Learning our new toy!!

So, Clayton got a new camera for Christmas, the Nikon D7000. It is SOO nice! BUT, be warned: Nice cameras still do need a nice photographer! Because I took all of these pictures, you get what you get, no promises guaranteed! Still, I had a lot of fun playing around with my kids! Here are a bunch of crazy random pictures since Christmas.

Weston driving something on the table...
Kaiden and his latest plane that he built.Hannah's "hi-ya'er".

More of the plane.

Our soon to be gymnast, she is so rediculous when it comes to flexibility.

Not even trying...

Kaiden and Hannah made trains out of a egg carton in pre-school. We filled their "cars" with yummy cargo for lunch.

I straightened Hannah's hair just for fun one Saturday. When she showed Clayton, all he could say is how much different she looks and how she looks just like his sisters! I never would have noticed the resemblance until I did this. She is a little Bodkin all right!

Nest building with her babies inside.

The 2 looks of Kaiden.

The many looks of Hannah

A different plane that Kaiden built

All in all, the last couple months have been fun here. These kids just keep me laughing a lot. I am proud of them in so many ways, and so happy to be their mom.

Happy 3rd Birthday Hannah

Ahh, by baby is 3! I can hardly believe it in some ways, but on the other hand she has sure earned her 3 years to claim-and she totally does! If she even hears te number 2, she will quickly shout out that she isn't 2 anymore and that now she is 3.

Her cake and presents.

The Birthday girl ready for the candles.Wishing for her prince....

She was sooo excited when she saw this present that Kaiden got for her. It is a set of fairy wings that she saw at the store that she really, really wanted. Kaiden wanted them too since he loves to dress up with Hannah.

True admiration.

The wings went on pretty quickly, it's only a matter of time before Kaiden has them on. She was also pretty happy to get the coveted Dora panties.

She also got a "Baby and Me" dress from us and a really cute one that Grandma Bodkin made for her. She loves those too!

This is the Barbie that Megan got for her. Yes, Barbie's at 3...we are soo there!

A girl doll she got from her friends Joey and Lilly.

And a new baby from daddy and mommy.

Ahh, she is already a proud mama.

Yes, he is awesome!!

Ok, so I am sure all of you military wives can feel my pain here. Clayton has been collecting old uniforms for, well I'll be nice and say a while now. He has all along been telling me that he was going to use them and "make" something out of them. My thoughts, "Blah!! Before we move I will throw them away one day and hopefully he won't notice. Seriously, who needs this many old uniforms??" Well, then early in the winter he ended up buying a pack frame and tells me that he isn't going to buy a pack because he doesn't really like them and wants to build his own. What?! Am I supposed to be supportive here? Or do I tell him no because I am really thinking he is crazy because I know he'll never do it! I chose to be supportive, though I didn't believe him at all. One month later, with a whole lot of sewing in the evenings, here he is with his pride and joy! AND, it is all the right dimensions, with all the right pockets and loops and everything else he wanted but couldn't find. AND, to my happiness the uniform pile is all gone! Sooo, with my tail all the way between my legs, I am saying how proud I am AND I'm sorry for doubting his mad skills! He really is good at everything he does. Now if only he could share a little of that gift....

Christmas Eve Jammies

Every year as a child I had so many friends that opened a gift on Christmas Eve and I was always so jealous. My family did a ton of really neat traditions, but that wasn't one of them. I did decide Clayton and I's first year of marriage that this would be a tradition of ours. I like it. It's exciting and fun and gets the kids all excited to go to bed and wake up in the morning. Our Christmas Eve gifts aren't anything out of the usual, we do the standard Christmas PJ's. This year however was a bit different. The past few years my mom has made my kids their jammies to open. This year, she was really sick and found some on sale instead, can't blame her. SO, I attempted to sew for my family this year. I know I must have at least a smidge of my mom's amazing seamstress abilities, but I really have never tried to use it. (Well, at least I don't count scrunchies, pillows and curtains as really trying.) So, with the help of my good friend Cindy, I did it! I made each of my kids fleece PJ pants and Clayton some cozy flannel ones too! I followed a pattern and I even got it! I am so proud of myself. I can't wait to do something else :)

Hannah opening up her jammies first.
Now it's Kaiden's turn.

And Weston's turn. DId I forget to mention that the jammies were themed? Yeah, I like the Colts Football team so I am trying to brainwash my family as well...yep, even Clayton's pants were all blue with a Colt's horseshoe symbol embroidered on the hip. I know, I know...you don't have to say it...

So I got them each a matching shirt too! Well....they had to match! Hannah isn't wearing her pants. The only shirt they had in her size was to a pink Colt's jammies set. She wanted to wear all pink so she's obviously wearing the set.

The best part about all of this was that Clayton had no idea that I had done any of this. It was a neat surprize for him too!

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!