Tumblebus

We went to Zach's (nephew) birthday party today. The Tumblebus came to his party. It's a school bus that's been gutted and filled with a zip line, balance beam, trampoline, a slide, and a small climbing wall. The gal that brings the bus keeps the kids totally engaged for an hour doing songs, music, and all sorts of gymnastic-like activities. Oh man! What a hit! A special Happy Birthday to Zach too!

And then came time for the cake - Grammy Linda's, of course!

 Time for fun!

 I was ready for the picture - Jude was not.....

I'm 'squatting' for this picture because when Jude says "Squirt", it comes out "Squat" - just having some fun!

Signs of Spring

Yes, it's been snowing. Yes, it's been freezing. Yes, we're still wearing our hats, gloves, winter coats. Yes, it goes from sunny to a downpour of snow. BUT, there are signs of spring - I promise (and maybe I'm just searching really hard for them)!

We just came in from a walk around the lake. It was my effort to let Jude burn off some steam, help Jackson reconnect to the outside world (since he's had the flu for a week and is still running a temp:(, and help Jeremy and I get some fresh air.

Our lilac bush  - one of the best sights and smells of spring!

It's hard to believe these will be beautiful lilies in a few months.

Oh Gert...a definite sign of spring is Gertie sniffing everything and then........

 rolling in it to show her approval!

A robin!

Chives 



Welcome Spring - please stay a while and let Mother Nature know it's OK to stop sending us snow!

Thanks.

Yes! The Hudkins' Are Still Alive

I'm trying my hardest today to update my blogs!

The past couple of weeks have been packed with what seems like the same crazy routines over and over - crazy-long Mondays, early Tuesdays, tiring Wednesdays, crazy-long Thursdays, fast-flying Fridays, basketball Saturdays, and everything-else Sundays. Pair all that up with cold, snowy weather, battling colds, flus, aches, pains.

I'd say we're just a tad ready for SPRING!!!! Here are some of the results of a super-long winter:

Using the entire box of cat food as 'dirt' is Jude's way of telling us that he's sick of being indoors and would really like to get out and dig in the real stuff.

Loading up his boot with his sippy cup is just another, odd, but bold way of saying that he'd like to use his boots for something other than trekking through the snow.

Sick of a long winter full of Lego-playing,

Jackson's reverted to using Jenga blocks to build forts and other structures.

Jude is so confused by the long hibernation,

he thinks it's Halloween (disorientation is a definite symptom of cabin fever).

Gertie-girl just wants the constant comfort of treats.

The poor girl needs to get her 'winter weight' off so she can run around and have fun.

So although the calendar tells us it's officially Spring and the days are getting longer, the cold, snowy weather is keeping us from partaking in spring-y activities. If I could put in a request for some warmer, sunnier weather, I would. Until then, we'll just continue to come up with our own creative ways to have indoor fun :)

Mini Bazaar

Every year, Jackson's school has a Mardi Gras/Mini Bazaar day where the kids get to run around the gym playing games, getting their face painted, buying junk, etc. Jackson loves that day well, because it's hours out of class work, but also because he gets to run around with his buddies.

Jude and I visited the bazaar this year. I expected Jackson to hang with us, but I guess we're not cool enough - he just wanted to run with his friends (I hate to admit it, but I think we're getting to this stage where Mom's just not cool anymore....kinda sad).

Jude getting his hand painted.

 Ice cream time (don't ask about the bruise on his forehead - we have no idea how it got there and he won't 'fess up).

Jude and Maddie

Zach, Jackson and his friend Evan

Jude sporting his dance moves!

Going Bananas!

Spring can't come fast enough.

When The Hudkins decide to go bananas, we do it in style!

The Man of the Hour

This little guy was baptized today! Congrats to Aidan!

We love you!

A Boy's Dream

Last Saturday, a kid wrecked his truck on the road above our house- he was fine (thank goodness) but it caused a full-blown, on-the-scene visit from the fire department, state police, etc. Jeremy took Jude up to watch all of it and when it was all over, the firemen let Jude jump in the firetruck and sit for a minute and he got to blow the horn. Ummmm, can you say, 'Dream come true?"

You can see how icy the road way
(sorry for the blurry picture- it is from our yucky camera)

Any guesses on what's going through his mind as he's sitting in the firetruck?

 There she is in all her glory!
I'm guessing this is one of those moments when little boys see the truck of their dreams..... everything goes silent, the sky opens up, a beautiful ray of sun beams down on the truck, the angels begin singing, and life is deemed as 'good'!

"Flat Bed (in an excited, loud shout)" could be heard coming from a cute little 3-year-old!

Man, if I could be inside of his head at that moment!
 I'm guessing the thoughts were something like, "Hey, pssst, Dad, look over my left shoulder....can you believe it? It's a statey car....OMG...."

 A view of the truck from our back yard



Boys and their trucks.....

I guess you can kinda consider this my Valentine's Day post
b/c of all the love being described!

Have a great weekend.