Halloween

This was the first year Hudson really got into Halloween and it was a really fun day for him. He decided weeks ago that he wanted to be an astronaut for Halloween, and he sure looked cute dressed as one. He was so excited to go to school this morning in his costume, and he had so much fun at school. Then, this afternoon we stopped by Scott's work where the kids trick-or-treated around the office. Hudson and Maddie both got a ton of candy, and since Hudson doesn't like candy and Maddie likes it a little too much (even with the wrapper on, we learned), I think we'll be making it magically disappear. Maddie had a less enjoyable day than Hudson did, largely due to a new tooth coming in. When she's getting a tooth, we all know about it and it is brutal. See below for proof. And, if her costume looks familiar, you have seen it before, here.

Carving Pumpkins

Once again, it's been a long time since my last post...life has been very busy and free time is something that just doesn't come along much.

Scott took the day off yesterday and we planned on carving our pumpkins, but as usual, we ran out of time and it didn't happen. So, today I decided to take on this task alone. WOW. What was I thinking? For future reference, this is not something I recommend doing when outnumbered by your kids.

I think our pumpkins turned out ok, although next time we probably do need to purchase an actual pumpkin carving knife. Lessons learned...

As you look over the photos below you might wonder where Hudson got his shiner. That was me, mom of the year, here. We collided in the kitchen and not knowing he was behind me I accidentally whacked him in the eye with a plate. SWELL.

I love Hudson's school!

Remlinger Farms

Yesterday we met Alicia, Evan, Scarlett and Dahlia out at Remlinger Farms, it was so much fun!! Train rides, roller coasters, merry-go-rounds, bouncy houses....the list is endless, we couldn't even get to everything in our first visit, but something tells me this will become a yearly tradition, so I'm not worried. There's a lot more of this in our future.

Ut-Oh, Cookie!

Based on what I've read, by 16 months most children have about 7 words. Maddie has about 3X that much. Scott and I haven observed on many occasions how incredibly smart she is, then I think, well, maybe that's the difference between child #1 and child #2.

With #1 you worry about everything. You worry about them reaching milestones and when. Sitting, crawling, walking, talking, etc...With Maddie I haven't been near as concerned with whether or not she's reaching those milestones.

I've noticed that she picks up things very quickly, and she remembers them. She follows directions and knows exactly what you are saying even if she can't completely communicate that to you verbally. Well, whatever it is I can tell you that our little girl is smart, she's very smart and trying at every opportunity to engage in conversation.

I'm sure I have left off a few, but here's a list of her words, well, what I can recall at the present moment anyways:

First Word: "HI!"

Ma-Ma
Da-da/Daddy
she (shoe)
ma' (more)
ut-oh
doggie
fishy
cup
hot
coff-eeeee (coffee)
a-pease (please)
hat
baby
na-na (banana)
Ba-pa (diaper)
bye-bye
deeee (dirty)
pee-pee (don't ask)
tee-tee (train)
cook-key (cookie)
MMMMM (yummy)
mum-mum (as in toddler teething cookie, mum-mum)
up

She is still a complete and utter handful, but also a tremendous joy.  We love her so!

Wearing mommy's glasses

Wearing Hudson's "hat".

Keeping me busy at Hudson's gymnastics class.

Fireman HUD

There are so many reasons to love Seattle....so, so many. On any given weekend, rain or shine (alright, alright....mostly rain) there are endless things to do here, especially with the kids. It's never a matter of hmmmm....what can we do this weekend? Instead it's hmmmmm....which of these 500 activities should we do this weekend?

Though there have been challenges along the way, new routines and things unfamiliar, I can't say enough now, how pleased I am (we are) with our decision to move here. This city really does have everything.

There is a sense of community everywhere you go, people care about their city, about each other and about their own communities. They care about the environment, about our children and about our future.

I love Seattle! I love Seattle! I love Seattle!

In thinking about this post, I got a bit side-tracked. I just couldn't contain my feelings for Seattle!

Anyways...yesterday, I took Hudson to "Seattle Fire Day", down in South Lake Union. There were firetrucks- both old and new- firemen, firemen reading stories, firemen with their gear ready and willing to help the little ones try it on, firemen with equipment, etc...it was pretty awesome and Hudson LOVED it.

When we left he said, "Mommy, when I grow up, I'm gonna be a fireman!"

A couple of months ago I went to the doctor because I couldn't figure out why I was just suddenly SO TIRED all the time. I'm talking, serious fatigue, to the point that I was actually questioning my health.

Well, thankfully, there's nothing wrong with me. I had a ton of tests done just to be sure, but the truth is, I'm just tired. I guess there's something to be said about having kids early in life, when you can pull all-nighters and it's nothing. Sleep deprivation is an expected and predictable part of your daily life, and it's ok. You can hack it.

Having children in your mid to late 30's is a whole different story. Especially when you're with them all day, every day and every night and you dream of napping, of sleep, but you can't nap because if and when your children nap you have a list of about a gazillion things you have to try to get done while they're sleeping because if you don't do it while they're sleeping they won't get done...I'm rambling here, I blame it on utter, sheer exhaustion. My apologies.

On a more upbeat note, my dear friend Suzy was in Seattle last weekend for a wedding and though it had been 4 years since we last actually saw each other, it was as if not a day had passed. I have missed her and our friendship tremendously over the years. She got to spend some time with me and the kids and they both loved her. In fact, Hudson has been asking about her every day since she left. I'm hoping she fell in love with this city like we did and decides she must live here, too. Fingers crossed, I'd love to have her here.

A little of what's been happening this week-

With Suzy at Golden Gardens

Her big, beautiful eyes have finally turned brown.

The loves of my life.