document the weekend. I will do better next year, I promise!

After we left the Family Reunion, we headed to Hanna's 7th birthday party at a water park on the lake in Marble Falls. Again, Mason had a blast! There was a huge water slide that Mason went down BY HIMSELF! They wouldn't let me go with him, so Scott waited for him at the bottom and he went solo. I couldn't believe it. I was a little nervous, but he loved it!

We were exhausted after our fun at the lake, but had an amazing time!

Brothers

2009-06-04T21:24:00.002-05:00

Mason

Hudson

I decided I needed to take more pictures of the boys, so today I got out my camera ready for some action shots. Hudson was playing in his swing and Mason had piled all of his toys in for him to play with. Hudson choose the colorful rings that Mason loved as a baby, too. I snapped a picture of Hudson and realized it looked very similar to a picture I had of Mason. So I found the pictures to compare the two and wanted you to get a peak, too. Funny how they posed the same!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-05-27T15:06:00.001-05:00

I just had to post these. Mason may hate me later!

Firsts.....Swim and Cereal

2009-05-19T09:40:00.002-05:00

We decided to try out our neighborhood pool a few days ago and it was a hit! Mason liked picking up his diving sticks in the baby pool and swimming with daddy in the big pool. He wanted to swim in the lake too, but we convinced him that the pools were better.

Hudson and I just watched as Daddy and Mason played!

Last night marked a milestone for Hudson, he ate rice cereal for the first time. I remember trying cereal with Mason this young and he was not ready, but Hudson did pretty good. He wasn't sure about the taste or texture (not sure which one), but didn't spit it all back out at me. We will see how the next few nights of cereal go to see if he gets the hang of it.

Girlfriends and Blankie!

2009-05-19T09:34:00.002-05:00

Last week I met two of my girlfriends from high school and their precious boys for lunch. Our boys are all within about 2 months of each other. As you can tell, Hudson is the oldest and Cash and Wade are about 2 weeks apart. Amazingly, lunch went smoothly with no crying. Isn't that amazing with three infants and a two year old? We were pretty proud!

Also last week I gave Hudson his blanket that Dodie made him just to see what he would do. Well....he hasn't put it down. If he is fussy I just give him his blankie and he is a happy camper. He loves looking at the brightly colored tags and holding it in his hands. Mason has a blankie that Dodie made for him and he LOVES it, too. There must be something extra special about these blankies and my boys!

4 months old already!

2009-05-12T21:09:00.003-05:00

Hudson had his 4 month well-visit today. Can you believe he is already 4 months old? I thought I would share his stats with you and what he is doing these days.

Weight: 14 lbs. 12 oz (50th percentile) He has more than doubled his birth weight, 6 lbs. 13 oz.

Length: 26 1/4 inches (90th percentile) He has grown 6 inches in 4 months. Isn't that crazy?

Hudson is rolling over, talking and screeching, grabbing objects in front of him (especially the fish on his swing that makes the music start), watching objects moving in front of him (usually Mason), pushing up on his arms while on tummy time, sleeping 6-8 hour stretches at night, and smiling and laughing all of the time. He is a very happy little boy!

Hudson is truly a blessing to our family!

Jump, Jump, Jumping!

2009-05-04T21:25:00.002-05:00

The boys and I were at Mom and Dad's today since Scott has a little "bug." The weather was beautiful so we were outside most of the morning. While Mason was playing, Mom and I decided Hudson was ready for the Jumperoo. We set him on the porch and he LOVED it! He played in the Jumperoo for about 20 minutes. Mason turned on the jungle animal sounds for him, he stared at the bright polka dots and watched the monkey spin around. I can't believe Hudson is big enough to play in the Jumperoo already, but at the same time I am excited that he now has another option for a place to play. Why do they have to grow up so fast?

March for Babies

2009-05-02T19:47:00.003-05:00

This morning we walked in the March of Dimes 5k with Team Bolline. Two of Mason's classmates, Adam and Andrew, are the March of Dimes Ambassador kids this year, so we walked on their team in support of them. They were born three and a half months early, but are healthy little boys now! In this picture is Sophia, Mason, Andrew and Adam. They are all in Mason's class.

Mason and Sophia were riding buddies this morning. I think they enjoyed seeing all of the different dogs walking with us the most.

They even had warm donuts for everyone before the walk.

This is Mason getting ready to leave the house. He was all smiles since he was going to see his friends.

I know this is a really funny picture of Hudson, but he wanted to show his support for the walk, too. He didn't go to the actual walk because it was too hot and humid for him. So, he got to hang out with Dodie and PeeWee for a couple of hours.

We had a blast this morning and were able to support a great cause. I am so thankful that both of my boys have been healthy and full-term babies, but so many people are not as lucky. March of Dimes is an organization that helps many families and babies each year. If you have an opportunity to support the March of Dimes in the future, please do so!

Storytime!

2009-04-25T16:38:00.000-05:00

My boys!

2009-04-25T16:26:00.002-05:00

Can you believe how much this little guy has grown? He has really lost the "newborn" look and is developing his own little personality. About a week and a half ago he started rolling from his tummy to his back. I can't get him to do any "tummy time" now because he just pushes up on his arms and rolls right over. It is really cute though. Mason only rolled over a handful of times and didn't start rolling until he was almost 5 months old. So it is fun to see Hudson pushing up and rolling already.

Hudson and Scott were sitting on the couch watching the NFL draft this afternoon. Don't you just love those lazy Saturdays?

Aren't they so cute?! Hudson looks so big sitting there.

And here is my big boy! Mason's absolute favorite thing to do is play baseball. Recently he found his bike helmet in the garage and now wears it as his batting helmet when playing ball. He is actually really good at hitting a pitched ball. His eye-hand coordination is incredible for a 2 year old! We will keep practicing so he can be my little baseball player!

I am truly blessed to have my two baby boys and my sweet husband. I love being surrounded by my boys!

The Zoo

2009-04-22T20:16:00.003-05:00

We had a blast today at the Waco Zoo with our cousins, Jackson, Brooklyn, Addyson and Caitlyn. It got a little warm as it got later in the day, but with plenty of sunscreen (a lite blanket for Hudson since he can't wear sunscreen yet), water and Gatorade we loved seeing the animals. Mason's favorites were the cougars (aka Jaguars), elephants and rhinos.

Hudson and Mason enjoying their ride around the zoo.

Caitlyn, Addyson and Mason decided to check out the splash zone before we left the Zoo. This cooled them down before we got in the car to head home. Thankfully I brought along a change of clothes.

Mason and Jackson loved splashing and their main targets were Leah and me.

Uncle Bob treated all of the kiddos to ice cream before we left the zoo. I love this pictures because Mason is enjoying his treat and Hudson is sacked out behind him.

And finally, Mason was asleep about 5 minutes after we left the Zoo. He had to put on his fireman hat when we got in the car and fell asleep with it on. So cute!

A Fun-Filled Easter

2009-04-12T20:42:00.004-05:00

Mason with the Easter Bunny at lunch.

Hudson with his first Easter basket.

Mason checking out the loot during the Easter Egg Hunt.

Brooklyn, Caitlyn, and Addyson with their Mommy and Daddy at lunch with the Easter bunny.

Mason dying eggs getting ready for Easter.

We hope you all had a Happy Easter!!!

The Circus

2009-04-12T20:38:00.003-05:00

The elephants were Mason's favorite!

Mason and Whitney sharing some cotton candy.

Dodie, PeeWee and Mason watching the motorcycles.

Saturday afternoon we took Mason to the circus with Dodie, PeeWee, Aunt Sammye, Chris, Carrie and Whitney. We had amazing seats and had a great view of all of the excitement. Mason saw several of his friends from school and loved sitting with Whitney. Cotton candy was a hit, but the highlights were the light-up sword and motorcycle he got for souvenirs.

Huntin' Eggs

2009-04-08T08:18:00.006-05:00

Mason and Hudson with the Easter Bunny

Scooping out all of the eggs with Daddy

Taking time out for a quick picture, but still looking for more eggs.

There's more over here (Notice the finger showing us where to go).

Mason went on his first official Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday at Dodie and PeeWee's church. Last year, he didn't get to hunt the eggs because he wasn't walking yet. So this year he had a blast! He quickly understood the concept of picking up as many eggs as he could. However, he was supposed to only find 12 then turn them in for a prize. Needless to say that we had to "toss" as few eggs back as we were going to get our prize!

Bluebonnets

2009-03-30T13:37:00.003-05:00

We attempted our annual bluebonnet pictures last night. There is a beautiful patch of bluebonnets near our house so we dressed the boys up in their Easter outfits and headed off with our camera. Keep in mind that we were trying to get a good shot of a two year old and an almost 3 month old. I think we did pretty good! Oh how I love my little boys!!!

Napping Spot

2009-03-25T22:47:00.002-05:00

As most of you know, Mason is not the best sleeper. We have been having a difficult time getting him to sleep for the past few weeks, so we finally have decided it is time for him to "cry it out" again. This afternoon for nap he cried/screamed for a solid hour, then it got quite. I have a video monitor in his room, but I couldn't see him. So after about 20 minutes of silence, I decided I should check on him. When I opened the door, this is how I found him asleep. Hey, he was sleeping, right? He napped half under is bed for about an hour and a half. I'll take it!

If you have any sleep suggestions, please pass them along. I am hoping Hudson will not follow his brother's sleep habits.

Tummy Time and Big Brother

2009-03-24T14:42:00.000-05:00

The New Ride

2009-03-22T21:49:00.002-05:00

We were in Austin this weekend and I got to go by Babies R Us on the way home. This is my splurge!!!

I have been wanting to go on walks in the mornings since the weather has been warmer the past few days, but I didn't have a way to go unless I put Mason in the single jogging stroller and strapped Hudson to me. So today I got a double jogging stroller! We went for a quick stroll around the yard after I got it put together and they loved it. Tomorrow will be the true test when we go for a real walk in the morning. Enjoy the beautiful weather!

My Big Boy!

2009-03-12T14:32:00.002-05:00

Hudson had his two-month appointment on Tuesday and all looks great! He weighs 11 pounds 14 ounces, which was in the 60th percentile. He was 24 inches long, the 90th percentile. I can't believe he has almost doubled in weight in two short months. He is definatetly long like his older brother, but a little chunkier than Mason ever was. I can't wait to see how he grows and changes. I forgot how quickly they go through the "baby" stages.

It's been too long!

2009-03-09T16:29:00.002-05:00

Well, it has been over two weeks since I posted last. Our internet has not worked for about a week and a half, so I have not been able to check up on things!

Hudson is two months old! Can you believe it? We go tomorrow for his first round of shots. I remember this day with Mason and I think I cried more when he got the shots than he did. It is just so sad hearing the "newborn scream." They haven't known any type of pain in their short lives, and I am choosing to cause them pain. I just have to remind myself that is for their protection and health, right?

Mason took an extra long nap today, so Hudson and I had a lot of one-on-one time. He is starting to smile at us and it is so cute. You know that a smile is hard to catch on camera, but here is the end of a smile. When Hudson smiles, he has a dimiple and opens his mouth wide and makes a cooing sound. It just melts my heart!

We all went to the Aggie baseball game Friday night with the Newton's. Mason amazes us at how focused he is on the game. He had on his Aggie hat and had a glove like Daddy to catch any foul balls. He sat in his chair the entire time we were there (five innings) and actually watched what was going on. I think he would have sat and watched the whole game, but bedtime got in the way.

Please say a prayer for Hudson tomorrow as he gets his shots. I will update with all of his two month stats tomorrow!

Blog Help!

2009-03-09T16:17:00.001-05:00

I tried to put a new background on my blog and only half of the background worked. Where all of the writing and header are supposed to be is my old background. Please help me fix it!!!!

Growing, Growing, Growing!

2009-02-19T21:24:00.003-06:00

Mason has hit yet another milestone. Last week he decided that he wanted to sleep in his "big boy" bed for his nap. I said ok, thinking he would lay for 2 minutes and be back out ready to play. To my suprise he took a great nap. Since then, he has slept in his bed for naps and at night. Amazing! So this weekend we took down his crib. He was so excited to help his daddy work on the crib and use tools "just like daddy." Just another example of my baby growing up!

Hudson is 6 weeks old today. How? I ask myself the same question. It seems like he was born just yesterday. He is starting to stay awake for longer periods during the day. He loves watching Mason play and is starting to "play" with toys a little more. He is sleeping for a 5-6 hour stretch at night, which is great! He is still a great eater and has a very laid back personality. He is a sweet, little guy!

Mason is still amazing me with his gentleness and love toward his little brother. Hudson was fussing in his swing the other day and Mason went up to him and said, "What's the matter, pumpkin?" Looking out for his little brother already!

Take a Look

2009-02-19T21:19:00.003-06:00

After living in our house a little over a year, I finally got the pictures put up above our bed of my sweet boys and a fun, family picture of our feet. I have found an amazing photographer in town, Stephanie Lee of Lee Street Photography. She has done an incredible job photographing Mason for his two-year pictures, as well as Hudson's newborn pics. If you are looking for someone to capture special moments for your family, I highly recommend her! I love it, so I just wanted to pass it along.

Meeting the Cousins!

2009-02-10T10:42:00.005-06:00

We went to Austin Saturday for Hudson to meet his cousins, Hanna and Bradley. We visited with family and Mason had a blast playing. When we went to Gran's, we took all of the kids picture in this cool tree.

We attempted several times to get a good picture of all four kiddos, but it was quite a challenge. Mason looks terrified in this picture and I'm not sure why, but at least they are all four IN the picture, right?!

Right before bed, Hanna, Mason and Bradley were in Papa's big chair watching tv. They were so cute!

Hanna loved holding Hudson, although he doesn't look too happy about it. She made several comments throughout the day about wanting him to stay little forever. I agree, he is already growing too fast. He is already up to 9 pounds 8 ounces. How does that happen so fast?

Both boys did great on our first road trip as a family of four. There will be many more to come!

What a Big Brother!

2009-02-02T09:02:00.002-06:00

Friday afternoon when Mason, Hudson and I were playing, Mason said he wanted to hold Hudson. This was the first time that he has shown any interest in holding or touching him. He loves having Hudson near him when he is playing, but before now he hadn't wanted to hold him. So I took advantage of the situation, only after grabbing my camera.

Mason was so gentle and held Hudson for at least five minutes. I would ask him if he was finished holding Hudson and he would say, "No, I want to hold him!" It just melted my heart! Mason has been the best big brother. Hudson has the best big brother!

My Boys!

2009-01-24T10:12:00.000-06:00

I am loving every minute with my boys. It is truly a blessing!!!

Finally!

2009-01-14T17:01:00.001-06:00

Introducing Hudson Stokes Story!

Mason is such a great help. Here he is helping Daddy take Hudson to the doctor. What a great big brother!

Hudson is Here!

2009-01-10T10:03:00.002-06:00

Hudson was born Thursday, January 8th at 3:30 pm. He weighed 6 pounds 13 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. I will post pictures of him soon, but we left the camera cord at home. Sorry!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T21:18:00.002-06:00

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. It was so much fun to experience Christmas with a 2 year old. He was so excited to put cookies and milk out for Santa on Christmas Eve, then to wake up to see what Santa brought him the next morning. Mason got a train table from Santa that he absolutely loves. I can't wait to see the excitment in both of my boys' eyes next year on Christmas morning. It was so much fun!

I hope everyone has a very Happy New Year!

Parties, Parties, Parties!

2008-12-19T14:08:00.002-06:00

My sweet girlfriends, Whitney and Katie, had a Big Brother Party for Mason. The guests brought books for Mason and Hudson to share. Then Katie and Whitney had cupcakes, juice and goldfish for the Mommy's and kiddos. It was so much fun! Thanks girls!

Here we are trying to get a good shot of the Mommy's and kids. Not too bad, right?

Then we had snow! Can you believe it? Mason loved getting all bundled up and playing in the snow with Daddy. Scott would throw a snowball at him and he couldn't figure out what happened to it when it hit the ground. We could barely get him to come in after we finally let him go outside to play.

Then we had a Christmas Party with all of our friends from Austin. Amy and Trey had us over for yummy treats, games and just plain 'ol fun!

And finally, Mason had his Christmas party at school on Wednesday. The kids iced and decorated sugar cookies, then ate them of course! Then they had their Christmas program yesterday. It was quite an ordeal for 2-4 year olds to try and hold their attention to do a play.

I hope you all are getting in the Christmas spirit! Merry Christmas!

Breakfast with Santa

2008-12-08T21:01:00.003-06:00

I had to get a Christmas tree shot before heading to Breakfast with Santa at Mason's school on Saturday. He loves our tree. He turns the lights on and off for us and examines the ornaments. Scott bought the train to go around the tree and Mason loves that too!

I couldn't believe he actually sat in Santa's lap and smiled. Up until Saturday, he would only wave at Santa or stand in front of him and stare. I was so proud of him for sitting in Santa's lap!

There were even crafts at breakfast. He made a snowman out of Oreo's, marshmellows, and M&M's. He was so proud showing off his masterpiece.

Mason and the girls were getting ready for their delicious breakfast. They had breakfast tacos, fruit and doughnut holes. They all had a great time!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2008-12-05T21:30:00.002-06:00

Scott and Mason putting the star on top.

Oh so carefully putting the ornaments on the tree.

Mason and Waverley at the Holiday in the Park night. They ate cookies, drank hot chocolate, looked at the Christmas lights and played. They had a great time!

Mason was so excited to see all of the lights and eat cookies. Maybe he had a little too much sugar!

The cold weather is really helping us get in the Christmas spirit. Mason is really into Christmas this year. He tells about Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus, loves singing Jingle Bells, Frosty the Snowman and Away in a Manger, and loves the Christmas lights. We are going to Breakfast with Santa in the morning, so we will see how he does with Santa. More pictures to come.....

Happy 2nd Birthday, Mason!

2008-12-05T21:22:00.003-06:00

About a week late on posting, but Mason celebrated his 2nd birthday last Sunday. He had friends over to play games like Go Fish, Ring Toss, Bean Bag Throw and Bowling with Mickey Mouse and friends. Then he got to blow out the candles and eat cake and ice cream. This was Mason's favorite part of the party by far. The week before his birthday, he told everyone that all he wanted for his birthday was cake and ice cream!

The past two years have flown by. It is hard to believe that our baby is 2. He is so much fun and has a very loving, inquisitive personality. We are so blessed to have Mason as our little boy!

First Hunt!

2008-11-18T12:10:00.003-06:00

Who do you think is more proud, Scott or Mason?

Our first family deer hunt.

Mom had a great dump truck for Mason to collect rocks in all weekend.

Mason and the girls playing one morning.

We went to the Ranch one last time before Hudson arrives. Mason, Scott and I all went out hunting Saturday afternoon. It was quite a chore keeping him quite while we waited for the perfect deer, but sure enough a good one came. Mason tells quite a story about his hunt. He says, "We shot it and gunned it and knocked it over!" It is super cute! Here are some pictures from our weekend and Mason playing with his cousins. We had a great time!

Here Comes Santa Clause

2008-11-07T14:31:00.003-06:00

Ho, Ho, Ho Merry Christmas! Santa arrived at the mall last night, so Mason had to be there to greet him.

He was so excited waiting to see Santa come by on his sleigh.

Whitney, Will and Mason had fun playing while they waited for the festivities to begin.

All Dressed Up

2008-11-03T07:41:00.002-06:00

At Mom's house for Halloween with all of our friends.

We hope you had a great, safe Halloween also!

Trunk or Treat

2008-10-30T21:46:00.002-05:00

At Mason's school today they had Trunk or Treat. He had a blast! Happy Halloween to you all!