Aunt Melissa and Uncle Brett

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

Christmas Morning

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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!

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!

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!

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

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.