Hudson's FIRST birthday party!!!

Hudson's birthday is not until this Wednesday, June 30, but since next weekend is 4th of July weekend, we decided to have his party the weekend before his actual birthday!

It was so much fun!! We had the party at our house so it was fun to have our friends & family gather at home with us. I had a blast planning & I am SO glad that I decided on a theme & started getting things together early.

Here are a few pictures to guide you through the house & the party.

**sorry for the picture overload!!!

Welcome!

Ready to party?!

Food table

Sweet Treats table... Minus the 2 cupcake towers... I took the picture before I set the cupcakes out there. They were cute.. Yellow & blue icing of course.




The favors that I forgot I had until almost everyone was gone!!!

Garage with the drink bar & tables & chairs.

The Caston's were very sweet to let us borrow their toddler size inflatable. It was PERFECT for the age of kids that we had. They had a blast & the best part was for Hudson & his 1 year old friends, we could lift them over the top to put them in. It worked out great!

Here are random pictures of our guests throughout the party. We are SO blessed with a wonderful family & great friends! Thank you to all of you that helped Hudson celebrate his 1st year!

Diaper Derby!!

Well, Hudson collected his first trophy this weekend!! I'm sure his Papa hopes this is the first of many to come!! Barnes Photography sponsors the annual Diaper Derby in conjunction with the Ruston Peach Festival! There are several different age groups & Hudson won his after 3 races! The first 2 he crawled but on the 3rd & final race for the WIN he decided to get up & walk/run to the finish! His Daddy was at the beginning with him & his Papa was waiting for him at the finish line! I have to tell this funny story... My Dad decided to bring a little rubber soccer ball that Hudson likes to play with. Well, really he likes ANY kind of ball. In the 2nd race, Hudson was racing against my friend Jill Myers little boy Will. My dad said it was pretty obvious that Hudson was going towards Will's basketball instead of our soccer ball! Will probably would have won the race but he went off the mat & unfortunately that mean they are disqualified. Well before I even knew it, my Dad asked Jill & Bob after the race if he could use their basketball for the next race! Isn't that hilarious?! Jessie asked me if I get my competitive streak from my Dad.... I think we all know the answer to that after this story! ha!
Here are a few pictures from the race! (Hudson's Nana (Eric's Mom) was here with us too! I hate I didn't get one of her with Hudson!)

Great family time!

Thursday night was a rare occasion in our home... We didn't have anywhere to be & nothing on the agenda when I got home from work. (well until after Hudson went to bed & then I had to start cooking & decorating for his birthday party!) It was so nice to get to relax & just spend a few hours playing! Eric & I decided we'd just eat after Hudson went to bed so I didn't spend my time cooking & us eating while he was awake. We fed Hudson & outside we went!! It was much cooler on Thursday than it had been so we enjoyed being out there! Hudson had a blast just roaming around. He didn't really like the way the pine straw felt on his legs.. He tried to figure out how to get onto the flagstone walkway. We have a new slide & he wasn't sure what to think about it yet!! Thanks, Dev & Daryl, for the slide!! Many a fun times will be spent on it I am certain. Eric helped Hudson climb up the steps & let him fly down the slide barely holding on. It was cute!

After some more roaming around in the grass, we put him in the swing & he had a blast. He always grins from ear to ear when he's swinging. The higher & faster you push him the better! We may have a little dare devil on our hands! ha!


This was one of those evenings I wish I could bottle up & have over & over again. It was so much fun to relax & spend time with my family without rushing around doing a million other things. I sure am blessed with these 2!!