Merry Christmas ~ 2009

Christmas is a hectic and fun time of year filled with family time.

Our tree. Notice that there are no ornaments on the bottom part of the tree. The kids were taking them off (and Cannon was eating them).


Hudson eating the cookies as we made them for Santa.


Santa's big cookie. Decorated by Hudson himself.


Christmas morning. The boys seeing the presents.




Motorcyles from Grammy and Papa.


Little Cannon looking for more empty boxes to play with. He would have been totally happy with a couple empty boxes for Christmas.

What Happens When the Advent Calendar is Finished?

My Grandma asked Hudson "What happens when you are all done opening all the windows of the [Advant] Calendar?"

And Hudson said, "I get a time-out."

Haha. He sure has had his fair share of time outs but the answer we were all looking for is "Santa Comes when the calendar is emptied."

Sopapillas with Great-Grandparents

Hudson and Cannon's great-grandparents (my grandparents) are here visiting for Christmas. Hudson got to make sopapillas (New Mexican style fried dough) with them and he had so much fun helping in the kitchen.




YUM!

The Best Toys

Isn't it funny how kids often have so many toys and yet the toys they choose to play with are things you already have around your house?

A Box. This box was a big hit. We tried to throw it away a few times but it kept the kids so busy we kept bringing it back inside.


A Drawer. Cannon and Hudson both love to empty this drawer. Hudson plays restaurant with all the stuff and Cannon just throws everything all around the house. And Cannon even climbs inside.


The Couch Cushions. We build forts with the couch pillows, sheets, and blankets every day. 100 times a day.


Toys Schmoys. The kids have fun with stuff we already have.

Diary, Nuts and Soy, Oh My

The cause of Cannon's red cheeks became a littler clearer this week when the blood tests came back and showed us that he is allergic to quite a few things. Dairy, eggs, tree nuts, soy, avocado, banana, latex, shellfish (and fish is cut too to be safe). Wheat came back positive too but the result was low so that, as of now, we are not cutting that. Because I am nursing (and because he is allergic to soy and dairy and there arent many other formula/milk options out there) I also have to cut these foods out of my diet. I had previously cut out dairy, soy, gluten, and processed foods for 3 months but his skin didnt clear up. Probably because I lived off of nuts and also ate eggs. Because we now know he is allergic to these things too, I must cut out even more.

Daunting as this list may be to cut out for both Cannon and I, I am quite all right with it. I mean, it is REALLY nice to know what is behind all this and hopefully, if all works well, resolve his itchy red skin.

Plus, grocery stores are SOOO much better about labeling and selling foods that I never knew existed before last week. Some popular ones: rice yogurt, rice cheese, coconut yogurt, powdered egg replacers (for baking), pancake/cake/cookie mixes (without dairy, eggs and nuts) and much more.

So after trying dozens of prescription lotions, dozens of over the counter lotions and soaps, dozens of old wives' tales and after visiting 4 different types of doctors (pediatrician, dermatologist, allergist and gastroenterologist), we are crossing our fingers that we are at least on the right track. And what do you know, after doing this for just a week, he is eating better, napping better and his skin looks better.

Here's to hoping we've turned a corner!

Ready for Christmas

Cannon is ONE

Happy Birthday, Cannon! We cannot believe you are ONE today. We love you!

Dancing in the bubbles:









Where are all the boys?? Oh...not sitting or listening to the song.

Thanks to all the kids and their parents for coming to play!!

Then and Now

This picture is just too funny to not share.

1995:


2009:

Cabo

JR and I were lucky enough to be invited to the Calvert/Graves wedding in Cabo this past weekend. And we were lucky enough that our parents were willing to watch our kids so we could go! We had such a great, relaxing time with everyone! Congratulations Ryan and Katie!

The group:


Poolside:


The girls and the Groom:


The boys:


Us, prom style:


The Groom right before the wedding:


The Calverts:

A Day Out With Thomas

The real life size Thomas the Train came to California and we drove to spend the day with him!

Hudson Says

Just some funny things that Hudson says:
_ _ _ _

Trying to get a toy car for pooping in the potty.
Hudson: "I just have to push a brown snake out my buns, mommy."
_ _ _ _

Hudson playing in the other room.
Me: Hudson what are you doing in there?
Hudson: I'm making the biggest mess you ever saw, mommy!
_ _ _ _

Me: Hudson, I need you to pick up your puzzle please.
Hudson: I can't. I need you to do it. My legs are broken.

_ _ _ _

Hudson: Mommmy, get that spider over there!
Mommy: Where?!? I hate spiders!
Hudson: You can get it, it's just pretend, Mommy. [There was no spider - he was just pretending that there was one, but I was shocked he knew the word "pretend" and how to use it properly!].

_ _ _ _

He is so funny. I need to remember more of the funny things he says that give me a view into his little mind.

Brothers Cruisin'

Well if this isnt a peek into our future, I dont know what is. Hudson (now that he can steer) has been driving his little brother around. And Cannon is soaking it up and loving it!


Cannon is holding on for dear life. Haha. I wish he were scared but really he loves driving around.




Cannon is running (literally, running now - and on cement) after his brother and probably thinking: Hey, wait for me!