The Hudsons Tradition

Twenty years ago a bartender met a hostess at this place. Twenty years later they bring their 4 kids back to visit. We have never missed a year returning to Hilton Head and Hudsons is one of our stops. We came here with Toms family and Aunt Char.
This restaurant is on the inter coastal waterway and has all the shrimp boats docked at it.
Its all seafood so I do the usual hushpuppies and a piece of Key lime pie. Rather unusual the waiter said. Pictures after sunset that Uncle Chris took.

Cousin Kerry and her husband Andrew were able to join us from London. Have not seen Kerry in many years so that was so nice. Aunt Mary entertained the kids and let Tom and I enjoy our meals. yes, Aunt Char had Logan.

Jackson's caveman manners eating a Mud pie.

Cousin Kiki visiting with the kids. She spent some time with us in Texas last summer and is getting ready to enter her 2nd year of medical school at the University of Cincinnati. Cousin Pierce also made the trip to Hilton Head. He will be in some upcoming pictures. Thanks Grampy and Nana for always bringing us together. Hopefully we will be visiting Hudsons for the next 20 years!

Jackie's Family

Jackie and the kids stayed at Aunt Chars the week after the baptism. It was nice being able to spend that time together. I think that they had a really fun time.

Some More Baptism Pictures

Before the Baptism

Jackson telling Sage, your going to love this!

Grampy shared some nice words with all of us.

Just wanted to include these pictures. Dad conducted the baptism, Char helped with pictures, Ashley, Sean, and Kathe sang a beautiful song.

Brunch honoring Jackson and Sage

The posed picture.

The Reality!!!

Everyone helped pitch in the day before. Pat Pat held Logan, Kathe worked on the programs, Ashley helped iron white clothes, table clothes and other jobs. Char and I were in the kitchen literally the entire day preparing food. Allot of hard work but the food is always the payoff. Jacksons one request were his cucumbers and tomatoes and Sage requested a Cheesecake. There was so much food!

Larson took the camera and here is the day through his eyes.

Sage & Jackson- age 8

Baptism Day

July 21, 2008

Hilton Head Island, SC

For Jackson, having Sage with him was icing on top of the cake. With Sage living in NC and Jackson in Texas, they don't get to spend allot of time together. This week they were inseparable. They spent every minute of time together and always pick right back up as best friends.

Tom baptized both boys but Papa was the one to confirm Sage. (I am sure that Jackson meant to have his arms folded here)

Our Family

The six of us after the Baptism

We were very blessed to have allot of our family here for Jackson and Sages Baptism. We missed our Boydie who is up in Canada right now.

Aunt Jackie-Sage & Haylie, Aunt Kathe & Sean, Aunt Char, all of us, Colby, Ashley & her husband Brian, and Papa & Pat Pat

Aunt Mary, Uncle Chris, us , Nana and Grampy

Jackson with both sets of Grandparents and he of course has Great Grandma Boyd too.

Baptism Day

A Memory that will Last Forever

Reflections on the sand

How blessed we are to have Tom hold the Priesthood and be able to perform one of Jackson's most important ordinances in his life.

Jackson came back out of the water with a huge smile. I know that he was happy but he was also just laughing at how wet he was and that his white shirt went clear. He announced his magic trick to everyone waiting on the beach. That is our Jackson.

I cant wait to get some of these pictures up around the house.

I have been to a few baptisms and they are all very special but none more than your own childrens. There is something about being out by the ocean early in the morning with the sun rising. You can see Gods amazing creation of the ocean and the beautiful sky. For me having it in the ocean is the most peaceful and spiritual experience. This was what the sky looked like at the baptism.

Jackson's Baptism

July 21st, 2008

We planned the baptism to take place in the ocean on Hilton Head just like we did Jordan's 3 years ago. After Jordan's baptism we asked Jackson what he thought about it and would he like to be baptized in the ocean or in the church font. He responded well, I guess in the ocean because I don't like church very much. So there you go, he was baptized in the ocean but being 3 years older he has a little bit better understanding and was excited for his special day.

The Six Thousand Dollar Quarter

July 9th, 2008

We didn't see this one coming!

Wednesday night, just had a late dinner after a day at the beach. Char and I are in the kitchen doing the dishes and Larson comes running in crying and telling us that he just swallowed a quarter and it is stuck in my throat. He was breathing and could talk a little. I just assumed that he had swallowed it and it was in his stomach. After all he was breathing. Things got worse very quickly and I am flying to the emergency room with Larson. Jordan was my "brave" backseat rider with him. We got there and he started to vomit and then they would check for the quarter. No quarter. Plus they were telling me that it was probably just a penny. It took one xray for everything to move very quickly. The "penny" was stuck in his windpipe with just a little tilt to it so he was getting some air. They stabilized his upper body, had me try to keep him awake so his muscles would not relax, the IV in his arm and waited for the ear, nose, throat surgeon to get there. This is all from a kid that had never put anything in his mouth.

They took him back and 15 minutes later the surgeon came out holding a jar with the quarter in it. They were really surprised and said that it was really lodged. (that was the good part!!)Larson woke up and we were home an hour later. Thank goodness for our Dr's.

Now, every time that I see a quarter laying around I am reminded of that night.

If that wasn't enough excitement, the next morning Jackson had one of his passing out spells but we have become accustomed to them and know what to do. However, that night he had another one and this time was different than all the rest. He was probably having some little seizure. For the first time ever, I had to call 911. Jackson was fine and his vitals were good. This one really scared him. We have appts. scheduled next week with his neurologist. So far his diagnosis has been no diagnosis but they are going to try and do some different things with him this time.

I was on my knees giving thanks that night that these are just little road bumps on our journey and that everyone is doing well.

Shelter Cove Marina

Every Tuesday night is a Family Fun Fest at Shelter Cove. We decided to go for the kids to enjoy even though we have done it so many times. Lets just say that I would have to take the fun out of the Family Fest. Its probably just that we have done it so many times. We walk around the marina with the other hundreds of families, listen to the same songs that Shannon Tanner has played for the last 20 years there. Aunt Char took Larson down to the front to join in this dance and he did not even want to do it. The snow cones were water cones and the fireworks maybe lasted for 5 minutes and then the long walk back to the car. The best part of the night was our stop at the McDonalds drive thru on the way home!

I am glad that we took the kids out that night but next year we may skip the Family Fun Fest.

We Made it to Hilton Head

July 6th, 2008

A very easy 5 hour drive from Orlando to Hilton Head turned into an 8 hour trip with one stop at Walmart to replace the blown tire that we had. Thanks to the gentleman who stopped to help us that said "the good Lord sent him our way".

We got to Aunt Chars and the kids were in the pool 3 minutes later!

I started to unload the car while they swam and I loaded everything into the hall way. We had not been there for 10 minutes before the dogs got a DS game and put their teeth through it and one of Jacksons Webkins. A quick lesson on how to keep our stuff picked up and out of the way!

Within the first week, Larson found his confidence in Aunt Chars pool. All eyes on Larson now because he was under the water more than out of it and he would bounce swim across the pool. It looked like he was trying to drown himself but this was Larsons idea of fun. He could totally swim across but thought it would be more fun having everyone guess if he needed help.

This is not a great picture but wanted to document all the pool happenings. Yes, Aunt Char does have a swimsuit on, yes, she always had Logan in the pool, and yes, quite often there were 2 princess Golden Retrievers swimming along. Thanks Petra and Gisele for letting us borrow your swimming pool!

Playing Putt Putt

Here we are at the end of 18 holes of championship putt putt. The Kanes treated us to one of our favorite things to do in Orlando (other than Disney World of course-by the way, the first year that I did not take the kids to any of the parks. Was kind of hard not to just go but I thought that it would be good for them to not think that going every year is an entitlement)

This course is right across the street from where the Kanes live. That is just so cool to me and leaves me always wishing that we lived by a putt putt like this. I don't know why Austin doesn't have something like this. Then again Austin has its downtown version of putt putt that has some very scary peter pan themed characters. So Austin like!

I have loved doing this since I was a little kid. My family vacationed in Myrtle Beach, SC and our trip always included Putt Putt. Their courses were so neat with usually Animal Kingdom or pirate themes.

Jackson was mad that he did not get a hole in one, Jordan tried hard but it did not surprise her that she did not get a hole in one and it did not surprise any of us that Larson got a hole in one on #18.

A few more 4th pictures

We Are Back

OK, we are back in Texas from a wonderful summer vacation. The car is unpacked, the laundry done, and the groceries stocked. Now it is time to get this blog updated! This being my journal, I want to try and add it all so it will take a while.
I need to include our short trips to Orlando and GA, our extended stay in Hilton Head, both sides of the family visits, a $6,000 quarter, a blown tire, a 911 call, Jackson's baptism and all our days spent at the beach. (this could take a while) I hope that I enjoy documenting it as much as actually living it!

Fourth of July in Celebration

Well, we pulled out of Austin about 7pm on Thursday and arrived in Celebration, Florida (Disney World) about 3:30 the next day. It wasnt the smoothest trip that we have ever taken but what do I expect with little Logan and the 3 others plus a car that was acting up! We got there and the fun began!

Caroline, had a great cookout waiting for us and then we went downtown Celebration to celebrate while watching their amazing firework display. We always enjoy being with the Kanes on this holiday. Boy, have our families grown since we started doing this! The girls are out numbered!