My reason for this blog…

Living in California means living away from our family.  I never want my family to miss a beat as our children grow up; as long as God has us here in Southern California.  It is so important to me that they know every milestone, every step of their growth like we’re not even apart.

There are so many things that I want my children to have and one thing is a diary of their childhood. When God one day blesses them with their own, they will be able to look back and get hairy details and hopefully God-given wisdom that he has blessed me with.

I also want my friends and family to be encouraged through my struggles of parenting and life and see Christ working through me, changing me to be more like HIM.

But mostly I pray that this blog glorifies the Lord in my speech, in raising my children, in being a wife, mama, daughter, sister and friend.

So Enjoy!

All my love,

Staci

Bathtime with Hudson

Here was a fun bath…

Dakota’s First Ballet Dance Recital!

So for the past few months we took Dakota to the Parks and Rec to a ballet class.  She loved it and they had a recital at the end of the class.  After her recital she had some special moments with Daddy dancing around the living room.

watch Dakota-her tape was missing so she did not know where to stand

but she is still dancing

Goofing around with Daddy after her recital

May I have this dance?

Picking out the Christmas Tree

So this year we went to Home Depot, you really feel like you live in LA when you have to go to a home improvement store to get your christmas tree…

what about this tree?

Time to decorate!

Dakota loved to decorate this year!

they especially loved the lights

I hung the cranberries

we all hung the ornaments

Hudson helped…

Oh Christmas Tree… Oh Christmas tree… How lovely r your branches

ooohhh glittery bulb

this is a special ornament in our family

He used to be the star of the tree when we first married

Hudson helped Daddy hang the star!

Our Christmas Tree!

I want milk and only milk…

Nothing more and nothing less… this is my struggle with Hudson.  He hates food and only wants milk…  It’s like the milk puts him in a deep state of satisfaction.

Hudson spells trouble…

At Nana and Papa’s house, Hudson decided to get into the wipes and took one by one out.  I love the last picture when we told him no more, his little devlish response was priceless…

After Thanksgiving at Nana and Papa’s House

So after Thanksgiving we went to Nana and Papa’s house for some time before we headed back to CA…

Papa and Hudson

Mmmm water…

Nana kissin on Hudson

swingin with Nana

Commercial for Tylenol

swingin with Uncle Geoff

So how do you play this game?

You said ball goes under here?

I think you hit the ball right here

what a smile!

Uncle Geoff and Kota

Aunt Samantha!

Dr. Dakota

Bradley and Baby Annabelle

Papa loves to be with the all the action-awake or not

She loves Nana and Papa’s russian doll

Croquet with the boyz

Thanksgiving Day

We spent Thanksgiving day at my parents house this year.  We will trade off each year.  Here are some pics of our time at my parents.

Cindy and I workin away

Turkey Dinner!

Mom hard at work!

In the kitchen cookin Turkey dinner

Thanksgiving day on Grandpa’s lap

The most incredible rainbow on Thanksgiving day

Dakota watchin a movie

Day after Thanksgiving

Opening presents from Grandma and Grandpa

I think I am gonna like that toy!

Turkey leftovers are the best!

Hudson’s new toy

Late Halloween Photo Shoot

We had to take this opportunity to get some better pics of thier Halloween costumes…

Our little dinosaur and cave man…

Dakota the happy dino

Raaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrr!

This grass is cold and wet, I dont wanna sit here!

Are you gonna eat me?

Oh this is too scary for me!

Hmmm wonder whats for dinner?

Hudson’s 1st Birthday Party!

Well this was an event in itself.  A couple days before his bday, he had an appointment for shots and a physical where he had some routine bloodwork drawn and it came back that he had a questionable white blood count.  So he was due to get his bloodwork redone the morning of his bday party.  I begged with his doctor if we could do it the day before or after and she said that it was very serious  that we get it done when she asked.  Needless to say, I was a wreck for those two days wondering what was wrong with him and thinking back to a year ago when he was in the NICU for 4 weeks and how glad I was that it was a year later.  But now what had God put before us, I did not know what would come of these tests.  I asked many to pray that he would be okay and I would not find out until the day after his bday.  The morning of the party when I was suppose to be setting up at the park for  his party; I was stuck behind 25 others that were in line to get labwork done and we did not even know if we would make it to his bday party.  Zach and Geoff spent the morning setting up the party and we got out of the doctors about 1 hour before party time- HOW INCREDIBLY STRESSFUL!  Hudson was absolutely exhausted from the blood being drawn and him screaming like crazy and so you’ll see he was pretty mellow at his first bday party, quite sleepy, but never fussed and did amazing for what he went through that morning!  We all crashed when we got home that day and Nana and Papa had a long drive back to AZ.  We were so glad they came and so sad to see them go!  What a day!

Turkey cupcakes

Nana, Papa and Zach put these little turkeys together

lots of Dakota's friends came

kids made turkey oreos

workin on our turkey oreo

Hudson in his turkey party hat!

I think he liked it!

okay, maybe not...

we played pin hat on turkey

Hooray Elicia!

Meanwhile...Guys played Bocce Ball

stickers!!!!!!!!

We played HOT sweet potatoe!

quick...pass it!

Colleen and Sophia

lolipops!!

Couldn't do it without the help of all the mommies!

Hudson tuckered out from all the excitement!

Cake time!

lighting the candle...

So sweet....He did not know what to think

1st bite of pudding cake (he's allergic to eggs-no cupcakes!)

mmmmmmmmmmmm.......

more.....

not sure if I want more...

okay, maybe one more bite...

meanwhile... girls were dancing around the blanket

ahhhh sugar rush...all cozy with papa

Dakota says goodbye and gives takehome gifts to friends...

What a day... anyone want some water...

Another year to look forward to and I  have so enjoyed this first year with my baby boy!!!  What a gift to our family!

Playday with Nana and Papa

Nana and Papa came out for Hudson’s Bday and this was the day before the big party…

Tea with Nana

playin with Papa