Playing a little catch up!

Hi Blog Friends!!  So sorry for the delay in writing---not my intention.  Never is.  I have GOT to get back to my weekly updates.  I always think about a blog post and add it to my 'to do' list and then something trumps this little blog--I hate that and I really do want to be better.

Going PRIVATE---MY GOODNESS....really, I never thought it would or could be such a headache.  There are still about 12 people who haven't accepted the invitation, but have e-mailed me saying it isn't working or that their invitation has expired???  I don't know how this thing works.  I have tried and tried again hoping that no one falls through the cracks, but I am afraid some have.  I wish it wasn't so complicated (for me at least.  I've heard from others who had no hiccups at all setting theirs to private).  I almost threw in the towel because I felt so bad for those e-mailing me, but then I remember why I am doing this and just keep my fingers crossed it all works out.

This boy is all about the costumes these days.  We go everywhere as Spiderman.  It's so cute---reminds me so much of Hudson when he was 3.

We have been so busy that I cannot even believe it is Halloween on Thursday and NOVEMBER on Friday.  Wasn't it just summer???  So much life has happened---so many blessings along the way.  So much to be thankful for.

This is one way to get this teething boy happy.  Swing outside.

Hayesie, or Mighty Man Hayes--as I like to call him, started walking shortly after his first birthday.  He hasn't slowed down since.  He is such a brave one, that boy.  He is so determined, so fierce.  I believe with every ounce of my being this child was conceived that way.  I mean really---to beat the ODDS of a vasectomy???  The LORD made this boy mighty in every possible way....and I love him to pieces.  He is every bit as precious today as he was when we first met this guy.  His little personality is shinning thru and we adore him.  We've had a few tough weeks lately dealing with some teeth working their way in.  It's those back molars and they have yet to break thru, but I can feel them right beneath those gums of his.  He has been soooo cranky at times.  It has really thrown my day to day life for a loop because I am not used to this attitude coming from Mr. Easy himself.  I'll be thankful when those puppies come on thru the gums.

My baby boys. 

I love how my porch turned out all decorated.

my little punkins.

Our nephew Greyson Ellis Hubbard was born at the end of September.  He is so precious and we all are so crazy about him.  We made this last minute decision to go meet him right after he was born.  We couldn't wait another second and just had to go.  It was a whirlwind of a weekend, but worth it to meet him.  We are so happy for the Hubbard trio.  It was so fun for someone else to have a baby for a change.  :)  After meeting Greyson makes us so excited for my sister to have my niece, Collins Kate in Feb.  Loving all these sweet babies.

How perfect is this baby????

Mini and Papa with their 5 grands.

We can't wait to see him again soon!!

 We've had some company visit us.  We always love having a house full of family or friends.  I always, always wake with a happy, thankful heart when our home is full.  My grandmother came and spent almost a week with us. She is in her late 70's and lives in East Texas and it means SO much to me that she wants to come spend time here with us in this crazy home.  It means a lot to her too and she kept saying that she wants to "know my kids and they her...but most importantly she wants them to have memories of her."  I think that is so sweet.  She cooked for us, and read with Hudson every night.  He loved it.  We had a great visit.

Suepa and the kiddies.  Yes---those are cornrows for her Bahamas trip earlier.  She's crazy and fun.  :)

Holton and Suepa became BFF while here.  He loved her.

Hudson started playing flag football this Fall.  It has been so-much-FUN.  That boy has impressed his parents that is for sure.  We made the mistake when he was 3 to put him in soccer.  He hated it---hatedddd it.  After that year, Matt and I both were like we are NEVER again pushing something on them without them initiating an interest first.  And we also learned thru Hudson that 3 years old is FAR too young to put these babies in an 'organized' sport.  Sweet Huddy, he's our little learning curve of a child for us.  I know some can start theirs out really young and have success, and that is great---that experience for us went into the 'fail' section of our parenting.  I'd say it was right around Kindergarten that Hudson started taking a huge liking of sports.  Not only playing them outside with Matt, but watching them on TV too.  Nowadays this boy is a complete sports nut, and he's really good too.  We have been blown away with him and flag football.  He is so eager to learn, is so coachable, very aggressive, and he really gives it 110% while he's playing.  It's been a blast, and we are so proud of him. The season is over on Saturday, but we are all signed up for basketball in January.

Love that number 9.

Daddy Pops, Grammy, Suz, Colt, and Camden came too.  It was the best weekend.  The weather was GORGEOUS.  We had a fire outside for the first time.  It was wonderful.  We love being outside when it is so beautiful.  Camden and Holton are at such a cute cute cute age.  They play so well together and genuinely love each other.  All the kids love Camden.  I could listen to those 2 boys have a convo all day long.  SO CUTE!

There isn't much cuter than this.

Dad told Hud that for every flag he gets he'll give him 10 bucks.  Hudson left with a $20 bill at the end of this game.  He was one determined little boy on that field that day.  :)

Matt took the big 2 camping with other dads recently.  They have been doing this for several years and they love it.  It is seriously so fun for these kids and I love that these sweet daddies do this for them.  What sweet memories for them all.

I can't get over that it holiday season.  The best time of the year.  I am trying so hard to stop more and soak up the day to day grind of our life.  It goes so fast and they change everyday.  Holton is our little musician boy.  He loves to sing and perform and play the guitar.  He is full of personality and so much fun.  I looooove that little boy so much.  He is so cuddly and too precious for words.  My girl---she is doing so good in Kinder.  Her teacher adores her and Harper loves her so much.  She has made the adjustment to school so well and is soaring.  The true love and passion in her life (besides animals) would be art.  She loves to draw.  I am really looking hard to find art lessons for her this Spring.  I know she would love it.  She is still in gymnastics.  We switched to a place closer to our home, and I sooo wanted it to be great, but it hasn't.  We love our other spot much more.  After the Spring we plan to reevaluate and see what she wants to do.  Everyday I am thankful for her and the sweet dynamic she puts in our highly testosterone family of ours.  She is so darling and so sweet.  My favorite thing would be how she and Holton are best friends.  Those 2 middles have a very tight bond. 

No personality this guy.

This was in Hudson's library book as his bookmark.  My goodness--made my DAY.

Love.

Right now as I am typing this, Matt is flying home from Vegas.  I've been flying solo for now 3 nights.  I was really dreading it, but the kids have been awesome.  I can't complain.  It makes me be far more organized when I know Daddy isn't walking thru the door at 5.  We've made it, but goodness knows we are all so ready for him to be back home.  I am so thankful for the Daddy he is to these kids.  I miss the help and certainly miss his presence here.  Next week we are having part 2 of our "10 year anni."  When we were in Napa in July, Matt got an e-mail saying he was needed back in San Fran in November.  So while we were there he was like, "how about part 2 come Nov."  Well, it's November and next week we are going back.  SF for Wed and Thurs and Sonoma/Napa Thurs-Sunday.  I can't wait.  I could get used to a vacay every quarter.   Again---so so so so sooooo thankful for Mini and Melissa and Greyson for so willingly offering to watch the kids.  They are so gracious and I am thankful every single day for their love and investing in our marriage.  Matt and I are who we are today because we are able to still have our identity of 'us' in this family of 6.  It is very much he and I with the added bonus of these 4 loves of ours.  I am thankful for any opportunity to sneak away with this man of mine.

SOOO how's that for a catch up!!  Hoping to update with Halloween by Friday.  Our little Avengers are going to be SO cute!!  Can't wait!!!