Jon & Janice you made our night...

We told Hudson to pretend he was eating the candy, it was so funny!

Holding up the Russian Christmas ornaments!

He loved looking through all of the candy!

We received a big suprise package from Jon and Janice today. To all of you newer blog readers, Jon and Janice were the sweet sweet folks that took us under their wings while we were in Russia last year and let us live in their home for a month. They took the best care of us, God orchestrated it all :)

Tonight we opened up a package from them that was full of Russian candy and 5 handpainted Russian ornaments! Casey kept asking me what flavor the different pieces of candy were and finally I said, "I don't know, I can't read Russian, just open them and we'll taste!" And we did!

I'll be thinking of you guys this Christmas more than you will ever know as I remember our Christmas last year. Thanks so much Jon and Janice we love you guys and hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

Happy Belated Thanksgiving and Birthdays!

The grandkids, Robert, H, and Loretta (you should hear Hudson say her name, he really sounds it out, it's cute!)

The whole gang!

If you could see the pictures on the fridge behind them you would be able to see how Robert has grown SOOOO much in the past few years.

Mixing mashed potatoes at Meemaw's.

We had a nice Thanksgiving, just taking it easy. Jason and Hudson spent the morning with Uncle Will riding the 4 wheeler and moving a deer stand while me, Casey, and Hoss rode horses. Then we had lunch at Meemaw's and were still stuffed that night but ate it all over again, anyways!

On Friday Casey and I were up at 4:00 and headed to Cool Springs, it was awesome! Those rich folks didn't roll out of bed until around 9:30 so us pofolk got the black Friday deals and it wasn't busy! Definitely going back there next year!

We spent Friday afternoon at the Carney's where we once again, ate like crazy and played cards. Let me just say that Aunt Jeanna did go down as Robert and I ended up being on the highest phase of phase 10 before everyone tired out.

I am also very late wishing Uncle Daniel whose birthday was Nov. 19th, Uncle Marty whose was the 22nd, and Grandad whose birthday was the 21st very happy belated birthdays!

Hudson is my little wiz as he easily knows the letters W L C O R A B S H we are adding more daily and he seems to really enjoy learning all of it. I think he likes to see me act like a cheerleader! After he pottied yesterday I said, "wow" and his response was "W" then he made the noise for w and said WOW.

Better Late than Never

We put the tree up last week and Hudson loves it. It looks better now because it has the tree topper, skirt, and even a few wrapped presents under it.

Showing off his Christmas ornaments from Russia (THANKS JON AND JANICE :)

This is the fake smile I get when I pull out the camera and say, "Say cheese!"

Hanging his tractor ornament up. Of course it's his favorite. I want to do what mom did for us, get us a new ornament every year for whatever we are into. Casey and I still enjoy going back and looking at all the ornaments and the year on them. And of course when I saw the John Deere tractor ornament, I HAD to have it!

He is so funny, he runs from the living room into his room (where he has his own little tree) and says "Look at dat". Cracks me up!

Today in Wal-mart I had just gotten off the phone with Mandy and I was just talking to Hudson when he said, "Mommy, W" and then made the sound for w. He had picked it out on the handle of the shopping cart in Walmart. I was telling him how awesome that was and just grinning when he said, "Mommy, R" and sure enough he pointed to the r in walmart. The people in that store must have wondered what I was on because I was just floating! I told him how he was a little genious :) We then came home and he clearly has the letters C, R, W, H, and L down pat. He has a leap frog video (thanks Cydil!) and that's where I figure he has learned them from althoug he hasn't watched it in several weeks. He also has a leap frog toy he plays with at Meemaw's with the alphabet. He's a little sponge. So now we are working on letters. We had been working on counting, phonics, and more colors but looks like we are adding letters to the mix!



Thanksgiving, we are looking forward to staying around the house, having a rather relaxing day as a family, and of course seeing Uncle Will and Aunt Casey! Then Casey and I are off like crazy ladies before the sun comes up for black Friday. Headed to Cool Springs this year. Gonna leave the men here to fend for themselves as we head out in search of good deals but more than that just a good time. Love my sister and miss her more than you know! Then after shopping coming back home to hang out with the Carney family, I think Aunt Jeanna needs me to teach her how to play some cards (yeah right!).

I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for but my top three without a doubt are my sweet Jesus, my man, and my that adorable dark curly headed little boy that makes me smile so much you'd think my cheeks hurt!

Weekend

Above: He wanted to hang one up high!
Below: This was his little spot on the tree where he hung all the ornaments right beside each other. He was so determined yet careful to hang them just right!

Ah, yes, I saved the best 2 pictures for last! We went to a park to walk Will and Casey's dogs and towards the end Hudson was in need of a ride on Uncle Will's shoulders. As they goofed off and ran and laughed, me and Casey were cracking up! At the same time we said, "He looks just like Dad!" So funny!

So thankfully Hudson had a short lived stomach virus, it lasted about 2 days and by Saturday afternoon he had held down 3 meals and was in a much better mood. My sister is so homesick and I couldn't stand it so Hudson and I jumped in the truck and drove a few hours to Chattanooga. Will knew we were coming so he left the door unlocked so we could sneak in. Casey heard footsteps in the living room and said, "Who's in here?" in a worried voice. When Hudson walked around the corner she squealed and cried at the same time! So we had a good time with them Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday. I miss her so much and can't wait until next week for them to be home for Thanksgiving. Especially black Friday! It's an Attebery sister tradition, wake up before the crack of dawn and shop til we drop. Totally out of character for the both of us, but we've always done it and love it!

I totally should not be telling this on the blog, but oh well, one day Hudson will look back and read this and hopefully he'll laugh as hard as I did when it happened...

He was pitiful those few days of stomach virus, I felt so bad for him and when we would make it to the potty in time he would have such horrible gas and diarhea and I would rub his arm and back and say, "Are you okay bud?" "It's okay." So last night he was in the bathroom with me when I passed a little gas myself and he rushed over to me and started rubbing my arm and said in the sweetest, softest voice, "You okay mommy?" I just busted out laughing and said, "Yes, bud, I'm okay!" He was so cute and concerned!

Okay, no one remind me I told this story on the blog, but I hope you got a chuckle out of it!

More Pics

These are more from the session last week with Courtney. I cannot wait to get all of them! The first two are my favorite!

This one is Jason's favorite.

This horse is over 6 feet tall at his back! He is HUGE! I am training him and have been riding him now for a little over a week. Pretty intimidating getting on something like this for the first time when they have never been ridden! But so far he's just a big puppy dog who has made me appreciate the size of my quarter horses even more :)

Hudson is sick today and I'm just waiting for his Dr.'s appointment to get here at 3:20. This will be the first time he's been to the Dr. for not feeling well. Yesterday he had diarrhea really bad but never missed a beat. So I blamed it on something he had eaten. This morning I went in his room at 9:15 and he was still sleeping. Since the time change he's been up around 8:30 every morning. When I woke him up he was burning up and just out of it. He normally is the most chipper thing in the a.m. So we sat on the couch and he rolled off of me and laid on the pillow and fell back to sleep. WITHOUT HIS FINGERS IN HIS MOUTH! Then I got him up and he went potty and did not want me to put him down. So I was on our bed looking up the Dr.'s # and I sat him on the bed beside me. Before I knew it he was laying down sleeping again. Then again he was sleeping on me about 15 min. after that! He had me worried. Because normally he's Mr. Energy/Wild Man! Around 11:30 he started moving around more but then threw up at lunch after eating only 3 bites of chicken soup. So he's napping now and I'm hoping this is just a little bug he has and it will be gone very quickly.

With all that being said, our weekend may just be hanging out in the house. Hudson and I had been planning on going to suprise Aunt Casey this weekend in Chattanooga but that won't be happening. So all I have to do is ride 6 horses and then we have no plans. Although I may be putting up the Christmas tree and decor.! I'm more than pumped about Christmas!!!

Just a Taste

Courtney Helton (www.heltonphotovideo.com) was here last week to take some pics of Hudson, a few students, and some of me riding horses I'm training. Here are just a few. I will try and post a few more on Friday. She says we should have the others in several weeks. I can't wait to see them all. She does a great job as you have seen in her previous work posted on the blog from another shoot on the farm and Will and Casey's wedding!

Hudson is having a very testy week. It seems suddenly he's caught a case of the terrible two's. I'm hoping it doesn't last long, hoping! For some reason this week he has really seemed to want to test the boundries and this ol' mom of his doesn't really put up with it. His dad does not either. So I'm hoping he gets the point and this doesn't last long, again, I'm hoping! I'm tired of saying "no" and getting on to him constantly about things he knows better. And I want to be able to give him positive reinforcement. Because normally we just have a blast together and he is very obedient. I'm hoping for a better day tomorrow. I'm so very thankful for the supportive husband I have. He is becoming a phenominal leader of our home, praise God!

Happy Birthday Hoss!

I love this pic. it was our first full day home and Hudson's first time out on the farm!

My dad, well, he's been over the hill, he's 52 today! I love him so much and I'm still a daddy's little girl! I don't know what I would do without him. He's been such a rock for me, always there, consistant in his discipline and love, and I've never doubted how crazy he is about me and Casey. He's everything a Daddy should be and more.

And now I'm enjoying so much seeing him be Hudson "Hoss"! I love that he is Hoss, it fits him perfectly! Hudson is nuts over him and loves spending time with him. Everyday they ride the four wheeler or tractor and here lately they have been kicking football. Dad helps me with Hudson almost everyday. Before Hudson, Dad came to the barn everyday and most days several times a day, just to hang out or see what was going on or to help. Nothing has changed except when he comes to the barn the cutest little boy in the whole world is there to greet him! And instead of helping me feed or saddle horses, he's taking Hudson on their little adventures! But it gives me time to ride horses or feed.

All of this to say, I'm so blessed to have him for a Daddy and Hudson is so blessed to have him as his Hoss! I love you Dad, you're the best, I'll always be your little girl even if I seem all grown up!

Treasure 2 Fall Festival

Winner of this years Treasure 2 Farm costume contest was Caroline Hansrote and Honey as "Honey Bees"

Hannah was a pirate and Cheyenne the boat!

Lauren was a fisherman while Drew was the water!

Jennifer an astronaunt and Time the rocket!

Jordan a devil and Zoe and angel!

Miranda, I mean Pedro the mexican, and Cherokee!

Katie the Ghostly girl and her mount, Joe!

Shelby the pricess and Marney!

Savannah the fairy on her pegasis (not sure how to spell that) unicorn Charlie!

Mary and May the hockey team!

Thought you blog readers would enjoy seeing how creative some of my students are! I love the Fall Festival we have done the past 3 years, the costume contest is my fav.

Hudson is counting to 10 and does it very well :) I have a video of it and will try to put it on here when I get a chance!