Go Hudson! Go!

Hudson’s soccer “season”  is winding down.  His little team did very well.  They won all their games and usually by a huge margin.  Most weeks the other team got to have an extra player after half-time because they were losing so badly.  Hudson had fun, but I’ll be honest; he wasn’t the reason the team pounded everyone else.  I just enjoyed watching them play.  Annie liked clapping and yelling, “Go Hudson! Go!”  I thought I would post just a few of the highlights. 

He started to get a little more aggressive as the weeks went on, but sometimes it wasn’t with the other team.

Other times, we weren’t quite sure what was going on.

He sure did seem to have lots of fun though!  After all it isn’t who wins or loses, but how you play the game.  They sure did know how to celebrate.

Their coach is fantastic.  He is very positive and calm.  Positive, I am…quiet or calm, not so much.  Poor Hudson, I need to learn to stay quiet(Then again, I think Will was more embarassed than Hudson was).  As we say good-bye to soccer until the fall, we greet baseball with open arms, hoping for lots of hotdogs and popcorn.

Kidsville

I tried Kidsville out with my kids a little while ago.  I think my kids are at the golden age when places like this are a hit.

 For those of you who haven’t seen one before, it is just a huge room where they have built a kid-size town.  The kids go wild with their imaginations.  

Hudson enjoyed being the cashier a the grocery store as well a fire fighter and a veterinairian.  Annie was all about the little house shaped like a giant teapot.  Either way, it was a great change of pace.  It was nice to have a day where the kids went crazy and my own house didn’t pay the price.

A Dream is a Wish…

We spent Will’s birthday at Disneyland and had so much fun!  We went straight, no funny business, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM.  We went up Tuesday night so we wouldn’t have to fight rush hour in LA.  I don’t think it could have gone any smoother.  

I hadn’t been to Disneyland since high school.  I was actually quite shocked at the emotions I felt walking down Main Street Disneyland.  This amusment park had my dreams neatly tucked into its back pocket my entire childhood.  I was one of those silly girls, who really thought they would grow up to be a princess(If only I could have converted Prince William.  Really, I did end up with my own in the end, just not the famous one that is next in line to be King of Britain).  Will says, he sees princess envy rear it’s ugly little head in me every once and awhile.  

Honestly, I think I was mostly overwhelmed that I got to share something with my children that I loved so much as a child.  From the first step through the front gate, I could tell that this place had them too.  I don’t think I have ever seen my children so excited before.  Although there are others things that I cherish more dearly than Disneyland, my kids are are only beginning to comprehend the love and gratitude I hold for those things that are most beloved.  

The Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Carribean held the most nostaliga for me, even though it has changed a bit. 

We caught Disney on the off season in the middle of the week so we walked on practically every ride.  With switch and fast passes (We only needed one), Hudson got to ride a ton of rides.  We didn’t feel at all rushed.  It was more a wandering around and picking rides here and there.  We got to everyone except for the Matterhorn (which was closed) and Winnie the Pooh(no one was interested).  Normally, at parks I get that “Hurry and ride everything as many times as you can” feeling, that keeps you anxious, yet in this odd/fuzzy/euphoric state all day long.

I have to say that riding Splash Mountain with Hudson in our own log was pretty cool.  He just kept reminding me, “Hold me with two hands, Mommy…two hands.”  I was really impressed that Will caught this picture of us.

Annie really enjoyed the carousel.

Hudson fell asleep right before the fireworks.

I couldn’t help, but indulge in a little turkey leg.  I was starving.  Will just thought I looked like a pirate.

I couldn’t have wished for a better day!

29 and Holding…

The love of my life turned 29 yesterday while we were at Disneyland.  I’ll post about Disneyland a different day.  Today, is for Will.  Most of you who know him well – know that he isn’t a fan of big crowds and long lines of people.  He REALLY doesn’t enjoy making a big deal out of birthdays.  ”So why did he subject himself to this on his birthday?”  you might wonder.  My guess is that he loves his family.  I think, secretly; he had just as much fun as the kids and I.

He got this big button, that the guy at the front gate made him wear.  It said, “Happy Birthday, Will.”  Every ride we went on people were wishing him Happy Birthday!  It’s even better when they send their wishes using your first name.  I think that kept throwing him a little bit.  It was fun watching him adjust to having so much attention from so many people.  The jungle cruise especially, found him with a lot of attention.  All the jokes and snide remarks were all directed at him…in a nice way of course.

One random lady in the park made her 10-12ish year-old son stop to wish Will a Happy Birthday as we were walking pass.  The boy seemed pretty embarassed.  I thought, “What a smart Mom.  If Hudson only knew my admiration for that mom, he would be happy that he wasn’t 12 today.”  Then again there were lots of people there with birthdays so that would be lots of well wishing.

I was a little worried about Will really enjoying his birthday, but after I remembered Indian Jones and Star Wars, I knew he would be just fine.  Thank heavens for switch and fast passes.  They saved us on this one for sure!  

Sitting down to lunch, we accidentally ended up in the middle of the Padowan training.  It was at the end when the kids have all learned the moves and Darth Vader and Darth Maul come out to fight them all.  I think Will enjoyed watching the little kids take them on.  Disneyland still holds some of Will’s childhood dreams too.

All the pictures on my blog today were mine so that explains the random ones of Hudson.  Will’s pictures will come another day.

Birthday Wishes!

We had a family birthday for Annie this year.  We had so much fun playing the games and eating cake.  You may notice Annie got to the cake several times throughout the day before the party…note the missing frosting in the front.

I did have fun drizzling the dark chocolate on top of the cake.  It made a fun hard shell for the cake…no little fingers could penetrate!

Hot potato was interesting considering Annie would fling it across the room everytime it got to her.

Hudson enjoyed “helping” Annie open presents.  

I couldn’t help adding confetti to the party.  The kids haven’t really every seen any and we had so much fun with it.

Here Annie is trying out her new toys on her little bunny rabbit.  The high chair and the tea set were a hit.

Animal cherades was a little more up her alley.

What can I say, she was good.

Then again, Hudson did give her really good hints.

Annie was very quick to let other people share her presents.  I hope it stays this way….