
Friday, December 18, 2009
Thanksgiving, big news!

Monday, November 16, 2009
Our pretty girl
I can't believe she is seven, she is just getting too grown-up. She is definitely my easy child right now, the only time she gives us much trouble is when Hudson has finally pushed her too far...I can't believe how well he can push her buttons, it's probably his greatest talent...
She is so helpful and happy, and I can't believe how smart she is. She is reading at a third grade level right now, and loves to read to herself in bed at night. She is almost finished reading Heidi (an easy version, but still!) and her next selection is The Secret Garden. I love that she is reading all of my favorites from when I was young. She is always so excited and happy when she gets home from school, full of stories and loves to tell me about everything in her backpack and what happened on the bus that day. I really hope she keeps that enthusiasm her whole life!
And just for fun, here is a picture of me I found the other day, at Kennedy's exact age. Wow. I don't think she looks anyhing like me. Good thing she has a good-lookin' Dad...
Friday, November 13, 2009
Our Happy Halloween...
They both LOVED their costumes...
We went to Kennedy's school Carnival on Friday night, and even though it was crowded and loud with long lines, they loved it.
They each got their face painted...
(Hudson's is a car. Obviously.) I don't think one of his edible prizes made it into his bucket that night, they all went straight to his mouth!
After trunk-or-treat, we went "real" trick-or-treating in our old neighborhood. They loved running up and down the sidewalks with their old buddies. (I was too busy chasing and laughing to take pictures of them...bummer.) I was so proud of both of them, they each said "thank you" each time, and Hudson even remembered "Happy Halloween!" most of the time.
I think there is almost nothing more annoying than the kids who say nothing as they grab a handful of your candy and run off. I'm sure the fact that I threatened to take away their buckets the first time I didn't hear a "thank you" helped my kids remember...
And afterwards, home to count the loot and have hot cider and popcorn. What a perfect night! I love Halloween!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Funny story...
Anyway, while we were cruising the DI for treasures, Hudson ran head first into the front of a cart while pushing a toy car in each hand. He started crying and I was loving him, when Paige says, "Shelli, he's bleeding!" I pulled him away from my chest to see blood GUSHING down his face. We ran to the bathroom, akwardly, with my hand trying to keep it out of his eyes. He was kind of freaking out(because there was blood all over his hands) and a worker followed us in with a first aid kit. I got the blood mopped up and the bleeding stopped, and it turned out the wound was pretty tiny. Anyway, the employee really wanted to help, so this is what he came up with.
Seriously.
So we walk out of the bathroom with this huge gauze pad taped to his bloody hair. Nice.
I really didn't take enough pictures of this fun cousin's visit, but we did take Kennedy out to breakfast on her actual birthday, and the girls were just too cute to not capture...
Gracie, Paige, and Kennedy. Silly!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Birthday time!

The fun started on Monday, September 28, which was Hudson's birthday. I can't believe my baby boy is three! He is such a nut, he keeps me laughing and/or fuming all day, everyday. Last night, after we asked him to pick up his toys in the living room, he hopped off the couch and said, "but Mom, you can just go around them, see? Like this! We don't have to pick them up!" And he walked in circles, stepping over and around everything. Hmmm. Is that cleverness or laziness? I'm not sure.
Anyway, Kennedy was out of school for Spud Harvest, so we took him out to breakfast at his favorite place, McDonalds, and then to KMart to pick out a little something...he picked another little Lightning McQueen, of course. He has many. He picked one exactly like one he already has. Whatever, it was his birthday.
That night, we met Grandpa Jay, Grandma Josie, and Jenna in Pocatello for dinner. Kennedy had been planning to stay a few days with them over her break, and somehow Hudson got worked into the deal. They went to Utah with Grandma and Grandpa and I went back to Rexburg till Thursday. Can I just say: Ahhhhh. What a lovely couple of days to catch up and have date nights. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa, Jami and Jenna!
Thursday night we drove to Utah and celebrated my niece Katelyn's birthday in Smithfield. She turned three, too. It has been fun to have her and Hudson so close. She is such a little princess!
Friday morning we headed to Lagoon for Frightmares. It was such a blast. The lines for all of the rides were pretty short, so the kids had a great time doing the kiddo rides over and over. We even talked scaredy-cat Kennedy into a couple of the bigger rides, and she loved them.
This was still one of her favorites, though... :)
I love these classic kids rides. There are pictures of me and my brothers riding them at the same ages!

Hudson loved everything. He would've gone on every ride he saw.


There were creepy things in costumes wandering around, and I went up to this one to show Kennedy it was OK, they weren't really that scary. When I jumped and squealed after he burst out, Hudson says, "Next time I come, I'm gonna bring a gun and shot him." Should I be worried? Or flattered?

Cortnie, Jami and Kennedy on the train.

We took the kids to Build-A-Bear Workshop, which was a huge hit. Kennedy has wanted to go forever, and we've always said "maybe sometime for your birthday." This year she called us on it, and it was so fun!
Here they are stuffing their "friends"...

I couldn't believe the darling clothes and accessories (the shoes are something else!) for the stuffed animals. Kennedy took her decision very seriously, and spent a long time finding just the right outfit for her horse, and getting it all dressed up!


Hudson was pretty tired by the time we were through, but he wouldn't let any one carry his "Cub Condo."




Friday, October 9, 2009
Good Tri, Kennedy!
So proud with her medal...
On September 26th she competed in the first annual River Rock Youth Triathlon here in the 'burg. She did amazing!
She didn't decide for sure to participate until pretty much the night before, and she was a little nervous. I was really curious to see how she'd do. As I learned this summer, you need a little competitive drive to finish these suckers, and she hasn't shown much competitiveness until just this past summer in soccer, and not too much then.
But she's got it. Oh yeah, she's got it.
Notice she still has her bike helmet on for the first of the running pictures? She was trying to pass one of our little neighbor boys who had passed her on the swim, and ran out of the transition area before I could get it off of her. Dustin caught her and she finished without it. It was pretty cute.
Words can't really express how proud I was of her. I was nervous for her swim, she's not a very strong swimmer yet, but she didn't stop. They sent the kids out in waves of 10, and there were 4 or 5 life guards in the water with them. The guards were so cute, it wasn't a timed event, so they helped the little ones out and made sure they were having fun. Kennedy grinned almost the entire time!
Exactly.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Happy Birthday Dad!
Grandpa was so happy to have all of his grandkids there to celebrate...
Jenna, Preslie, Nate and Cortnie
Here we are in front of the lodge at the top...
Hudson loved looking out the huge windows at the mountains below. These pictures really don't do it justice, it was breathtaking up there.
Of course one more group shot with the spectacular scenery before we rode the gondola back down...
We spent over 5 hours at SnowBasin, it was so much fun! If you haven't been there and you can go, GO. It's great.
We stopped at Grandma Josie and Grandpa Jay's on the way home for more food and visiting, and just look at the surprise they had for her grandbabies...as if Grandma's house needed any thing more to make my kids beg to go there... It was a fun weekend with all of us together, except Garret, who had to go to St. George for work training and couldn't be there. We sure missed you, and were so happy Trulie and Jace came anyway. We went to the park Saturday in Smithfield with some of the Chambers cousins, and it was so fun! I have just LOVED this summer because I feel like I've got to see our family so much, it has been great. Dad, thanks for the great reason to party some more. We love you so much, you are such an amazing example to all of us. Hope you are having fun on your Harley trip, we can't wait to see you again next weekend!