Christmas Memories

We had a great Christmas this year! It just came and went too fast! Most of the time at home was spent keeping Evan away from the tree or putting ornaments back up that she was pulling off.

We didn't go see the mall santa this year. Hudson never asked and my work does a Christmas party day every year for employee's kids and Santa always visits with gifts so we just used that as our Santa picture this year. Hudson did not want to go back so I could get his picture so I don't have that one yet. Evan was not afraid at all. She just kind of looked at him and pulled at his beard.

the boys with Carson at Richard's parent's

Reading the Christmas story at my parent's

Playing on her new toy

Note to self: Don't try to take pictures after giving her the bottle. She will not want to give it up!(I know...she doesn't need it anyway!)

Shopping at Midtown the day after Christmas so the boys could spend their money

Evan's first train ride. Hudson was so proud to be able to "help" Evan. He's such a good big brother!

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Happy Birthday, Hudson!

Hudson turned 7 on December 4th! Needless to say, it was a busy week for us! I took cupcakes to his class at school on Friday and then he had a flag football party at the park on Saturday morning. It was FREEZING cold but the boys didn't care and had a great time. I was afraid no one would show up but he had about 11 kids plus cousins that came. Thanks everyone for helping make Hudson's birthday so special! Hudson is a great kid and like Richard said the other day, can bring out the widest range of emotions from his parents. He can be so loving and helpful one minute, make you laugh the next, and then make you want to beat him :) He is so full of energy and is so excited about basketball starting on Saturday! We love you Hudson...Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Evan!

My sweet baby girl turned 1 on December 2nd! I can't believe how fast this year has gone by. It has been so great and I can't imagine my life without her! She has brought so much joy to our family! On her birthday, I took party hats and cupcakes to her class at daycare.

Evan and her favorite teacher, Ms. Toya. She spoils Evan so much and will text me pictures of her sometimes so I can see what's going on. She's been one of Evan's teachers since she started there in the baby room. I know the toddler's teachers are going to be mad at Ms Toya for spoiling her so much but I'm so glad she's so loved.

On Saturday, we had a party for Evan at our house. We had yummy catfish, chicken nuggets, boston butt, fries, chips, rotel dip, and cake. Thanks Rickey for cooking and taking that stress off of me and Russell for bringing the rotel!


Evan did not want to open any more presents after she opened this one from Caroline and her bunch.

Getting ready for cake in her wife beater:) Or should that be man beater?

I was afraid she was going to get sick from eating so much icing so I flipped the cake upside down. She did not like that and tried to pick it back up.

Evan and my niece Shelby

Thanks everyone in the fam for coming. We were able to follow her party by watching Alabama spank Florida to win the SEC Championship! ROLL TIDE!

Halloween

We had a great Halloween this year. The week before Halloween, my niece Kaitlyn had her 2 year old b'day party at their beautiful home. The kids all took their costumes and dressed up for some pictures.

This is the birthday girl.

We went to the trunk or treat at church for some good food, a talent show, and of course some candy! They had a costume contest and Evan won a prize in her age division! The missionaries judged it and one was a cowboy in Idaho so I think that had a lot to do with it but she sure looked cute! Hudson was a ninja. I think homemade costumes are so much better but I just couldn't convince him of that this year!

My friend Angie and her family were the scooby doo gang. They were so stinking cute!

Hudson, Drew, and Colt enjoying some of their loot!

Hudson and Sydney

Halloween night me and Richard took Hudson and Evan trick-or-treating in a friend's neighborhood. Chandler went to a friend's house. 3 of his friends were Obama and he was Hillary. Well, that had mask on. I know he's too old to trick-or-treat so I apologize to all of those who hate it when teenagers knock on your door.

Evan's daycare class had a Halloween party and I think she enjoyed her cupcake!

Beauty is torture!

I've been wanting to get Evan's ears pierced for a while. Richard was for it but just said he couldn't be there when it happened. So, I talked to Caroline about taking Sydney with us and off we went to the mall. Just a note...it was Halloween...that's why her ears are being done by a lady bug:) The mall was so crowded that day and this lady was the only person working in the store but she did a great job and was very calm and patient. Sydney was going to go first but then decided to let Evan go.
The first one...not knowing what was going to happen.

A little upset for the second. The store was full of people and as I looked up I could see all these people watching and I just felt like they were saying, why are you torturing your child like that! She just cried for a few minutes and has never messed with them.

Needless to say after watching Evan, Sydney got her face painted instead :)

The purple marks are from where they marked her ears.

I love it and think she looks so sweet and feminine! A girl in her class at daycare who has just a little more hair than Evan. recently got hers done after Santa thought she was a boy! :)

Misc pics

Just some pictures I wanted to share. This is Evan's new face she makes...so funny!

Chan with phone in hand as always. He doesn't give me many picture opps.

Hudson doing flips on the trampoline.

Evan after some baked ziti. She is an awesome eater and does a great job of feeding herself! (Evan if we do have to go straight to the bath tub!

New Cousins

At the end of September and first of November, we were able to welcome 2 new babies to our family! My sister Ashley and her husband Collin has their first baby on September 28. Brianne (Bri) Marie. This makes the 10th grandchild and evens out the boy/girl ratio but not for long...Mary is having another boy in March! She is a cutie and it's fun/weird to see Ashley with a baby. She's always been the baby. She's a great mom and I can't wait to see Evan and her play in the many years to come.

This was her blessing day on November 22nd. Ashley and Collin live in the Hoover ward area but are serving in Ensley so we were able to visit that small branch that day.

Collin did a great job and Bri's dress was beautiful!

Richard's brother Russell and his wife Jill had their first baby on October 4th. Carson Ryan This is exciting because this is the first cousin on this side of the family for my kids. It took a little bit for Hudson to understand that Carson was his cousin but not Sydney's :) We are very happy for them and excited for the fun years ahead! I am an awful aunt and do not have any updated pictures of Carson. He had a kinda rough delivery and first few days so the only pictures I have are through the glass in the nursery. I can't believe I haven't taken any pictures since...what's wrong with me? Anyway...congrats Russell and Jill!