Moving again and the latest happenings

All aboard the potty train!  Jacob was very reluctant to start potty training.  I tried several times but it never worked out, because he would not wear the underwear.  After his 3rd birthday, I had had enough of diapers with him!  So I decided that I needed a different approach--I needed major incentives.  I found this book at the bookstore, and Jacob was totally into it.  So I started our potty training and it was all about trains. 

He got prizes for everything.  And to get him to wear underwear, I put them on over his diaper one day without him seeing them.  About an hour later, I showed him that he was wearing underwear.  He was surprised, but was ok with it!  The next time he went to the bathroom, I just put those on without the diaper, and he was ok with that too!  Now he was really ready.  And he did great.  I think during the whole week he only had three accidents, and after two weeks he was consistently staying dry through the night!  To reward him for being completely potty trained, we took him to ride the Tilden steam train.  He loved it.   

He is such a big boy:)

Easter

On Easter weekend, I flew to SLC to see one of my best friends get married (and it was a gorgeous wedding and a fun girls weekend!).  I flew back on Sunday morning, and when I got home Kevin had the boys in their matching church clothes.  It was adorable.  But the best thing ever was when Hudson saw me, he ran to me with open arms and gave me a huge hug!  I will hold onto that memory forever:)  We tried to get a few family pics, but this was the best we could get.  

My little Huddy:)  He loves to snuggle with that little bear and read books together:)

And now for our huge news......we bought a house!  After looking in Walnut Creek for a year with not much luck, we decided to expand our search to Roseville.  Its in the Sacramento area, and it is much more affordable than the bay area.  Probably not as awesome though.  Kevin's company was ok with him working from an office there, so we started looking at homes.  The second house we saw was so perfect for us.  We decide to put an offer on it, because it was just too good to pass up.  And, we got it!  I'm still a little in shock that we are homeowners now.  It felt so nice writing that last huge rent check though.  But I am actually kinda sad about it too.  I have been so happy here in Walnut Creek, and have made some amazing friends.  Jacob has such a good group of little friends too.  We are really going to miss them.  But, moving to Roseville just feels right.  I think I will be happy there too, it will just take time to make friends.  Hopefully this will be our last move!! 

One of the rooms in the home is decorated as a princess room.  We want to keep it like that in case we have a girls someday.  The problem is that Jacob is in love with this room and really wants it to be his.  Now, I am ok with Jacob playing with girls toys, and most of his friends are girls.  But I have to draw the line at letting him have a princess room!  I'm trying to get him excited about decorating his own room with trains and stuff, but he is not interested.  He just wants that princess room.  I hope when we finally decorate his room he will want it.  We move in next Saturday so we will see! 

Birthday Fun

Yesterday we had a birthday party for Jacob, and then I realized I hadn't posted Hudson's b-day party yet.  So here it is.....

Grandma and Grandpa Hirst, along with Aunt Tara came over for a special birthday dinner--Lasagna, Hudson's favorite!  This kid really loves lasagna, and can eat a ton of it. 

First we opened presents.  This part was kind of hard for Jacob.  He thought everything should be for him. 

Then we had dinner.  Just look at that excited face!  I told you he loves lasagna:)

Time for cake!  I chose a penguin theme, since he really loves this book called "Your Personal Penguin" by Sandra Boynton.  He gets so excited when we read it.

Hudson is no stranger to the sweet stuff, unlike Jacob when he turned one.  I tried not to give Jacob anything sweet until he turned one, but it was a little harder to do that with Hudson.  

He gobbled it right up!

Can't believe my little baby is one.  He is a little stinker, but so funny too!  He does a cute little booty shake when he hears music, and is really attached to his little bear stuffed animal.  he loves to snuggle with it.  He is also very obsessed with cars.  He will push a dump truck around the kitchen and living room all afternoon!  We love you little Huddy Bud:)

And now onto my big boy.....

As you probably could guess the theme was trains again for Jacob.  He was just as obsessed with them last year as he is now.  

I found a ton of free printables for train parties on Pinterest.  All I had to do was print and tape!

Jacob really wanted to have his cousins over for his party.  Unfortunately most of them were sick that day, but Aunt Tara came and Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Dianne with their kids, and Jacob had a blast playing with them!

Of course Kevin had to pull out the helicopter....I love how Hudson's eyes are glued to it.

Cake time!  He loved his cake.  It actually didn't take that long to make either.  I enjoy making fun birthday cakes.

Time for presents!  He got money, skittles, a Clifford book and plush, and subway trains!  He was one happy boy.

My boy is getting so big.  He is so social and loves to be around people, and is definitely not shy!  He will go up to anyone and start chatting with them.  He says the funniest things to us and unfortunately already loves potty humor.  But I should have expected that:) He is also such a snuggle bug, and I love that he still loves to snuggle and "get cozy".  He loves cats (or rather the idea of a cat) and is still totally obsessed with trains.  He keeps me on my toes but overall is a very good boy.  We love you buddy!

They are growing up too fast.

The Polar Express

When I found out that the Sacramento Railroad Museum does a polar Express themed train ride for Christmas, I knew I had to buy tickets (Jacob is obsessed with the book and movie).  Tickets went on sale back in October, and we got online right when they went on sale at 9:00 am.  We tried and tried, but for some reason it would not let us purchase any tickets.  Turns out, they sold out almost immediately!  I was so bummed because I knew Jacob would have loved it.  I got my name on a waiting list, but I didn't think anyone would cancel.  But then last Friday, there were two tickets available for the 3:30 train!  Kevin was working so I took the boys myself up to the train museum in Sacramento.  It was a ton of work by myself, but Jacob absolutely LOVED it!  When we got on the train, they brought us hot cocoa and a big snicker doodle, while two tap dancing waitresses entertained us.  Then the conductor read the book to us, and we all followed along in our own copies.  The conductor even signed Jacob's copy.  Then the hobo guy from the movie came on the train and tried to get them to question their beliefs in Santa.  Meanwhile we are riding along the Sacramento river and Jacob is having a blast looking out the window.  Then we got to the "north pole", and saw Santa and his elves.  On the way back, Santa hopped on the train and gave everyone a bell.  Oh, and everyone wore their pajamas.  It was very magical:)

checking out the caboose

"I hear a train!"

Tickets please!

the hobo

We made it to the north pole!

Waving to Santa

Santa is here!

I probably wouldn't do this again because it was a lot of work by myself (and a little pricey) but it was so much fun and Jacob is still talking about it, so I am glad we did it:)

Christmas in San Francisco

Last week, we decided to head into the city with Aunt Tara to deliver Jacob's letter to Santa at the big Macy's in Union Square.  It was a lot of fun being in the city.  It made me miss the big city life of NYC, especially when it is all decked out for the holidays.  We took BART in, and I think that was the highlight of the trip for Jacob!  And of course we had to eat at the Cheesecake Factory, and indulge in the peppermint bark cheesecake.  Santa had already left by the time we got to Macy's, but Jacob didn't seem to care.  He had the most fun on the train ride home!