Arizona 2013

Can we go back?...

My mom and dad (AKA Grandma Debbie and Grandpa Scott), had us down to their home in Arizona...we had the most relaxing, fun, crazy, lazy time (don't get me wrong though, we also had our fair share of meltdowns). It was our first vacation as a family of 4. Go us! We did it...we survived the plane rides too with both kids...eek that was an experience in itself! But it made for some really great memories. Some of my favorite, in fact! Instead of "writing" about this lovely time in AZ, I thought I would just list out some of the moments we will forever remember...

-Flight delay from Omaha to Arizona (great start, huh)
-Fussy, overtired baby on the plane (took me and hour to get him to sleep)
-All the while, Hudson played his Leapster and watched out his window in amazement of the clouds below us
-Landing in AZ and watching Hudson run as fast as he could to Grandpa Scott and seeing Carson's face light up when he saw Grandma and Grandpa (they were already down there waiting for us to arrive)
-Watching Hudson do what he likes to call "cannon balls" into the pool, and just watching him become this little fish!
-Watching Carson sit in his swimmer diaper in the pool and splash until he didn't have the strength to splash anymore
-Going out to dinner and Hudson saying out loud to a very large man with HUGE muscles..."Hey mom, look at that BIG man!...how do I get muscles like that?" The man turned around and said "Spinach."
-Taking the boys to Rainforest Cafe...jaws dropped, eyes lit up...very exciting!
-Hearing Hudson say the phrase "Where's Grandpa" every 10 minutes...best friends in the world. Melts my heart
-Carson giving out hugs like its his job...we have a little lover on our hands.
-Coming to the realization that, although Carson is quite lovey, we have our hands full with him...he's an awnry one, that baby! Good thing he's so darn cute ;-)
-Date night with the hubs...ahhh it was wonderful. Steak house and drinks, we reminisced for hours. Amazing.
-Waking up to two smiling boys every single morning (at 5am - they couldn't get used to the time change)...they knew every time they woke up, it was pool fun with Grandpa and Grandma!
-Watching Carson take his first step...he hasn't done it since!
-Me getting to lay out in the pool, in the sun, by myself...that NEVER happens!
-Waking up to the coffee already brewing (thanks mom)
-Drinking margs with my momma
-The 11pm flight home...which I prefer not to speak of ;-)
-Lastly...Spending time with this awesome group of people, I get to call my family. I am truly blessed and I need to thank the Good Lord more often, because I sure do have a lot to be thankful for. So, thank you, Lord, for these very special people I have in my life.

Thank you to my parents, for the best time ever. Our boys are so lucky to have you as their grandparents. We all had the time of our lives. As a matter of fact, Hudson told me last night, while laying in bed, that he is going back next week :).

Some fun pics below! (I had to add in a similar picture of Hudson when he went down there for the first time, around the same age Carson is...Carson on left, Hudson on right)...

These chubby legs were made for walkin'

Please excuse my obnoxious mom voice in this video :)

Grocery store

Both boys + me + grocery store + after work rush = a very eventful shopping experience!

Bryan had late meetings last night, so I thought I would brave the grocery store with both boys...we were way overdue for everything. We went as a little after 5, as did everyone else...it definitely made for an unforgettable shopping trip! Hudson of course had to get his own little cart and we had to fill that one up first - so exciting! He is a people watcher, so he doesn't pay attention when he's pushing the cart...this led to our first event...knocking down several glass baby food jars, clean up in aisle 5! Yep, they broke. He laughed. He told me it was my fault. Moving on. His cart was overflowing with food and as he was trying to keep up with me, he rounded a corner and his cute little cart tipped over and food went rolling everywhere. He laughed again and b/c of how hard he was laughing, Carson started belly laughing, next thing I know, the entire aisle was laughing. oh memories! Next...well you can't leave a grocery store without one meltdown! He reeeaaaalllllyyyy wanted donuts. I said no and the tears started to flow...I distracted him by giving him a twisty tie. It worked. And throughout all this excitement, my ankles were bleeding and bruised in the back, because every time I would stop, Hudson would run into me with his cart. (Bryan forgot to give me his tip of lifting up my foot whenever I would stop, so I could prevent him from crashing into me.)

I thought I better document this - we laughed, he cried, I shouted due to the pain every time is cute green cart crashed into my ankles. What would usually take me 45 minutes, took us 2 hours and I wouldn't change it for anything!

Carson and Hudson, Momma loves you so much - we always come out of it with a good laugh.

Father's Day 2013

Time to Celebrate World's Best Dad! (Well, in our eyes anyway) 

Father's Day...so special! The boys and I wanted to make sure we let Bryan know just how special he was to us.

Since nobody in our house can wait until the day of a holiday to give presents, we gave Bryan his on Saturday, right as we got it in the mail! He loves to take Hudson out to the shop to ride in the diggers - Hudson is pretty much a pro at running big machinery now. And soon, Carson will be right there with them, so I thought it was only appropriate to get them diggin' shirts! Digging buddies, that is!

We had a great time on Sunday...went to breakfast at the Club, napped, went to the pool, napped again, then topped off the night at my parents lounging on the deck. Bryan and Hudson went down the pool slide at least 25 times and Carson and I sat in the baby pool watching all 25 of them, cheering them on. Summing up the day...lots of giggles, hugs, kisses, running around, splashing, reminiscing and "I love you's!"

Thank you, Bryan, for being such a strong, generous, loving and hardworking Dad and Husband. We couldn't do it without you (which is why I like to squeeze you so much). Love you, love you, love you!

And let's not forget to mention my Dad - another "World's Best Dad!" I wouldn't be where I am without him being there for my brother and I, pushing us to do what we wanted to do and be who we wanted to be (sometimes pushing us harder than we wanted), but all for good reason. Such an amazing role model for us and our babies. Hudson and Carson adore their Grandpa and for good reason...he is the coolest Grandpa a kid could ask for. I think Hudson asks me at least once a day if he can go play with Grandpa! Love ya, Dad.

Bulldozer coming through!

Carson is officially on the move!

He started crawling last Friday and by Sunday, he had made his way around the entire house. Bulldozing through everything...the dog, his brother, Bryan, me and grinning every inch of the way. He has confidence, that baby. Go baby go!

Oh and let's not forget to mention how much fun he and his big bro are having. The energy level in the Haas House is at an all time high...we are having so much fun.

Movin, laughin, smilin, lovin every second.

Mother's Day 2013

I am so blessed with the most amazing boys and hubby!

Mother's Day...in my opinion, one of the coolest days ever. I mean you get to celebrate being a mom, you get to celebrate with these miracles you created, you get to celebrate with your own mom - its cool, right!? 

This was my 3rd Mother's Day - Bryan has always done an amazing job of making me feel like the BEST Mommy in the world and this Mother's Day, this one, he and the boys made it unforgettable. I went to bed with a smile on my face and couldn't help but think about the day over and over again, wishing it wouldn't end.

How did it all go down? Well, I woke up to the sound of little feet walking down the hallway - I lean over the side of the bed to look down and there was Mr. Hudson himself with a
grin on his face and a twinkle in his eye. He walked up to me and gave me a box - a box that was silver with a maroon ribbon. That only meant one thing - Bryan outdid himself. I had told him I absolutely DID NOT want a gift, all I wanted was to sleep in and enjoy the day with them. That man - he's a keeper. Hudson opened the box for me and revealed the most gorgeous gold watch. I love watches - we both love watches. He did good!

Brunch was next! Bryan got both boys ready for me so I could stay in bed and relax - the best. We got all dressed up in our Sunday best and went to the country club for an amazing brunch. Both boys were so well behaved and wolfed down a huge breakfast. Carson even had some waffles! Fun fun.

After being stuffed, we went home and ALL napped! Then Bryan had some errands to run, so the boys and I had a little 1:1 time, nothing better. We went over to my mom and dad's house after he got home and enjoyed the rest of the day on their deck drinking wine, watching the boys play, catching up and just relaxing. ahhhh yes.

To end this oh so wonderful day, Bryan had my parents watch the boys so he and I could grab dinner. We went and had sushi and martinis and reminisced about our special day.

Boys went to bed early and so did we. Thank you, Lord for this amazing family I have. Words don't describe how good it feels to be a mommy and have a husband that makes you feel so special in so many ways.

Bros, Pals, Best Buds

In his own words: "Here's a puff baby Carson"

Lots and lots of giggles in the Haas house lately!

"Brothers"....such a special bond. I'm not sure when this happened, but suddenly the boys are best buddies. There is nothing better than seeing your kiddos play and interact together...nothing! We weren't really sure when it would happen, since they are 2 1/2 years apart, but over the last week, all we hear is constant giggling, chatting (babbling from Carson) and singing. Hudson is such an awesome big brother! He loves singing to Carson - his favorite is "you are my sunshine" and his very own made up song, "Carsonnnnn, I wuvvvv you, I wuvvvv you!." He also feeds him his puffs and Carson thinks its the BEST thing in the world. Hudson went to the grocery store yesterday with Bryan and all he was concerned about was making sure they got Carson his food.

Giggles, smiles, singing and more! Bry and I just sit back and watch these two boys of ours and laugh right along with them - LOVE them so much!

7 months old – you have to be kidding me!

Carson,

What are you up to at 7 months?

Well, you are the “coolest” baby. You have the ability to light up a room. You make EVERYONE you cross, smile. When you get excited, you shake and then bury your head in my shoulder, giggling. You flirt with all the ladies. You are smiling even when I come to check on you in the middle of the night, when you wake. You are saying “Da da da da da,” you don’t know what it means, but it’s awesome. I try to get you to say “Ma ma,” but you reply with “Da da,” I’m accepting it – your big bro did the same thing. You are so loved; friends and family ask about you daily and we always hear “awwwwe, I miss him!”

We love seeing you grow, but we have a hard time with it at the same time. We love you, little man…we love you to the moon and back.

Happy 7 months, dude!

Tool man

When there are no tool belts left...make your own! (Or put them in your pants)

I got to school yesterday to pick up the boys and found Mr. Hudson like this. Could he be anymore creative?...No way!

Love him and his inventive little mind.

We are Godparents!!!

Honor and her lovely momma, Ashley (my sis-in-law)

This past Sunday (4/21/13), our beautiful niece, Honor was baptized and guess what!? 

Bryan and I are the Godparents! We feel so blessed and honored! It was such a special day and Honor was the most beautiful baby there (okay, I'm a little biased), but she was darling and did so good! She was baptized by Father Pat, which was very special for the entire family, as he is retiring in June. He baptized Hudson and Carson as well and also married Bryan and I and my brother and Ashley.

To sum it up...it was a perfect day!

Congratulations Honor Elle!

On a side note, check out those chubby cheeks - yep they are precious and I got to give them lots of kisses. I might have squeezed her a lot too ;-)

Baby Mum-Mums

Carson tried his first "finger food" today - woohoo for Baby Mum-Mums!

Look at how happy he is - and how could he not be? He's eating it like a rockstar, go Carson!

Breakfast with Hudson!

What a fun morning with our boy!!!

It was "bring your parents to breakfast" day today at school...it was fabulous. Bryan and I sat in itty bitty chairs at an itty bitty table and carried on conversations with Hudson and all of his friends. So. Much. Fun! Perfect start to this Friday.

After he slammed 3 muffins, Hudson showed us all around the classroom and pointed out his artwork and introduced us to all his friends...his sweet, sweet friends. Then we each got 3 hugs and 3 kisses on our cheeks (BIG hugs that is), and we were off to work.

Happy Friday!

Here we are! Us and our boys!

From left: Hudson, Bryan, me and Carson

"Hey big bro, whatcha got there?...ohh a car!....can I taste it?"

Ace man!

My hunk of a hubby

3D movie night

Bros!

Lovins from Ace