"Staycation"

Baylor vs TCU

We all got together without the kids, and Wess dubbed this event our "staycation." It was the perfect description. This is our Friday night dinner out and we went to Joe T Garcia's. I love the outdoor seating there and the food is delicious.

Kyle, I'm so glad you took this picture from cheesy couple moment, to a college life throw-back. It had to be done.

kyle, wess, and stephen

jaime humoring me with a pose

game day

matt joining the crew

Oh, the heart ache of being a Baylor fan at that game. OUCH! I have sympathy (which I'm sure they don't want) and I really do hope that we see a day where the green and gold make a serious go for a winning season. It would be fun for everyone at my house. However, the OU girl in me secretly giggles a little bit, just a little. The Coppell High School girl in me, gets it, totally. I really think ole CHS helps me understand the plight of a loosing football team. I know that Baylor is good at lots of other sports so that helps but the football thing is painful.

Ft. Worth is beautiful with hills, and tress all over the place. I'm a fan! Just a quick trip from Dallas and a whole different atmosphere. Some other memories from the "staycation" are, breakfast tacos, golf, tim the driver, singing the Baylor song at Buffalo Brothers (not me of course), potty breaks as needed, ipod playlists, dorm style showering situations, TCU students wearing green?, steam room for the boys... good times.....

Last Day of Pool Season 2010

This was out first summer to join the pool and really enjoy the swimming fun of summer. I took a few pictures the last day we went so I could remember how much fun it was and how much time we spent up there.

When we decided to join I wasn't sure how it would go. Hudson was 3 1/2 and Major was 2. Neither one of them had been to swim lessons and I knew I would take them to the pool alone, the majority of the time. It's funny now, but the first day we went, I had them both in lifejackets and made them stay in the baby pool. We still wear lifejackets off and on, but the fact that I made them stay in the 1 1/2 foot deep, baby pool is a little much. I just wasn't sure what to expect. After the boys took lessons for two weeks the pool situation was so perfect. They were comfortable and not too difficult to watch in the regular pool. I'm so thankful that we have this nice pool here and that we got to make it our go to adventure during the summer.

baby pool

lots of fun with the ole water fountain

big pool on the left, covered dinning area and a place to order food to the right

I think someone is about to smack someone else on the head.

32

My 32nd birthday dinner

I suppose Stephen and I were just not up for asking someone to take our picture together, so here I am... just me, the 32 year old. Oh, and my fried macaroni and cheese, shrimp diablo, crabmeat grits, salmon, veggies, and turtle chocolate pie, and something yummy to sip in between.

The day before was the official birthday which I started with a little Zumba and breakfast with two sweet friends. I decided to do a little shopping and found the dress I wore to dinner, which I love. Then, I hiked over to The Woodhouse Day Spa and made myself at home for several hours. Happy, I was! Yay for birthdays and sweet husband, babies, family and friends to share it with. Hi, my name is Jenise, and I'm 32.

Small Town Charm

This is the marque at the entrance to Hudson and Major's school. Hudson was big time that week as all those that drove down Navarro witnessed his 4 year old greatness.

"When are my friends coming to my birthday?" - Hudson

After the Crier Creek party, Hudson asked me when his friends would come to his party. It was cute. I didn't realize he had caught on to the whole concept of inviting your friends. Hudson loves his friends and loves playing with them as much as possible. I guess I'm not surprised. I just didn't realize what was brewing in his head. I'll ask next time. So, I called a couple of his best friends and we played, had lunch and ate some cupcakes. My sweet mommy friends made the time for it and Hudson loved having them over on his real birthday.

Hudson with Tia, Jake, and Caleb

They brought presents which was so thoughtful and, of course, Hudson was totally stoked!

Hudson's Waffle, Birthday Style

Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday, dear Hudson. Happy Birthday to you ~~~

Hudson's Birthday

August 31, 2010

Major was really trying to figure out how to get in on the action :)

Do Not Try This At Home

So after returning from Crier Creek birthday party, I got to work on Hudson's birthday cookies for Monday. First of all, I wasn't exactly sure how many kids were in his class since they just started. I realized that I could possibly be a little short on dough and just went with it. Mistake. I made them too thin, in my opinion, and it came back to haunt me.

They look okay before being cooked, right? I mean it is a 4! Stephen commented that it's the wrong 4 and that it should be the one with two sticks at the top, not a point. Okay, well, I don't have that cookie cutter and I'm tired so it's this or cupcakes from HEB.

Maybe cupcakes from HEB would have been a better choice.
I stopped taking pictures when I realized this was all going to end very badly. The hole of the 4 closed together while they baked and it was not in any way resembling a 4. It actually looked like a circle with two little numbs on the side. I showed Stephen and he just laughed. I'm mean, I would laugh to if I hadn't just wasted precious time doing this.

In the end I decided to ice over the whole thing, write "4" on top with icing, and then sprinkle them. They looked cute (trust me) but I could have just made a circle from the beginning.
No final picture due to my bruised ego and exhaustion... it doesn't take much. Hudson's teachers said they were yummy, and there are 12 kids in his class. I made 19 cookies... at least I did that right. I figure, the cookies had icing and sprinkles, my audience is mostly 3 and 4 year olds so really, how could they be wrong?

Party Number 4

Hudson's 4th Birthday Party

Crier Creek

RayRay, Aunt Julianne, and Ryan-Kate were walking around when we arrived. Hudson jumped out of the car and ran to give hugs to his party people!

Grammy and Gramps

me and Julianne and her little girly bun in the oven

mexican fiesta

present time

The Round-Up Gang is complete with Jessie!

Guns :)

A little help from Aunt Julie and Emily.

Emily and Conner lighting the candles.

He didn't even eat one bite of cake. Not a bite! He was playing his little heart out!

birthday kisses

This was Hudson's piece that he didn't eat. I saved it for him but he was not interested.

cowboy Hudson

On the other hand, Major was a little sneaky cake eater. Here he is sneaking a bite.

Polaris rides

Sunday morning breakfast of champions.

Visiting the horseys

Trekking off t0 the pool.

only picture I took at the pool

It was worthy of more pictures and we had a blast swimming. We even jumped the fence to get in and out. The gate was locked. So refreshing out there.

mechanical swing, fun for everyone

Crazy that Major is swinging on this now. When we were at camp the first week of July, he didn't do this, but 2 months later, he's ready to rock and roll.

Lots of exploring

We are so thankful for our wonderful families that came out to celebrate Hudson's 4th birthday. It was the perfect celebration. I think about the blessing that Hudson has in his life with such a strong family and extended family. It is truly a lifetime of solid support that God has built in for him.

Hudson is so in tune with other people. He is always looking at a persons face and really reading their emotions. I just see the beauty and the innocence involved in his observations. He is still quick to say hello to others, to introduce himself, and to ask their name. He seems to have no second thoughts about asking someone else to play or to ask if he can join in a group. It just makes me think of what a good friend he is and I pray that he will always have that spirit. He plays great with Major and that is the absolute best thing to watch! I'm still a little unsure of the "rough house" thing and what is acceptable and not. Right now, it's still pretty harmless and cute to watch.

When I think back to Hudson's 3rd birthday and this past year, I see the emerging of this big kid! Yikes! He is so much more independent and really a leader. What a corner to turn over a year. He is still a social butterfly and the only thing holding him back sometimes is me. I have to let him go talk to the random family at the grocery store that he wants to say hi to. I would never be so bold but it always puts a smile on their face.

Things I love to do with Hudson... rub his little head and back, sing and dance, eat snacks of any kind, jump on beds, play outside, ride bikes, pick him up from school, talk to him about his day, laugh, pretend to be asleep, sneak in and listen while he pretends with his toys, hide and seek, swim and go visit Daddy at work.

I'm really cherishing these little moments and tucking them away. I'm so glad he still wants me to hold him sometimes and that he sits in my lap to read stories. Sweet Boy!