The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful.

Hudson
loves
MUDDY PUDDLES

There's No Crying in Baseball

Hudson started tee-ball this Spring. It's his very first time playing a sport, so, naturally, Will and I had no clue how he would like it. We talked to him a lot about how practice would go, and he loved picking out his bat (with a shark on it!) and glove (it's blue!). We found out that he was on the Cincinnati Reds, or as Hudson calls it, the "Cincirrati Reds", and he picked number 35 for his jersey.

Our league plays tee-ball like this: each player on the team gets to hit the ball. After hitting, they run to first. Each time a teammate bats, they move around the bases (one base at a time). After all the players have hit the ball, they finish running the bases, then they move into the field. When the are in the field, they try to catch the ball. If they catch the ball, they throw it to Coach at first base. Whew. That's kind of a lot of information for a 3 1/2 year old...but I felt like he could handle it once he got the hang of the game.

 At his first practice, he was enthusiastic. He LOVED batting the ball. He ran to first base. He was having fun. Then the next batter was up. He hit the ball and Hudson promptly left first base and tried to catch it. Uh-oh. We tried to explain to him that his job was to run fast to second base, but it just didn't make sense to our little guy. He finally ran to second. The next batter hit the ball, and once again, Hudson left the base, and ran infield to try to catch the ball. We tried to tell him his job was to run to third, but by this point he was just getting really frustrated. He trudged to third, unhappily. Then, the same thing happened, and when we once more tried to tell him where he was supposed to be, he just began to sob. The poor buddy just wanted to catch the ball. He wasn't the only one who didn't understand the rules just yet, just about half the team tried to run for the ball while running the bases, and at least three were crying.

New things can be hard for little ones...but to hear Hudson tell it, he had a great time at his first tee-ball practice, and we had no doubt that things would get better on the field for our little rookie very soon. 

Brave & Courageous - A Trip through the Whimsical Woods. (Hudson's Fairy Tale)

Once upon a time, there was a handsome young boy named Hudson.

Although he was only a little boy of three,

he was loved by many for his cleverness, wisdom, and kindness.

One day, Hudson was doing what he does best...exploring.

High atop a majestic mountain,

he frolicked through the budding green grass, 

admiring the view of the bustling city,

while searching for singing birds and little bitty bugs along the way.

The glorious sun was shining on that beautiful spring day,

and Hudson was enjoying every second.

He had yet to find out that his day would soon become very special,

for he was stumbling into the Whimsical Woods. 

Just behind the trunk of a tall oak tree,

sat a great and kind protector of the forest, Felicity the Fairy. 

As Hudson crept up to her,

she sweetly said hello, then informed him that he had a great task ahead of him.

She said, "Hudson, you must travel through the Whimsical Woods,

and participate in many challenges. For each challenge that you complete,

you will earn a sparkling jewel for your crown.

You must be clever, determined, strong, and patient."

Hudson accepted he challenge, although a bit unsure.

Felicity saw that he was feeling a bit nervous,

so she quickly took out her magic wand and waved it over his head,

saying, "I grant you the power of courage. Be brave, Hudson, and complete this journey. If you do so, you will become the hero of the Whimsical Woods."

He followed her into a strange little house, where Alice in Wonderland was waiting.



He took a peek at himself in the looking glass mirrors before she led him onto the porch.



Alice then instructed him to turn the spinning wheel to see where his journey would begin....Cinderella's Castle. As he walked away, she said "Good Luck, strong Hudson! Be sure to have fun, and don't forget to collect your jewels after each challenge. Enjoy your adventure in the Whimsical Woods."

Just past the huge castle, Hudson found himself beside Cinderella's carriage. Although her life was hard, Cinderella was patient with the people who mistreated her, her stepmother and sisters. She gladly cleaned house and waited to get ready for the royal ball, even though she wanted to go very badly. Hudson put himself in Cinderella's shoes by riding in Cinderella's carriage. While he was there, he used patience to help him find 6 small mice that would pull the magical carriage. 

After Hudson had earned his very jewel for his crown, he quickly came upon a sword, stuck inside of a large stone. Once upon a time, everyone thought that King Arthur was just a weak, young boy, until he pulled the sword from the stone and proved to everyone that he had the strength and wisdom to be a leader. Hudson stepped up to the stone...he was strong enough to move the sword!

On the garden wall, Hudson found Humpty Dumpty. Sometimes it takes determination to solve a tough problem, like the puzzle of putting Humpty Dumpty together again. He joined all the king's men, saddled up a stick horse steed, and worked hard to put together Humpty's pieces.

Past the garden, he found a cute little cottage. Just like Goldilocks, Hudson was very curious about the different sizes of all the things inside the Three Bears' house. He had to try everything out for himself, and found that Baby Bear's chair, bowl, and bed were "just right" for his size.

His journey led him to the mine, where he found an empty mine car, abandoned on the track. This specific cart belonged to the Seven Dwarfs, who not only worked hard to keep their friend Snow White safe, but they also worked together every day in the mines. Hudson crawled into the mine car, rode a little way down the track and was helpful by identifying the gems and minerals in the cart.





After he skipped down the little log trail, he was surprised to see some chubby, oinking pigs outside of some little cottages. One house was built of straw, one of twigs, and the other of brick. These pigs were very clever! Hudson was able to celebrate and play in the pigs' houses, because they had already tricked the big, bad wolf into leaving them alone!






Through the woods brave Hudson trekked, until he saw a tree house, high among the branches on an old tree! The Swiss Family Robinson was very inventive...they had created this home, high in the air! Hudson made himself right at home, and used lots of their tree house inventions. His favorite was the ball catapult....hey chickens! Look out below!!






There were all kinds of animals in the Whimsical Woods. Hudson met a friendly little pony during his adventure, and stopped to give him a gentle pat before he spied a giant cobweb! Little Miss Muffet didn't stay calm when she spied a spider in that web. She even spilled her curds and whey! But Hudson was very calm as he tried to climb the web.




If there is one thing Hudson loves, it is making music. So it was no feat for for him to figure out a smart way to trick the troll into letting him pass the bridge. Just like the Billy Goats Gruff, Hudson used the tools and instruments at the bridge to make the noises that the goats would have made when crossing. He didn't even get scared when he heard the trolls voice boom out when he crossed the rickety bridge.



The Little Old Woman who lived in a shoe had lots of children. Her family had to learn to be cooperative and work together. While visiting the shoe, Hudson cooperated with all the other children, taking turns to go down the fun slide.




Hudson found a fun gravel table to play with near a big haystack. Little Boy Blue was so peaceful, sleeping the day away under the haystack! Hudson played very quietly so as not to wake him from his slumber.




Inside a large barn, Hudson found Pinocchio. As you know, Pinocchio wasn't always truthful. He made up stories and let people think that they were true. That's called lying...and lying is not good. But sometimes, it is fun to share a story and play make believe! Hudson picked out a cute little elephant puppet, and put on a special puppet show for his Mom and Dad.



Outside the barn was a group of sheep...Bo Peep's sheep to be precise. When Bo lost her sheep, they came back to her, because they were loyal. Hudson loved looking at those pretty sheep!




When he came upon a gingerbread cottage, Hudson was brave enough to peer inside, even though he could hear the witch cackling inside! Hansel and Gretel were brave, too, when they escaped the evil witch in the woods!



A river raft can be a tricky thing...even when it's not in the water! Hudson acted adventurous, like Huck Finn, who floated down the mighty Mississippi River on a wooden raft! Hudson balanced the wobbly raft to smooth out the ride.



Hudson's last challenge appeared before him in the shape of a giant pirate ship! Long John Silver was not a very trustworthy pirate. He tried to take over the ship! But Hudson was trustworthy. He sailed the ship all the way to Treasure Island......




.......where he found a treasure chest marked for "the HERO of the Whimsical Woods"!



He peered inside and found a special badge that proclaimed to all the kingdom that Hudson was a friend to all. He had emerged from the forest with many special powers...some that only a hero could possess.



Hudson made his way home from the Whimsical Woods, but he would always remember to be:
patient
strong
determined
curious
helpful
clever
inventive
calm
smart
cooperative
peaceful
truthful
loyal
brave
adventurous
and trustworthy.

And all that encountered Hudson would always remember to be

PROUD.