At the park with Dad

While Mom took some much-needed time to herself (seeing the new Star Trek movie - alone!), Dad and the boys took a trip to the park downtown.  They snacked, played and rode in the new bike trailer.  Came home with only one serious injury - Grady put his bare toe on Dad's bike wheel while in motion and took off much of the underside of his big toe.  It's been a drama for over a week now.

Smithville

We took the kids to Smithville, Texas a few weeks ago.  I have been wanting to go check it out ever since someone told me that is where they filmed the movie Hope Floats with Sandra Bullock.  It is a neat little town - a small town!  They have a train museum and train park, which we knew Grady would be interested in.  We ate at Pockets Grille (pictured below), a restaurant that bought a lot of the props from Hope Floats.  The restaurant was pretty busy, but overall - not a lot going on in Smithville.  It was a nice break from the constant busy-ness of Austin.  Pockets was right beside the town fire station, which Grady was so excited about.  

We saw a really cute bed and breakfast, called the Katy House (pictured),

 and a cool little bar called Huebel's that was in the movie.

Main house in Hope Floats, where Sandra Bullock goes to live with her mother:

Downtown Smithville:

Water tower:

(P.S. These are not our photos - I found them on the internet.  Jason took great pics but it takes him 3 months to edit and process them.  I don't have that kind of time.)

Here we go!

I am trying to take up exercising every day.  I have just faced the fact that I want to eat bad things sometimes, so the only way I'm ever going to be able to do that and not keep on all of this weight is to exercise.  Another motivation is Grady telling me that my legs are "big and mushy."  Jason and I both burst out laughing at that one.  Grady's right, unfortunately.  =)  I also want to be a good example for the kids, so Jason and I bought a bicycle trailer which doubles as a stroller for the boys.  I can walk with them, and Jason can pull them behind his bike.  This will be happening either early in the AM or late in the evening because afternoons are 100 degrees already!  Texas!

Here is a video of Jason taking the kids for a practice ride in the driveway:

Hudson cleans up ... and helps Dad

Hudson grabbed a paper towel and started wiping everything down.   He is really starting to mimic things that he sees other people doing.  I think I'll give him a dust rag and put him to work!

The boys help Dad install shoe racks in Mom's closet.  Great assistants!  Like Grady at this same age, Hudson does seem to know what he's doing when it comes to mechanical skills.  Spooky!  He knows how to turn knobs to screw/unscrew things without having been taught.  Just a guess, but I don't think they get that from me ...

Sweet Hudsey

There are so many things to say about Hudson now!  We celebrated his first birthday in Nashville, AR over spring break in March.  He is walking and running.  He is climbing on everything - the fireplace (which is covered and padded), the couch and Grady's bed.   I'm just waiting for the day that I hear a "thud" and find that he's climbed out of his crib.  He thinks everything surely must belong to him, so he grabs all of our stuff that is left within his reach.  I find remote controls in the dishwasher and cell phones in the pantry.  Big brother is not thrilled when it involves his toys.  Hudson says "hi,"  "mama," "dada," "daydee" (for Grady), "tickle, tickle" (which I will try to get video of).  He has figured out that entertaining big brother is lots of fun, so when Grady laughs at something, he does it over and over - like spitting, which we are trying to discourage.  Hudson gets to visit his playpen a lot these days when I really need to do something without interruption.  I'm afraid the brotherly rough-housing has already begun!  I keep reminding myself that they'll be friends when they are adults - but that's an awfully long way to go!!

Soccer Tots!

Grady has been taking a soccer class at an indoor soccer field this spring/summer.  It is a really fun class - they don't really play actual soccer games; rather, they work on skills and work on following directions.  They also run LOTS which is great right before nap time!  Hudson loves to watch the soccer fun from his stroller and loves to visit with all of the moms and other kids in the bleachers.  The air conditioning is a life-saver during the Texas heat!  The picture above is of Grady and his friend Hayden on "bring a friend" day.

Grady's sweet jams

Grady loves to play Dad's guitar - and he can hold it by himself in case you are thinking of trying to help!  =)  Hudson likes to help sing along.  Most songs are about trains and this one is no different.  I was forced to shut down the concert when the song turned to an homage to doody. 

Here are the lyrics if you'd like to follow along.  You may notice that Grady draws his inspiration by looking around and incorporating what he sees in his immediate vacinity into his lyrics.  

"Baby Cryin'"

One and two and a-one, two, three

Ridin' the train with a baby inside with a paci

And she was cryin' and they put headphones on her

And put sunglasses on her

And she didn't cry

Oh, she criiiiied.

The Eeeend

"Comin' Down the Line"

Comin' down the line,

Trains comin' down the line

(Repeats)

"Train with a Lamp"

One and two and a-one, two, three

Trains ...

With a lamp on top of it

Trains can go on the line with a lamp on top

(This is where the "doody" comes in, much to Grady's amusement, and we stopped the show.)