All by Myself

Jude loves it when we give him 'jobs.' I think he just feels so productive (and it really does keep him out of trouble too!). Last evening, he wanted to make a PB&J so badly - he kept going around asking, "Daddy, you want a PB&J?" "Jackie, you want a PB&J?" So I told him that he could make one and save it for lunch (but you'll see, in the photos, that he ended up tasting it immediately). That just about made his day!

Easter Egg Hunt

We took the boys to an Easter Egg hunt over the weekend (I was kinda glad it was indoors since the weather has been so yucky).

And they're off!

Both boys got a nice pile of goodies.

Can't have an Easter Egg hunt without the bunny showing up:

(I think this will be the last year Jackson' OK with getting a picture with the Easter Bunny)

And of course, we had to sample a few pieces (just to make sure it was OK!)

 

Philly

For the first time in my OT career, I went to the big, national OT conference. They move it around the country every year. The 2011 site was in Philly, so I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to go. My entire OT department, as well as 21 students, and numerous alumni went also! This is the conference where you get to meet the OTs who develop the theories that we teach our students and use in practice, along with the OTs that write our textbooks, and even the President of AOTA. Amazing opportunity!

Of course the entire fam went with me and we got an adjoining room with my friend/co-worker, Kerri and her kiddos. Needless to say, pleasure was mixed with business (although even the 'business' part of the trip seemed pleasurable - that's when you know you've picked the right profession!).

A 'quick' stop @ the Lego store in King of Prussia



We took an afternoon and walked from our hotel to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell - it was only about 6 blocks from our hotel!

We got to have lunch with our friend, Bethany (who graduated from SFU last year)

And of course, just had some fun with friends!

Proof that I was working:

This was the President of AOTA speaking at the conference.

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!