Hudson Lee turns TWO

Hudson Lee, I can't believe you are two today. It has been quite a year handsome. You've gone from a baby to a toddler, you learned how to walk, we learned you have a milk allergy, you talk (a lot) and you're a lot of fun! God sure has blessed our family with your quick smile, your silly faces, your efforts to always keep up, and your hugs and kisses. Here is a little recap on your year buddy.

You, little one, took a long time to decide to walk. While your first steps were at 15 months, at 17 1/2 months you finally decided that you were sick of crawling on the ground.

It has been so fun to watch your relationship with your sister grow over the last year. You are each other's best friends and worst enemies. I have a feeling that will be true for years to come. For the most part you are very kind to Brooklyn. You would rather share with her than anyone else, but she is also the one that gets a hit or bite from you sooner than anyone else. I hope and pray that you and Brooklyn will always be close, you like to call her Brooky.

Here you are after your first haircut. Your hair grows fast. I now cut it myself about every 5 weeks. Your daddy and I have fun spiking it with gel, we can't do that with your big brother's hair.

Your big sister Morgan loves to play with you. She sure has fun pulling you into her imaginary world. You already crawl on all fours and bark like a dog for her. You like to play with your siblings, but your favorite place to be is right by mommy. You also tend to get something in your head and insist on having your way. Currently you love to go "golking" and only real clubs will do and you love to "work" with daddy's tools. You got some tools of your own for your birthday so they usually work to take the place of the real thing.

You are all boy. Just today you walked into the garage and made shooting sounds at daddy. You love trucks, cars, tractors, and balls. You love to swing on our swing set and take walks too. Swimming has become a love of yours this summer. You love to run and jump off the edge. You even added a little spin after watching the Olympics.

My favorite times are when you and your sisters and brother all play together. Typically you guys do a great job of that after dinner, whether it's playing outside or imagining in the family room.

You love your big brother and he loves you. You have a couple matching outfits and Ethan really likes to wear them on the same day. You do everything your big brother does and that's why we remind him to be a good example.

18 months little stud. Around this age you and your sister had mommy exhausted. You loved to do everything you thought you could all by your self and you had a hard time listening. Whining was your preferred mode of communication. You are doing much better now. Your big brother and sister are on soccer teams this year and you think you are too. "Soccer, soccer" is all you can talk about lately.

Sisters like to dress up and so do you! I don't have any pictures of you in the latest dress up gig...Morgy's (as you like to call her) leotards.

Hudson you also love your daddy. I love this picture because you look so much a like. You get super jazzed when he gets home and you love to wrestle with him and help him outside.

You are also a little mama's boy. It is sweet and overwhelming all at the same time. You have a little smile that totally gets you your way with me. I knew that would be true when you were just a baby. I often have a hard time saying no to you. The best way lately to get you to calm down when you are just so upset that you aren't getting your way is to put you in your crib and let you have some binky time.

Hudson, you loved the beach house this summer. I know you will continue to love it the older you get.

Well my little boy, happy birthday! I am thankful for your personality and your presence in my life. I can't wait to see what year 3 brings us!

First Day of School

This past Wednesday was the first day of school for half our family. Ethan was super excited to start all day school. Morgan was super excited to start PreK. Kevin was super excited (I think) to start his new position of part time vice principal and part time teacher. Everyone had great first days.

Already too cool to  pose nice at school.

SO excited!

We're praying that everyone has a great year and I'll have all sorts of free time with only 2 at home 3 mornings a week:)

Trip to Denver

Two weeks ago Kevin and I were blessed enough to get away AGAIN without kids. Our friend Joel, whom we taught with in San Jose, got married in Denver. Kevin stood up for Joel so we headed out early Wednesday so the guys could head out on a camping/ bachelor trip. We were excited to help Joel celebrate, but we were also excited to be able to spend some time with our friends John and Brenda and their son James. We were able to stay at the same house with them so we got lots of time to catch up. It was great for Brenda and I because we had no responsibilities as far as the wedding so we spent a lot of time chatting, watching the Olympics and doing a little shopping.

The happy couple. It was great to meet Abby and spend a little time getting to know her. She is a great girl and we pray God blesses their marriage richly. I must say that Joel and Abby's ceremony was one of the most spiritually focused wedding I've ever been too. I really appreciated their intentional focus on who God is to them and who they want Him to be in their marriage. They are a great couple! Thanks for having us there to share your special day Joel.

The guys before the ceremony. Don't they look handsome?

Kev and I on the balcony behind the reception hall. It was an incredible view, which you of course can't tell in this picture with all the construction stuff in the background.

John and Brenda and us.

It was so great to spend some quality time with John and Brenda. Some friends you have are just lifelong, irreplaceable friends and that's what the De Jongs are to us. We had some good talks and lots and lots of laughs. It is always John's goal to make me laugh so hard I cry. It usually takes him 15-20 minutes upon arrival:) We didn't get any pictures of sweet James, but it was so great to see him too, even if he liked Kevin more than me. We miss you guys!

At the dance Kevin and I realized just how old we are. Abby is7 years younger than us and Joel works with college students so there were a lot of "young people" and "younger music" played at the dance. I definitely couldn't sing a long to all the songs:)

Love you guys!

I was also able to spend some time with two other college friends while we were there. One afternoon I had lunch with my friend Kim. Kim and I nannied together in Maine so it was great to connect with her again and cuddle her sweet 5 week old daughter. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture with her.

The last day we didn't fly out until evening so I was able to spend some time with my friend Molly. She and I had lunch together and then Kevin and I were able to go with her to her house and spend some time chatting with her and her husband Chris. It was a sweet couple hours and definitely not long enough.

Again we are so thankful to parents who are willing to take care of our kiddos for us so we can spend time with friends and connect with each other.

Opa and Oma visit

Kevin and I were blessed to be able to get away for a few days last week to play in Denver with some friends (more on that later). Opa and Oma flew down to stay with the kids. The kids had a great time and Opa and Oma did too, however I think they were more than ready to head to the hotel Saturday night when we got home. Our kids have a tendency to wear people out:)

Oma did mani's and pedi"s with the girls. This was Brooklyn's first time getting her nails painted. She loved it and sat very still!

We celebrated all the kids birthdays with Opa and Oma while they were out here. The kids were spoiled and love their presents.

Morgan loves her art set. This girl would do crafts all day, everyday if she could.

Hudson got his own tools to "work" with. Thankfully these work most of time time to keep him distracted from daddy's tools that he would really like to play with.

Brooklyn loves her doctor set. She loves to take care of us all.

Ethan got more Lego's so he was super happy!

The yummy ice cream cake!

A pic with Opa and Oma, yep this is the best we got. So challenging these days to get everyone to cooperate.

Ethan reading the bedtime story.

Thanks Opa and Oma for staying with the kids and having  a lot of fun with them.

Halloween?

Nope, just another day in the Schenk house. The other day Brooklyn and Morgan had leotards on and we're "doing gymnastics". Of course Hudson had to join in. I had to assure Opa and Oma that Ethan wore one at that age too and so far he seems unscathed:)

Birthday Parties

As seems to be the tradition for birthdays around here, Ethan got to celebrate his 6th birthday several times during his birthday week. Here are a few pictures of how he celebrated.

Ethan's best buddy Trey was unable to make it to his birthday party so Ethan had his first sleepover. They watched a movie and slept on the floor in Ethan and Morgan's room. They chatted late into the night and were still ready to go at 6:30 the next morning.

Happy Birthday Ethan!! Ethan had a couple presents waiting for him on his birthday morning from mom and dad and his sisters and brother.

This was Ethan's birthday cake. It's a pool Lego cake. He found it online and insisted that this was what he wanted, lucky for me it was the easiest cake he looked at.

He wanted a pool cake because his birthday party this year was a pool party. It was by far the easiest party yet. Aside from a few snacks, cake and opening presents the boys swam the whole 2 hours. It was easy and lots of fun. I think I see a lot more swimming parties in our future!

The boys and Mo.

Ethan was spoiled with a lot of Lego sets for his birthday this year. Which is perfect since that is his passion right now.

The Sunday after his birthday we had a little family party at my parents. Here is what a typical summer dinner looks like for us right now. Lots of kids and lots of fun!

And one more Lego set.

We were also able to celebrate all the kids birthdays with Kevin's parents this past weekend. Pictures of that to follow. I think Ethan had a great time celebrating SIX. I know we did.