Kaiden's Chef Birthday Party

Our HEAD CHEF Kaiden. Happy Birthday my LITTLE 5 year old! For Kaiden's 5th Birthday it was his year to have a BIG Birthday Party. Per his request, he asked for a Chef/Cooking Party. I'm not surprized are you?? Well it was a whole lot of fun for all who were there! He was allowed to invite 9 kids so there would be 12 kids total. He was VERY clear on the 9 kids he wanted to comewhich also turned out to be a good thing.
I started the party off having the kids decorate their own placemats as they came in. They got a piece of construction paper and lots of cool stickers and stuff for them and then I laminated them. When all of the kids had got there and made their placemats then I gave them each an apron, a mini wisk, mini rolling pin, and a mini spatula spreader and passed out some pizza dough for each of them to roll out.

Then they topped their pizza to their hearts desire!

While the pizza baked the kids all got to mix the cake batter to make the cupcakes.

This was a highlight for them...there was a whole LOT of licking going on. I'll just say for the adults there, dessert that night was NOT a temptation what so ever!

BEEP! Pizza's done! Cupcakes in to bake and the kids feasted on their pizza, cheeseballs and juice boxes. (Nasty!) The grown-ups got Pizza Hut!!

Kaiden's Guests: Dalton, Joey, Caleb and Megan

Isabelle, Caroline, Amaya and Kaylee

Matthew, Hannah and Kaiden

Jace and Weston

Dinner is done. Cupcakes are cooking. Time to open presents!!

Isn't this just perfect?! Thanks Cindy :) Check out his Chef Coat, isn't that SO stinken cute? I absolutely LOVE it! I regret not getting a picture with all of the kids together in their aprons and Kaiden in his Head Chef outfit. Bummer, right?!

And now for the Birthday song and candles....

Then the kids got to decorate 2 cupcakes. 1 for now and 1 to take home in their take-out boxes with all the rest of their goodies.

There was plenty more licking going on again. Really, no thanks! I DO NOT want a cupcake! They turned out extra globby with bright colors of frosting and tons of sprinkles....just like a kid would want.

All said and done, the kids had a really good time and Kaiden was in heaven!

BIG Girl!! Finally!

WARNING: Partial Nudity, all boys must NOT see!


I realize I should be posting about our Christmas, but this was just too much and again I had to share....

So Hannah has been potty training for about a month now. She does great everywhere but our friend Cindy's house(????) so as you can imagine I am thrilled! Today she had a little accident and cried SO much because she was mad at herself, I really didn't need to punish her more than she had punished herself. Later on, she was playing with her brothers and started to do the "potty dance". I reminded her that she should probably go in the bathroom and go potty instead of holding it. She thought for a moment and then asked if she could have a treat. I told her I would give her a hug and a kiss. She gave me a look and thought about it some more, then walked to the bathroom clearly not wanting to. (If she were a teenager I am sure she would have been rolling her eyes!) Clearly she is not dumb, seriously a hug and a kiss?! But I am not dumb either, so I followed and peeked to make sure she was actually going potty. To my surprize she was!! This isn't new in any way, she goes all on her own, but with her attitude....and since she takes after me....well, I guess that is why I was surprized! Either way, I was grateful and told her she could have her "treat" and a cookie too! She repeated what I said, "and A cookie 2!?" I said, "Yes, you can have a cookie too." "I can have 3 COOKIES?!" "What, no! 1 cookie", I said. "You said I get a(1) cookie too(+2). 1 plus 2 equals 3 MOM!!!"

I curse Weston & Kaiden for teaching my 2 year old basic math, but then on the other hand I am so proud of my 2 year old for being this smart. It kills me that she acts just like me too. But, I do feel like I have the upper hand because I know what to expect.


My smart little cookie in her Minnie Mouse panties!!
Please excuse our crazy morning hair! I love her curls to death, but let me tell you, if you don't do her hair, it is pretty wild!!

I won! She was rewarded with a hug and a kiss and 1 cookie.

Moments I want to remember

While I was cooking breakfast one morning, I found Hannah waiting very patiently on the couch reading a Christmas book to her Baby and Annie "So they could know about Jesus".
I thought it was so adorable. I could here her in the kitchen just talking away, but she wasn't talking to me so I certainly wasn't listening. I came around the corner to start setting the table and had to grab the camera. She truly LOVES these 2 dolls. When she gets upset for whatever reason, these 2 dolls are the quick fix! I'll distract her anger/sadness/grouchiness... with "Hannah, where is Baby? Has she had lunch yet? I bet she is very hungry. What should you make her to eat?" or something to that affect. In an instant she is zooming directly to Baby to take care of her need(s) with no care in the world but her Baby and Annie.

I needed a smiling picture from her and it wasn't hard. She is a very proud mama of her 2 kids!

This other moment I treasure still makes me laugh. Kaiden's personality has taken a total turn on me. I get to re-figure him out all over again...lucky me! I was trying to get some cute/random pictures of Kaiden, you know smiling or something like below.

But NO! Right as I was about to take the above picture (which happened much later) he was standing so still with his adorable "cheeeeeese" happening and then BAM! he does this!

What?! I just busted out laughing! I am so glad I captured the moment because I don't think describing it would have done it justice.

Of coarse, since I laughed so hard Weston and Hannah wanted to join in on the fun too. Here are some of their finest moments of the day!

I am so grateful to be a mom and to be able to laugh with my kids and truly enjoy them. We all had such a good time being goofy, I need to do this more often!

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

I know we live in the WONDERFUL state of Alaska, but can I just say it has been COLD, COLD, COLD!! For the last 3 weeks the temperature has been anywhere from highs of -18 degrees to lows of -45 degrees! Weston typically walks to school since we only live 2 blocks away, if that. BUT, I do have a "nice mom rule" where if it is -20 degrees or colder, I'll drive him. Unfortunately there were a couple times that he had to walk. Of coarse I never mentioned to him how cold it really was, not that he fully gets it, I just bundled him up and sent him on his way. I think he enjoys it really. He loves being outside and he likes it cold....so does that excuse my not-so-nice self??

P.S. When it is THIS cold outside, don't try brining a turkey in a 5 gallon bucket! As my dad would say, "It's a Turk-sicle"! For Thanksgiving it was a bit warmer, about 15 below zero I think, and my brining turkey did just fine! In the bucket at the very top was just a bit of frost the first time. This time, 3 weeks later (I wanted more turkey meat and the turkeys were on sale!), I had to pry the bucket open with all my might. And then wait 2 fulls days to let it thaw AGAIN before I could cook it and eat it. It turned out great, although I have to admit I was a little worried.

Turkey brine recipe:

Remove the neck and the "guts" from the inside of the turkey

Place turkey in deep dish (or 5 gallon bucket)

Cover with water

1 cup kosher salt and brown sugar per gallon

1/4 whole peppercorns

juice of 1 lemon and 1 orange

1/4 cup minced garlic
1/4 cup dried basil leaves
1/4 cup dried rosemary

Add everything to the water and let it soak it a cool (not sub-freezing) place for at least 24 hours.

When ready to cook, remove from the brine and rinse the turkey well. Pat dry and begin your favorite turkey recipe for cooking. Mine is here.

HaPpY BiRtHdaY KaiDeN!!

On December 13th Kaiden turned 5 years old!

His BIG 5 yearBirthday party isn't until next week, so we had our family party that night for him. For his cake he chose a pumpkin cake with a cinnamon & cream cheese frosting. Can I just say what 5 year old chooses a "pumpkin cake" 1st off and then wants "cinnamon cream cheese frosting" too??? This adorable boy just blows me away sometimes! I have no doubt that he is going to be an incredible cook someday soon. His lucky wife....

After we had the cake frosted I asked him what he wanted on the cake and he said a picture of himself. NICE! So, here is the best that I came up with with what I had on hand.

His haul before he opened it. Oh, and as you can see Monday Night Football is on in the background....he wanted that too. Sure thing, Birthday Boy!!

These are some pics of some of his favorite presents.

Candy from Grandma Bodkin

Money from Grandma Bodkin and Grandma Hamson

AND this awesome truck that he can build and re-build and take apart and .....I don't know really, but he LOVES it!!! It's kind of like he's working in a mechanic shop and since Kaiden loves taking stuff apart and learning how to fix them back together, this was the overall winner.

Happy Birthday Kaiden!! We love you SOOO much and are so glad to have you in our family. Kaiden, here are my 5 FAVORITE things about you right now.

1. You are always such a good little helper around the house. If I need something or ask for something to be done, you are the first to jump up and do it.

2. After church each week you like to tell me what you learned about, and then throughout the week you will apply that new lesson and let me know each time you do "service" or "feel the spirit" or "love Jesus"....the list could go on forever.

3. Your tender heart is SO big. When you see someone that is handicapped or in need someway, you will sit and try to think for hours about different ways that you could help them or different things that they could try to do to be better or happier. You would give all you have to someone else if you thought they needed it.

4. You are such a learner. Every time I do anything in the kitchen, you are right by my side asking question after question, trying to figure out exactly why I am doing what I do. The same with craft projects too, your wife will be very happy that you can make little girls hair bows and tu-tu's! You do 'help' Daddy too. In EVERYTHING! From vaccuming to fixing the cars or the toilet, you are in their getting smarter and more helpful each time.

5. Last but not the least, you are a lover. You will snuggle with me any time of day. Not just snuggle but scratch MY back and give ME kisses too. Our snuggle sessions aren't all about you and your gain, you are trying to make me happy too. You are so thoughtful and caring with everyone, not just me.

We are so proud of you and the big boy you are. We love you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAIDEN!!

Weston's Christmas Concert

These pictures were taken at Weston's school Christmas Concert. The 1st graders sang 11 songs which I was totally impressed with! AND the kids knew every word to all of the songs! I can appreciate the effort his music teacher has made in putting this concert together! Weston did fabulous as usual. He loves singing and he loves silly songs, so combined it was right up his alley. The only part he doesn't love so much is singing to the crowd. I'm hoping he gets over that sooner rather than later!

After the concert Hannah wanted to go on the bleacher to pretend that she was singing. I took a picture just to make her happy and it turned out SO cute! I love the sparkle in her eyes!!

Then Kaiden wanted to join in the fun (which is so out of character for him!) He got up on the bleachers too with Hannah to pretend sing with her. (Kaiden.....what?!?!?! It's just not like him at all! But OK!) Here is their picture together.