Hudson's 8th Birthday!

This post is all about my biggest boy!  My big 8 year old.  8 years OLD--2nd GRADE!  I can't believe it.  Talk about a blink of an eye.

Hudson's birthday this year fell on our 3rd annual JW Marriott weekend.  This year Matt's parents and sister Lauren joined us on this fun weekend.  We were able to celebrate our big guy while having such a fun-filled family weekend together.  One thing we have learned about these summer birthday babies is that you really are at the mercy of your friends summer plans.  As it has turned out this summer, Hudson's friends were out of town when we were here and visa versa.  Like Harper's outing to Build a Bear with a friend, he wants to go to The Main Event with a couple of buddies.  We hope to make this happen before school starts---we'll see!!  Fingers crossed.  No matter what, you just can't beat having your birthday at the JW.  He had a great time and was loved on and spoiled to the max!

I love this big boy of mine.  He is one of a kind.  Such a sports nut, but his greatest love would be a good book.  He has read 2-3 chapter books a WEEK this summer.  We have 2 reading 'spots' that I have created in our new house.  One is upstairs and one is in the closet under the stairs.  Last year at Mentoring Moms, a lady spoke to us about creating the passion of reading in your home and creating a special spot where your kids can get lost in a book.  She showed cool pictures of closets turned libraries, and I left knowing that our next house would have one of those spots.  The kids love it and we really have used those special reading spaces so much.

 His favorites are the Who Was book series as well as the I Survived series.  He LOVES facts, this boy.  He loves biographies and stories on real events.  That is what makes these Who Was and I survived books right up his alley.  His favorite Who Was books so far are (and he had a hard time coming up with this list because he said ALL are his favorites):  Who was Anne Frank, Who Was Amelia Earhart, Who Was Babe Ruth, Who Was Helen Keller, & Who Was Elvis Presley ("Mom, I have way more favorites than that!---I had to cut him off.  HA!).  :)  I Survived the Titanic is his favorite so far too.  My mom got Hudson a Kindle for his birthday and it really was a great gift.  We have downloaded a few books and I find it hard to tell him no when he finishes a book and instantly is ready for the next.  Whenever we go anywhere to run errands or do something, he has a book in hand.  This has to be my favorite thing about this boy of mine.

reading to his littles before bed.  I love when he wants to read to them.  They love it too.

A common scene around here.

Our library up stairs.  Hudson reading Who Was Albert Einstein and Holton reading his potty book.  :)

Reading his Kindle in the closet under the stairs.

One of our many, many, many, MANY (get the point) trips to Lowes this summer.

And for a glimpse into our little sports nut here he is all fired up about the Spurs final game!  Hudson is signed up for flag football this fall.  He is so excited about it.  Last year we took the year off of everything extra curricular simply for the fact I had to get this life with 4 kids figured out before I added more to my already full plate.  It was a good call on my part---here is hoping to finding a good balance this Fall.

Truly heartbroken over the Spurs loss.  (he shed a few tears..shhhh don't tell him I said that).  Our cable wasn't hooked up yet when the finals were going on, so Matt took him to the Main Event for the game.  He text me these pictures over the course of the game.  I'd say he captured the emotion going on here.  :)

Hudson had the wonderful opportunity to go back to T Bar M Camp again this summer.  He went with several boys from our life group and church.  Such a special time for those boys and I love that they can share such an awesome spiritual experience together.  We hope to continue to send them together every summer.  Hudson is dying to do the overnight camp next summer.  We hope to make it happen.  Harper is all ready for summer day camp next summer too!  It really is quite the expense sending our kids to camp.  I grew up going to camp and worked 3 summers of my college career as a camp counselor, so I know firsthand what God can do during a week away at summer camp.  Something about being away from your family, out of your comfort zone, and around college aged 'cool Christians' that can be so influential---well, it is a priceless experience in my eyes.  Changed my life when I was younger.  I pray that God can give us the means to send our kids summer after summer.  Needless to say this summer at camp for Hudson was one of the best weeks ever for him at this age.  Each day of camp is a different theme, so that little boy inside of him that looooved to dress up really gets into this part everyday.

Hud and Ezra

Last day!

Bear Hug!

Mission Impossible

Cowboys VS. Ninjas---ya that vest is probably a size 3T--didn't stop Huddy Bud!

I am looking forward to seeing all the growth that 2nd grade has to offer Hudson.  It's a big year and a new school.  I know he will do great and shine where ever he goes.  We have prayed so much for his 2nd grade teacher.  We can't wait to meet her and finally know her name.  We love our biggest boy so much and are so incredibly proud of the 8 year old he is.