Hudson's Central Park Days June/July 2012

Living in NYC in the summer of 2012 - June and July.  I was pregnant with John Henry and we were living in corporate temporary housing on the Upper East Side.  I'm a downtown girl so that part of the city was new to me.  We has an absolute ball.  We heart you NY!

I'm tired of walking and won't walk another step !!  I'm just going to lay right down on the concrete in CP!

June 2012

Dinner in The City with Daddy

February 2013

Tonight we met Daddy at his office near Times Square (1440 Broadway) and then ate at Brooklyn Diner. Hudson sat in Daddy's office chair and ate all the jelly beans on Daddy's desk. Daddy has a very cool office with sports memorabilia in it. You boys will think it's so cool as you get a little older! Daddy has a cool job.

All of his co-workers came to his office to check out his beautiful boys (and wife, wink wink ;). Daddy was proud. We strolled through Times Square. The weather was so nice! We had a nice dinner too. It was a lovely night. We heart you New York- forever!

Xoxo

Christmas Eve in NYC 2012

September 11, 2012 Never Forget

9-11-12

Hudson and John Henry,

By the time you are both grown up, September 11th, I fear, will be a part of this country's distant past. Something you study at school, as Pearl Harbor is for me. Something that won't directly affect you. You both need to know that this day changed my life and this country's life forever. It was horrible, terrifying and traumatizing for all Americans. A day we will never forget. A day we were all ONE. No one was black, white, Asian, Latino, Republican or Democrat. We were all Americans. I remember exactly where I was. I was living in Scottsdale, Arizona and it was very early in the morning with the time change. I remember the phone ringing and ringing. I didn't answer it the first few times because it was early. I finally answered and it was Aunt Stephie. She frantically asked if I was watching the news. I couldn't believe my eyes when I turned the television on. I saw the beloved twin towers crumbling and I thought I was watching a Hollywood movie, not a real event. My heart fell. I couldn't believe my own eyes. I drove all the way to Oklahoma City the next day- 16 hours. I just wanted to see my Mamma and my family. That's how frightened and upset I was - we all were. We were fragile and shocked and we all felt vulnerable to these evil people who had no names or faces- just Al Qaeda- that's all we kept hearing. We were all scrambling - trying to figure out how strongest nation in the world got attacked. We were horrified and we all wanted them to pay for what they had done to us, to our dear country, and to our fellow Americans. Why did this unnecessary evil happen?

One of my very best friends, Amy Rice, lost her brother, David, on 9/11. He was in one of the twin towers. Amy and I grew up together in OKC. We went to the same grade school and high school. Her family was absolutely torn up. A nightmare for any family. When I think of David in the tower, I lose my breath. 9/11 is a very difficult day for Amy every year. This year, I went to the city to see her and have dinner with her, which I know was special for her and it was beyond special for me. I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else that night. We had a drink in front of David's tree. Last year, Amy and her family pulled a lot strings to have this tree planted for David in the West Village across the street from Amy's apartment. Amy just ordered a plaque for it. She says that she walks by it everyday and it gives her a sense of peace. I saw the tree for the first time and the plaque and tears came to my eyes. God bless your soul David Rice.

Cheers to you David...

NY Kid's Club Camp

June 18- June 29 - 2012

This is Coach Christi.  She is a sweetheart and you love her.  She has said the most amazing things about you and I cannot tell you how proud it makes me as your mother!  She has said and I quote, "I just love Hudson.  We all adore him him.  He is like a little man.  You can have adult conversations with him and he is funny.  He also has the best manners.  He is nominated every class for having the best manners."  She is going to help me a few times a week - she'll take you to the park for a few hours.  She is so excited.  She said, and I quote again "The other coaches at camp are going to be so jealous.  We all just adore Hudson."  

You love camp and I am just thrilled!!  The first 

Father's Day in Central Park

June 16, 2012

We had a great Father's day in Central Park.  We brought food and had a picnic.  We gave Daddy some T-shirts you picked out (he's wearing one of them in the pics - it's a Texas t-shirt - very appropriate since w just moved from that state), some other clothes and some fun cards.  It certainly was special being in the most beautiful park in the world with Daddy.  I know Daddy had a great time.  You all wrestled on the ground, climbed trees and played in the kid's park.  

Happy Father's Day Daddy!!!!!  We love you! 

Our Trip to Connecticut

March 30 to April 3 2012

We took a trip to Connecticut to look at houses and schools. I have not talked about the move in this journal. Daddy's new gig is based in New York City so we are moving back to the Northeast. It is a crazy time! We have not leased or sold our house, we are unsure where we are living, you don't have a school and I am 6 months pregnant. Everything is happening all at once, but when I was 9 months pregnant with you, we moved into a new house as well, so this is the norm I guess when I am preggies!

So, we decided we are not going to live in the city (although I would love to) so we are looking at two suburbs outside of the city - Westchester, NY, primarily Bronxville, and Greenwich, CT, primarily Old Greenwich. We did not take you on the trip to see Westchester, but decided to take to you to CT since it is on the beach. We had a very good time, although you were getting tired of looking at houses. It's confusing for a three year old going on all these house tours. We have not told you we are moving yet, just getting you use to the idea that someday we may have to move because Daddy works in NYC. We also took you to see a school, the Whitby School, it is one of the premiere Montessori Schools in the country and one of the first ones. It was amazing, truly. We had to leave you in a classroom and you did not like that at all. You cried and threw a fit so that part didn't go so well. You calmed down eventually after we left and all the kids made you cards - it was so sweet! The classroom was identical to yours now, so that helped.

We went to the beach in Old Greenwich, Todd's Point, and visited Daddy's friends, Dave and Alicia Collier, who live there and have 4 sweet children. You absolutely fell in love with Grace, like in love. You were all over here. You seem overly girl crazy for 3 - I mean you are 3! What am I in for when you are a teen?

Then, we also went to see Daddy's other friends, David and Kid Salomon, who live in Greenwich, CT. They have 4 sweet kids as well and you had a blast with them. They had a absolutely gigantic house - it was a crazy. We could have lived in their basement.

The trip was good and we like CT over Westchester, which was surprising for me, because I have always thought of CT as white, rich WASPY people, and we already live in that environment (Highland Park, Texas) and I want you to have diversity and culture (and I want that for me too). There were a lot of Europeans in Old Greenwich, which surprised me and it was so beautiful and happy, especially because of the beach,

Funny, when you are reading this years from now, you may not even remember Dallas, Texas, the place you spent the first 4 years of your life. We shall see where the wind takes us....

I love you my love. Remember, it doesn't matter where we are, Mommy loves you and Daddy loves you and you are safe.

xoxoxo

airplane...

exhausted in the car from La Guardia to Old Greenwich, CT.

You and Dave and Alicia's kids.... You hugging Grace and tackling her (Oh Hudson!)

You and Grace at Todd's Point Beach... You running on beach.

You and David and Kim's little girls, who were beautiful.

Exhausted in the car after a long day in Grenwich.

You and Grace. If we move to CT, seeing Grace again will help with your transition. That's how in love you were with her!

Daddy and Mommy's Trip to NYC and your time with Erik

February 14th & 15th 2012

A beautiful view of the Washington Bridge. The drive from Westchester down the Westside Highway along the Hudson River while the sun is setting is such a beautiful site. I could drive along the river you were named after everyday and it would make me smile.

Annette brought Erik and you had so much fun with him for 2 days! Erik is such a sweet boy and a good example for you.