Happy Birthday Hayden

This handsome boy turned 7 in December. How on earth has it been 7 years? He is getting so grown up.



His actual birthday was a little crazy and rushed. It was the day of Jerry's last final. It was also the same day as Rebecca's preschool Christmas program. After her program we came home and had a little family b-day party. He opened presents and we had some cake and ice cream.

He loved his awesome Lego Star Wars pen set from G'ma and G'pa Ewell.

A Lego set from the kids

And a Santa Claus is coming to town Wii game from us.
He also bought a Ninja Lego with $ from G'ma and G'pa Roylance.
Yes, this boy is a LEGO boy!!

I wasn't planning on doing a friend party for Hayden but he convinced me. It was a Star Wars party of course. All I can say is, thank heavens for creative people that post wonderful ideas on the internet. Once I found some ideas I was very excited about the party.

Sadly, winter sickness was floating around, so 3 kids weren't able to come because they were sick. We still had a great time with the friends that were there. As the kids got there they got their official "Jedi" clothing. (Just a tunic shirt and a belt) Then they had to go search for orbits. (Basically similar to an Easter egg hunt, but searching for hidden toys wrapped in tin foil)

Even Luke was a little Jedi - Little Luke Skywalker

Next they played pin the saber on Yoda. Here is my little brag.... I freehanded that poster of Yoda, thank you very much. The things you do for a 7 yr old b-day party.
Then the kids got their light sabers. (Pipe insulators wrapped in duck tape) They played a game where they had to keep the balloon in the air using only the saber. This was a big hit, and of course it turned into light saber fights. Another great reason to use foam pipe insulators..no tears or bruises.



We also played a couple rounds of "Jedi, may I" and "Jedi says" (Mother, may I and Simon Says.) Then presents and cake and ice cream.

A light saber cake.

And of course I need to share some things about Hayden at 7 years old. Hayden's life revolves around friends, Legos, video games, and Star Wars. So he is the absolute happiest when he is playing Lego Star Wars on the Xbox with his friends. People that think Hayden is quiet or shy haven't seen him play video games. Not a quiet or shy bone in his body when he's playing.
Hayden is our thinker. He is so very literal - which is good, but sometimes drives us crazy. :) He is a very obedient boy that is very eager to please.
He loves school, and his favorite parts of school are riding the bus and recess. He is reading really well, and loves to write stories. He makes several "books" each week that I love reading.
He has adjusted pretty well to the move, but still has times when he misses his friends in Las Vegas. At night when I go check on him before bed is when I get to talk with him the most. It's these times when he talks about Las Vegas. I love this time with him. It's been probably a harder adjustment for me, than him with him being in school all day. I feel like I hardly see my boy, and find myself getting jealous of his friends. Silly huh. He's in school till 4:00, then plays with friends, then it's dinner, and before I know it it's bedtime. I miss my little boy, but I am also so proud of him, and the good boy he is as he grows older.

About a month after I had Luke we were going to dinner with my brother and his family for my brother, John's birthday. Jerry was studying, so he wasn't able to be there and it was probably the first time I was getting out of the house with all the kids, and to top it off I was going to a restaurant, with 4 kids, 1 month after having a baby, without Jerry. YES, I was very nervous. But I really needed a night out to have fun. Anyway.. on with my story. As we got to the restaurant, before we got out of the van I started giving the kids the pep talk about how they need to help me and be so good in the restaurant. After they all agreed they'd be angels Hayden came up behind me and put his hand on my shoulder. He said, "Mom, I know why you cry all the time."
My eyes started watering because I thought I had hidden it a little better. Sad that he'd seen his emotional wreck of a mother. I quietly asked, "You do?"
"Yeah, It's really hard for you without dad around to help out with Luke. So I'm going to help you take care of Luke so it's not so hard. And I'll be really good."

Tell me you wouldn't be crying from that too. I would have lost it right then and there if we weren't going in to dinner. Even so - I still went in with watering eyes. That touched me so much because, well, that's my boy. What a sweet boy. I had been having a little bit of a hard time anyway (probably post baby hormones) of just feeling like I was losing my little boy - his friends were more important than me. Yes, I'm a jealous mom. But he'd noticed what a hard time I was having and loved me and wanted to help me. He tells me he loves me every day, but he isn't one to gush his "I love you's." He shows me in his own ways, sitting and talking to me about his day at night, before bed, reading stories that hes written for me, and making Lego creations for me.

I love that boy. I am so proud of him. He is an excellent older brother, and generally so patient with his sisters. He absolutely loves Luke too. He loves the fact that they share a room. (For at least a couple hours every night. Hopefully it will increase. haha)
Happy Birthday Hayden! We love you.

p.s. Don't worry - I've slowly regained my sanity, and I don't cry "all the time" anymore. :)