Our Family

Summer Vacation...Over!

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:38:39 -0700

The kids and I are back to school. We had a great summer vacation and are already looking forward to next summer. But, for now, we’re settling into school work, hobbies and life around Modesto. It keeps getting busier around here as the kids get older and find new interests. Andrew started guitar lessons 6 weeks ago and is catching on fast. I’ve been very impressed with how well he understands and how fast he’s caught on. It won’t be long before we have a true rockstar in the family. He really wants to learn something to play at the end of the year in the school talent show. With his weekly lesson and daily practice, he should be well prepared. Soon we’ll put a snippet from one of the songs he’s learning.
Caitlyn started 8th grade. Brandon and I are quite involved with the Jr. High Parents Club. We just had our first dance of the school year and Brandon is taking the photos this year. I am helping, as I did last year, with the concessions. It’s a lot of fun to see the kids...and more fun to hang out with the other parents who are also friends. I’ll post a few pictures that Brandon took at the dance. It’s hard to believe that after this year, we’ll have a high school student. It’s amazing to see your children grow up right before your eyes!
I’ve been working on little projects around the house. Mostly in my Shabby Living Room. It’s turning into something that I’m really happy with. I’ll be posting some pictures of my recent projects and finds. We’ve been doing a lot of weekend Antique Fair Shopping looking for old and new treasures. Poor Brandon has been dragged along on more trips than he wants.
The seasons are starting to change and we had a whopper of a storm yesterday. Lots of rain and high winds. I took some photos with my iPhone of 6 felled trees just within 2 miles of our house. Luckily, we don’t have any large trees to worry about. Winter seems to have arrived and I think we’re in for a long, wet one!

Summer Vacation is Finally Here!

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 15:31:32 -0700

School ended on June 3rd and we can finally sleep in! Those last few weeks of school are the hardest and we really look forward to being home for 10 weeks. But, after the first week of vacation, we were bored to death! The summer weather started out mild, but quickly turned horribly hot. There were a couple of days that were 111 degrees. So, it was too hot to play outside and not a lot to do inside. We have a few home projects in the works. Caitlyn’s room is getting a fresh coat of “bubble-gum pink” paint. We also have added a 110” projection screen to the family room and Brandon has been busy running new electrical and all of his wiring that needs to connect the projector to the other equipment. Needless to say, there are holes in the walls in all areas, crown molding missing, floor boards taken apart and wiring hanging from the ceiling. But, when it’s all said and done, we’ll have a top notch movie watching experience! Brandon recently finished his last hobby project making a home theater PC for the family room. Seems that once he finishes one thing, he always finds something else to start working on.

The house is one child short for the next 2 weeks. Caitlyn has flown to Colorado to stay with her Papa Dido and Grandma Kathy for 15 days. I was so proud of her flying alone from San Jose to Denver. It was only her 2nd flight ever and she did great. She’ll have a great time visiting and spending time with her grandparents and seeing her extended family and cousins. So, now Andrew is even more bored. He’s lost a playmate for 15 days, but swears he does not miss his sister. This is a great break for the two of them, but they tend to entertain each other.

Samantha is getting a bit bigger. Her last vet visit was last week and she weighed 2.5 lbs. She’s going to stay small and probably top out at 4.5 lbs. She’s so intelligent, but such a brat. We’re still working on the potty training which has gotten better, but isn’t at it’s best. She’s definitely attached to me and doesn’t really care to be held by anyone else. Spoiled!

We have one small, local vacation planned for the four of us before we head back to school on August 18th. We will be staying in Santa Cruz for 4 days, hanging out by the pool at the Dream Inn. Can’t wait to just go and relax while the kids swim. Then, it will be about that time to go back to school and back to work. With all the cuts this year, I’ve been very fortunate to still have kept my job. Although, my job is more for pleasure than financial, I would be very sad to lose it. I love being close to Andrew and his teachers every day. Just working at the school gives you the opportunity to know more in depth to what’s going on. And, I have great friends there as well. So, we’ll keep our fingers crossed that California can fix this budget and the schools will be safe from more cuts next year.

He’s here...He’s really, really here!

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 09:34:17 -0800

I’m so happy and excited to announce that Carter has finally arrived. This is my first nephew which I’m really excited about. And, it’s been a long road for Annette and Jason. So, we’re very excited for them. Did I already say I was really excited?!
Carter Donald Hudgins finally arrived on Friday, December 5th at 1:30 pm. He weighed 8 lbs. 4 oz. and was 21 inches long.
After a long 7 days in the hospital, Annette and Carter have finally made it home. Annette was induced on Wednesday, December 8th. She didn’t progress the way she should have, so a decision was made to do a Cesarean Section on December 10th. The final outcome is still the same and we couldn’t be happier that baby and mom are healthy and doing well. Recovery took a bit longer than expected, but Annette and Carter were able to go home yesterday December 10th. Surely, mom and dad will have their hands full trying to juggle a newborn baby and the day-to-day events that are a normal part of life. They’ll be great parents! I’m so excited to be part of this little guys life and see him grow and change the way my kids have.
Visit our Photo Album for more pictures of Carter!

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:56:38 -0800

I’m looking forward to the fresh start of a new year. It’s been a difficult one from the beginning. Thankfully, my dad has recovered from his cancer, radiation and chemotherapy. He’s doing very well and I’m grateful that he’s in good health. With a devastating suddenness, we lost my Papa in February. Then, in September, Granny left us and went to be with Papa and Princess. She struggled with the rapid progression of Alzheimer's Disease. I get comfort from the thought of their constant watch over me and the kids. I have sensed their presence on more than one occasion, with the smell of Papa’s cigarette or Granny in her sewing room. The love I received from them was so different than any other. I never doubted it for a minute. Their memories will be strong and live with me until I can see them again.
The year hasn’t come to an end yet! And, I am so excited to welcome my new nephew, Carter to the family. This is a baby whom we’ve waited for, for some time. My sister, Annette, will be a great mother and I can’t wait to share in the new memories with her.
The kids are doing great. Caitlyn turned 12 in September and is getting closer to those teenage years that parents seem to dread. She is in 7th grade and such a shining star! Her first report card sparkled with a 3.58 grade point average. She’s enjoying all the new adventures of Jr. High like having more options for lunch and being able to buy from the student store, attending dances, and riding the bus to school.
Andrew is in the 3rd grade and moving right along. He struggles more than his sister, but is learning to work harder at his school work. He’s progressing with some struggle. We work closely with his teachers and hope that will make a difference in the end. Of course, he’s more interested these days in Guitar Hero and Pokemon. You can’t blame an 8 year old for that!
Work for Brandon is changing and evolving. He’s the Service Manager for Transbay Fire Protection and is managing jobs and people more than putting in sprinkler heads. We are so fortunate that the hit on the economy hasn’t affected his job at this point. He’s busier than ever and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.
Work for me is more than I could have ever asked for. I now serve breakfast in the morning before school starts for one hour. Then, I get to go home, shopping, etc., for 2 hours before returning to school and working for another 3 1/2 hours. I’m home before the kids get out of school and can still feel like a Stay At Home Mom. It’s a great place to be. And, it’s such a great start to the day when 60 kindergartners greet you each morning for lunch with the sound of a choir, “Good Morning Mrs. Day”, all at once as they are lined up and ready to enter the cafeteria. I just love it! I am so fortunate to have this great part-time job.
The holidays are rapidly approaching. Time for decorating, shopping, baking and eating! We’re excited to have our first Christmas in our new house. Be sure to check back for more pictures and updates.

Time Slips Away

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 08:40:52 -0700

It’s been some time since I last updated our family blog. A lot has happened in the past year and there just hasn’t been the time or motivation to add another entry. But, here I am today...
I can sum up the past year in a few sentences.
We moved my Grandparents from Yuba City to Modesto in July. Caitlyn turned 11 in September. My dad was diagnosed with Colon Cancer in November, had surgery and is currently undergoing chemotherapy. Brandon turned 36 in January. My grandfather passed away unexpectedly in February. My Aunt turned 60 in March and we had a special party for her. (She does look great for 60) I started a new job at school as the Cafeteria Clerk and work 3.5 hours per day. Andrew turned 8 and I turned a whopping 35 in April. Annette is pregnant and due in November or December. And, we finally found a house and are in escrow. Hoping to have it closed and moved in June.
Life doesn’t seem to get any easier as I get older. It changes and evolves and adds different problems and feelings. It’s already been a difficult year. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?