15 years (120 lbs. 5'8" tall)

Hudson is 15 and has his DRIVING PERMIT as of TODAY!!!!!!

Hudson is in the last few weeks of his Freshman year at Tahoma High School. He has had a very busy year with XC in the Fall, followed by Orienteering in the Winter (plus daily runs w team) and then Track this Spring. He has had a fairly heavy course load for his first year in a massive high school. He is in Honors English and AP Human Geography and doing well. He just had a BIG AP Human Geo Final that's a nationally recognized test and gets 3-4 college credits for completing. He had a couple study group sessions with friends as well as two different practice tests leading up to the final.

XC: Hudson had a stellar season running XC. He was competitive as a freshman (1 of 4 freshman to letter) and made for a great introduction into high school sports and new friendships. He has two good buddies, Nick & Caleb, that he developed throughout the season and have carried through the Winter and Spring into Track.

Track: Hudson has focused primarily on the 3200 meter race as his dominant event. He has flirted with the 1600 towards the end of the season but shines brightest in the 32. It's so much fun watching him run and continue to improve as well as be a part of a team and establish relationships. 

Hudson continues to make huge improvements in ownership of his grades staying on task and organized in a way that keeps his grades at a consistent A/B level. As parents we rarely check Skyward to ensure he's completing assignments - phew, what a relief that is for everyone! 

Hudson has such a full plate with school and sports but finds time to do work at the neighbor, Joan's house. He communicates with her directly and goes over w regularity to help her with minor outside household chores - a great opportunity to make some money $! We opened a BECU account for him so that he has debit card and learns how to keep both a checking as well as a savings account to earn that interest!!

We did several fun activities over the Winter/Spring: 

• Traveling: Kellogg, ID to ski Silver Mtn; San Diego for Spring Break; Lake Chelan (May)
• Activities: Skiing: Bachelor (Jan), Silver (Feb), Snoqualmie w Nick (Apr)

Hudson is the same height as Beau and while he's been in the same shoe size for awhile, we're hoping/anticipating that he'll continue to grow even taller. 

He got his braces off and has his final appt in Oct and then NO MORE ORTHODONTIST APPTS. He has a retainer he's supposed to wear at night indefinitely but I'm not sure how often that's actually happening ;)

This year for his birthday we'll have a quiet family evening carb loading w mazythra so Hudson is competitive and ready for his 3200 league race tomorrow night. He opted out of the sugar cereal and dessert tonight in order to stay as fit and dialed in health-wise in preparation for his race. He plans to go bowling on Saturday with Nick & Caleb at the family fun center and we'll do sugar cereal and dessert then. In terms of gifts, he's getting a go-pro as his big birthday gift and then a couple smaller things for running to round it out.

Hudson Gray, you have certainly had an AMAZING past 12 months. You are turning into one of the best people that I know. You are patient, sensitive, conscientious, funny, smart, dedicated and just a pleasure to have around. We love watching you continue to become an incredible young man and citizen of life. Although they are few and far between, we love the moments we get to share w you. You have taught us so much and we are so lucky to have such an incredible human, like you, as part of our family. 

We Love You to the Moon and Back <3

Hudson's Current Favorites:
What do you want to be when you grow up: Fire Investigator

Color: Orange
Book: currently reading 'Think Again' by Adam Grant
Song: --
Breakfast Food: Waffles
Dinner Food: Mazythra
Number: --
Best Friend: Nick & Caleb