Some Canada and Catching Up

 Ok so I really need to be better about keeping up my blog.  It's just terrible.  But to make myself feel better about not keeping up my blog the best I tell myself that I'm spending that time playing with my little bug.  And we have done lots of playing!  I'll work backward and start with our fun vacation to Canada!  Kolby went for business so Hudson and I tagged along.  I had never been to Canada before so it was exciting!  I worried for weeks after we booked the tickets about that plane ride.  I dreaded it.  Not because I hate flying.  No no I love flying.  This dread was because I would be flying with a 15 month old monster.  He hadn't flown for a year and a year makes lots of difference.  However, he did fabulous!  I was so surprised and happy.  He watched Mickey Mouse on the Ipad, did some snoozing, played with toys and fuzzy pipe cleaners (if you have not brought out the pipe cleaners for your little ones you should.  lots of fun!), read books, and ate snacks.  Once we got to Canada we checked into our hotel and then ate some dinner.

Hudson's fav place: the hotel closet

Finally at the hotel

I couldn't get one with his eyes open

 We were exhausted so after we all bathed we headed off to bed.  The next morning we went to the sale where we market our product.  The sale was not Hudson's favorite place.  It was so funny though because there were people from all over Europe, Canada, America, and Asia there and even though I didn't socialize with most of them they all stopped to say hi to the cute baby.  One man from Asia even put his face time up to Hudson so that whoever was on the other end could see the sweet little guy.  Whoever was on the other end put their baby on and there Hudson sat face timing a baby in Asia somewhere.  It was great fun!  Hudson ended up being the hit of the auction!

After lunch we went to the Toronto Zoo.  Ok my friends, this zoo was ginormous (sp?)!  It had so many different kinds of animals and we had a blast!

 After walking around for hours and taking Hudson on the merry-go-round we left and went to dinner at the Rainforest Cafe.  I love that place and it kept Hudson occupied too.
 The next day we went to the sale for a bit and then Kolby had meetings so I headed out with the baby to a shopping mall nearby.  This was one of the best malls that I've been to and I had so much fun checking out the stores.  I didn't buy much but had fun looking!  Pottery Barn and William Sonoma were my faves!  When we got back we ate some dinner, went swimming, and got some ice cream.  On our last full day there we went to the sale and then ventured off looking for the Toronto Temple.  It was about 20 minutes away from our hotel but the drive was worth it.  What a beautiful temple!

 That evening we went to dinner with some friends and then got ready for our long trek home the next day.  Once again, Hudson was fabulous and we made it home safe and sound.

At the airport

 I'm so grateful for the time I got to spend with my boys this past week! 

Also here are a few pictures from this past monthish that I have not posted yet.  Enjoy!

Feeding the ducks

Picnic time!

Pudding finger painting

Peanut butter playdough

Running through the sprinklers

Baby Animals, Easter, and Other Stuff!

The day before Easter, before packing up and heading to Coalville and Oakley, we took Hudson to baby animal days at the American West Heritage Center here in Cache Valley.  For those of you who don't know about it, baby animal days is a fun event where kids can pet different baby animals.  It is more than just baby goats, sheep, horses, pigs, cows, and birds.  There is also a train, games, yummy food, and baby bears!  The baby bears were the cutest!  However, the train and kettle corn were definitely Hudson's favorite!

On the train!

After having our fun there we headed to Oakley for Easter part 1.  When we arrived we went to dinner at Baja Cantina in Park City (one of our favorites that we miss lots) and then headed back to color eggs.  Hudson had quite the party dyeing eggs, especially when he decided to squeeze one open and take a huge bite! 

Wearing his bunny ears

Easter morning brought the Easter Bunny with an egg hunt and an easter basket.  The egg hunt didn't go over too well (Uncle Carter is too fast).  And apparently the basket didn't either (we found out the next day that he had the starting of an ear infection)....

After seeing what the bunny brought, Hudson got his Easter present from Grandma and Grandpa Stembridge, a basketball hoop!  Then it was off to church. 

Getting a snack before church

After church we headed to Coalville for Easter part 2.  Once there, Hudson got his Easter present from Grandma and Grandpa Smith, a new Peter Rabbit dish set!  Then we ate and talked with my grandparents, aunt, parents, and siblings.  It was so great to celebrate the Savior's gift to us with family!

Now we are back home in beautiful Logan and enjoying the warm sunshine! 

Snacktime outside!

Out at the farm when great grandpa and grandma came to visit!

Delightful Distractions

Hudson is now one and his baby book that I have been filling out every month since he was born turns into years now.  In other words, I will only be filling it out every year now instead of every month.  Less work for me but what about all of the funny things he does and things that he will say?  I don't want to forget any of it and there is not enough space in his baby book to write it all down.  So I came up with this (sorry it's turned sideways)......

  Hopefully I can capture some of my baby boy's most delightful moments.  Let me know what you think!

March Madness

So first off, speaking of March Madness, my bracket is not doing half bad.  I picked lots of winning teams (including number 15 Norfolk) and now I have two of the four teams in the final four.  My pick for the championship is Louisville and Kentucky with Kentucky taking it all.  Hopefully I picked a winner!  And the best part is that my bracket is beating Kolby's! 

Another exciting thing in our house was playing with peanut butter playdough.  Kolby has been busy at the farm so Hudson and I have had a lot of free time together.  I have been trying to find fun things for us to do that will teach him a little something.  Besides reading books and watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (his favorite), I decided to make peanut butter playdough.  At first he just ate it.  However, after a second he played in it using his measuring cups and cars.  It was something easy and fun to do.  Here is my recipe in case you ever want to make it too!

         -1 cup peanut butter

        - 1 cup light karo syrup

         - 1 1/4 cups powdered milk

        - 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar

                                      

                              Mix it all together (the kitchenaid works best) and have fun!

Another time-passing activity we did was play in Hudson's monkey tunnel.  We set it up in the living room and he had a blast!

Also last week Kolby, Hudson, and I went to the aquarium in Salt Lake.  Hudson loves fish tanks so we thought this would be a fun place to take him.  He really liked it!  And we did too!  There are lots of things to see there from fish to otters to stingrays and much more.  I recommend it to everyone! 

I have saved the best and most exciting thing for last....... Hudson is walking!  He started a few days ago when we played outside and he had shorts on.  It hurt him to crawl on the sidewalk so he started bear crawling and eventually stood up and took off.  He is still a little wobbly but is getting better every day.  We are so proud of him!  Happy Monday everyone!

Going Green!

So I told you that we were having a special green breakfast-for-dinner on St. Patrick's Day....it was so fun!  I don't know how thrilled Kolby was to share in the festivities but he was a good sport anyway.  I got the idea and all of the tags here -seriously the cutest blog!  Here are a few pictures that I made everyone take before we could eat:

Lucky charms, shamrock syrup, and magic clover dust (powdered sugar)

Pinch proof potion (green milk)

St. Patrick's pancakes and Pot o Gold Eggs

My little charmer

Now to get the easter decorations out and wait for spring to come!

Fun in the Spring Sun!

I don't know about all of you but this warm weather that we have had the past week has made me so happy!  Hudson likes it too.  It has been nice to play in and also nice to work in.  Yes I said work.  This is a busy time at the farm so my mom and Kolby's mom have been kind enough to come and babysit so I can help out Kolby.  It has been a long few weeks but I'm glad they are over!  And even happier that I can get back to being full time mommy again!  We have had the chance to play in the yard and at the park a few times and I hope it will become a regular thing soon.  Come on warm weather!

Also, I hope everyone has a great St. Patricks Day!  We are going to have a special green breakfast-for-dinner.  I'm so excited!  I'll make sure to take pictures to share!

My 1 Year Old Baby

Here are a few of Hudson's one year old pictures that I just got back!  Thanks to Lindsey at Baby Cakes Photos for taking them!