Stains

Conversation at breakfast recently right after I saw (out of the corner of my eye) Hudson spill OJ on himself ...

H: Mom, does orange juice have stains in it?
Me: Sometimes. It depends on the fabric.
H: Okay.
Me: Why? Did you spill some on your pants?
H: No . . .
(I look at him with my 'mom look' with one eyebrow raised thinking he's not telling the truth)
H: (big smile here) . . . I spilled it on my shirt!

Heavenly Hot Dogs

Hudson had a hotdog with his lunch today. Being the silly family that we are, we always chuckle when people refer to hotdogs as anything other ... like a frank or wiener. That's what got this conversation started ...

H: (with a mouth full of food) Time for a bite of this wiener.
Me: It's a hot dog, and I'm glad you're eating a good lunch.
H: Yep, my lunch is good, but I think they called them 'weieners' back in Jesus' time.
Me: They didn't have hot dogs in Jesus' time that we know of.
H: Aw, fooey. (looking sad)
Me: What's wrong?
H: (pointed up toward the ceiling)
Me: Are you pointing to heaven?
H: Yes.
Me: You were hoping Jesus has hot dogs in heaven?
H: Yes, so I can eat them there, too.
Me: Sweet boy, there will be wonderful foods in heaven -- including hot dogs -- and you can eat nuts and wheat there, no allergies! God's table will be full of yummy things for you to eat.
H: Yay!! Hot dogs in heaven!!

Souvinier Shopping

We went to Chattanooga for a family field-trip one day during Spring Break. Our stops included the Creative Discovery Museum (which I highly recommend), a walk around downtown, the Civil War battlefield atop Lookout Mountain at Point Park, and dinner at J. Alexander's . . . and a quick trip to the mall as well!

We told the kids they could have a souvinier from one of the gift shops we visited during the day, but not something from all of them. They both, of course, couldn't stand it and chose something from our very first location -- the museum.

(The kids in the lookout tower at the Creative Discovery Museum)

Point Park has a wonderful visitor's center and a touristy Civil War memorbelia gift shop. There were so many cool 'boy toys' in there ... soldier gear, toy soldiers, flags. Hudson was enthralled! He kept looking around longingly at all the things he knew he shouldn't ask for. Frustrated, he finally blurted out (loudly), "Doesn't this store have anything for FREE?" Even the clerk cracked up!

(This is a replica Civil War cannon poised outside the gift shop; this pic was taken prior to the above-mentioned incident; Hudson is pouting only because climbing on the cannon wasn't his idea first. Gracious!)

After the battlefield stop, we toured around Lookout Mountain a little while -- the homes up there are amazing, and we saw the signs for Rock City so we decided to check that out. About half-way into winding toward this tourist mecca, we noticed that the signs for Rock City also included a Starbucks sign. No kidding! We thought this was hilarious, and there really is a Starbucks at Rock City -- built out of rock across from the entrance to the park.

Pirates!

Hudson's Pirate Party was a hit! Thanks in part to Captain Jack Sparrow who really threw the boys for a loop at first. Here are a few highlights ...

Hudson Dancing

I didn't realize that I couldn't change the orientation of this video when I shot it, so you'll have to turn your head to enjoy! It's hilarious. The funny thing is that he was quite sick and had just returned from the doctor's office ... where he had also performed this routine for the staff. Oh my!