a nephew and some smarts

Could someone please teach me how to love my blog?! I swear I can't. I've been trying and trying and when my dad told me I was getting written out of his will, I thought I better try and put some posts together for him. We had some fun family visits in January and February. Chris and Lindsay came to a wedding in Phoenix in January and we said we would love to keep Hudson for the weekend while Georgia stayed with Grandma and Grandpa in Las Vegas. My kids were beside themselves.

This picture was taken right after his parents had to rush out the door. He was a little sad and nervous until we put a ball in his hands. What is it about little boys? That always solves everything.

I love this picture because this is all Hudson wanted to do for two days at our house. Dumped out all the cars and raced them down the skate ramp, over and over and over. Perfectly content!

I haven't gotten to spend a lot of one on one time with Hudson and I fell in love with him over this weekend. He quickly figured out I was the caretaker in the family and wanted me to do everything for him. And he called me "Nini" which just melted my heart.

Of course all the cousins had to have a bath together!! He was an angel all weekend and we didn't even think he missed his parents. But that was all over when Chris came to pick him up and then he wouldn't let his dad put him down! We're so glad that they let us keep him. It was a great time for me and my kids.

Then the Smart's came for a visit a few weeks later. They got to spend a really long time with us and it was great to get to be with just their little family. I fell all in love with Camryn too - she is fully of personality and super funny! My favorite is her "wow!"

We did lots of fun things - went to Desert Ridge, hiked Camelback, ate at In N Out and did some requisite hanging out. Uncle Ryan and Carter did a lot of this.





Camryn bunked in with Dylan and Carter a few nights. One morning I heard Dylan and was trying to keep him from waking her and this is what I found.

He said she was fussing so he was reading her a story. In her bed.

Erica was also able to do a shoe party at my house. She has a great set-up for her parties and it was a treat trying on loads of shoes. Anyone who is thinking of hosting needs to set one up!


Erica and I also met up at the McCormick-Stillman railroad park when she was staying down in Tempe for a few days. Camryn didn't know if she liked riding the train much but she learned to love the park and now likes digging in the dirt.

A little close-up of her enjoying the birds which she calls "caa-caa."

My brother's and sister's kids are angels (my siblings are pretty nice too) and it was fun to get to spend a little quality time with a couple of them. Please come and visit all the time!