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.

Baking Bread & a Fort

Kaiden's favorite thing is to help me in the kitchen. He not only loves to bake, but he love to cook also. He is getting good with measuring and seasoning too. He is going to be ready for his mission and for his wife for sure!

And of coarse, Hannah loves to help too.

While we wait for the bread to rise, we decided to make a Fort. A classic past time in our home.

Kaiden & Hannah "ham'n it up!!

All kids will be kids, but lately my kids have been.....well, goofy I guess. I LOVE it!

I love this Kaiden shot...he was growling when I took it too.

My FAV Hannah shot. This girl cracks me up!!

Halloween Costumes and Carnival

Here are their costumes for this year. The boys still fit theirs from last year, and I totally love them so I didn't really give them much of a choice. Hannah didn't fit her alien costume from last year, so I got to pick whatever I wanted for her. If it were up to her, I think she would have gone with Cinderella. Lucky for me though, she has no idea what Halloween is! She just goes along for the ride and has a good time doing it. Besides, she makes an adorable Bumblebee!

Space Shuttle and Astronaut

Bumblebee and Space Shuttle

All 3 Trick-or-Treating together. Trick-or-Treating is held inside the church since we are in AK and it's much too cold for the great outdoors! The doors are opened up to whoever wants to sponsor them (YW, YM, bishopric, different families....) every door is taken, and the kids walk the halls circling the building untill all the candy is gone. In a lot of the doors they'll have a carnival type game for the kids to play also. It is a ton of fun for them and I don't think they are missing out a bit!

Shoot! I deleted the picture of the front of Kaiden's costume. So be it, there are plenty of shots of him in the other pictures. I still just love this costume....I wonder if he'll be able to wear it again next year?? Hmmm

Our little Bumblebee was adorable too, of coarse I am a little bias. I made her tutu and the ruffles on her shirt. I love how the outfit turned out all together!

Weston and his Astronaut self. Too bad this picture is out of focus, he looks so grown up when he's dressed up in this. He does love this costume, they all love their costumes, so I guess overall Halloween was a success for us. We still have a couple different things to go to, so they get to use them a little bit more!