Weekend Recap: Birthday Edition

It was such a FUN weekend as we continued to celebrate Hudson with our family! The older I get the more I appreciate our close family and how much it has grown as we (siblings) all have gotten married and had kiddos together. 

On Friday, I was busy making Hudson's cake and Andrew was busy putting together Hudson's big birthday present. We had gotten him a big Star Wars figurine set for his birthday Wednesday as something to open but his BIG present was a trampoline. We couldn't wait for him to see it.

A nod to Star Wars Episode III when Anakin and Obi-Wan are fighting. We added dry ice under the top character to make it "smoke" since the cake was supposed to be the burning planet. 

That afternoon after Hudson got home, Andrew's best friend from high school stopped by and hung out for awhile. I made dinner and went to drop off some items that I had sold from our closet clean out and donated the rest. 

I made this chilli. I was nervous about not having any beans but the flavor was yummy and all the veggies gave it the heartiness I love about chilli. 

After dinner and baths, the boys and I were settling in for the night to play and hang out. Andrew has been itching to be outside so he invited our good friends down for a fire. Mind you, it was super windy and cold on Friday but these guys are all hunters so they layered up and didn't even care. Our friend, Matt, and his wife just had a baby a month and a half ago. His wife, Kim, was out with a friend so I got to spend some snuggle time with sweet Caroline and my boys while the dads were outside. A little later, some other good neighbor friends stopped by. My friend, Jenny, and two of her kiddos came in to play while her hubby joined the other dads, And Kim showed up too. 

I seriously love that we have such great friends that live just down the street. After they all left, I got the boys settled down for bed and since Andrew and Matt were still outside, I totally relished the me time and took a nice, hot shower and read before bed. 

Saturday morning was pretty lazy. We had a family breakfast and hung out. The boys played. I did some laundry. We picked up the house after lunch while the boys jumped on the trampoline for awhile. They didn't last too long since it was another windy, chilly day. 

Hudson's face cracks me up. 

Three little ducklings all in a row. 

Hudson's party was at two and all our family got to come. It was super simple. Playing with his cousins, presents, cake and ice cream, more play. Their giggles and squeals are the very best. 

Hudson wanted to wear his Jedi costume for the party because, "it is all Star Wars, Mom."

Sweet cousins.

I love this sweet face! 

Saturday evening after everyone left we picked up, had dinner and relaxed a little bit before bed. Our kids were so tired with all the fun and no nap. Gabe fell asleep within 2 minutes after putting him to bed. #sosweet 

Andrew and I vegged out and watched Girl on the Train. I loved that book so much. I liked the movie enough but will always love books more than the movie version. {Except for the Notebook. That movie was magic!}

Sunday we slept in a bit. Andrew had to drive to Oklahoma Sunday since he had an early meeting today. I serve in First Kids at our church every other Sunday during late service. So we spent the morning together before leaving for the day. 

After church, the boys and I took my mom to lunch after church. Her birthday is today so we wanted to spend some time to celebrate her. My boys seriously adore their Gammy. 

After lunch we went to Target. The boys needed to pick out their Valentine's for school and Beau wanted to look for a toy. He even had brought his own money. We didn't find it so it looks like Beau will be learning about the magic of Amazon later today. Ha! 

When we got home it was way past nap time and the day was beautiful so we changed and went out to play. We jumped and jumped and jumped. The boys thought their mama was pretty cool showing them some jumps and teaching them "crack the egg". 

We also went for a bike ride/walk to stretch our legs and soak up the sun. 

When we got home Hudson's friend from school and his dad pulled into our driveway. They had seen us walking and were gassing up their Polaris and Jordan suggested asking Hud to go for a ride. Well, of course the little boys didn't want to be left out. So the three boys took off with Jordan and his dad for a quick ride. They were too cool for school! 

We had a low key night after dinner and an early bed time since they were wiped after a busy weekend. 

We are definitely ready for Daddy to get home this week. 

Friday Favorites {2-3-17}

Is it just me or did this week FLY by? I can't believe  it's already the first Friday of February! I am busy today working on Hudson's cake for our family party tomorrow. I am hoping to share it with y'all next week. Fingers crossed it turns out like the plan! Ha!

{O N E}
So I am still going with my healthy eating plan and goals to be my fittest by my 30th birthday. I am a water drinker. It isn't hard for me to drink water all day long. I never have liked soda. And although I always spice up my water with lime or lemon ALWAYS, I decided to get on La Croix train. I purchased a couple of flavors to start. I went with lemon, because, I already know I like that flavor. And I also got Cherry Lime.

Y'all, I don't like it. So technically, NOT a favorite. What are your favorites?? Help a girl out!

{T W O}

This is Us. Who's watching?? Who was majorly let down this week when it was supposed to be on and then was just NOT??!!! You can not show me previews that I fully expect to see in one week and then nothing! It just is not ok, NBC! 

But seriously, I love Jack and Rebecca. I love the peeks back into their growing up years. I love Randall. I am uber intrigued in Kevin's (who's character I feel has very little depth right now) past relationship that just came up.  I am obviously riveted by the adoption plot line and the challenges that adds to the family dynamic. 

Is it my favorite show of all time? No, not even close. {Side note: Parenthood fans can we all rally for one more season. BRING IT BACK!!} But Jack and Rebecca are probably in my top favorite TV couples of all time for sure.  

{T H R E E}

Our family got a pool membership as a family gift for Christmas. We are super excited. The boys (and this mama) have tons of friends that are also members. It is minutes from home. And I just can't wait to create those memories with my boys like I have growing up spending days at the pool. 

That being said, I've been thinking swimsuits. We'll all need a few because we'll be going so much. I have always been a BIG advocate of wearing a bikini if you want. Kids, no kids. Stretch marks or not. Just owning your own skin. However, I am feeling like this may be my year to go to a cute one piece. I am not decided fully yet. And of course, my feelings my change once I lose some of my winter fluff and get some color. Pass the self-tanner, please. 

These are some of the suits I am loving right now. 

Isn't this suit so pretty? I love the mesh detailing. It is a fun touch that allows you to show some skin without really baring it all. I also love that it covers the backside well too according to reviews. 

via

Clearly, I am taking the term one-piece and gravitating from the traditional sense. I don't need to be completely covered. I still want to get a great tan. And this cute, cut out suit delivers. Support with a halter top. Completely covered so I can move around and the high waisted bottoms cover that tough to tone area.

via

Typically, I stray away from a tie bottom because, well I am no longer in college. But, these are a more substantial bottom in my opinion. And the high neck halter with all the detail just makes the suit. I feel like it adds some sexiness without being overt and I can totally swim and play with my kids in the pool without any wardrobe malfunctions. #winwin

via

I love the high waist of these bottoms and the cute scallop detail on the top. I don't have a super long torso so not sure how this one would look on me but I feel like the coverage is right in all the places I want coverage and is totally a bikini I can rock as a mama without feeling too much like a "mom suit". 

via

{F O U R}
Purging. It has been happening around here. It all started with looking through my closet for an upcoming swap (more on that some other day). Well, once I got through my closet, I decided to go through all the closets. Then our storage area. And toys. And DVDs. It felt so good to have these piles of things leaving my house. I typically do this every few months when I get the itch to de-clutter. I have found that we always have "stuff" we aren't using/wearing/playing with. No one even misses it when it's gone and because of this, my house never feels over cluttered or full. I think we can all really do without so much more than we think.

That's all I have for today! I have a cake that needs finishing! Better get to it! Have a fabulous weekend!

The Big 6

Oh my word...SIX! Six years since I got to experience for the first time the best role I've ever had the honor of having.

Hudson has taught me so so much! I have loved this last year especially! Seeing your kids really start to become their own person, getting sneak peeks into what's to come because of how they are being shaped and what they are learning now; it's humbling, cool, and so so fun.

Here are SIX things I love you about you, Hudson Andrew!

{O N E} 
You are a wonderful big brother. 
Being a big brother is a tough job. We expect a lot out of you. You were our first kiddo and so we learned a lot about this parenting thing with you. You saw our first successes but so many of our first failures. Because we've learned with you, I *think* we have learned a few things about parenting that we know better with your brothers. You are our support in making this family stick. You are patient with them, even when it is hard. You teach them so many things; not only what you are learning but through your actions they are learning how to be a good person. Even as we talk about growing our family, your questions, excitement, apprehensions--- they all point to what a wonderful big brother you are.

{T W O}

You are smart. 

You amaze us, little one! You are curious and inquisitive. You think differently, thoroughly, abstractly. You are learning and doing new things all the time that make us say, "WOW!" I know with that big mind you've been given God is going to use you for great things if you follow him. I pray you always ask questions, seek answers and truth and never limit yourself. 

{T H R E E}

You are hardworking. 

You try new things, Hudson. You started playing on a soccer team a year ahead and it has never intimidated you. No matter if the kids are bigger (sometimes MUCH bigger) you go right after the ball and work with your team. Seeing you practice for t-ball, or soccer...or learning to ride your bike without training wheels-- you don't give up. You want to do it right and you want to do it well. That hardworking attitude carries over to so many parts of your life and it makes me so proud. I hope you are never afraid to work hard for what you want; to put in the effort. 

{F O U R}

Your sense of humor. 

You crack us up lately. You are starting to become such a big boy that joking around with you has become even more fun. You are witty and quick. When you get tickled, your big, belly laugh makes us all join in! 

{F I V E}
Your love of Jesus. 
Oh this makes me so proud! I love that you love Jesus. You want to know more about Him. You love to learn His word and go to church. I love your questions about who He is and your faith (even though you sometimes ask me questions I don't really have the answer to). Your faith is so big and I pray that it continues to grow.

{S I X}
You are a great friend. 
You want everyone to be included. You are kind to others. You think about them and genuinely care. You make friends with ease and are accepting and inclusive.

We love you, Hudson Andrew! Happy 6th Birthday!