You Can Make Your Cake and Eat It Too.....

Hayden has been really into baking for the past couple of years.  This year she decided to go all out with her cake, and made all different cake toppers out of moldable fondant that she felt represented who she was as a 13 year old.

I can't even count how many hours she spent on her cake, between baking it, frosting it, and making all of the decorations.  But she had the patience to do it the way she wanted and enjoyed the process, so kudos to her.  

A Tartis- from Dr. Who, her latest obsession. 

A frog- made to look like he was hopping out of the cake. 

Flowers galore, a cell phone, lips with lipstick, a PG-13 movie sign, and a book also added some flare to her cake.  

She was happy with the finished product, and I must admit it was delicious!  

Sisterly love.  

Birthday hugs!

Hayden received the mother lode of baking gifts from Grandma Thomas.  She will be able to make all sorts of fancy cakes and cupcakes with the materials here!

A gift from Aunt Jody.

Rainbow Loom bands from Jessie.

Electronic Yahtzee from Rian.

A new left-handed bow from Grandma and Grandpa.  

Her favorite gift and the one she had been waiting for "for years" according to her, was a cell phone.  We videotaped her reaction so we weren't able to get any pictures.  We let her open all her presents except for that one and then sat down for dinner.  I think she was a little disappointed but hid it well.  Then as dinner finished she heard an unfamiliar ringing, and went over and found her gift hidden inside our end table in the family room.  She was surprised and absolutely thrilled!  She started jumping up and down and screaming that this was her best birthday ever.  (Even after reading the four page cell phone contract we typed out for her to sign, lol).

Cupcake Wars

Hayden decided that this year she wanted to do a baking party to help celebrate her 13th birthday.  We found a cooking academy in Fort Collins called Foodies that hosts parties and has a lot of fun cooking and baking themes to choose from.  Hayden was torn between doing a Chopped party or Cupcake Wars, but in the end, Cupcake Wars won.  And of course, in preparation for the event, she watched every episode of the show that was available On Demand!

Getting the instructions for the competition.

The girls had 30 minutes to make a frosting flavor and decorate a cupcake with fondant according to the theme they randomly were given.  

Hayden and Holly were the last two to finish and barely completed their decorations before the timer went off.  

Some of the themes the girls were given for their cupcake were: Pastels, holiday, kids, owls, sports, winter, etc.

Hayden's cupcake.  

Claire Panella had the winning cupcake- a chocolate cupcake with raspberry vanilla frosting.

After the competition, the girls each made their own pizza.

Tenny, Lia, and Holly hard at work decorating their cupcakes.  

The girls got to decorate four each to take home as their party favor.  

There was even time at the end for a quick lesson in piping.  

And of course, we had to sing to the birthday girl.  Happy 13th Birthday kiddo!!!

Lunar New Year Celebration

This year we decided it would be fun to have a small party at our house to celebrate Tet, Lunar New Year, and Chinese New Year.  We invited the Kensoras and the McGonagils over for an asian-inspired dinner and the girls had a great time decorating and preparing for the party. 

Cherry blossoms we bought when we visited China Town in San Francisco over the summer.

Some good luck garland.

Rian wore her hanbok- for exactly five minutes.  

Jessie and Rosebeth decorated some dragon crowns.

Jessie wore her ao dai (pronounced ow-zye).

Enjoying a dinner of chicken fried rice, sesame chicken and red panang curry.

The teeny boppers- Sarah, Hayden and Reilly.

Jasmine and Rian enjoying their umbrella drinks.  

Reilly and her dad made homemade fortune cookies out of cupcake liners.  Each one had a unique fortune and the girls absolutely loved them!

Towards the end of the night, Rian passed out lucky red envelopes that contained candy and coins.  

Best buds enjoying a little reading time.  

To end the night and celebrate the start of the new lunar year, we set off floating lanterns, making a wish before letting each one go.  

The lanterns worked perfectly; and the sky was so clear that we were able to watch them climb higher and higher into the night until they finally disappeared.  

Jas and Cathy filling their lantern with air.  

Just before take-off!

Sebok-mani-baduseyo!

Chuc Mung Nam Moi!

Gung Hay Fat Choi!