Memorial Day weekend was spent in our traditional Arnhold/Haak style, at Priest!
Hudson is so fun! He couldn't wait to go back and throw rocks and sand balls into the lake. Here he is with daddy hunting and throwing rocks and sand.
Daddy's work deadline is always June 1st so I knew he couldn't stay the whole weekend but I wanted him to be at the classic Memorial Day parade in Coolin. This used to be a dreaded event by me when I was in junior high to college but now, I LOVE it! Kids make everything more fun!
Oh look, it's Nana and Huddy
We set up in "our spot".
"Look! They're coming! I think it's Smokey the Bear."
We liked this next group because we know the family. The McRae's are a Priest Lake family!
Hudson liked the four wheelers
I had to take a picture of these boys on bikes because one had a "Hudson" shirt.
It makes me think of my little boy grown up.
The Priest Lake gang
Then it was back to the cabin for more boat watching and rock throwing.
The next morning, daddy ate breakfast with us and then headed off to work:(. But never fear, Pops was here! He took us for a walk around the Outlook campground. Hudson learned about water spigots. He also has decided he likes to walk, he likes freedom which I'm ok with!
Then Gpa and Gigi came to join us. Gpa had fun throwing rocks with Huddy.
Chatting more about rocks, water, and boats!
Then he went to play with his lake toys.
I love this boy!
Huddy moved to the doc, so we all joined him.
My adorable grandparents!
Toy Story snuggles the next day.
Then it was outside time...
"To infinity and beyond!" Yes, this is my boy, I love him more than anything:).
It was a great weekend with family and friends. We were able to relax and do what Priest Lakers do best. If you need to get a hold of me this summer, this is where I'll be:).
Jared and I have both grown up in the country, our outskirts of town. We didn't know how this whole "city" thing would go, but we truly love it! This was one beautiful May afternoon/evening.
"Let's go to the waterfall Lexie!"
Now let's throw rocks in the big hole.
"Come on Hudson, let's go to my house to play!"
Later that evening, the ice cream truck came! This is a Hudson first!
Having treats with Emerson and Ella.
This is just one example of a perfect day in our neighborhood:).
I was so afraid I had lost these photos in my "reconfigure" of iPhoto but alas, thank you back up hard drive!
Mother's Day was wonderful this year! We went to church and then had a family lunch at Holman Gardens, our new favorite spot:). Here is my little man in his Mother's Day attire.
I'm the mom with everything in her purse, including a Super Spy Scope!
"Can you see through this Mommy?"
"Look at my binoculars!"
Then we got a bit squirly, so we went to look at the fish. Then we heard them doing prayers. Hudson was adamant we should do prayers outside:). Love this tender boy's heart!
As we waited for Nana and Pops, he was all smiles. I love this boy!
I finally got a pic of the ladies on Mother's Day.
Nana, Gigi, and me
And of course I needed one with my boy!
Then it was off to nap because lunch was late and we were all tired:).
This year Jared surprised me with the best Mother's Day gift ever, yard work! He re-barked the front yard!!! I know this might not sound like much but I can't remember, in the 5 years we've been in our house, that we have re-barked it. Wait, maybe one? Anyways, I came home to a wonderful looking home. After naps, we went to mow the back yard.
Hudson is daddy's little helper, love him!
Then we planted our flowers! After church, in between lunch, we picked up flowers to plant in our planters outside. One of Hudson's favorite activities is watering the flowers:).
Then it was off to play in the neighborhood!
Hanging out with daddy.
This day was perfect! I have the best husband and son every! Jared gave me the sweetest card from baby girl. I seriously cried, a lot. I think I really surprised, almost scared him:). It takes a lot to make me cry but this card was just so touching. It was so thoughtful and talked about "why a daughter needs her mom". It mentioned pigtails and wedding gowns.
Thank you for a wonderful Mother's Day, I have never felt so loved!
One of our ways to tell Hudson and the family we were having a girl was with cupcakes and the book Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann. Well, Hudson heard it at least 4 times the day of his party when we introduced the book. It's one of his top 3 books on a daily basis. Matter of fact, he knows it so well he can recite it. The video is long, but hilarious because he adds a lot of expression. Can you guess which parent he gets that from?:).
Jared wanted me to add the words so here ya go:
Pinkalicious
by Victoria & Elizabeth Kann
It was a rainy day, too wet to go outside.
Mommy said, "Let's make cupcakes!
What color do you want?"
"Pink!" I said. "Pink, pink, pink!"
Mommy put in some pink.
"More!" I cried, "More, more, more!"
I gobbled up a couple of cupcakes while Mommy and I frosted them. They were so yummy--they were PINKALICIOUS! I offered one to Peter, my little brother, but he is very picky and didn't want to eat his. So I ate it.
"Please, Mommy, can I have JUST ONE MORE?"
I begged when I woke up from my nap. "You get what you get, and you don't get upset," she said.
But I got very upset.
After dinner I ate more cupcakes.
Then I refused to go to bed.
"Just one more pink cupcake, and I'll go to sleep," I promised.
Daddy waved a tired finger at me. "You have had ENOUGH!"
The next morning when I woke up, I was PINK! My face was pink, my hands were pink, and my belly was the color of a sunset.
Daddy thought I had played with markers, so he gave me a bath.
The pink did no come off.
My hair was the color of raspberry sorbet. I cried because I was so beautiful. I even had PINK tears. I put on my pink fairy princess dress and twirled in front of the mirror, while Mommy speed-dialed the pediatrician.
"I'm Pinkerbelle! Look at me, I'm Pinkerbelle!" I sang.
Mommy grabbed her purse.
"Just one more cupcake! PLEASE JUST ONE MORE!" I yelled on the way out the door. Mommy took me right to the doctor's office.
Dr. Wink looked at me and said, "You have a very rare and acute case of Pinkititis."
I guess that's not the worse thing that could happen.
Just call me PINKERELLA!
Then Dr. Wink said, "For the next week, no more pink cupcakes, pink bubble gum, or pink cotton candy." (BOO!)
"To return to normal, you must eat a steady diet of green food." (YUCK!)
On the way home, we stopped at the playground. My friend Alison was there, but she didn't see me because I blended in with the pink peonies.
When I waved to Alison, a bumblebee landed on my nose. "Buzz off! I am not a flower!" I scolded the bee.
Soon I was surrounded by bees, butterflies, and birds.
"MOMMY," I cried, "please take me home!"
When we left the playground, I asked Mommy if I could eat bother pink cupcake when we got home. "Don't you remember what the doctor told you?" she said. "NO MORE CUPCAKES!" Peter tugged at my pintails. "I wish I were pink like you," he said. He was green with envy.
That night, I pretended to eat my dinner of mushy, dark green vegetables. After everyone went to sleep, I sneaked into the kitchen, climbed onto chair, and reached on my tippy toes to the top of the refrigerator, where Mommy had hidden the cupcakes.
I took just one more pink cupcake and ate it. Then I licked the pink cupcake wrapper clean.
When I woke up in the morning, I felt different. I ran to the mirror and peered at my reflection.
I was a deeper pink than I had ever seen, in fact, I was no longer pink.
I was red!
"Oh, no, not RED!" I screamed.
I didn't want to be red. I should NOT have eaten that pink cupcake last night! I wanted to be myself again. I knew what I had to do.
I opened the fridge, help my nose, and squeezed a bottle of icky green relish onto my tongue. I ate pickles and spinach, olives and okra. I choked down artichokes, gagged on grapes, and burped up Brussels sprouts. Next thing I knew, my arms tickled, my ears tingled, and my feet twitched.
I was no longer red. I was no longer pink. I was me, and I was beautiful. "So what happened to the rest of the cupcakes, Pinkalicious?" Daddy asked.
Just then Peter ran in and yelled...
"Pink-a-boo!"
Love you Hud Bud! You'll be the best big brother to a little sister:).
