Oak Glen

Our annual Oak Glen trip was refreshing and a great time to get away from the busyness of life.  As usual, our time consisted of eating a picnic lunch, eating carmel apples, playing flag football or some kind of game, eating pie, relaxing in the sun, picking apples or just buying a bag of them, talking, walking around downtown and just enjoying each other.  This year was no different.  The weather was perfect.  The sun was out, but it was crisp enough that we wore jackets and scarves. 

Hudson enjoyed getting to climb trees with his auntie:

He loved getting to run free and climbing the haystacks:

And of course, the petting zoo was a hit:

Hudson fell while running down a hill and was left with a war wound (and you gotta love the residue of a picnic treat... oreos don't keep secrets):

Enjoying a picnic lunch:

Hudson had better things in mind than taking a picture... he wanted to run:

Something about the fall makes me giddy inside. 

Hudson is 18 months old!

This post is 2 weeks late, but our little Hudson turned 18 months old!  We can't believe how fast it has gone.  He is talking up a storm and full of personality.  Here are a few photos of our little man: 

He definitely has a lot to say:

 

Trav and Hud:

gotta love the sad face:

Good friends

When Trav and I moved here to San Clemente after he took the worship director job at Saddleback San Clemente, we were really excited to make some friends.  After one of our services, I walked up to Brian and Amy to ask them to be a part of our small group and the rest is history.  It really is amazing to see how much they have grown in their relationship with God and how their family has grown.  They are now a family of 4!  You can go to our photography website to view photos of a recent shoot we did with them right before they left.

Brian and Amy are moving to Chicago for a few years.  We are sad to see them go, but we are hoping they will be moving back in just a few years!  When I was sitting down and thinking about their family I have so many memories... like this one or being at the hospital waiting room while Amy was in labor anxiously awaiting to meet their first baby girl or spending Thanksgiving together or the times when Brian and Trav worked out like mad men or when their house was in danger of burning in a wildfire so they lived with us for a few days... They have been great friends for us.  And I have to say the love and support they have continual showed us has meant more to us than they will ever realize.

Also, before they left our old small group got together to celebrate the Giaretta's and to pray over them.  We have definitely grown in numbers!  When we first started this group there was only one kid and now there are several... definitely more chaotic and a lot of fun ;)

The girls and the kiddos (including the Wedde baby bump... Rebecca who is due in 2 weeks)

And the guys...

This group of people are some of our most cherished friends here in San Clemente.  We all have been through a lot in the last 4 years and God has done a lot through us.  We are so thankful for each and everyone of these families.

Halloween

I know I am posting Halloween pictures over a week later, but I just haven't had the time to sit down and post.  This year, thanks to the inspiration from the Imai family, we dressed up Hudson as a lobster and we went as chefs.  It ended up being so funny. 

We posted a few more pictures from a mini photo shoot with Hudson on our photography website... You can check them out at t&h photography.  We just felt it was so appropriate to get pictures of our lobster on the beach :)

Then a few days before Halloween, Hudson and I headed to Orange to hang out with Brooke, London and Natalie at the "Treats in the Streets" event downtown.  London was Tinkerbell and she really enjoyed pulling Hudson in the wagon:

Then on Halloween we started the evening off at our church for the Blocktober event.  We had fun getting to see some of our friends, but with 12,000 people there it was a bit crazy!

Uncle Brandon was such a good sport.  Hudson wanted to go down the slide, but he is too little to go by himself.  So, Brandon braved the big slide with Hudson:

After that, we headed over to the Davis' house for BD's now famous chili and his already famous cornbread waffles.  Seriously, the food was amazing!  I might try to get the recipes out of BD and post them on our blog :)

Taylor and Brittany were "the double rainbow youtube video"... hilarious!!! so creative!

London and Hudson taking a ride around the neighborhood:

London refused to wear her Tinkerbell costume.  It was actually really funny, because Natalie was dressed up as Wendy, BD as Peter Pan, yet she refused to be Tinkerbell.  When we asked her what she was she said, "a girl".   So here is Hudson, the lobster and London, the girl.

Pumpkin Patch Fun

A couple of weeks ago, Trav and I took Hudson to a pumpkin patch.  I think Hud's favorite part was being able to run free and the wheel barrel :)  He would have been happy if we just stayed right by the wheel barrel so he could hold the handles.

This next picture on the left makes me laugh... looks like he is saying something really serious:

Also last week, Hudson and I went with the girls from my Bible study and their kids for a play date at the pumpkin patch and then lunch after.  There are some pretty awesome women in my study, so it really is a joy every time we get together.  

This particular pumpkin patch had a ton of rides and Hudson loved them.  I was surprised that he was willing to ride them by himself.  

He was too little for this one, but it was cute just putting him in the car and getting a quick picture:

And it was sooo hot!  Poor little Hud's cheeks were all red:

I think he was pretty proud that he was on the ride all by himself :)

Catching up with Hud...

I have to go through our photos from our visit to a pumpkin patch, a day in Oak Glen and of course, all the Halloween festivities... but for now... here are a few photos from my snap and shoot of fun times with Hudson. 

On one of our warm fall days, Hudson, Gunner and I headed to the park for a picnic:

Trav, Hud and I walked down to the beach the other night and I always love when the sun peaks through the clouds on just a small portion of the ocean:

lovin' the swing:

Hope you all had a great weekend!