Ho Ho Ho

The little man had himself quite a Christmas - shiny decorations, lots of sugary food, and more new toys than he knows what to do with. There are a lot of new pictures up on my flickr page, as well as two short videos of trimming the tree and opening gifts with Mom.

I hope that everyone enjoys the holiday season, and that you have as much fun as we do!

It's beginning to look a lot like Chri$tma$...

Ahh...we managed to survive trimming the tree (and house) this weekend, thanks to a lot of help from Catherine's mom and dad. Even Lucas got into the mood, although he seemed to take as many ornaments off as he put on. There's a few more pictures up over there ---->

Lucas the croupier?

Although we were supposed to visit Grandpa Jon and Grandma Karen last weekend, it would appear that the Fates were against the timing.

For the previous week, both Lucas and Daddy were dealing with a cold. Then, the morning we were to leave, Mommy fell ill to said cold and spent the next 3 days bed-bound. It turned out to be just as well that we didn't get to the airport...our flight was delayed twice then canceled, due to Milwaukee receiving over a foot of snow that morning!

In addition, Lucas ended up coming down with this strange barking cough, which turned out to be a monster case of the croup. Two days of steroid cough syrup later, the croup was gone and Lucas is lifting three times his own weight (just kidding).

Fortunately, everyone is FINALLY feeling better, and I am left to wonder if having the croup makes you a croupier - I'll have to ask the family casino employee how this works...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Another successful Turkey Day is in the books. We all ate too much, drank too much, didn't nap enough, and loafed around just the right amount. While we all wish that everyone could be here to enjoy the holiday, hopefully everyone enjoyed their own turkey day - wherever you may be.

After the massive feast, we watched Lucas take a walk with Grandma down the street.

Happy Birthday Mom Hudgins!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Usually our schedules are so busy that we don't get the chance to thank you, but we appreciate so very much everything you do - whether it is looking after Lucas while we are at work, coming over to help around the house and/or yard, or even just going out with us and goofing off, you help so much every day and in every way.

He may be too young to put it in words, but Lucas is pretty lucky to have such a kick-butt Grandma! Happy Birthday!

Trick or treating

Hello everybody! (Imagine Grover's voice, and you're as good as here)

Well, Halloween was a smashing success - Lucas had a great time, although he was very tired. He hauled in a massive amount of sugary booty (and some candy too) for a 17-month old. I wanted to get the pictures up on the 1st, but life has been pretty crazy (even for us).

I put some of the better pictures up on Flickr, and I got a short video of Lucas panhandling for candy...what a chick magnet :) Enjoy, and I hope everyone survived the holiday!

It's the Great Pumpkin...

Well, we're continuing our tradition of visiting the local pumpkin patch; this is the second trip for our intrepid band of weirdos...err...family. The pictures are up on my Flickr page (here), so enjoy them. In addition, I posted short videos from the pumpkin patch (there are three) here, here, and here.

LaFayette Childrens' Museum

Here's Lucas playing on the 'Pirate Ship' at the Childrens' Museum in Lafayette, CO.

Playing in the snow!

This is the little man's first time in the snow...notice that he is trying to eat it! (No one who knows him should be surprised by this).

Feedin' time at the zoo

Well, little mister man finally visited the zoo today. Denver Zoo, for those of you who have never been, is a wonderful place to take a child...in addition to the plethora of animals that Lucas got to see, there were many educational presentations aimed specifically for children, making our trip a LOT of fun!

Front yard, part deux

This is one little man that LOVES being outside!

of shoes and words

Curiously, the latest attraction for little Mr. Man is wearing shoes. Not his shoes, but mommy's shoes. I suppose this shouldn't come as a huge surprise; I think all children go through a "big person's" shoe period, it's just hilarious because it was, as Sheryl Crow would say, 'apropos of nothing.'

Also of note, Lucas said his first word. Sort of. His first word is 'A'. I'm not sure that this counts, as 'A' is really a letter, but we are choosing to believe that he means the article 'A', as in, "mother, may i have A bottle, please?" (I know, it's just an article, but then so is 'the', yet everyone would be amazed if Lucas had busted out with 'the'...)

Last but certainly not least, we received an honest-to-goodness sombrero from great-grandpa Tim, so now Lucas' vaccaro outfit is complete. As soon as the little man gets a little taller, we will get some pictures and post them here for the world to see.

[On a vague childhood memory note...Looking at this sombrero, I seem to remember a magazine layout, featuring my grandfather, advertising a mexican bandido pest control company...but then again, I may have been using the peyote clam dip again, so who knows?]

Walking with Grandma

The little man has MAD walking skills! Here's a few moments of his off-roading exploits.

Peek a Boo Bear

Here's a little clip of Mr. Lucas playing his favorite post-bath game...

It's that time of year again...

F-O-O, T-B-A, L-L-R-O-X

Football rox! (football rox!)
Football rox! (football rox!)

Greetings from Renee in Missouri

Renee 1st grade 1961Renee HS Grad 1973
Renee and Gary 2000

Mom, Renee, and Dad 6/21/2006

Lucas' First Birthday

For those who have not seen it, here's the little dude on his first birthday. (If you look quick, there's cameo appearances by all SORTS of people)...IMPORTANT NOTE: This video is a shade over 6 minutes long, so plan accordingly.

Happy (Belated) Birthday, Uncle Craig!

Okay, so it was a week late, but better a late party than none at all, right? If you want to see some pictures of the big shindig, look at some of the ones I uploaded onto my Flickr account (to your right).

I can't believe that we managed to catch a couple of shots with everyone's eyes open!

Happy Birthday Craig, you old fart you...

The Maestro at work

And we thought the piano would scare him...





Of course, this one reminds me of Bill Murray a la "Lounge Singer on a Train"...

Wow

As is becoming the norm around here, I am amazed at how quickly the transformation from baby to little boy occurs.




I don't seem to have the words to describe how fleeting every second we spend feels. Of course, there is also the continual sense that he is the best thing I have ever, or will ever, do.




His fledgling personality has begun to assert itself in the most amusing, frustrating, awe-inspiring ways, on what seems a moment-to-moment basis. I would not trade the time I have been able to spend with him for anything in the world.

Daddy are a colledge graduate

Well, the ceremony was more fun than I feared it would be, and it was great to have family there to share the moment...








Thanks also to all those who came and partied with us later - that was the best gift ever!

Oldies but goodies?

Now here's something you don't see much anymore...anyone else remember these?

If you REALLY want to have fun, go into your local Disney Store and ask when they plan to release "Song of the South." You get the funniest looks...

Oshkosh pictures

This is some of the best photography I've seen in a long time. The guy was on a trip from the West Coast to the yearly "fly-in" at Oshkosh Wisconsin. Enjoy.

Weird

NOTE: I posted this on the wrong blog by accident! SO I'm removing the post... sorry about that...
-gabriel

Letters Home, Volume II

I am trying to figure out how to get photos on here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deaunut/

Hanging with the big folk at Chez Hudgins

Lucas had a ball playing in Grandma and Grandpa's front/side yard...


It was also good to see Great-Grandpa Jack; in short, a wonderful time was had by all!

Founders Day outfit

I located the "outfit" for Lucas to wear for his family portrait. I am sending it today. The history is that my grandfather wore it astride a horse in the founders day parade of Los Angeles. I wore it, you wore it and now Lucas will wear it. Don't forget to put a "dress" sombrero on him for the picture.

Pictures are up and online

Through the miracle that is Flickr, I am (slowly) getting pictures up for you to access, should you wish. Keep in mind that any display bugs are purely my own fault, as I am remembering/learning HTML as I go...

Computer illiteracy reigns

First time out of the gate, hopefully this will actually show up where I intend it to. Good to see pictures of Gabe and his family.

Moving Day!!

To all of those who landed here from the old "spaces" site...welcome to our new home!

As a very dear friend used to say to me, "Microsoft Happens." And well, it did. All over the old site. As a result, here we all are at our new Hobbit Hole.

Enjoy the site, and I will try to find a way to get more pictures up ASAP!