It's been way too long since our last family update. So plenty of catching up to do...
The boys had a lot of fun the rest of the summer. We did lots of swimming in the pool and even had a slip and slide set up in the back yard a lot. Here they are in their matching "I Went to Michigan Shirts."
Being home together all summer resulted in nothing but joyful playing together, never any fighting or stealing of each other's toys (ya right!)
One of our neighborhood churches had a fun day for children that we went to. They had fire trucks and police cars. Hudson and Landon got to spray a fire hose. They had blow-up bouncers and water slides as well as a petting zoo. Hudson and Landon also went on little horseback rides (we couldn't talk Keaton into it)...
Kathryn had the boys on a program of one new adventure every week this summer. They went to the Phoenix Children's museum, the Arizona Science Center, the Railroad Park, and of course the Phoenix Zoo...
In August, Hudson started school back up in the first grade. He likes his first grade teacher, Miss Schweikert. At the end of school last year, Kathryn asked Hudson if he preferred any particular first grade teacher and he said Miss Schweikert. But when asked why he wanted her for his teacher, he just shrugged and said, "I don't know." When Kathryn went to the parent teacher meeting before the school year started, however, she found that among the first grade teachers were two women in their 40's and one young, single, blonde: Miss Schweikert. We still don't know for sure that he picked her because he thought she was pretty, but it sure seems suspicious. He's done great in first grade and has started taking his book-writing to a new level - his last two books were fully illustrated and at least 25 pages each (Dog and Bear Become Friends and The Little Panda). Here's Hudson on his first day of school this year...
Landon started pre-K this year at La Casa de Cristo preschool. We've long said "Wait 'till they get a load of Landon..." and it's been true. Landon is Mr. Social and arives at the school campus and walks through greeting all the children around: "Hey, Peyton, how's it goin' today?" He loves pre-K and is doing very well; here he is on his first day of school...
And Keaton is growing like a weed. He's really starting to talk a lot more and put together longer sentences. He's quite a joker and likes to say strange things followed by "I tease!" Of course with his brothers at school, he gets away with more things with Mommy like having big lolly-pops...
Hudson turned seven in September and we had a fun birthday party. He had several friends to Chuck E Cheeses for pizza, cake, and games. He enjoyed the party and opening presents later at home...
In October, it was announced that Rick is being inducted into the Otsego County (MI) Sports Hall of Fame (article here). The induction ceremony will be in February 2010.
Halloween brought lots of fun. Hudson dressed up as a surgeon, Landon as Buzz Lightyear, and Keaton as a Michigan State basketball player (but on the actual Halloween night it was too cold for shorts and a tank top - even in Arizona). We spent the night at a neighborhood church's Harvest Festival where there were lots of games, bouncers, and candy. Here's the family there...
Landon also had a harvest festival at school and they went to a local farm. Here he is in his farmer outfit for school...
Keaton has taken over Hudson's first PowerWheels jeep and turns out to be a good driver. One day he decided to wear his bicycle helmet to go for a drive...
Hudson's school had a pajama and sleeping bag movie night (Monsters versus Aliens) a few weeks ago. Hudson, Landon, and Kathryn had a good time...
As most of you know, Hudson is very into cars. Over the past year he and Landon have gotten very into NASCAR racing. They watch races on DVR and have their favorite drivers. Hudson can even name many of the crew chiefs for the major drivers' teams. So in November, Rick took Hudson and Landon to Phoenix International Raceway for the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500. They took their earplugs and braved the crowds. They sat on the "Hillside" where you bring your own chairs and sit on an elevated area overlooking the track.
The crowd was great with so many people excited to see young boys at the race and trying to make their experience a good one. There were no obnoxious people or drunks as Rick had worried might be the case. And as a bonus, Landon's favorite driver finished first and Hudson's favorite driver finished second!
By about mile 300 of the race, Landon fell fast asleep! Amazing with how noisy it was...
We're all looking forward to Christmas and are thankful for all God's blessings. We appreciate those that have been praying for Rick's sister Bonnie. She received her stem-cell transplant for her Leukemia and is doing very well. They had planned to keep her near the cancer center for 50-100 days but she was able to go home by day 52. So far no problems with graft versus host disease so we're very thankful.
Merry Christmas to all of you and we'll certainly post Christmas pictures in December.
2 comments:
I was so excited to see that you had an update. It always nice to see all the boys growing up...I can NOT believe that Hudson turned 7!!!!! Besides the kiddos....it was nice to see palm trees and cactus too (never thought I'd miss those) and to hear that you are all doing so well. We'll be out in April for a visit and would love to see you guys and get the kiddos together...William is just as obsessed with cars as your boys are so I think they'll have lots of fun together. All our best and Merry Christmas to your whole family.
Love the pictures....and update.
Thank you for the update. Love you
all tons.
Post a Comment