He Did It...He Did It...

...Sat on {near} Santa's Lap WITHOUT crying! After church & brunch, we headed to Perimeter Mall...unfortunately, we {Mommy} didn't like the Santa...no plaid vests please! Since we weren't doing much else and it was cold & rainy, we drove down to Lenox. Apparently, the Pink Pig is more popular than Santa, who only had 5 families in line compared to the Pig's 10x that many. While we waited, Mommy & Daddy hyped Santa up & Hudson was ready!! We said Hello and offered to have Hudson sit in his lap; that wasn't happening but I sat & held him and all was okay! He even gave Santa a high-five, a smile and a hug!!! Maybe next year Mommy won't have to be in the picture!

*On a serious, side note: please put Mike Reed {and April & baby Trent} in your prayers...Mike's latest round on chemo sent his levels down which caused a bad infection that has him in the Montgomery ICU.

I MISSED Thanksgiving!

Yep...that's right...I missed it...ALL OF IT! I saw 15 minutes of the Macy's Parade..woo hoo! Somehow, I woke up Thanksgiving Morning with the Stomach Virus from H*$&! I missed playing with the kids, helping Sister in the kitchen, watching football, EATING, Smores, and spending much needed down time with my fam!

Worse News...Kevin got a "touch" of it later that night, but woke up feeling better Friday morning. Good news...I lost 6 pounds {of water weight} that I'm sure will be back on today with all the yummy food we're having for the Beat Bama/Beat the Dawgs Tailgate Party!

Even so, I hope everyone else had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I am Thankful for so much and hope next year is just as wonderful!

Flips & Giggles

Hudson did his first forward flip {all by himself...although the video shows a Daddy push}! I just couldn't resist the second part of the video!

Staking Claim

Looks like Hudson isn't the only one in this family who likes to snuggle on "giraffe!"

Fall Photo Shoot

After nap today, Hudson and I did our usual & walked Beasley for his afternoon "business." Even though the weather was a little overcast, it seemed perfect for taking some fall pics...especially with the leaves turning their fabulous shades of orange & red! With the {definite} 2s upon us, it was nice to pause & have some fun with my little man!! I've always loved taking pictures but he is definitely my favorite thing to shoot!!! {Now if I could just convince Husband to get me one of those fancy cameras!}

future tree climber?! {my favorite is the saggy pants!}

a little coloring time

What a Weekend

Let me start by saying, you're more than welcome to think Kevin and I are "parents of the year!" {hee, hee}

Since it was Homecoming on the Plains this weekend, Kevin and I decided to make a day-trip on Saturday. Even still, we had to make sure our first child, Beasley, was well taken care of! So off to the neighbors who are like parents to us! I dropped off a key; meanwhile, Hudson pointed & yelled at their cat! Then all of the sudden, he wants me to hold him, grabs his cheek and says, "Hurt!" Being "mom of the year" that I am, I thought it would be his 2 year molars coming in. {I mean, knock on wood, the boy is never sick!} So, back home & the sweet man just wants to snuggle...all the while pressing his cheek into my shoulder. After some thoughts for dinner, we decided to head out, but I can't even get his jacket on. He's really in pain! Next stop...Northside Urgent Care...Ear Infection! Thank goodness we caught it early...it probably saved us a sleepless night & {yes} missing the HC game!

So Saturday morning comes with only one brief wake-up during the night. He's hungry, but still just wants to press his cheek into my shoulder. After talking about the football game, Aubie, the band & "eagle" all week, he couldn't stop talking about it! So, we're off to Auburn. Once we get going, he's playing & eating his biscuit & jelly! Things are looking up!!!

A new HC tradition we've started with some friends, is to make the day easy & go to the Ag School's Taste of Alabama. $5 per person {little ones under 6...free} includes all kinds of foods made in Alabama along with ice cream, a bouncy house and this year, a live COW!! Sweet Hudson didn't eat much but loved all of the Tractors and {did I mention} the COW! He could've looked at that Cow all day long! He made it through the entire game {which included a 30 minute catnap}! He always loves the games, but he really seemed into it Sat...the Eagle, Aubie, the band, the actual game! He watched every bit of it.

Hudson couldn't wait to go sit on the "ornange" ledge for a picture!

even though this isn't my little man, it is my fav pic of the weekend!

We made it back home with dinner in our bellies & a happily sleeping child! We even made it to church Sunday {and didn't get called out of the service} & to get Daddy a haircut before his travels this week! Yea Amoxicillin!

Hudson got in the chair to be just like Daddy!!

Civic Duty

I VOTED...I hope you did! I PRAYED...I hope you did! I definitely have an unsettled sense about me, but I know God has a plan for the years ahead. Our pastor, Andy Stanley, has had a few great lines during recent sermons {not related to the election} that are resounding with me. "Allow God to leverage the worst for His best." {no matter what the circumstance - our next President, the economy, personal relationships}

"Instead of putting your focus on your circumstances, put your focus on Him." {I kept reminding myself of this all day!!!}

My goal for tonight was to catch up on my DVR shows...however, I've been sucked in...but feel I'll probably be pulling away soon. Side note...how can only 1% precincts be reporting but the news "call" the race!?!?!

On a few lighter notes...We {me, Hudson, my neighbor & her little boy} stood in line for almost an hour to vote. Although I must say, the company kept us occupied and the hour went by super-fast! Hudson "helped" me vote today! He thought it was much fun getting to touch the names! After voting, we headed to the park next door to play & have a picnic lunch! The boys were quite worn out which resulted in an awesome afternoon nap!!

I voted...let's eat!!!

Tonight {since Daddy is out-of-town} the boy and I ventured out for a trip to Hobby Lobby, Chick-fil-A and KRISPY KREME!! And what do you know...Krispy Kreme was giving away an Original Glazed Doughnut to each & every voter! BONUS!!!

Pumpkin Smash & Election Prediction

Playing outside Sunday led {as it usually does} to Hudson wanting to play with *driver* {screwdriver} and *hammer*! Like good parents, we let him...however, this Sunday proved a little different! Mommy's bright idea for the day was to take the hammer and start smashing our big Jack-o-Lantern! Which obviously led to throwing the small ones in the air, smashing each and every one of our pumpkins!! Beasley even got into it! I think we've got a new DeLine tradition!!

And you read correctly, a quick election prediction...seems each game before an election, the Washington Redskins win-loss record is 17 for 17 in who will be the next President! Interesting, huh? Let me elaborate for those non-Monday Night Football watchers! If the Redskins win, the party who won the last election wins...if the Redskins lose, the party who lost the last election wins! So for me...I'm pulling double-duty tonight...not only do some AUsome players {Jason Campbell & Carlos Rogers} play for the Redskins but I'm rooting for Daddy Mac & Mrs. Palin tomorrow! GO REDSKINS!!!!!

But, while all of this is fun to follow and predict, I am trying to lean on a post from a sweet friend of mine...and remember He is what matters & He is in control!

Trick-or-Treat

What a night! We started out as a Dinosaur {see previous post}...however, my MIL also bought Hudson the cutest Skunk costume...all this time, I thought it would be too big. Before going over to our friend's house, I put the Skunk on him just to see...and it fit!!! AND IT WAS CUTE!!! So after a great nap, we headed out!

We enjoyed "Kiddie Dinner", suited up and went to the clubhouse. Other than the slight mishap* on our way, Hudson really got into the whole thing! He ran up to the houses {closely behind Lizzie & Glenn Elizabeth}, was very sweet & said "Treat" then immediately grabbed some candy but finished with a big "Thank You!" Although, each time we got a piece of candy, he instantly said "OPEN!"

We can't wait until next year...I wonder what Hudson will be!

*Mishap: My MIL, Debbie, came with us to watch Hudson's 1st "real" Trick-or-Treat! She was so excited {and as mentioned, was the purchaser of Skunk}! As we pulled the kiddos in their wagons & chatted on our way to the clubhouse, no one noticed the pavement dip before the man-hole...sweet Debbie trips & it was instant slow-mo. She's pretty graceful {if you can be graceful falling} & looked like she was going to re-bound...boy, were we wrong! She fell...on her hand with her glasses in them & gashed her eyebrow wide open! Needless to say, Kevin {who had stayed behind to help clean up - yes clean up} rushed over & took her to Urgent Care. 4 x-rays on her wrist & some dermabond later, they arrived back at the house just in time for the end of Trick-or-Treating! Hopefully next year will go smoothly!

What a "Lil Stinker"

"Trick-or-Treat!!"