life lately

So it's been awhile since we've had an update, so here's the gist of what's happening in the Johnson household.....

I continue to visit Hudson during his school lunches. I volunteered to help his class at the beginning of the year through October, and since that ended, I try to just go and eat with him whenever I can. However, he recently mentioned that I hadn't been there in a looooooong time (even though it was really only 2 weeks), and I do love going so I was sure to surprise him and show up the next day.

It was sports team day at school and one of his best buddies, Crosby, wore the Vikings rival Green Bay Packers. Man those two are cute aren't they?? I think girls will be fighting over them.

We celebrated Maddi's 26th birthday a couple weeks ago. At her request, we all went bowling!

Teeny tiny bowling shoes!!

Hockey started and the boys in this family sure have the cutest fan in the stands! I'm sure to bring enough snacks to get this girl through their hour long practices. I wish I could bring myself a heated blanket because it is freezing in that arena!

Here they are, the hockey players. They are on the same team this year, New Ulm Eagles PURPLE! I was kind of hoping they'd be on different teams so they separate a little, branch out and not be so attached at the hip, but they are glad they're together. We can already notice improvements since last year. Paxton is FAST!!! Like, flying across the ice fast! And Hudson is a pro at stopping.

This girl is still trouble! By far the most trouble of all the kids! She still pulls that kitchen chair up to wherever she needs to get to. Even though she doesn't need the chair, she can climb on top of anything using just her legs and arms. On this particular day, she found her way to the baking cabinet and discovered a bag of chocolate chips. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "nothing", so I asked her what she had under her hands and again, "nothing"! She's sneaky!

We've been playing a lot of our new favorite game, "Funny Faces". You have to try and make the funny face on the card you pick. It can get pretty hilarious, and Hudson is really good at it!

Soon Hudson will start basketball and Harlow will start gymnastics, and our lives will be lived constantly on the go! Such is life with three great kids. 

Halloween Day and Night

So Halloween has come and gone and we had parties, went trick-or-treating, and have eaten loads of candy since!
The festivities started Halloween day with Hudson's party at school. I was lucky enough to volunteer to help the class. Since Hudson's actual Halloween costume is a little too scary for Kindergarten, he opted for his Mario costume instead. He was the cutest toothless Mario ever, which says a lot because there were probably about 20 other Marios! Along with 50 Elsa's from Frozen! Man alive that was a popular costume!

His kindergarten class all dressed up. I am so thankful I'm able to volunteer for these special activities and occasions. I love getting to know his friends by name and seeing them interact, so when Hudson comes home with a story about Rowan, or Crosby, or Landon, I know who he's talking about.

After school and work, the kids got all dressed up and ready for trick-or-treating. Since they are masked and completely unrecognizable, I'll give you- From left to right; Hudson the "Death Warrior", Harlow the "Doll", and Paxton is "Leonardo, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle". Aren't they the scariest, cutest, and toughest kids ever!?!?! And they loved their costumes!

OMG, I die of sweetness!!!! She did such a good job trick-or-treating. Running behind to keep up with her fast brothers (who found it necessary to run to each and every house!). She said trick-or-treat and thank you, and received numerous compliments on how adorable she was. She was even patient enough to put all the candy in her bag and not insist on eating it as we went.

We stopped at Hudson's teacher's house and met up with his best bud Crosby and his family. Hudson has THE BEST kindergarten teacher! We all love her and Hudson is really hoping Paxton gets her next year, and I'd love it as well!

Hudsy and Crosby

All the kids stuck it out trick-or-treating for awhile, and before we hit up the big State Street hoopla, I asked Grandma to take Harlow back to Sheri's house because I simply could not imagine having her on that crazy, scary, dark street. I took the boys, hand in hand, and never let them out of my sight. There are hundreds of kids with police officers at the end of blocks. With fog, smoke, loud music, zombies, and ghosts, this place is right up Hudson's alley! He loves it! He is in his element, all except for the long lines. And when Paxton got too cold and tired, Hudson just wasn't ready to be done yet, so we dropped Pax off at Sheri's house and Hudsy and I went back out for more. When I told him that there just wasn't that many houses left with lights on, he insisted, "Well then drive me to a street that does have their lights on!" So we went back to State Street for the second time! I was careful though to make sure he wasn't doubling up on houses and candy. This kid lives for Halloween! And there was a couple times throughout the night when I was walking with them, that I made the conscious effort to always remember these times, to keep these memories and hold them tight. We had so much fun together.

1st lost tooth

Hudson had his first loose tooth last week and didn't tell a single soul. He and I were playing a game when I thought I noticed a space between his teeth. It was so loose that he could pull it all the way back, according to him it had been loose for "like 100 days". I asked him why he didn't tell and he didn't really have an answer, but knowing him the way I do, it was likely to avoid the very reaction he got out of me!! I smothered him with kisses, asked a million questions, and got teary-eyed. All of which he said was "weird". He went to bed and when I woke him the next morning for school, he told his tooth had fallen out through the night. I asked him a million questions, but all he said was "I don't know, but it's right here", pointing to a tiny white tooth laying on his bed.

The Tooth Fairy came the next night, leaving five SPARKLY dollars and a letter. He also thought that was "weird". I asked him to smile for a picture and he told me that from now on he'd have to smile with his mouth closed because he looks silly without a tooth. I assured him that everyone loses their teeth and he's still the cutest 6 year old there ever was. He has a second loose one already.

a walk in the woods

With the gorgeous weather yesterday evening, we decided to talk a little walk in the woods. Jamie wanted to show the boys where his deer stand is this year for the park hunt. I asked him several times if it was a walk we could all physically do, and he assured me it was, even Harlow (and me!). And it was beautiful, I wish we had gone a couple weeks earlier to really take in the changing colors. But nothing could really beat 65 degrees and sunny. Each kid took a turn go climb up the deer stand and Jamie showed them where the deer would be coming through if there were any, but I'm pretty sure these three kids scared the deer (and squirrels, and chipmunks, and birds, and probably even insects!) away the second they stepped foot in the woods. 

Hudson's Field Trip

When Hudson's teacher emailed parents asking for chaperones to go on the field trip to the State Park, I immediately replied, "Yes! I'm in!". Thankfully when I asked Hudson later that day if he'd like me to go with, he said he did. He said anything that I could go with to, he wants me there. That's my boy! I hope he still feels that way when I want to chaperone his 8th grade dance!! Ha! I love watching him with his friends, I love seeing the interaction, and I love how proud I am of the way he behaves and treats everyone. An example; another girl in his class was really hoping for an orange magnifying glass and when Mrs. Maudal handed her a small clear one she was disappointed. Later on she noticed that Hudson had an orange one and she told him that was the color she wanted. Without even thinking he immediately told her that he would switch with her if she wanted. Her eyes lit up and she smiled and quickly grabbed that orange magnifying glass. Such a simple act that I'm sure Hudson didn't realize was kind, and I'm so glad I was there to see it.

The class hiked on the trails, searching for signs of fall; changing leaves, squirrels, log hotels (what they call fallen logs with holes that creatures can live in), chipmunks, deer (which a loud, excited class of 5/6 year olds have no chance of spotting!), and pumpkins (didn't find those in the woods so I told the kids to look out the windows on the bus and they'll find some in front of houses they pass). After a long hike, we stopped for a snack, a class picture, and they played a game called Predator and Prey.

Hudson and one of his best buddies, Rowan.

During the Predator and Prey game, Hudsy was hiding behind this tree with a girl in his class. They were trying to hide from the predator and didn't have much room, so the girl grabbed Hudson and moved him really close to her, which is when the giggling started. I couldn't hear what they were saying to each other, but it was the cutest thing I've ever seen! A little kindergarten flirting.

The class picture; Hudson is in the second row, third from the left.

The kids thought it was pretty cool that the water in the pool was drained making them a giant sand hole to run and play in. Even at 31 years old, I still thought that was kind of cool too.

I love my new role as a parent chaperone!! I can hardly wait for the Halloween party in a couple weeks!

Valleyscare/Disney Live!

We (some of us) dressed up in Halloween attire and took our annual trip to Valleyscare/Camp Spooky. Since Hudson's costume is super scary, he opted to wear a police officer outfit. Paxton had along a firefighter jacket but never actually put it on, and Harlow was the cutest little Minnie Mouse ever. Wouldn't you agree??

And we can't do Valleyfair without the Friederich clan. We met up with Regan, Sidney, and Lincoln (with parents) and the kids, as usual, pick up right where they left off last time they saw each other and get along great! Hudson buddying up with Regan and Paxton with Sid. And the entire day, I never had to worry about Harlow, where she was, who she was with, if she needed help, because Regan was always one step behind her, or trying to hold her. She's already a great big sister, and will no doubt be a wonderful babysitter!

Check out the fourth friend, zombie coming out of the ground to the left! Eek!

I took Harlow and Paxton on the Tilt-a-Whirl. Oh lordy, I got super nauseous!!! I videotaped them with in my phone (big no-no for which I was scolded for!) and didn't notice that I was getting dizzy until I looked up. Whew, the effect of spinning rides sure changes with age!

But apparently I didn't learn my lesson because later on I took Harlow on the balloons. She just loves it though and I couldn't say no. But unfortunately that meant I did have to say no to Hudson shortly after, but I figured he had a lot more fun rides he could go on without me!

Left to right- Sidney, Harlow, Paxton, Regan, and Hudson

To say she LOVES rides is an understatement! She never stops smiling, screaming, and laughing. So you can't help but to smile with her.

We stayed over night in a hotel with Grandma and went to Disney Live Mickey Mouse Music Festival the following afternoon.

It was Harlow's first live show and she did a great job. I was a little worried with the show starting at prime naptime, 1:00pm, that she'd either be crabby or fall asleep, but she was mesmerized by Minnie Mouse, clapped and danced along to the music. Which is more than I can say for my boys who have never interacted with a live show and still won't to this day! Plus, Harlow got pop and her very own large bag of popcorn, she was in heaven!

It was a long weekend, as shown here by Paxton on the way home Sunday afternoon. Asleep with his mouse ears falling below his eyes and his bear safely strapped in with him. (Safe for the bear, not so safe for Paxton!)

Thanks for a great weekend Friederichs and Grandma Cindy!! Same time and place next fall!

proud of hudsy

On pretty much a daily basis I am reminded of just how awesome Hudson is. And it might be more obvious now as we're going through a rough patch with Paxton, but man, Hudsy really does kick butt! I was just telling him this morning that he's the best 6 year old there ever was, and likely the best Kindergartener too. He agreed that that was probably true. Ha! He's so intelligent, both academically and in common sense. When he learns something, he'll know it forever. Small details are never forgotten. He absorbs everything, he pays attention, he follows rules, he connects things.....he's amazing. And on top of that, he's kind, considerate, affectionate, and sincere. I am proud of him beyond words.

And to show him just how proud I am, I bought him a little something. Because isn't that what we do with spoiled kids!! Halloween is his most favorite "holiday", he's darn near obsessed. And he loves the scariest of scary. The costume he picked out this year (after many, many hours of online searching) is the Death Warrior. And he found this skeleton corpse in a casket decoration at Target and was talking about it for days. I decided to surprise him with it and tell him that I'm recognizing just how incredible he really is. HE WAS THRILLED!! He deserves it.

And what 6 year old boy doesn't love an inappropriate, farting, rude skeleton?!?! I know another 2 year old girl that loves it too, so Hudson is certain to always keep it out of her destructive reach.

sunday at the park

Since Sunday was BEAUTIFUL, possibly the last summer-like day we'll have this season, we spent the morning/afternoon at Herman the German and park. Such a simple activity, but a favorite for all three kids. Hudson even offered to pay the admission fee himself if I agreed to walk him over (I didn't make him!). Harlow went up for the first time with Jamie this summer, so this was my first time climbing up with all three kids. She got as far as the very last ladder when she finally asked for my help. I lifted her up and she turned to me and sweetly said, "Thank you Mommy, I needed help. I was a little bit scared."

Aren't we a good looking bunch, ha!

After exerting our energy on Herman, we got the idea to have a picnic at the park, but since I didn't plan that ahead of time, we quickly walked back home, packed up a picnic lunch of peanut butter sandwiches, chips, carrots, juice boxes, and a cookie for dessert and headed back. 

Seriously, could this squinty-eyed, pigtailed blondie get any cuter!?!?! 

dead bird

Snapchat picture from Sunday:

Sunday afternoon as I was getting supper ready in the house and the kids were outside picking up sticks in the backyard, Hudson walks in to the house from the deck holding a rather large DEAD bird and proclaims, "Paxton found this dead bird in the yard." I scream and yell for him to get that thing out of my house. He walks back out to the deck and just plops it down right there. I yell again to get it far away from the house and he yells back, "Well you screamed and scared me!" Of course I screamed, you brought this gigantic dead bird inside of my house!!! He tells me that it doesn't matter because it's dead, not like it's going to start flying around or anything. But it's G-R-O-S-S!!!! So Paxton swoops in and starts to pick it up and I scream yet again not to pick it up with his hands. Then Harlow thinks she'll be the brave hero and she goes in to grab it with her hands, yep, you guessed it, I scream again!! Can someone please go get a shovel and get this thing off of my deck!?!?! So Hudson grabs a toy grabber/pickerupper thingy, grabs the bird and finally carries it to the outside garbage. Then I tell them they all need to come in and wash their hands and really grind it into them that we DO NOT under any circumstances pick up dead animals! 

homecoming parade

After going back and forth between walking in the Homecoming parade or watching it, at the last minute, Hudson finally decided on walking in it. He was torn because he really wanted to watch with his best buddy, and I was actually surprised he was even considering walking in it. My shy boy, I envisioned him hiding behind others, not looking around, and certainly not smiling and waving at people. But he did! Not frequently, usually only when he knew someone, but he still broke out of that shell of his and did it! I was a proud mama walking beside him (since a parents were required to walk along with the kindergartners).