Connor riding his bike

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jb-c4kBCMg

I can not get the videos to work on the blog, but if you click this link it should take you directly to the video of Connor riding his bike.

1st video

OK, here is my first attempt at adding video to the blog. Here goes...... It is Hudson eating his birthday cake. The video is a little long. But I just wanted to see if I could do this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppHjHxq8lTQ

Another slide show

Cruise Slide Show

Here are some fun pics from the cruise. Ali, are you proud that I didn't have to call for instructions?

No Training Wheel Pictures

Here is Connor riding his bike without the training wheels. I cant tell you how proud we are of the little guy. Looks like it's time for a Big Boy bike.

The Zoo

My Mom has been in town visiting since last week so yesterday we decided to do something special with the boys. We went to the local zoo. It isn't the biggest zoo you have ever seen, but Connor loves it. Thanks to some wonderful friends we have a family pass. Erin, Ryan & Olivia came with us. Connor had a blast. He followed Ryan around & copied everything he did. He flipped over the elephants & got spoiled by my Mom. This picture was taken when we told Connor he was going to see the Elephants!

Not to brag, but...

Tonight Connor learned to ride his bike with no training wheels. That's right.. he is still in diapers but no longer has training wheels. 2 years old and no training wheels. I didn't learn how to ride a bike until I was 8 years old ( I did grow up in NYC though). Brandon learned how to ride a 2 wheeler 1 week before he turned 3. So this was important to us for different reasons. It took Brandon about 20 minutes of instruction & that was it! I have never seen such a little bike with out training wheels. Connor was so proud he just kept saying "no training wheels" over and over while he rode. I don't have pics, but I have video & as soon as I figure out how to put it on here I will. He hasn't learned how to take off or stop by himself yet, but I bet it wont be long!!! Yeah Connor!

The little guy has always been physically advanced. I think that might have something to do with why he talked so late. But this one even amazed me. Ok, I will stop bragging now... but admit it.... your impressed.

UPDATE:: Brandon wanted to make sure I told everyone that Connor has been working hard on his bike riding since July when he got his bike. And that this isn't the first time we took his wheels off.

Hudson's Birthday

Saturday was Hudson's 1st birthday. We had a little party for him at a local park. We had a great time & needless to say the little guy loved his party. His favorite part had to be the cake.

It is hard to believe that he is already one. The time has flown by. He is such a happy little boy. Hudson is a true joy with a smile that lights up the room. He had his doctor's appointment for his one year check up and he is over 25 lbs. Hudson measured in the 90% for everything. So, I guess we have a little Brandon on our hands!

A Good Time Was Had By All

We returned on Monday from a 4 night cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. We went with our old neighbors Katina & Freddy and Erin & Bret. All of our children stayed at home with their grandparents. We have been planning this trip for over 6 months. Brandon and I have never been on vacation with other couples, so I was hoping this would go well. It was great! We all had the same vacation style. We hung out during the day in a central location near the pool & if some of us wanted to go do other things we did & then met up for dinner. The guys all went the the golf simulator. The girls shopped. Each couple got a couples massage. We had our couple time & our friend time. Every night we spent time at the piano bar, the dance club & watching a band. I really can not believe what an awesome time we had. Usually Brandon and I are more layed back on a cruise. We usually go to the show, maybe hit the piano bar & that's it. Not this cruise... we partied like rock stars. And, if you have heard me talk in the past couple of days you believe me. My voice has been gone since Friday. Saturday was spent in Cozumel. Katina & Fred went to power snorkel in the morning. We decided to go shopping in Cozumel & ended up bumping into Erin & Bret. So we all went shopping & then parted ways so we could go to snuba. It is kind of like a combo of snorkeling & scuba diving. You have the oxygen, but the tank is attached to a float above you. We did this on our honeymoon and I was totally freaked out so I really wanted to try it again. Well... I was totally freaked out again. But, I did not cry this time. The instructor took off my weight belt & let me stay on top of the water until I was ready. Then he brought me down to the ocean floor (about 25 ft.). It is so beautiful. Here is a pic before I got my courage up. Brandon said he was pretty proud of me that I didn't cry & I didn't give up. It just takes me a little while to get used to that feeling of breathing through my mouth & the weight belt always freaks me out.
After snuba we all met up at Carlos & Charlies for more fun. We found it! A magician sat at our table & did some of the best card tricks we had ever seen. We may have had a couple of beers in us, but even Freddy (who does not drink) couldn't figure it out.

I am trying to remember some other highlights....

Dinner. Oh Dinner! OK, what you need to know is this was Freddy's first cruise. He is a very personable, upbeat, happy person. If you don't like Freddy, then something is seriously wrong with you. Also, he has a great Boston accent. So, taking him on this cruise was kind of like taking a 4 year old to Disney for the first time. Everything was awesome, some things were wicked awesome. He was so excited that he could order whatever he wanted to for dinner and as much as he wanted. Lobster night was my personal favorite. He told the waiter to just keep them coming. After his 7Th plate he begged the waiter to stop. Erin wasn't even eating lobster & thought she might puke. Freddy is pretty sure that heaven is a cruise. Massages, all the lobster he could eat, lots of "alone time" with your spouse. He really made the cruise all that much more fun. I loved seeing everything new through his eyes.

Singing. There were two types of singing going on. First at the piano bar. We had a blast singing. I noticed that our friend Bret knew every word to every song. Pretty impressive. So, when we walked by the karaoke bar & he said lets sing a song I said sure. We were the last song of the night & by the time we had our chance there was only 1 other group in the room. Bret picked the Beastie Boys, Paul Revere. I was taken back by this choice as Bret is usually on his best behavior & this seemed to not match his personality. Little did I know he is a closet rap star! We had a blast . 2 nights later I asked him to sing it again by himself so I could watch this time. Well, I actually got it on video. Brandon and I have watched it over and over cracking up every time. Not because it is bad, but because it is great. Just, not the Bret we know. The two songs before him sucked. The room was a little more full this time. He brought the house down. This pic is from the first night. Another girl thought she was going to sing with us, but she had no idea what song we were singing until she was up there. She could not hang with Grand Master Bret!

There are too many stories to share. I just want to say that I knew we had good friends, but sometimes when life takes over it is easy to forget how much you like them. Katina & Erin... you both are great friends & I really miss living next door. You are beautiful women, great wives & fantastic Moms! Every day I thank God for friends like you. Thanks for keeping me off the table!

I missed Connor & Hudson a bunch. But I really wasn't worried. They were with Brandon's parents & I knew they would be fine. It was great to be able to relax & just enjoy some grown up time. I was reminded how much I love Brandon (not that I forgot, but it is nice to be reminded) I was also reminded how much I like spending time with him. Sometimes when kids & chores & life takes over I think husbands & wives forget that at one time you were both just friends. Brandon can really make a party. If you can't have fun with him in the room.. you need to leave the room. He got involved in a Fear Factor competition on the boat & dominated it beginning to end. I have video of that too... but I saving it for some good blackmail.

10 years ago today

10 Years ago today my bf Alison picked me up at the Gainesville airport and we stopped by UF so I could meet her boyfriend (who is now her wonderful husband). The we went back to her apartment where I was meeting this guy I had been talking to on the Internet. This was to be our first face to face meeting. (Though, we had already professed our love for each other.) When I opened the door and saw Brandon standing there I didn't even say hello.... I just jumped into his arms & kissed him. Then he handed me a rose & said"Hi Baby". The rest, as they say, is history! Happy Anniversary Baby!

The first picture is us saying goodbye at the airport 10 years ago. He told me not to cry. He said to trust him that we would be together. The next picture is from our Christmas card this past year. I guess he was right!

Olivia's Birthday Party

Saturday we went to Olivia's 1st birthday party. It is always great to see a little kid turn 1. She of course got her own cake & just like the little lady she is, she waited for a spoon to dig in. She really did not want to eat with her hands. The boys had a good time. Here are some pics.

Random thoughts

I hate tornadoes. I think everyone probably does. The thought that something could just pop up & take away everything you love & have worked hard for is very scary to me. I found "tornado safe" rooms that you can install in your home. It makes me feel paranoid, but I guess that's what happens when you become a parent.

Connor had school yesterday & he loves it! He is going to go to a different school in August and I really hope he enjoys it as much. He has finally started liking music time. I have to guess that before he really couldn't hear/understand the songs. Well, now he does all of the dances for me. When I told him that it was music day he said "yeah music day".

Is anyone watching American Idol? Why do the contestants suck so bad this year? Last year I had more than a few favorites, but this year is not so good. I like Blake & Chris on the boys side. Melinda & Lakisha are great singers, but I don't know how marketable they would be as pop stars. Kind of like Reuben. Anyone heard anything from him lately? I could go on about this for a while. Is that sad? Maybe.