Baking with the Barbers

A favorite family tradition of ours is decorating Christmas cookies together. I've been doing it since I was a kid. This is the same cookie and frosting recipe my mom used...even the cookie cutters are mostly the same. I have bought some new ones periodically.
The boys got to make the cut outs first and we baked them and then they got to decorate their cookies.

Hayden getting very detailed in his cookie art.

Logan had a little difficulty frosting, so I helped frost and he put the sprinkles on....on the cookie, on the counter and on the floor!

He go the shiner from his brother. Nice huh?

Hayden's cookies

This was my favorite...Logan's Santa. I think those red things are his eyes...he's possessed!


Even Chad got into the cookie decorating action. He made the Blue man group, the Jackson 5, a yellow snowman (don't eat yellow snow)...you get the idea.

Here is the Blue Man group.

What if any are some of your family traditions?

Halloween

Halloween 2009, North Carolina. We were invited by Hayden's friends' mom to join them at their church for "Trunk or Treat". They had a little party at the church a week before Halloween. The kids trick-or-treated from the trunks of all the cars. It was fun and they got quite a haul and Hayden got to spend some time with his friends (twins) before he had to move.

Logan was GI Joe

Hayden was Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th
(It was the cheapest costume ever!)

Bryn was a Bumble Bee with a broken appendage.

She loved wearing her costume! She won't wear one of my hair clippies but she'll wear antennae. Go figure.

Ready to get her treat on. (sans cast)

Of course it decided to rain when the kids were trick-or-treating. They still had fun, especially Bryn. She LOVED it!

Character Kid of the Month

On Hayden's last day of school in North Carolina, he was awarded the Character Kid of the Month of October for "Respect". I got to go to a little breakfast ceremony at the school and see Hayden receive his award.

He's a character alright!

Here is a little video I shot with my camera. Listen carefully and you can hear Bryn yell "Hayden!". She is as proud of her big brother as we are!!

Hayden's new look

"Hi, my name is Hayden. I'm a Pisces. I love comic books, Star Wars and I'm a mathlete."
Aww, he looks so much older than 9! He also thinks he's older...like 15. At-ti-tude! What a cutie!!

A hair-raising idea!

Hayden asked me last week if I could give him a faux hawk. (For you older folks a faux hawk is like a mow hawk except you just mold the existing hair into the "hawk", if you will.) I have been dying to do his hair. It looked pretty cute, and involved a lot of hair gel. He has a great head of hair. I just wish he would grow it out a little bit. He normally prefers the "high and tight" like dad.

Logan, well his hair is gorgeous, and I know some people think his hair is too long or he looks like a girl...I don't care. He looks like a little surfer dude. His hair is part of who he is. He wouldn't be Logan without that California look! (BTW he is quite the ladies man!)

Bryn is cursed with my curly coif. Hopefully she doesn't resent me for it someday. It looks pretty darn adorable right now!

Leapin' Lizards!

The boys love playing with the lizards in the backyard. They had a ball on Saturday catching them. Logan tried to put one in his pocket but the little guy rebelled and bit and held onto his shirt for dear life. We had a tail casualty but all in all I think everyone came out relatively unscathed.

Not sure why but Hayden wanted to "share" his iPod with the lizard...poor little guy.

They will miss catching lizards...the lizards won't!

these are a few of Hayden's favorite things:

color: blue
hobby: playing video games
book: 100 things you should know about shipwrecks
food: tacos
movie: Indiana Jones (all of them)
ice cream flavor: chocolate
school subject: math
sport: basketball
toy: Star Wars action figures
TV show: Drake and Josh
cartoon: Spongebob
song: 'What I've Done' by Linkin Park (from Transformers)
president: Abraham Lincoln
restaurant: Copeland's of New Orleans
superhero: Wolverine
pet: Pokey the turtle (2003-2004 R.I.P.)
animal: snake (reptiles)
sleeps with: twilight turtle

What do you want to be when you grow up? police officer (this week anyway)

Making the grade

It's report card time! As if I were expecting anything different...the boys did great! Logan's teacher wrote that she was "very proud of Logan's hard work". Hayden received A's in reading, language and spelling; and B's in math, social studies and science. Which is confusing to me because math and science are his favorite subjects. His teacher says that he does well in everything but he hurries and makes careless errors. We're working on it.

I am very proud of them!

NUMBER ONE FOR THE SPURS: HAYYYYDENNNNNN BAAAARBEEERRR!

Last night was the basketball awards ceremony and dinner. We were very pleased to hear that Hayden won for the most improved player (MIP). His coach told Chad that Hayden really came out of his shell. He was enthusiastic and showed initiative. He was their best defensive player! Chad nicknamed him the "Scarecrow" because he always had his arms up. He is taller than all the other kids and his arms and legs are really long...go figure! We are so proud!
(Just remember mommy and daddy when you are rich and famous.)

He was soooo excited to win the MIP. So Cute!

He told Chad he needs a trophy case now

(and no Hayden was not paid to endorse Lishman's City Market)

Oh no I didn't!

Logan: Maaaaahhhhmmmmm! Hayden said a bad word.
Hayden: I did NOT!
Mom: Hayden, did you a bad word?
Hayden: I didn't!
Logan: Yes you did. You said the "SH" word.
Hayden: (smiles) Nuh uh, you did.
Logan: NUH UH!
Mom: Hayden?
Hayden: What? I didn't say that word. I know what I did cuz I was with myself!

February 11, 2009...Hayden turned "9"!

We wanted to do something special for Hayden for his 9th birthday.

On Sunday I made him a chocolate cake...his favorite.

Wed, his birthday, we told him that we were going somewhere special. When we got there he still didn't have a clue. We even wrapped his present in Hornets paper. Surprise! A Chris Paul jersey and a hat. He finally figured it out! We were going to see the Hornets play the Celtics at the New Orleans Area (The Hive).

Outside the area.








It wouldn't be complete without a foam finger!






Even Bryn had a blast! She loved watching Hugo Hornet prance around the Hive.









Bam sticks...uh, they were FREE!

















Go Hornets!

Well, they lost. But it was still great fun!






Happy Birthday Hayden! I hope it was a memorable one!