First Day of School

Hudson started day school on August 21. So far he’s adjusted really well to being around all the other kids and teachers.

 First day of school

He only goes three days a week, so he still gets the fun of going to my parents’ house twice a week. They do all kinds of fun activities like go to the zoo...

And play in the crab pool filled with 200 plastic balls, or with his new kitchen or in the toy box...

 What's cookin'?

 Look at all my toys!

Or they play with his tent and tunnel...

 Sometimes they even put him to work! I never knew cleaning could be so fun!

Lake Trip with the Clarksons

Every summer we try to get away for a weekend with our good friends Chris and Melissa Clarkson. This year, we decided Hudson should stay behind (just too dangerous at the lake with him at this age), but Chris and Melissa brought their little baby Nora (she’s a much more manageable age for the lake). We made a fantastic dinner and took the boat out the first night. The next day Melissa and I hit the outlets while Chris and Rollie golfed. We joined back up for a trip out on the boat in the afternoon and then made an amazing dinner of kabobs and jalapeno poppers – our favorites! With our two grilling accessories – jalapeno popper holder and kabob fire wires – we have become quite the grill experts! Melissa and I also enjoyed Shark Attacks – frozen margaritas in the style of kids freeze pops! Yum!

 Rollie & Baby Nora on the boat

 Cheers to Shark Attack!

 The Clarkson Fam

 Grill Masters!

Road Trip to The Blue Door Boutique

I took an amazing girls road trip in August to my favorite place on the planet: The Blue Door Boutique. Read all about it here.

Water, Water Everywhere

Hudson’s love of water spans much wider than just the pool. He had fun this summer playing in the mister – a misting spray attachment to the garden hose, the water table full of trucks and toys, the blue crab pool at my parents’ house (filled with plastic balls when it’s not warm enough for water) and in his blue whale pool at our house, with the spraying blowhole.  He also loves fountains.

This video pretty much sums it up.  

 Splash!

 Who doesn't enjoy a drink poolside?

The fountains out at the Legends are his favorite.

Fourth of July Shenanagans

Every year we throw a very casual Fourth of July party – complete with sliders and (illegal) fireworks! This year the boys got a little carried away with lighting off “the big ones” and the entire neighborhood got involved. Almost every kiddo in our neighborhood came out to watch the show. And then the guys got out the finale – the Giant Lanterns. Even I have to admit that these things are cool. They are huge – at least three feet tall, and our next door neighbor Roger (the Plumber) always gets out his blow torch to light them and send them on their way. And when I saw ‘always’, I mean, we light off at least one every time we get together with our neighbors! 

 Good food, good friends.  

The boys being nice and calm, staying out of trouble.

 The girls' idea of crazy fireworks. 

And the boys' idea.

 Getting into trouble.

 Two at once!

 Check out Roger's blow torch. 

 And away they go!

Pool Time

Family time at the pool was the highlight of my summer. Hudson loves the water and played and played in the zero-depth entry baby pool at Indian Hills Country Club every weekend. It was a nice, safe pool for him since he could stroll right in from the edge. His favorite pool activity, besides getting in the dirt of the potted plants poolside, was dumping water out of a watering can. He logged a lot of hours of pouring water throughout the course of the summer. Here are some of the summer’s best pool photos. 

Let's go to the pool, Mom!

Hudson and I enjoying our poolside beverages on the Fourth of July

First Haircut

Hudson already had a trim because his hair was just too long and was getting in his eyes. But we wanted to wait until he was a year old before we did the real, professional first haircut. We went to Shear Madness so he could enjoy the experience in a little classic red convertible. He did so well – he didn’t fuss about the haircut at all. And afterwards, he looked like a little boy!

 Long hair!

Cool Car!

 

 Such a good boy during the haircut

 Little boy haircut