Merry Christmas!!!!!

It’s a Christmas Miracle!!!!!!!!

SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!! In Texas!!!!!!!!!!!!! On Christmas Eve!!!!!!!!!!!!

This makes my year. I don’t even care if it sticks, I am just so excited to see snow on Christmas.  My Midwest-raised husband is laughing at me, but I don’t care. It is SNOWING!

 

ETA: It is starting to stick!!!

Christmas in Downtown…

We went downtown Monday night to have dinner and check out the Christmas tree.  By the time we got to the tree, Hudson was way more interested in other things around him and then he was just over the whole thing.  Oh, well…at least we got our second family picture in as many days even if he wasn’t that happy in it…

 

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22 months!!!!

 

Dear Hudson,

You are 22 months old!!!  Precious boy – I can’t begin to express how much we love you. You bring joy to our lives that I could have never imagined.  This month has been one fun activity after another – Thanksgiving, parades, visiting Santa, looking at lights…we have had a fun-filled month.  We have packed in many play dates with friends, which you enjoyed as always.  You still love to be on-the-go more than anything else.  If we are in a new environment you make sure and check the entire place out.  You are in love with animals – you can’t understand why they don’t want you to hug their neck tightly like you do us.  You definitely chase them around and try to convince them it is a good idea though.  When we are at the park you zone in on any dog within a two mile radius. You are still not very into eating. I am not going to lie – this has been a huge change and thrown your mommy for quite the loop. However, I am pleased to say you now politely hand me the food that you refuse to eat instead of throwing it all over the floor.  I consider that quite a big victory. I think you would live on fruit if it was possible.  Your new favorite word is please. It makes me laugh because you definitely think you will get anything you want by just saying please emphatically. :)  Your crib at night is quite full.  You insist on sleeping with two loveys, judge baylor, nemo, five books, your brown bear and anything else that strikes your fancy (tonight that includes 3 rubber duckies).  You are so tall I am not quite sure how it all fits in there. :)  “Big” kids crack you up and make you laugh harder than anyone else.  You have become a huge fan of the zoo and prefer to run around the zoo rather than stroll, I think because you can get up close and personal with the animals that way. EVERYTHING is a phone these days.  You will have rather intense conversations, hand the phone to me to talk for a quick second and then you want it back.  It is pretty funny.   You start dancing anytime you hear music.  You still love the Backyardigans, but you are quite taken with the Wonder Pets and Olivia as well. Oh, and I can’t forget Dora who you LOVE.  You are one sweet baby (yes, you are still my baby) boy.  We love you so much!  We are so looking forward to this Christmas with you and watching your face light up on Christmas morning.

We love you,

Mommy and Daddy

All Aboard the Polar Express!

Yesterday, we rode the Polar Express train in Grapevine!  I saw this last year and was so excited to take Hudson this year.  First, you have to wait in a line to get into the pre-show:

Thankfully, Trent and I both went so one of us could wait in line and the other could walk (or run) with Hudson.  However, Hudson was quite infatuated with Rudolf, which helped. :)

Then you go into this tent for the pre-show:

This is where things got sticky.  See those chairs?  They wanted everyone to sit in those chairs for a THIRTY MINUTE pre-show.  With an almost 2 year old.  Oh, and it was louder than the U2 concert in October (seriously).  Little man was freaking out.  We came to the conclusion that it was loud, but for a kid who hasn’t been able to hear for very long it was super loud.  So, Hudson starts hysterically sobbing – completely inconsolable.  I have honestly never seen him like that before.  A dum-dum from Jenny calmed him down temporarily:

But, shortly after this picture he wigged out again.  Trent and I considered leaving (we had a lot of time to think during the eternal pre-show), but decided to stick it out.  I finally got him calmed down with about 5 minutes to go (with his head buried as much as he could into my shoulder).  Soon after they announced it was time to board the train. We walked through the winter wonderland, complete with snow and boarded the train.

At this point, I am super nervous.  I have no idea what to expect and I was worried about Huddy flipping out again.  But, then a Christmas miracle occurred – the train started moving and my little boy was full of more joy than I have ever seen.  Seriously:

A little glimpse of our coach car…there were carols playing, they read the Christmas Story (with Polar Express music playing in the background)…it was SO cute!

Then the big guy in red made an appearance and Huddy was LOVING him!

“Thanks for taking me on the train, Daddy”

And the all too rare family shot:

So, the train ride was a success and we are already looking forward to next year! :)

Fletcher Family Christmas Extravaganza – Dallas 2009!

Saturday night was our 7th Fletcher Family Christmas Extravaganza!  Trent and I began this tradition in December of 2003.  It is one of our favorite traditions and we love sharing it with our little Huddy!  We start with dinner at Campisi’s

Then it is time to pick up holiday drinks at starbucks for the adults and get Hudson comfy cozy in his pj’s:

Then it is off to look at some FANTASTIC lights!  One of these years Hudson is going to stay awake long enough to enjoy this part! :)

Fletcher Family Extravaganza Part I!

Tonight was part one of our Fletcher Family Extravaganza!  It was even more fun this year because my mom joined us!  We started the evening at the same restaurant you can always find us:

Hudson’s latest favorite expression!

Then it was off to the lights!

This is one of our favorite houses to visit every year:

Stay tuned for Part II tomorrow!