The end is near!

That speaks true for two things.

A new year begins in just a few short hours. Though it's just another day it marks the beginning of a new adventure for our family. Joe leaves tomorrow for Afghanistan. What a way to start of the new year huh?

2008 was a great year for the Hudson Crew. Bryson turned 6 and now reads and loves Star Wars. Carter turned 3 and learned how to ride his bike with no training wheels. Joe became a captain, and together we created a new life.

Though I am anxious for 2009 to begin for each passing day brings Joe closer to coming home. I fear leaving the safety of 2008.

Please pray for him and for our family.

A day with his boys....all three of them!

On Sunday Joe and the boys had a full daddy day.

The got up that morning and took a drive to pick me up some Starbucks and then on to McDonald's to pick up the boys breakfast.

He then took Carter to the commissary with him. For some reason Carter loves going to the commissary with daddy. I think it's because Joe lets him buy junk food I usually wouldn't, daddy's are so special. Bryson stayed home with me and played the Wii. He is addicted to Mario Kart.

Once Joe and Carter got back they all ate lunch and then off they went to golf. They played nine holes and took turns driving the cart. Bryson has a natural talent when it comes to golfing and Carter does not. He hits the ball more like a hockey puck. Bryson at that age could already hit the ball pretty far so I will have to work with Carter.

After golfing they went outside to ride bikes and scooters and then Joe took them to dinner. Carter wanted to go to the Mockey-Moley(Guacamole) place. It's a Mexican restaurant called Mi Casitas and Carter loves the guacamole there. He just can't get enough of it.

When they got home their day was over and they took a man shower and headed off to bed. I think they all had a great day!

Once the boys were in bed Joe sat down beside me and I placed his hand on my belly. His little son was quite active and Joe was able to feel his boy move for the first time. It was a special day here in the Hudson household.

***What was I doing this whole time you ask?? Absolutely Nothing!!!***

So...Were you Naughty or Nice?

We had a great Christmas this year. We all must have been very nice because we really made out.

Santa brought Bryson his Nintendo DS that he asked for, and let me tell you that's like a Christmas present for me also. My mom, Mimi bought Super Mario Brothers for it and I am on the last world, world 8 and I am having a blast with it. We bought Bryson the Star Wars game and he loves to play that as well. Bryson also got quite a few new Lego sets, some star wars figures, a new scooter, and various other things.

This year Santa brought Carter a bike with pegs. He asked Santa for a bike with pegs so that he could do tricks like his brother. Poor Carter has already fallen and hit his face. Though it wasn't because of the tricks it's because he can't stop the bike. It's an 18 inch bike and the brakes aren't the pedals they are on the handle bars and he can't quite get his hands around them. I am going to practice with him on how to grasp the brake probably when Joe leaves. I will have more time then.

Carter also got his beloved GEO Airport which he absolutely loves. He has been playing with it non-stop. He got a leapster with some games, quite a few Buzz Lightyear toys (which one is broken already), a new scooter as well since his old one was stolen, and various other little things.

Santa brought our family Mario Kart for the Wii and that has been a blast. We all have had fun racing each other and seeing who is the fastest.

Checking out all the loot.

My Nintendo DS!

Opening his scooter from Aunt Michelle.

Getting ready to open his GEO Airport.

He was so excited!
Carter on his bike with pegs.

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve the boys opened up their one present that was filled with Christmas PJs and a special book. It's a book that Joe himself wrote and I added pictures and had made into a hardback book. It's something very special that I hope we will have forever. We had also forgotten to put the angel on the tree when we put it up so we thought we would just wait and put it up on Christmas Eve so that's what we did. We started out letting Carter put the angel up but he couldn't quite reach so Bryson finished up.

Merry Christmas

I have this set to post at a scheduled time so right now we are probably opening up presents.

Merry Christmas Everyone!! I hope you all are with those you love and are opening up so cool gifts.

This is what I did yesterday and thought you would love it.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

I will write more about our Christmas later.

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my mom's birthday. I am sure it has to be hard to have a birthday so close to Christmas. You usually don't get two gifts but one combined one.

I am so lucky to have a mom like her. I love her so much and wish we were able to see her on a daily basis. Mimi, you are a great grandmother and my boys love you dearly. We can't wait to see you in April.

Happy Birthday Mom, I hope you get two gifts from everyone.

The day Joe got back.

He was gone for a total of 71 days. When he leaves in January we will have 179 days to go. It seems like so long.

Joe came back with four bags, a backpack and his riffle. It's a little scary thinking about him carrying this gun with him when he leaves. Bryson really wanted to check it out, but we told him maybe later.

When we got home we let Joe blow out the candles on his brownies and open his presents. He was so excited and surprised.

Then Joe wanted to show the boys some of his gear. The funnest part was when the boys put on daddy's bullet proof vest. It weighs about 30 pounds. Carter kept giggling it was so heavy.



Growing up I never tried on a bullet proof vest, that I can remember. No need to, didn't know anyone with one, it didn't even cross my mind. Here my boys are 6 and 3 and they don't even realize how important the vest is, and what it's job will be for the next 6 months.

Boy have we been busy!

Joe has been home now for 8 days and we have been in and out of the house all week. Sorry I have not been able to update much it just takes time and we don't have a lot of time with Joe before he heads off to war.

I have a lot to post about so it may take awhile to update. I did want to share with you all us putting up the tree. We waited to put it up until Joe was home so that he could help. Though wouldn't you know we forgot to put the angel on the tree and always seem to remember once the boys are in bed. So she is sitting on the end table right next to the tree watching over it. I guess we might as well wait until Christmas eve now. Drink some hot chocolate, put the angel on the tree and open up their Christmas eve gift.

Double Trouble

I just had to spank both the boys.

I spanked Carter for unrolling the toilet paper. Something infants do not 3 year olds, and then I spanked Bryson for watching him do it.

Then Carter said he was mad at me but not daddy.

That Carter is something else.

So, Carter watches TV in my room everyday. Not a lot but he no longer takes naps so he has to rest for a little while. He usually is pretty good back there. I don't hear much from him and if I do he usually runs out to tell me he loves me and then runs back into bed.

Last night I went to bed rather late, late for me which so happen to be 11pm. I was up watching a great lifetime show and even though it would replay this morning I just had to watch it last night. Back to going to bed...I walked into my room and spot a bottle of KY on the floor in between my bed and my nightstand. I pick it up and the top is popped and the bottle is empty.

I have no idea where the contents are. I can only imagine what fun he had squeezing the bottle and letting the liquid shoot out like water from a water gun.

Now that I think about it I haven't looked on the ceiling.

Happy Birthday Big Daddy!

Update: I was informed it has been 8 years and not 7. Sorry I can not count!

I am sorry you were not here to celebrate with us. It isn't the first time and I am sure it won't be the last, but it is a little sad that you weren't able to celebrate your 30th with family and friends.

It has been wonderful to celebrate the last 7 birthdays with you, and boy has a lot changed in that amount of time. We have grown so much and learned so much about each other. I can only imagine what 50 more will bring us. I have so much to thank you for. I can see two sitting right in front of me and the newest one kicking in my belly. I can't believe that we will miss half of this year with you, what a big milestone we are missing. You will be missing my milestone as well. Maybe next year we can turn 30 again??

I wish you would have been here today.

We had breakfast with Santa and then I dropped the kids off so I could do some Christmas shopping. If you would have been here I am sure we would have found other fun things to do, but this is the military life huh?

I love you

Pregnancy update

Here is the photo you all have been asking for. It's not the best. It was taken on top of a box on a self-timer.

*My belly is starting to get bigger.
*I feel great.
*I can eat meat again. Though in very small amounts.
*I still love fruit.
*I have already been having braxton hicks contractions.
*I am 21 weeks.
*I am still in shock of having another boy.
*I have another ultrasound in 11 days.
*We still have no idea on a name.

Do you want to know what my boys are watching?

I signed up for the free trial for Netflix on Monday. I was flipping though all the movies and there were two that caught my eye. Two movies I can remember watching as a child myself. Who cares what they want to watch this is what I want to watch. So, I put them on the list and guess what? They were in the mailbox today. Just 36 hours after I signed up.

I am so excited that they are watching the movies I can remember getting so excited about and watching over and over with my siblings. Have you ever watched these?

This is what they are watching right now.


and this is what I told them we would watch later tonight so I can watch with them.

A new NEPHEW

My newest nephew was born this evening at 6:32 Mountain time. He was born 26 days early but gave his mom trouble back in October. She was on bed rest and medicine for quite some time. They have not taken his stats yet and when I get them I will update. UPDATE: Beau was 5lbs 5oz and 18inches.

I also have no idea when I'll be able to post a picture, as I will have to wait on others to send them to me. I have a small picture that my mom sent me on my phone but that just won't work.

Happy Birthday Beau Olden Turner!!

Our Thanksgiving Weekend

We drove up to Virginia to visit my old college buddy Mandy and her three boys. Boy was it crazy to have 5 boys in one house hold. *note to self...stop at three* Anyways the boys had so much fun together. The two three year olds liked to pester each other every once in awhile but other than that all was good. They behaved pretty well for going to bed so late each night and waking up so early each morning.

I had so much to be thankful for this year that we had two Thanksgivings. One with ham on the 27th and then one with fried turkey on the 28th. Actually the truth is that I screwed up!!

I brought the turkey fryer up from home and when it was time to get the oil going I realized I had forgot the most important thing. Well, everything in frying a turkey is important but I had forgot the thermometer. How am I suppose to fry a turkey when I can't tell how hot the oil is? Mandy had two friends over for thanksgiving as well and they took off to go get one from the girls house. They come back and the thermometer only goes up to 190. Well, that won't work!! We search the neighborhood with no such luck. Then the girls take off to Walmart to find one. About an hour later they come back with a thermometer that goes up to 350. I put it in the oil and the oil was so hot that it popped the top right off the thermometer and it drops down into the oil. Broken!!

I was so mad at myself. Thankfully the girls had brought over a ham so we had Thanksgiving with the ham, and all was well. The next morning I braved the crowds in search of a thermometer that would work and found one at a cooking store at the outlets where I waited 40 minutes for a parking space. I was determined to have a fried turkey. I found one and later that day I fried up my first turkey. Our family has been frying turkeys for as long as I can remember. I can't even remember ever not having a fried turkey. Okay one year my mother baked a duck and I can remember not eating much that year, but other than that all fried turkeys.

Even though we have been frying for so long I have never been in charge of the controls and actually standing out there babysitting the turkey. I did a great job and it turned out wonderfully. It was so good that I can barely wait until Christmas.

Mandy and I with the fried turkey.

Before we had our second Thanksgiving on Friday we did go out to the beach and tour a lighthouse. All the boys had so much fun and on our way back to the car Dathan (Mandy's 6 year old son) screams out that he has been pinched by a crab. After all was calm it was pretty funny.

Dathan, Bryson, Carter, and Chance

Bryson and Dathan playing football on the beach. One of the many falls they had.

Have a great holiday!

The boys and I are leaving tomorrow morning for Virgina. I am going to see a friend whom I haven't seen for probably 8 years. Her name is Mandy and she and I ran cross country together in college. Mandy is the future me with three boys. The older two are the same ages as Bryson and Carter, 6 and 3. Her third son is 7 months. I know we will have a blast and have a great Thanksgiving.

The boys and I would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. May you eat lots of good food and think about all the things you are thankful for this year.

Chief Warrant Officer Christian P. Humphreys

Christian P. Humphreys
June 4, 1980 - November 15, 2008


Chief Warrant Officer Christian P. Humphreys, 28, of Alamogordo, died Saturday, November 15, 2008, while serving with the U.S. Army in Iraq.

Mr. Humphreys was born June 4, 1980 in Bittburg Air Force Base, Germany. After graduating from Alamogordo High School in 1998, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served until 2006 when he joined the U.S. Army to fly helicopters. He was attached to Alpha Troop, 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force 49, U.S. Army Alaska, deployed to Iraq.

Survivors include his proud wife Christina, former U.S. Air Force, of the family home; his parents, Daniel, U.S. Air Force retired, and Sylvia Humphreys of Alamogordo; a brother Tobias Humphreys and his wife Jamie of Albuquerque; a sister, Alyxandra Bryars and her husband Justin of Alamogordo; nephews, Gavin and Brodee Humphreys of Albuquerque; a niece Madison Humphreys of Albuquerque; his mother and father-in-law, John, U.S. Coast Guard retired, and Renee Williams of Alamogordo; a brother-in-law, John Williams, an F-15 Crew Chief with the U.S. Air Force in Afghanistan; and his grandparents, Rosemarie Opiela of Germany, and Patricia Williams and Irene Goodson of Alamogordo.

Mr. Humphreys was preceded in death by his grandparents, Leonard, U.S. Air Force retired, and Arlene Humphreys, and Stanislaus Opiela; and his wife’s grandfathers, Walter Williams, U.S. Air Force retired, and Ted Goodson, U.S. Air Force retired.

Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, 16th St. and Cuba Ave., with the Rev. Dr. Steve Trout officiating.

Interment will follow in Ft. Stanton Cemetery with military honors by the New Mexico National Guard.

An honor guard and escort will be provided by the Patriot Guard.

Services are under the direction of Hamilton-O’Dell Funeral Home.

Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to Operation Wounded Warrior, New Mexico Legion Riders, 34 Stonewood Dr., Alamogordo, NM 88310.

Baby, what are you????

Well, I have been trying to upload this picture for the last hour. I know you all have been waiting very anxiously.

So, here it is without further ado.....A picture of the baby's butt and what's in between HIS legs.

Can you believe it....I am going to be the mother of three BOYS!!

Boy or Girl?

So you all have been waiting for the BIG answer.

And I really want to tell you, but I just tried to upload a picture that will tell all and blogger is being a bit difficult. So, I guess you will just have to wait a bit longer.

Till then I thought I would give you a pregnancy update.

* I have been more sick this time around then the past two.
* I haven't gained any weight yet.
* I have been wearing maternity clothes for about 5 weeks but am finally starting to look a little pregnant.
* I am 17 weeks
* I did the Chinese Calender thing and it says I am having a boy, though with the boys they were both suppose to be girls.
* I have not craved any sort of meat and could give it up really easy.
* I love, love, love fruit.

Anybody want to changed their answers? I will check back later today and try to upload the answer.

Have a great day!!

Some Bad News about Christian Humphreys

I was going to write today about the baby shower I attended yesterday. It was the World's Largest Military Baby Shower, but I woke up this morning to some bad news.

My very good friend Christina received the worst possible news a military wife could ever expect. She found out that her husband, Christian Humphreys died yesterday in a helicopter crash. It happened in a northern Iraqi city of Mosul.

I can't even imagine what she is going through to lose a husband, a lover, a best friend all at once. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. I know she will need them.

What a blessing!

Today was a big day here in the Hudson household. I had an ultrasound today and Bryson was able to go with me. He had a blast and loved hearing the babies heartbeat. He even saw the baby pushing on the gas pedal as if s/he was driving.

The baby is 100% healthy. All measured perfectly and everything looked great.



I have put up a poll on the left hand side please go vote. Is it a boy or a girl?



Joe will not know probably until Monday so you all are going to have to wait until then.

From the mouth of Carter

The other day while driving in the car I gave Carter a piece of gum. I was watching him in the review mirror and he was going to town on that piece of gum. He was chewing his gum with his mouth open and he was swishing it back and forth with his tongue.

Then all the sudden he says "Mom, its like playing soccer in my mouth!"

I just laughed for a few seconds and then I started chewing my gum with my mouth wide open swishing it with my tongue back and forth and you know what.....it is a lot like soccer.

So the next time you are chewing gum think of Carter and play a game of soccer in your mouth.

Bryson and Barack Obama

November Fourth: Election Day

The boys and I were headed to Texas Roadhouse for dinner. The school was having a family night there and part of the proceeds went back to the school. (Joe and I are both McCain supports just to make that clear. Though we are not really vocal about it and I haven't really talked much about the election with the boys.) So, we are driving on the way there when on the radio another commercial came on about Barack Obama.

Bryson: Did they just say Obama?
Mom: Yes
Bryson: Turn it up, I voted for him today.
Mom: What, you voted for him today?
Bryson: Yeah we had a vote in our class and I voted for Barack instead of McCain.
Carter: I like McCain.
Bryson: Well, I like Barack Obama.
Carter: I changed my mind I like Obama.
Carter and Bryson: Obama, Obama, Obama
Mom: Bryson you need to call your dad and tell him who you voted for.
Bryson" Talking to Joe on the phone telling him everything
Dad: I get on the phone with him and he tells me "That's to funny!"

November 5: The Oprah Winfrey Show

I have the tv going while picking up and Oprah is talking about the new President Elect.

Bryson comes running in and says "Are they talking about Barack Obama? Come on Carter we have to watch this."

I can finally breath....

My last appointment was on September 30th and they couldn't hear the heartbeat. The doctors didn't seemed concerned as my dates could have been off. I on the other hand have been going crazy since then. I have been so paranoid and consumed with not hearing the heartbeat that I called Joe and finally told him what I was feeling. I didn't tell him for a few weeks because I didn't want him to worry. I am being seen on the Army base and Joe has no pull there so he called up the Pope clinic and asked if they had a Doppler machine. They did and said that I could come in to ease my fears. It was around the middle of October when I went to the clinic. The very nice lady brought me back to a room, laid me back and put the cold gel on my belly and began the search. She looked and looked and looked. Nothing.....she told me I could go to the E.R. but that they would not find it an emergency and that I would not be seen for a long time. I could also go to Fort Bragg and talk to my doctor there. I headed on over to Fort Bragg and nobody seemed concerned. They told me the same thing, go to the E.R. or sit and wait.

With all the miscarriages that I have witnessed in the past year I really began to worry. After having two healthy pregnancies how could I be so lucky to have a third. I then began to think that sometimes ignorance is bliss, there are so many things that can go wrong in a pregnancy. I have been following a few blogs that are about children with Trisomy 18. Here is just one of them. Click on her name and you can read a letter Audrey's mom wrote to her. When I was pregnant with Bryson I didn't think anything could go wrong. When I was 20 weeks along I went in for my ultrasound, but the only thing Joe and I were thinking about was if we were going to be buying pink or blue.

Buy the time Carter came around I knew about a few more things that could go wrong. When I found out that the clinic I was going to did not do ultrasounds I was upset. I can't remember now if it was for a lack of manning or funding but I was outraged. How would they know if my baby's kidneys and bladder were functioning right? How would they know if my baby need surgery in utero due to spina bifida.
Did you know that in some cases they can do surgery for an unborn baby if they find out in time. That sometimes this surgery can make all the difference. Our neighbor at the time was a radiology tech and I asked him if he could please talk to his buddy who did ultrasounds to see if he could squeeze me in. He was able to and luckily all was fine.

Now I know so much more, I wish I could go back to thinking that ultrasounds were just for finding out the sex of your child.

Back to my appointment today. The doctor comes in and asks how everything is...it took all I had to not start crying. She told me to lay back and once again the gel was poured on and the prodding began. I listened and waited and waited and waited, after about 2 minutes of her searching she says "We might need to order an ultrasound." She then pushes the button to make the bed lie completely flat and the search continues. She searches and searches and pushes harder on my belly. She is now pushing so hard its hurting, but I don't say a thing all I want to hear is my baby's heart. And then just like that I hear it....Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. She let me listen to it for about a minute and then she asks "Do you feel better?" I tear up and tell her absolutely. I ask how fast he/she is beating and it's a healthy 160. Then she says "You have a very active and stubborn baby." All I can do is smile.

It's been a long 5 weeks, but today, today was a good day.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from Buzz Lightyear and Capt. Rex.




I carved out three pumpkins this year. My typical Air Force, Buzz Lightyear and a Darth Vador pumpkin. I will post pictures of them tomorrow, no time tonight.

I hope everyone had a great time trick or treating this evening.

Is there a difference?

I have been carving pumpkins all afternoon so I knew dinner would be fast. I asked the boys if they wanted to go to Burger King and they screamed with Joy. We get there and I ask them what they want and of course Carter wants chicken and french fries, Bryson on the other hand wanted a hamburger. Now he usually orders chicken tenders, he probably orders a hamburger about 2 or 3 times a year.

So, I ask him what he wants on it and he says mayo and ketchup. On our way home he asks "will they put the mayo and ketchup together or separate?' I tell him most likely it will be together but that if he doesn't like it we can wipe it off. We get home and he starts eating it and I ask him if it tastes good. He says "hold on mom I haven't gotten to it yet." I walk into the kitchen and he walks in after me and says "I just ate it and it isn't good, will you wipe it off?" I tell him yes and then this is what he says to me.

"Will you put mayo on the bottom bread, then put the meat on top and then put ketchup on top of the meat and put the top bread on."

Therefore I ask you does it taste different with ketchup and mayo separated by meat or together on top?

Isn't he just too funny!!!

Two October Birthdays.

My niece Sarah turned 7 on October 16th. She had her birthday party today. I can't believe she is getting so old. I can remember the day she was born, so tiny and precious. She is still precious but not so tiny anymore.

Here she is with Bryson and Carter being Superheros. I hear she is also a huge Hannah Montana fan.

Happy Birthday Sarah, I hope you had a great birthday and party.

My grandmother Gigi, turned 84 today. How old do you have to be when saying your age is cool again. You start out telling everyone just how old you are and then you hit the 30's and 40's when no one dare speak your age and then all the sudden you pass that point where you are lucky to be alive so you tell anyone that will listen.

Boy am I lucky my Gigi is still alive!! She is a wonderful woman and I love her dearly. I have so many memories with her and am thankful for the many more to come.

I love you Gigi, Happy Birthday.

A day at the FAIR!!

On Wednesday we along with my friend Sarah and her two kids drove up to Raleigh for the state fair. It was huge, and very expensive.

The kids had a blast....at least I think so. We did a lot of free stuff, and then the kids rode three rides. I was only going to let them ride one because the tickets were so expensive but the ride attendant forgot to take all 15 of our tickets for the big roller coaster ride so that left more tickets for other rides. I think he was a little distracted to make sure Carter was tall enough for the ride. By the way the ride height was 42 inches so that means our dear Carter has grown 2 inches since Christmas.

This is a picture of the roller coaster we went on.

We had to take a picture of the spaceship. Carter says it's from Buzz Lightyear.

There was a BMX and a motocross show at the fair. Bryson and Carter thought it was awesome. Carter said that he could do the tricks they were doing. Bryson had to buy a poster and have them sign it. The boys then took a picture with the guys. Bryson was very protective over the poster, making sure it wasn't bent or ruined.

Sarah and I had the kids silhouettes done and they turned out great. I should have scanned it in for you but it was faster just to take a picture so sorry they didn't come out to clear.

Can you tell who is who?

The kids looked at cows, lambs, chickens, rabbits and I am sure there are a few other animals they saw. I would like to think they had a blast because I know that my debit card didn't!!