Thanksgiving 2010

Since I moved to Texas the week after I got married (which will be 20 years in June) we have spent most holidays on the road between Minnesota and central Texas.  We don't usually spend Thanksgiving in MN as we don't have much time off from school and I need about 2 weeks, or at least 10 days, to make the drive there and back..recovering in between.  Every other year is spent at Mark's moms and so we either get invited to a friends' home or drive to Tulsa to spend a few days with Mark's sister.   The last two years have been crazy...my mom was diagnosed in Nov of 08 so we jumped in the car to spend Thanksgiving in MN that year...last year she passed away in Nov and we got home just in time to head to Central TX for Thanksgiving at Mark's moms.   This year Mark and I decided to stay home and attempt our own Thanksgiving feast.  One of my favorite memories growing up was the preperation that went into the holidays.  I made a late breakfast of Monkey Bread and bacon.  I SO enjoyed getting ready for this day and it was so relaxing to just hang out at home.  Food, football and friends....aahhh, it was heavenly...

Jordan's oldest friend Jake and Jake's grandma

Jake's parents, Dan & Renee

PRE-K FOUR THANKSGIVING FEAST

Hudson had his first school program last week at school...he has a great teacher and they did several songs and prepared a feast...

Hope all of you had a BLESSED Thanksgiving!!!!!

Dances and parties...

I so wish I had the time to blog daily like I used to...it is amazing to me that the older my kids get the busier life is....even though they become more independent they seem to need you more.

Madalyn attended her first highschool dance a week ago.  It was a Sadie Hawkins dance and the theme was 80's so this '86 grade had no trouble with helping her and her friends get ready.  We had a fun day shopping and primping and they looked adorable

This was at the "pre-dinner" party and almost Madi's entire class.  

This was also Madalyn's first official "date".  She and Logan have liked each other for about a year but we are pretty strict on what that looks like....he is a sweet kid and we certianly weren't ready for this "season" of life with her.  He is very patient.....we are not the norm when it comes to "dating"....

The same  night as Madalyn's dance Kailee had a party...it was just a birthday party but they were asked to dress up so in between the 80's shopping we had to do party dress shopping...

All the days of frilly dresses and bows are LONG gone and now they do their own hair...again, independent but still my baby girl!!

...and her favorite date is Hudson...

Orphan Sunday

Many of the blogs I read have mentioned how their churches recognized "Orphan Sunday" today.  I must say those churches ROCK and truly get what scripture tells us isn't an option as Christians but something that is expected.    Way to go to those of you who are in these churches and who have advocated loud and long enough to get some "face" time.  PURE and faultless religion!!!

This and that

Two weeks out and we are back to normal.  Really the middle of last week Hudson was back to his silly self, running, playing and asking "how many days?" until he can eat all foods.  Still a few more days of the soft diet but now that we are not liquids he can eat a lot more.  He is still snoring but not gasping for breaths like he was at first and most people who hear him talk say they can definetly tell a difference and can understand him better.  For sure his hypernasality is gone.  We will start speech in a couple weeks again and are hopeful he will really take off with his articulation and get those back stops down.
Since this is our family scrapbook I wanted to include some of Hudson's latest works.  One of his first nights of really feeing good he spent about two hours working on letters and drawing.  I was so impressed as I have never seen him do anything but scribble.  

He has always called Jordan "Jo Jo" so this was mail for his brother.  

Lastly, today is my sweet dad's birthday.  It has been a tough year of "firsts" for all of us and although he is doing well I sure wish on days like today I lived closer to really love on him.  Last week Hudson's school did their annual Care-A-Thon service projects and Hudson's class went to a nursing home to sing.  When I asked him about it he said "they were REALLY old".  I said "like Grandpa?" and he said "is he old?"....... my dad got a kick out of that!!! 

LOVE YOU DAD!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!