The Cowan Family

Sledding in Spokane

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:02:00 +0000

Hudson went sledding for the first time in Spokane. We only wish that it would have snowed when Brett and Melissa were here.

Snow in Spokane!

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:01:00 +0000

Shoveling grandma and grandpa's driveway.

Going for a walk in the snow.

Daddy took Hudson out to play in the snow yesterday. He loved it!

Aunt Melissa and Uncle Brett

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 04:54:00 +0000

Our whole family loves Christmas in Spokane. It's relaxing, we have snow, good food and most of all time with our family. We were so happy that Brett and Melissa were able to be with us. We don't get to seem them very often and we miss them!

Thank You Muse Family

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 05:51:00 +0000

Christmas Morning

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 22:28:00 +0000

Train Table...the favorite new toy!

Christmas morning was fabulous in our house this year. Hudson slept in, then crawled in bed with us for another half hour. When we went downstairs we told him the Santa had come and brought him some presents. When he walked into the living room he was all smiles! About an hour after we opened our Santa gifts Doug, Corinne and Greg came over for brunch and gifts. Hudson had so much fun and loved opening his presents. He started to get a little overwhelmed at the end, but did great. Everyone is taking a nap now (except me) and we are headed over to Doug and Corinne's for dinner tonight. Then off to Spokane in the morning!

Christmas Eve

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 22:11:00 +0000

Christmas pajamas!

Daddy reading The Night Before Christmas.

Talking to "Santa" aka grandpa Doug.

Cookies for Santa

We had a wonderful and mellow Christmas Eve just the three of us. We went to church at 3:00 and then volunteered in the childcare for the next service. After church Hudson got to open one gift (Christmas pj's), he put out cookies for Santa, daddy read the Night Before Christmas and Santa (grandpa Doug) even called to talk to Hudson. When Hudson was in bed John and I set up his gifts and then I headed to bed in preparation for a busy Christmas day.

Merry (Early) Christmas to ...ME!

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 05:15:00 +0000

http://store.kodak.com/store/ekconsus/en_US/pd/Zi8_Pocket_Video_Camera/productID.156585800

I love, love, love my new Christmas toy. Get ready for some fun videos of Christmas and more!

Christmas Dinner with Friends

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:36:00 +0000

Hudson, Olivia and Madelyn

Hudson really figured out how to open gifts!

Dustin, Shelbi and Olivia

John, Hudson and I

Hudson and Madelyn

Shane, Mandy and Madelyn

Last night we had our annual Christmas dinner with the Banks and Tirouxs. This event sure has evolved over the years. It started out just the six of us (many years ago) going out to a nice dinner and an evening of drinks and fun. Then when Hudson came along it turned into dinner at one of our houses. Now that we all have children it was so different, but crazy fun! The kids exchanged gifts, had a diaper dance party and we tried to enjoy a nice dinner while listening to the Wiggles and eating the pretned food that the kids brought us. This is what I love about the holidays , enjoying time with good friends and family.

Santa Train

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:48:00 +0000

Hudson seeing the train arrive.

On our way to see Santa (again)!

On Saturday morning we went on the Santa Train in North Bend. Hudson was lucky enough to have both sets of grandparents there too. Hudson didn't like Santa (again), but at least we got him on his lap this time. After the Santa Train we had a nice lunch (Hudson even sat at the table the whole time!).

Preschool Update

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:39:00 +0000

Hudson decorating a gingerbread cookie in class.

Parachute time!

Guarding the train table...his favorite spot in class.

Playing with his favorite girl Sloan.

Hudson and I both look forward to Tuesdays. Preschool is on Tuesdays and it's our favorite activity all week. Hudson has been in this class for 4 month and has the routine down and loves to get to school to see his friends and teacher Betsy.

Video From Santa

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:05:00 +0000

A friend showed me this fun website where you can create a personalized video for your child from Santa. It's pretty cute!

http://portablenorthpole.tv/watch/6ba0c575cf2a998f9f0c8c42e12f4436

HO-HO-HO!

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:44:00 +0000

On Saturday we took Hudson to see Santa at Chapters Photography (http://www.chaptersphoto.com/) in Country Village (yes, we have been spending a lot of time there-it's our new favorite spot). This might be one of the best kept secrets in mommyland! Honestly, I loved everything about it. You set an appointment to visit Santa, show up, walk right in to a room beautifully decorated and visit with the best looking Santa that I have ever seen. The Photographer and owner of Chapters is awesome. He let us take our time and really captured the moment on film for us. I highly recommend checking this place out. We will be back next year for sure. Well, here are some pictures of Hudson at home before his visit and in the car after enjoying his fist candy cane. He didn't love Santa, but he sure loved that candy cane!

Fly Santa, Fly!

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:46:00 +0000

Last night we went to Country Village to see Santa fly. We met the Banks and Triouxs at the Village Bean for coffee first. Hudson loves going to the Village Bean because they have a train table. I have a feeling that he might be getting a train table for Christmas ;). After coffee we bundled up to go outside to get some pictures of the kids and try for a group shot as well. That was a bit crazy because it was late, cold and crowded. When we (Shelbi, Mandy and I) were satisfied with the pictures we found a place to wait for Santa. Hudson loved watching him fly in, but he couldn't figure out why we wouldn't let him down and run to Santa in the dark with 300 people there. After saying good-bye to Santa we took a few more pictures of the kids and headed home. It's so wonderful to have such good friends with children. I love sharing these experiences with them.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 05:59:00 +0000

Last night we took Hudson to Snowflake Lane in Bellevue. Grandpa Doug and Grandma Corinne came with us and it was wonderful! Hudson loved the music, the drummers, the snow, and his first lollipop, but really didn't like Rudolph. I don't really blame him. Those of you that know me well, know I don't like anyone in costume when it cover their face. It was a fabulous night. I can't wait to see his face when we take him to see Santa fly into Country Village tomorrow night. Tis the Season!

Christmas Lights

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 23:39:00 +0000

With the crazy adventure we had getting our Christmas tree I was a little nervous to send John up a ladder to hang Christmas lights. But, being that we didn't have a tree yet and it it was December 1st we HAD to have lights up! Luckily he had a very adorable little helper.

Oh, and we did get a tree and it's fabulous! I'm glad we waited. We are going to decorate it tomorrow.

Christmas Tree?

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:33:00 +0000

Ready to find our tree!

Still looking for our tree...

Hudson has no idea that we are having a bad day.

Mommy and Hudson

Our family

Mimosas, the best way to end a crazy morning!

The day began at 8:30 am when I woke and realized that we needed to leave in 1 hour (I never sleep past 7:00...Hudson is always up by at least 7:30) and everyone was still asleep. We were suppose to be at St. Nick's tree farm for our annual tree cutting with the Banks and Tirouxs at 10:00. I jumped out of bed and ran downstairs to start my coffee and make the chili that was suppose to be ready when we all came back here for lunch after tree cutting. As soon as I had two cups of coffee in me I jumped in the shower and right then Hudson woke up. I then woke John up to make Hudson's breakfast while I got ready. Somehow we made it out the door and only 10 min. behind schedule. Half way to St. Nicks Shane called to tell us they were out of trees...WHAT! We go on this day every year and they always have tons! So he told us to go past St. Nicks to the U Cut. We misunderstood and took a different turn and ended up WAY out in the middle of nowhere. They called and told us we were at the wrong place right as we parked. Since we drove this far we decided to stay and would just meet everyone back at our house for lunch. After I got off the phone with Mandy with this decision John told me that we were out of gas and he wasn't sure if we could make it back to Monroe...great. We decided that this day is crazy and to make the best of it and go find a tree. At this point Hudson is having the time of his life running around in the trees. checking out the campfire and saying "hi" to everyone there. We soon realize that all of the trees are not quite what we are looking for and they are about 3 times what we usually pay for a tree. We make the decision to go home, have lunch and get a tree tomorrow. On our way back to the car Hudson falls into a BIG pile of mud. So we take his pants off, put him in the car and start to head home. As we are headed home we notice that the place that we were suppose to go was very close to St. Nicks and the Banks and Tirouxs were still there. We pulled in to say hello and discuss the crazy morning. When we got back to our house for lunch Dustin came with stuff for mimosas...thank you Dustin...much needed. After all of this, we still don't have a tree. I think we are going to go out again after Hudson's nap...are we crazy or what?

Tree Lighting Downtown

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:16:00 +0000

Jonah and Wendy

Watching the fireworks...Hudsons favorite part.

Wow!

Mommy and Hudson

Our Family

Mac-n-Cheese!

The day after Thanksgiving we headed downtown to watch the tree lighting with Wendy and Jonah. Wendy is house sitting about 4 blocks from Westlake, so we over there and just walked down. Hudson loved watching all of the people and was amazed by the fireworks display. He had his little eyes on the sky the whole time saying "wow, dada, wow...". After the tree lighting and fireworks we walked back and made dinner. The boys enjoyed some mac and cheese while the moms enjoyed a glass of wine and made dinner for the adults. It was a great night and the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. It's beginning to look a like Christmas and I love it!

Happy Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:26:00 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving from Hudson!

Play Dough

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:19:00 +0000

Hudson just recently fell in love with play dough. For a long time he didn't like to even touch it. Now he rolls it with the rolling pin and loves to use cookie cutters to make fun shapes. He gets very serious about his play dough creations-it's so cute!

First School Pictures!

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:50:00 +0000

I was surprised that Hudson's preschool had school pictures, but not so surprised that all of his pictures turned out fabulous! I have to say he is pretty darn cute!

Trick-or-Treat

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:01:00 +0000

The walk to the door...

Wondering what he is doing all alone...

Why is my mom taking so many pictures?

Knocking...and saying "teet".

Backpack

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:03:00 +0000

Hudson is so grown up that he needs a backpack for school. Yes, a backpack for preschool. The teacher suggested it before school started and I never got him one. I thought there was no way he would need one. Well, after he was one of the only kids without one I finally gave in, and he loves his new backpack!

Field Trip

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:48:00 +0000

Hudson and his pumpkin cookie in the barn.

Hudson and his friend Sloan.

Hudson loved the ducks!

Cecile, Hudson and Sloan discovering MUD!

My muddy little man.

Last week Hudson went on his first preschool field trip. We headed to Craven Farm on the rainiest and yuckiest day that we have had this year. As we were getting ready to leave I thought many times about skipping it. Then I told myself that this is Hudson's first field trip and I should just get my Starbucks and go. Well, it was rainy and nasty and everyone was soaked. Hudson had the time of his life! This was his first experience with a mud puddle and he LOVED it!

My Big Boy

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:27:00 +0000

Daddy telling him that he is so proud!

Asking (in sign language) for more bread.

Our proud, little grown up boy.

This week we decided that it was time for Hudson to lose the tray on his booster seat and join us at the big table. He was more than thrilled about this new adventure. The first time he sat there he kept squealing (this is his happy sound). You could tell from the look on his face that he felt very gown up and proud. Meal and snack time has been a hit ever since!

Meeting Stella

noreply@blogger.com (The Cowan Family) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:17:00 +0000

Stella and Hudson

Andrea, Stella and Hudson

Our attempt at getting a group shot...not easy with two toddlers.

Ready, set, JUMP!

Hudson loves the climbing. This is his kind of place!

Last week my friend Andrea came to visit from Florida. Her daughter Stella is about 6 months younger than Hudson. We met Andrea, Stella, Carrie (Andrea's sister) and her son Reece at Bellevue Square to play and chat. I hadn't seen Andrea in almost 4 years! It was so great to see our kids together and catch up. Stella is adorable and Hudson loved to give her hugs.