These are the two latest books I have read. I think I must be on a Nicholas Sparks and Jodi Picoult tirade. I figured I enjoyed both of them so much that I might as well read all the books they have written. These are both so different from each other but I loved 'em both. Especially Harvesting the Heart, it is one of those stories that takes you away to another world.Hudson went to nursery at church for the first time yesterday. It was so nice to not wrestle him down during Sunday School. He didn't cry when we left him, he just played with the toys. I think he must have missed us though because he looked a little sad when Mike went and got him. Makes me feel good that he still misses us even with a room full of toys and kids to play with. I have to revel in this moment because I know it won't last.
Here is the Washburn mascot, Mr. Ichabod. Hudson was formally introduced to him on Saturday at the football game.
This is Yager Stadium. Mike says their lettering is a copy cat of the Yankee Stadium. But I think it is still pretty cool looking no matter what.
Here is the team running out with full force to start the game off. This was when the game was still entertaining Hudson.
It was actually a pretty entertaining game, well at least for those of us above the age of 2. Hudson was more interested in the rocks under the bleachers for most of it. But he does love dirt so you can't really blame him. 
There is the famous W. Guess it isn't too famous unless you are in "these parts." But we are a fan of Washburn, good thing huh?! 
The Half-time show had a Moraccon twist to it. It was pretty cool but I always enjoy a decent half-time show. I'm not too hard to please. Hudson and I spent a good part of the game up by the concessions area. He was running around chasing other kids. That seemed to entertain him more than most of the actual game. But he did watch at least some of it which was good because Mike taught him the football stance this week. You know, just in case he decides to play center. Oh, and the Bods beat Missouri Western 21-17.
We took advantage of the Make A Wish night at Cold Stone last week. It was free ice cream which was created by 2 different children as part of a wish. It was great to get some yummy ice cream and make a donation to a good cause.
This was Hudson's face when he wasn't getting the ice cream fast enough.
Yummy!!
Today we fed some fish. Hudson always enjoys lobbing objects at the water. So here is of course, the token picture of fish rushing up to get the goods.
Hudson in his attempt to run around and ultimately away from me. I am hoping he starts understanding and listening to me. He seems to understand right now. It's the listening part he is lacking in a bit! The joy of a toddler with a mission!
Some random, somewhat freaky looking statue of a turtle.
Cool water feature around the pond.
Mike wondered if this frog was real. It looks fake in the picture but it is totally real. It was actually jumping around pretty fast trying to get the food away from the fish.
This is probably my favorite picture of Hudson there. All of a sudden I look over and Hudson and his buddy, Abby, are chilling on their own. Just sitting there and tossing rocks.
My friend is holding an auction tomorrow (Thursday, Sept 25th) on her blog. PUH-lease....go check it out and help out Stephanie and Christian Nielson. If you haven't heard of their story, which I am thinking pretty much everyone has by now, you can check out this clip from the Today show.
Besides, you might be able to score yourself one of these frames I donated for it. I think they are pretty darn sweet! 
So go check out these frames and all the other cute items tomorrow at Good Deeds. Remember it is for an incredibly great cause!!
and he knows how to use them. (Think Legs by ZZ Top.) For some reason I get these crazy songs in my head whenever I post.
We went to PAT day at the Zoo. It is a big Zoobaloo event with tons of prizes and make and takes. We got our name tags, his shades and we headed straight to the elephants. Hudson loves to make elephant noises and his Dad does too. I try but I am not as good at it as they are! 
Then we went on the animal scavenger hunt they gave us. We had fun seeing all the furry guys. The lions were having fits so they were roaring so loud. I don't think I have ever heard lions like this before. Hudson got a kick out of it and kept roaring back at them!
Then we headed to the pavilion to make a boomerang and a snake. Hudson was having a blast dotting up the snake. Anything that involves some sort of banging of an object and Hudson is there. Gotta love his leopard print wrist band. He picked that one out all by himself!
We checked out some of the other pretty parts of the zoo:
Ate all of his animal crackers and gulped down his hog juice. And just like that, we were outta there. All in a day's work for Hudson.
Oh, and we could barely pry those sunglasses off of him. He probably would sleep in them if we let him.
This is what my two guys were doing Saturday night. I thought it was so cute that Hudson just plopped up there with his Dad and was actually watching football. Looks like I am going to need some more books to get me through the season!
I made a goal earlier this year to read 24 books in 2008. I slacked off for a few months but I am back at it again!
My Saturday night started and ended with this:
I know not everyone likes Nicholas Sparks but I am quite fond of the books I have read. Plus The Notebook is one of my favorite movies too. I really liked this book even though it was sad. I found myself getting all choked up reading it. But seriously, it seems like most of his books do that to me. It was a good one though.
Then I read this one last night and finished it up today: 
It was a little harder for me to read. It is about a mom and how she deals with her son being molested. Some of it was a little too graphic for me and their was a bit of language that could be cut out. But I enjoy the way she writes and how much she develops her characters. She also seems to write about controversial topics, which I love. Just for the mere fact that it makes you question what you would do in that situation. Even though, I think most of the time, we don't really know what we would do.
If anyone has any suggestions for books or authors....I would love some more ideas of books to read!!
Hudson didn't realize he was in for the ride of his life...well at least one of them so far. He is still pretty young.
We have to thank the man and his daughter in front of us for posing so nicely for all of our pictures on the train ride.
Hudson and his mama riding the train. It is always a great ride when people are smiling that big! Hudson got to pull the train whistle too. What a great ending to a perfect train ride!
The best things in life come to those who wait...
We figured the ducks had been neglected long enough. We brought them a nice lunch today.
Menu Du Jour:
Bite-size Bread, Soggy Bread, Big chunks of Bread
Waitstaff:
Hudson-Prefers to serve bigger chunks of bread
Stacey-Aims to please with bite-size bread or soggy bread (for ducks getting forgotten in the water)
My crazy cracker boy gets crumbs all over every time he eats them. Here is what I found on my couch after he chowed one down:
I have been wanting one of these since Mike and I had Hudson. Now cleanup is seriously a breeze!
Hudson had a blast at a PAT playgroup. They were few in numbers because of something going on at the Capitol that day but he didn't care one bit. We sang songs and hit our song sticks on the floor. He played with a ginormous toothbrush and some animals. 
But there were two things he kept going back to. One was this incredibly awesome velcro wall. Who wouldn't want one of these? I am thinking a must have in a future play room! He loved taking the shapes on and off of the wall.
The other thing was this basketball hoop. He found a basketball right when we got there and started dribbling it. I am not even kidding. He knew just want to do with it. (Must be from watching ESPN with his Dad!) Then he started dunking it and putting up some hoops. The craziest thing was how he shoots. He already has really good form. 
I didn't notice this a whole lot since I was too busy taking pictures of him. But the other ladies there were asking me about him. They couldn't believe how coordinated he was, especially for how young he is. I am not writing this to brag, just to say how surprised I was too! Then when I showed Mike the pictures later that night, he couldn't believe that Hudson was using the right form. I guess he is just all boy...and I am looking forward to many years of sporting events.
