I had the most fantastic birthday this year! I told Jason all I wanted for my birthday was to go home for the weekend so he took me! It was a very quick trip but we managed to fit a lot into the time we had. The kids' school was closed on Friday, August 13th, so it gave us a good reason to make it a fun, adventurous 3-day weekend. We actually got out the door early Friday as planned. We stopped in Longview at Tom and Micaela's new house and visited with them. They were very busy unpacking and Micaela was only a few weeks away from her due date with baby Karsyn so we really appreciate them for letting us stop by. We really enjoyed our time there and the kids had fun playing together. I didn't take any pictures of our stop here because we unloaded so quickly and our time there went by too fast. We loaded back up and continued on our way. We arrived at my parents' house a little after 4pm...yay! We walked in and they had their living room/kitchen all decorated for my birthday party!!! It was so fun and such a wonderful surprise!! They got me the prettiest, yummiest gourmet birthday cake ever! It was like wedding cake! The cake was white cake but it tasted lemony and the cake had a lemon filling in the middle...it was delicious!!! (Unfortunately, on our trip up, London's cereal leaked all over my camera and I couldn't get my camera to open and work the first night there so I will have to get those pictures from my parents.) They got me some really, really cute clothes which I really needed since I rarely find the time to go shopping for myself. They also got me some awesome new cookbooks that I can't wait to try out and a new game! (So we need to plan a game night soon!) I felt so loved and so spoiled!! It was fabulous!!! (Hudson and London also landed some cool new toys from Papa and Gigi---Thank you so, so much!!! We love you guys dearly!!)
Here is a picture of my cake the next day once I got my camera working again....
Then Hudson asked if he could take some pictures and he actually did quite well! Here is his portfolio:
Me and London:
A self portrait:
Gigi as beautiful as ever! And Papa in his signature position...in his new recliner! Oh, and you should try out their new couch! You'll never want to leave!
One of my bestest buds, Beth, just had a new baby, Easton. We went over to her house to visit! Easton timed his arrival perfectly so I could meet him! He and Lincoln are both major cutie pies and we had a fantastic visit with Beth, her boys, and her Mom and Dad. They had recently gotten this super fun train and were very nice to let Hudson ride it! Lincoln was so sweet to share his toys with Hudson and Hudson was on cloud 9!! Tommy, Beth's Dad, pushed London around in the car while the boys rode the train and she loved it!! I just realized that I didn't get my camera out until we went outside so I don't have any close-up pictures of baby Easton. Boo!
Tommy asked Hudson if he wanted to go for a ride on the zip line. Hudson didn't know what a zip line was and he was starting to get tired and grouchy (and it was insanely hot outside) so he said NO. Tommy asked me if I wanted to do it (so Hudson could see me and then want to do it) and of course I was thrilled to do it!! I climbed up the tree house and I have to admit it was a little scary to jump out not really knowing what to expect. Before I jumped, Tommy warned me that it would feel like I was going to hit the tree at the end but promised I wouldn't. I didn't quite understand what he was talking about because I was still trying to assess the situation and hadn't really thought ahead to the stopping part. So I jumped! And it was FUN!!! I felt like a kid again!! Then I noticed the tree quickly approaching on the other side and I felt like I was going to slam into it but just as Tommy promised, I was quickly jerked backward right before the tree and came to a stop. Good building Don and Tommy!!! Hudson was now VERY eager for his turn! Tommy knows kids! He knew how to work Hudson for sure!! Hudson wanted to go again and again and again and again and Tommy was so incredibly nice to keep letting him go! We all had a BLAST and really enjoyed our time with the Baker's!!
Here is Rhetta, Beth's Mom, with London and Beth with Easton:
Here are Beth and I with our kiddos:
Hudson fell asleep before we got to the end of the dirt road at the Baker's house! I tried to get both him and London to take a nap when we got back so we could head over to Aunt Jean and Uncle Lee's house. It turned out to be impossible to get Hudson back to sleep once we went inside and he woke London up from her nap so we decided to forego naps and hope that their catnaps would get them through! So we ate a late lunch and headed out to Lovings! Hudson fell asleep in the truck again on the way and was very, very groggy when we arrived at Aunt Jean and Uncle Lee's. However, Aunt Jean worked her magic on him (i.e. filled him up with cookies, juice, and whatever else she could find to sweeten him up!). He showed her his dinosaur catching truck and they read some books together. Then, Hudson spotted the piano!! Then out came the 'real' Hudson!! He began playin' some tunes and instructed each person to sing a song that he would assign. We had some good laughs and enjoyed the entertainment! Erika and Russell were also there visiting before embarking on their new journey to N.C.!! (Russell recently graduated college and got a job in Chapel Hill, N.C. so they just moved. We wish them the best in their new adventure and hope they will be very happy in their new home!! ) Unfortunately, during our time there, little London started not feeling well. I thought it was because she was teething but I later realized it was because she was constipated. (I'm sure she'll love me for posting that one day) Poor thing!
Here is a video clip of some of our piano time. I always forget I can't rotate the video on my camera so you'll have to cock your heads to the side to watch it! Sorry!!
***Will post video tonight!!***----bummer! I couldn't get the video to upload to YouTube. : (
Then we went outside to get a tour of Aunt Jean and Uncle Lee's expansion on their back patio/deck...which is beautiful. Hudson and London got to have fun swinging and Hudson climbed up in the fort! We played outside until it got too hot. By then it was time to head home and get some dinner. (Mom made us some melt-in-your-mouth steaks....Mmmmm!!) Thank you to Aunt Jean, Uncle Lee, Erika, & Russell for a great visit!
Jason and Hudson wrapped up the evening by taking Hudson fishing at the pond as promised! They caught one little bitty fish but still had fun!
So during this trip, London reached 2 more milestones: she started pulling up and she started saying "Mama"!!! What a good birthday present!!
Thank you to everyone for making my birthday so special and for all of the wonderful time we got to spend together! We love you and miss you all! xoxox!
1 comment:
Looks like an awesome time! Happy Birthday!!!
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