This Week...

Hudson got into my sesame seeds. He also got into my flour. Both were really fun messes to clean up. Thanks Hudson.



Hudson also managed to eat three of my lip balms in one day. Not really sure what that does to one’s system, but I’m sure Hudson will manage—he’s eaten worse.

And since all of my lip balm was gone, Hudson resorted to his next favorite thing: a glue stick. Elle was doing an art project, and so Hudson took that as an opportunity to sneak the I’m-not-allowed-to-touch glue stick. Luckily, I was informed of his naughtiness before too much was consumed.

On a happy note, Hudson has learned most of his colors. He is particularly fond of green, white, red and blue. He most assuredly points these colors out to me multiple times a day. And he loves to tell me that he wants his blue shirt from his closet (he is very particular about clothes, and will only where a select few--silly boy).

And although I did not take a lot of pictures, it has still been a fun week.

Favorite Quotes

Hudson: “Hudson five, Elle two.” (Elle was not so fond of Hudson saying this.)

Hudson: “Elle, princess.” (Elle was very fond of Hudson saying this, however.)

This Week...

Elle, the costume queen, was at it again. This week she watched the movie, Robin Hood, and decided she just had to make a Maid Marian costume. She made this one all on her own. She was very proud with the results. I especially liked the black electrical tape to make a black nose—very creative. This girl sure loves to make a costume for everything.



We made a Valentine’s Day craft. This was a simple one that both Hudson and Elle could do together. Elle was less than impressed with Hudson’s crafting skills, but she still enjoyed the activity. Hudson was just so happy to be included in one of Elle’s projects. So overall, I’d say it was a success.



Hudson so kindly threw a lamp over the stairs, and broke the light bulb. How this kid manages to get into so many scrapes in one week has me completely confounded. But mange he does—and easily.



We finally had a HUGE snowfall. My kids have been waiting all winter to have some snow, and this week they got it. It snowed all morning and for most of the day, and we had a lot of snow. The kids loved it. They had to go and play immediately in the dark, before Elle had to go to school. I think all Hudson did was sit out there and eat it. He just kept shouting, “Eat!” Then, while Elle was in school, Hudson and I shoveled the entire driveway. But I guess that was a complete waste, because later in the day it rained all of the snow away. But not before Elle got to build two snowmen and Hudson got to “Eat!”



Hudson found a new way to do his hair: with the vacuum. He used the Shop-Vac on his head, and these are the results. Not sure if I like his method



Well, it has been a crazy week, but at least we have enjoyed it

Favorite Quotes

Hudson was throwing a ball up in the air and trying to catch it. He repeatedly missed the ball, but he did put forth a valiant effort. But after not catching it once, he sat down and said to himself: “Dood tatch (good catch).”

Hudson was also throwing the ball with me, and I was catching his throws, but he was not so successful with mine. But instead of being discouraged, he just said, “almost,” after every miss. Very cute.

This Week...

Elle decided to put as much of her personal items in her bed as she possibly could. I don’t know how she sleeps in there with all those things. I, of course, had to remove all of it. Such a pleasant nighttime task.



And then I had to take a picture of Hudson, because he looked so cute sleeping in his bed with his dog.



Elle learned about the Chinese dragon in school (they are learning about traditions around the world), and so she just had to come home and create her own dragon costume. (A costume enthusiast is always on the lookout for the next great costume.) I did my best to aid her in her costume quest, and in the end, I think we did a pretty good job. She was pleased with the outcome of our costume endeavors. But as with all of her costumes and art projects, she only likes them for the purpose of making them. And once they are finished, they become history—never to be worn or looked at again.



Hudson decided to try on a few of Elle’s castaway costumes. He found this lion costume to be just the thing for him. He loved it, and went around growling at everyone.




I decided to also post a picture of Elle wearing this costume (in 2009), because I thought the comparisons of the two of them in the same costume were pretty cute.



Elle decided she wanted to make her purple plastic bin fly. Since that is a definite impossibility, I did the next best thing: I hung it from the swing set using a rope. Elle thought it was marvelous. She even told me it was just like she was flying. Thank goodness. If she hadn’t been satisfied with my makeshift idea, I’m not sure what else I would have done.



Hudson found out how great it is to have sister away while Mommy is making brownies, because he did not have to share the brownie batter bowl at all. He also found out that brownie batter and boogers are a delicious combination.



I found a ladybug in the house, and Hudson loved having it crawl all over his hand. He was quite fascinated.



Elle found out the hard way that one should never lick a potato peeler. I never thought I would have to warn her of this. It just seemed so obvious. But I will for sure inform Hudson of this information when he gets older.



Hudson let Elle do his hair. Let’s just say she went a little crazy with the bows.



It was definitely an exciting and fun week.

Favorite Quotes

Elle: “Brain, think of something now!”

Hudson says otay (okay), three times for everything. It is so cute hearing him repeat otay all day long.

I had the opportunity to go to the Broadway production of My Fair Lady. It was simply splendid, and we all had a wonderful time. It is always fun to get together with the girls and have a night out—especially when it involves a classic.



Hudson somehow managed to get stuck in our window blinds. I heard him calling for help in my room, and when I found him, this is what I found. I laughed out loud, and then I decided it was definitely picture worthy.



Elle’s long awaited break from school came to a close, and she—and I—had to get back in the routine of waking up early and getting ready for school. I miss the lazy days of break already.

Hudson, the very picky, I-don’t-like-texture eater, FINALLY ate broccoli. Broccoli is one of the favorite vegetables around our house, and he has up until now refused to eat it. (Elle has always loved broccoli—it is one of her favorites.) But my broccoli-hating boy has at last become a broccoli-loving boy. And it only took one trick to get him to eat his broccoli: ketchup. I know it sounds just awful, but he loves it. He happily downed six pieces of raw broccoli smothered in ketchup. Who knew? All I know is that I’m happy Hudson is now eating vegetables.

Elle and I were working on one of her many art projects, and she somehow managed to cut my finger with the scissors. Luckily it did not hurt too much, and it only bled for a short time. Elle and I laugh about it now, but at the time it was a little traumatic for her.

Poor Hudson has learned the not so fun thing known as: time-out. For the most part, Hudson is a very easy-going boy, and he hardly needs any discipline. But everyone once in a while, his red-headed stubbornness comes out, and he refuses to apologize for his behavior. So today, Johnny stuck him in the corner until he was ready to say sorry; and he was not at all happy about it. He stood in that corner and cried, and then he immediately apologized. Lessons sure are hard to learn—even for parents. I did not like seeing my sweet little boy sit in the corner. But learn he must.



It has been a fun week.

Favorite Quotes

Hudson has now started to grunts in frustration whenever I do not do something exactly how he would like. It makes me laugh out loud each and every time. It is very cute.

This Week...

We went to an indoor soft playground. The kids loved this place. Although Hudson did get lost, and he couldn’t find me for a minute, which actually made him cry. It was sad, but it was kind of nice to know that he does in fact care where I am. He usually just wanders away without a concern in the world (kind of like he did at church today when neither Johnny nor I were looking). But after the “scary” incident, Elle was an exceptionally kind sister, and she stayed with him for the duration of our stay at the playground. Thanks Elle.



Elle and Hudson had so much fun playing and spending time together. Usually, during the morning, Elle is at school, so Hudson has to find and make his own mischief (like stabbing himself with a knife, running with scissors, and burning himself with a hot glue gun). But since Elle is on winter break, he gets to have Elle to help him make and find all kinds of mischief. It has been interesting to say the least. But they do play so well together, and they have so much fun. It pleases me immensely—even if they do cause a lot of mischief.



Elle has taken the notion into her head that nothing is too nice or new to be sacrificed for an art project. I do not like this notion at all, but Elle is not too concerned with what I do and don’t like. I was not in the least happy that she cut pieces out of the new storage box, that I got for her art papers, in order to make a fairy. And I was none too happy that she cut the fur from her jacket in order to make one of her stuffed animals into a dog. I do so love her imagination and her desire to create, but I do have my limits. And cutting up nice and useful things is definitely one of my limits. But Elle does not heed my advice, and continues to make art projects out of whatever she deems necessary. Fantastic.



But even with all the mischief and art projects, it was a splendid week.

Oh, and I failed to mention that Elle learned to whistle about three months ago. She was the first of her friends, and she couldn’t be prouder. Whistling was a skill she greatly desired to attain, and she was completely thrilled with herself when she actually acquired it.

I also failed to mention that Elle learned to tie her shoes about three weeks ago. She came to me one morning and told me she wanted to learn; so I got a shoe, showed her how and she gave it a try. It only took her about two tries, and she had it. I couldn’t believe how quickly and easily she learned. And now I find her newly acquired skill extremely helpful, because she can tie not only her own shoes, but Hudson’s as well. Very helpful indeed.