Hudson's 6th Bday

my attempt at camo cupcakes for his class

i let Hudson decorate his cake this year :)

me and my army guys

Hudson turned 6 on March 27th which is hard to believe!  He has already lost 2 teeth and is getting tall.  He wanted an army party this year and we had a great time planning for it.  We had it at the park across from his school and the boys had a blast.  They each got plastic camo hats, a dog tag, face painted and a party favor bag with an army guy, grenade water balloons and camo pencils.  At the park, the boys did target practice, an obstacle course and then a true battle.  Ben, his dad, and one of the boys older brother each had Nerf guns.  The kids had to hide and then after I counted to 10 they had to come out of hiding and try not to get hit with a "bullet".  Everyone had a blast!  To see more pics go to our Picasa site: picasaweb.google.com/brothermclain

Colson's 1st Bday

Snowman cake, mini snowman men, snowflake cookies, and snowmen ornaments

loving his cake!

Time has truly flown by with Colson.  It seems just like yesterday when he was an infant.  He is a pure delight and seems to be a mix of Hudson and Landon.  He is determined and passionate like Hudson and a jokester like Landon.  Of course, he is FULL of energy.  I apparently don't have calm, laid back kids :)  He keeps us on our toes constantly.  He loves to open every cabinet in the house, climb on absolutely anything and be all boy.  The boys are enjoying him more now that he is a toddler and can play with them.   He also loves music, just like big brother Hudson.  The minute he hears music he starts dancing and he has some crazy moves. :)  

Since his bday is in January, we did a snowman theme.  I had so much fun making the cake and the mini snowmen.  The snowmen idea came from a blog called The IdeaRoom(http://www.theidearoom.net/2010/12/powdered-donut-snowmen.html), but I changed it up a bit.  I used 3 powdered donuts, mini choc chips for the buttons and eyes, candy corn for the nose, snowflake ribbon for the scarf and a fudge graham with oreo on top for the top hat.

To see all of the pics from his bday go to our Picasa Web site: picasaweb.google.com/brothermclain

New Year Campfire

Aunt Beth and Colson

big boys roasting marshmallows for smores

Hudson singing his "Champions" song

We had a great holiday with Ben's family at our house.  Beth was able to stay into the New Year which was great fun and a big help!  My mom got Ben a fire pit for Christmas and we have loved using it.  On New Year's day we started the fire and made smores.  Hudson brought his guitar outside and was singing praise songs at the top of his lungs. :) He wrote a song called "Champions" and the chorus says, "we are champions for the Lord, we are champions in life, we are champions"

O Christmas Tree

Puppet Show

Hudson and Landon put on a puppet show for Colson

I got a new Christmas tree this year for my birthday.  Ben picked it up the day we left for Tyler and we set it up the night we got back.  The boys loved the BIG box it came in and decided that it would make a good stage for  a puppet show. :)

Thanksgiving in Tyler

The boys and BB carving the Greenberg turkey.  Hudson found a "cowboy" hat from one of my dance routines. :)

Mom's pretty Thanksgiving table

sweet baby Jackson

We enjoyed a great Thanksgiving at Mom's house!  Unfortunately, Ben got really sick and stayed in bed most of the day.  Thankfully he was feeling better the next day for round 2 of Thanksgiving at my Nanny's house.  My brother Rick, his wife, Katie, and their new baby boy, Jackson were with us too.  

Tyler Turkey Trot

the fam and the strollers :)

BB (mom) and the boys

Mom and Landon ringing the Cancer Bell in honor of Daddy

Thanksgiving morning we ran the 5K Turkey Trot in Tyler.  Unfortunately, Ben got really sick during the night and was unable to join us.  It was supposed to be really cold and so that was what I had packed for.  The forecast changed and Turkey day ended up being hot and HUMID!!  No matter the weather, the kids still had a great time.  Mom was so sweet to help out with pushing the stroller up and down hills and even carrying Landon on her back. :)

Part of the run was on the Rose Rudmand trail which is so pretty.  There was a bridge over a creek, beautiful trees covered in fall colors and even a gazebo with a bell inside of it.  Beside the gazebo was a plaque telling all about the Tyler Cancer Bell.  In honor of a loved on who has/had cancer you are supposed to ring it. With tears in our eyes, Landon and mom rang it in honor of Daddy.

Veritas Family Day

Hudson's class performing in chapel

his class with their Native American projects around the room (tepees, pinch pots, villages, and totem poles)

His 2 Kindergarten teachers - Mrs. Leonard and Mrs. Gallegos

Undercover Turkey

Hudson had a school project where he needed to disguise a turkey so it wasn't eaten for Thanksgiving.  The funny thing is that I did this same project when I taught school.  Hudson chose to disguise his turkey as a knight.  He and Ben worked on forming the armor, shield, sword and mask out of foil.  If you'll notice the blue, where the feathers are supposed to be, is supposed to be the sky with the sun peeking out.

War!!!

target practice with their new Nerf gun

Some days I literally live in a war zone!  With 3 active boys, there is never a dull moment.  The boys got a Nerf gun to add to their collection of "war memorabilia."  Hudson used to call Army guys - men that protect our country.  They also have a dart gun that they love to shoot.  One night, Ben had the big Nerf gun and hid behind one of the columns in the living room and was shooting the boys.  You gotta love their passion for life!!

My 3 Chipmunks

Hudson and Landon loved the 1st Chipmunks movie and they enjoy the old cartoon episodes.  We have checked out Alvin and the Chipmunks episodes from the library.  I thought it would be so cute, since I have 3 sons, if they were the Chipmunks for Halloween.  Hudson was Simon, Landon was Alvin, and Colson was Theodore.  Their "costumes" were so cute and cheap.

Landon is still obsessed with being Alvin.  Here lately, he will tell us that his name is Alvin and unless we call him that he won't answer us. :)  My mom even found the cutest Chipmunk ornaments that they got for Christmas.

Family Totem Pole Project

Hudson's totem pole - don't you love his hat :)

Hudson was studying about the different types of Native Americans.  His teacher gave the kids a totem pole project.  They had to create a totem pole that represented their family.  He separated his pole into 4 sections: family, camping, music, horses.  At the top of the pole, he made a cross out of sticks and then he hung feathers on the side.  We were really proud of how he thought everything out and worked hard to make it look nice.

Landon's 3rd Bday - RODEO!!

Landon's birthday breakfast!!

party favors - cowboy boot mugs, bandanas, horses and cookies

Rodeo cake with the boys

Landon has fallen in the footsteps of Hudson when it comes to cowboys.   He loves everything cowboys and rodeo!  He practices his calf roping skills daily and loves to watch rodeos on YouTube.  A typical scene at our house is Landon with his cowboy hat and chaps on while using his rocking horse to be his calf to rope.  I have to really watch out, because sometimes he pretends Colson is the calf and ropes his feet. :)

Naturally, I decided that he should have a rodeo party.  We had a great time with all the little cowboys.  The kids decorated paper sack vests with cowboy vests, had stick horse races, and ate yummy cowboy food and cake.  To see more pics just go to our Picasa site