Tis' The Season

Happy Holidays Everyone!!

To be honest this year I wasn't really looking forward to Christmas the way I have in years before. I love to decorate and was unable to set up all my decorations (you will see why below - lol) and I was a little further behind in my shopping due to our fabulous trip. But all said and done the baking is done ( I kind of cheated this year and did a cookie exchange), the tree is still standing and all the shopping is done and we are already to make many special memories with the people that mean so much to us - YOU!

Here is what we have been up to in our preparation for the big day!

We started off with the Santa Claus parade in Leduc which I must say was 100x better that the one in Wetaskiwin last year. So from now on we will be taking in the parade in Leduc. That is until Wetaskiwin steps up to the plate. It was a beautiful night and we went with our friends Haley and Kami and the parade was about 20 mins with decorated fire trucks, lots of business floats and of course the big finale, SANTA! Hudson didn't care too much but Kami was very excited. Maybe next year.

Wating for the parade to start

 Daddy an Hudson

 Kami and Hudson keepign warm eating Cheesys waiting for the parade to start

 "Helping" decorate the tree

That's the only ornament he actually put on the tree.

He's very good at taking them off

 "Helping" again

 Mommy Look!

I'm so pretty all wrapped up in the garland

 It looks better on me than it will on the tree

 Our friends Haley, Kami and Shawn came over and we made gingerbread houses and trains together.

 Kami sneaking Hudson a treat

 Jason working on his gingerbread train. No one could get their hands in to help. He's very serious when it comes to making gingerbread trains

 BUSTED!!

 When we got home from our trip I realized how much he can grow in 2 weeks! He can now reach into the drawers and help himself. So much for safety locks they don't really work if he can get his little fingers in there. He can also reach on top of our taller island and thus everything is pushed into the centre. Sometimes we're not quick enough and he helps himself.

 He grabbed this out of the fridge when I opened it. Cucumbers are his favourite.

 BUSTED AGAIN!

 Look Mommy it's pretty!

I missed getting a photo of the lights dragged half way across the room. And now he's working on getting the garland off and dragging presents around by the bows. Nothing is safe.

We were excited to go see the CPR Holiday train in Leduc this year and take in their concert however the roads were horrible! So we thought that we would just go down to our tracks and watch it go through and that would be enough for the kids. A lot of people had that same idea and because there were so many people out. They stopped and sang 3 songs which was enough for us because Hudson's little fingers were so cold.

 Wagon ride to the train

 Mommy and Hudson

 Kami and Haley

We got to go visit a bunch of friends and celebrate our flower girl's, Charlize's, 6th birthday!

 Hudson loves to push anything the chair, shovel, broom, vaccuum, and today it's the stroller.

 Charlize, Lori, and Hudson

 Did I get busted again?

This year we had our Petrich family Christmas at the Wetaskiwin Firehall. It worked out awesome as our family is growing and is hard to fit us all in the same room for supper. This year we were all in the same room maybe next year we can all be at the same table.

The fire hall was a real treat for the kids as it gave them room to run and play and of course they got to check out the fire trucks, that was a treat for everyone.

 Hudson and the big red firetruck

Hudson wearing Uncle Kyle's hat

 Gabi loving her sun dress from us.

 Open his present from Great Grandma with Papa

 family shot

 The great grand kids

This is as good as it gets with 4 under 4.

Spencer, Gabriela, Finley, and Hudson

If I do say so myself they are some pretty beautiful kids

Great Grand Kids with Great Grandma

This was sure a feat as you can tell from the picture but a keepsake for sure.

From Our House to Yours

We Wish you a Very Safe and Merry Christmas

Aloha!!

I know I know I kind of suck at keeping this thing updated! We've been home for over a month and I'm just now getting it updated. It's not an excuse but our computer is extremely slow and getting the photos uploaded and the videos are another story.

We left for Maui on Halloween so we carved our pumpkin in advance as it was the first time for Hudson to really get involved. He was a little stand offish at first and didn't want to get his hands in there but near the end he just had to get a feel. The day before Halloween we dressed Hudson up and took him to a few friends and family in Millet so he didn't completely miss out. We also dressed him up for the trip to the airport which was a little inconvenient for diaper changes but we made it to Vancouver and then it had to come off. Hudson did very well on the flights both there and home with a little help from our new friend Gravol. There was just too much going on for him to settle down on his own. From Vancouver to Maui we were at the very back of the plane near the kitchen and bathroom which was very high traffic.

We had a fabulous time in Maui of course it's beautiful and the weather is fabulous even if it rains. Our condo was 4 meters from our own private beach and we had a pool as well which was nice and calm for Hudson. The ocean can be a little wild at times.

Hudson never really adjusted to the time change so we were up every morning at 6:30 to start the day. The sun was shining and enjoyed as much as we could.

Carving pumpkins before we left

Hudson helping Mommy draw on the face

Eating a cookie Hudson got from Uncle Jeff while trick or treating. It was covered with black icing.

First plane ride.

Hanging out on our lanai

Checking out the ocean with Daddy

Enjoying some delicious fruit.

Our second day there we decided to take the Road to Hana drive, which I would never recommend with small children. It's scenic drive where you are supposed to stop and enjoy the scenery and take hikes to waterfalls but with a sleepy baby you just can't do that. The 7 of us all went together and were squished in the van, Hudson slept most of the way except for the part where he woke up and puked from all the twists and turns in the road.
This is a picture at our 1 stop along the way.

This is at the end at the Hana beach with black sand. We're getting some fresh air before we have to pile back in the van and take the long trek back.

Jason and Hudson on this very rough beach. We're told by standers to get off. Apparently if a beach doesn't have footprints on it it's a good sign to stay off.

Hanging in the pool. It looks like he likes the dingy but he wasn't a big fan.

A day at the aquarium

Petting the starfish

Family picture

Beach time.

Hudson loved the sand and the water.

We went to a luau in Lahaina and it was fabulous. Good entertainment, good veiw, OK food, and Excellent drinks.

This is supper

Hudson liked the pretty girls.

So did Daddy

Mmmm

Jay and I took a snorkeling trip to Molokini with Lisa and Kyle. We saw lots of fish but only like 3 different kinds. Jay did a lot of snorkeling, every beach we went to he would go out. We got another day that we got to go out together that we went to this bay on the north shore that we spotted on our travels earlier. When we saw it from the road there was a pod of dolphins swimming with the snorkelers so it was a must see. But we didn't see any dolphins but we saw loads of different fish, turtles, and a sting ray. It was unbelievable!

Loving the Baby Beach

Checking out the water with Mommy. It was pretty calm so he could almost go in without being held on to but not quite.

Baby Beach with Daddy.

 Picking up the locals. He played with this little girl for quite a while. It was so cute.

 We took the drive to the top of the volcano. It was a twisty ride too but we thought much more beautiful and not as long. It was a little chilly on the top thus the sweathers.

 We went to the Big Beach on the south shore and the water was way to rough for Hudson. Jason and Kyle were boogie boarding and Hudson wanted to try too. Dad pulled him around for quite a while he loved it.

 Our trip to the lava fields.

This is also pretty cool

 We stopped for a drink and a diaper change at the Hard Rock Cafe

 Keeping warm after getting out of the pool

Family shot before we left the condo at 12. Our flight wasn't until 11:30pm it was a long day! And Hudson was wired by the time we got on the plane I thought it was going to be a struggle. He was screaming and whinning because he wanted down to walk around. I was ready to cry and then before the plane was passed out he was fast asleep and slept all the way to Vancouver and then Van to Edmonton. I was a pretty lucky girl. :)