Easter

Playing Catch Up

So....I've been a little behind in posting here, so bear with me as I post quite a few things to catch you up on what's been happening around here! Hope you enjoy!

(Do you like the new design? Our good friend Dan did it for me! Thanks a bunch, Dan!!)

The Horse Cake

Lauren and her class have been studying cowboys over the last couple of weeks. Imagine my surprise when last Wednesday morning she comes to me and tells me that I need to make a horse cake for her class. After questioning her further, I found out that her teacher had asked the class if anyone's mom would be able to make a horse cake for the class and my precious daughter gladly volunteered me. Thankfully, I didn't need it Wednesday...but her teacher did want it on Monday. So, Sunday afternoon, I baked the cake while Bobby ran around town looking for the specific candies that we needed to decorate the cake. Then after church Sunday night, I started icing and decorating the horse. Everything was going great, and I had actually finished the horse without too many difficulties. I happened to glance at the cake while I was washing things up and noticed that the braided licorice that I had used for the bridle & reigns was beginning to pop! I had red licorice strips sticking out all over the cake and I knew there was no way that the licorice would make it until Monday morning. So I began to search through the cabinets looking for something..anything..that I could make into reigns & a bridle. I found Lauren's sour gummy worms and flattened them and stuck them on. They worked! And the kids loved the cake, but I did inform Lauren to not volunteer Mommy unless she talked to me first! And this is my church home page.

Hayden's Crocs

Bobby & Lauren were out shopping the other day and found these crocs for Hayden. I have to admit I wasn't too excited about them...he already has several pairs of shoes and why did he need another pair? But when Bobby showed them to Hayden, he was so excited and wanted Bobby to put them on him immediately. Well, let's just say the kid has become attached to these shoes! When he gets up in the morning, he will go and get them and want me to put them on over his footed pajamas...he gets upset when I won't let him take a nap with them on...The other day we actually had lost one (he had stuck it between the cushions of the couch). Did that stop him? NO! The kid walked around with only one croc on!

Hayden & the Books

Hayden has never been a child that is interested in books. Papa & Granny have bought him several books, and Bobby & I have bought him books, but he was always too busy to sit still long enough to look at a book. Most of the time he just chewed on the corners of the pages. Well, just recently, he has started to get books himself and flip through them (on this day they weren't any of his books, but hey, they are books). And he looked so cute sitting in front of the bookshelf looking so studious that I just had to take a couple of pictures.

Paradise Park

We took the kids to Paradise Park (not too far from our house), and they had so much fun! Lauren did a cooking "class", made an art project, played at the water table, had fun in the pretend bank and enjoyed playing outside. Hayden had his face painted by Mommy, wanted nothing to do with the water table (but somehow loves to play in the toilet at home), and spent most of his time opening and closing the cabinet doors of the play kitchen (something he also loves to do at home!).

Happy 7th Birthday, Lauren!

What you do to keep them happy..

For the last few days, after having yet another ear infection, Hayden has been very unpleasant, to say the least. So, we will do whatever it takes (within reason) to keep him happy...including stripping him down to his diaper, sitting him in the sink, and letting him play! It worked..just look at that smile!

Trying out a new 'do!

After having Hayden's hair cut a little shorter, I just had to try spiking it!! And he looked so cute!

Hayden's Shades

Actually, they are sunglasses from Build A Bear, but somehow Hayden latched on to them while Lauren was not looking. He kept bringing them to us and would want us to put them on him, and would walk around the house. When we showed him what he looked like in the mirror, he got the biggest grin on his face. He never ceases to find new ways to make us laugh!!

You never know...

...where you will find things once Hayden gets his hands on them. The other day I couldn't find the remote to the TV. I knew Hayden had been playing with it, but I couldn't find it in any of the "usual" spots that he leaves it. As I began looking harder, I went to close one of the kitchen cabinet doors that he had left open...and guess what was sitting there?! Yep! The remote.

My little boy

I love this picture of Hayden...it just captures his personality perfectly...so cute, but SO full of mischief!!

Christmas Fun

SOOO...we haven't posted much in December...but, just take a look at all the fun things we've been doing!

Christmas in the Park

Longview Park here in Lee's Summit has a great holiday lights display that you can drive through. They have tons of cool displays with moving parts, etc. Lauren LOVES going and was so excited last night when we went. This was Hayden's first time and while he did glance at the lights every once in a while, he was more interested in pulling his socks off!!

Lauren

The other day, while looking through my pictures, I realized that I didn't have very many of Lauren by herself. I take a lot more pictures of Hayden now because, well, I'm with him for a bigger part of the day. And by the time Lauren gets home we get busy with homework, Kids4Truth, piano practice, dinner, etc. So, yesterday while Hayden was taking a late nap I thought it would be a good time to get some shots of our little girl. As you can see, though, she doesn't look much like a little girl anymore. I can't believe that in just over month from now she will be turning 7...how time flies!

Hayden Highlights

Here are just a few pictures of what Hayden has been up to the last couple of weeks!

Old McHayden had a Farm

We had a party today for Hayden's first birthday. He doesn't actually turn one until Wednesday, but we started his "birthday week" celebration today! We had a great party with lots of friends, and as you can tell from the pictures Hayden had a lot of fun as well.

Bobby and I were both commenting that sometimes we don't realize how much Hayden really comprehends when we talk to him. We had been saying all morning long that today was his party, that his friends were coming over, etc. Well, once we had him dressed and people started coming, you could just see how excited he was...he knew that this party was all for him!!!

Pumpkin Carving

Last Saturday, we had some friends over to carve pumpkins. And now when I say, carve pumpkins, it's not your ordinary pumpkin carving...we got fancy! There were Dremel tools out, grapefruit spoons, woodworking tools...all to carve different designs in the pumpkins. We had a lot of fun and I think most of us are looking forward to it again next year!!

Little Bo Peep and her sheep