Happy 4th Birthday, James!: Star Wars Cookies

The days are long, but the years are short.

-Gretchen Rubin

How can the baby boy that made me a mommy be four?! Seriously, can I even call him a toddler anymore?  What is he now, a child?

While the past four years has had days that I just didn't know if I was cut out for this mom thing, there truly has been no greater joy than seeing him grow into my Star Wars-loving, non-stop question asking, endless hug giving, best big brother, sweet, happy, precocious little boy.

James is currently obsessed with Star Wars.  We are either watching Lego Star Wars, dancing to the Star Wars music, or having lightsaber fights.  Naturally, this led to a Star Wars birthday party.  I promised myself I wouldn't go overboard this time, but when James asked for Star Wars cake and cookies, I couldn't say no. (see above pictures to understand why)

And just a few other pictures from the big day...

Birthday boy got shy with everyone singing to him

My sweet James, I love you more than you will ever know, but I will spend the rest of your birthdays going over the top and spoiling you rotten to give you just an inkling of an idea of how much I do!

(Mom)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cookies

Since I've done so many girly cookies lately, I thought it was time to add some boy cookies to the mix.  Hayden's birthday was last month and his sweet mom Becca wanted to order him some Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle cookies to celebrate the big day.

Becca is another wonderful customer and is so easy-going.  I send her some ideas and she says go for it.  I love the flexibility that gives me to create a varied platter design.  I knew I needed to include all four ninja turtles (bonus points if you can name them), and then we had to include their favorite food: pizza!  I threw in some 6's and then a sewer plate with the birthday boy's name. 

I loved how the pizza turned out and that dripping cheese over the edge just look so yummy!

I hope you had a great birthday, Hayden, and that you loved the cookies!

Happy 2nd Birthday, James!: Bubble Guppies Cookies

I can't believe my sweet baby boy is 2 today!  We had his party on Saturday and we had to go with a Bubble Guppies theme, as it is on a regular basis he request "Bubble." (For those of you who aren't parents of toddlers, Bubble Guppies is a tv show on Nick Jr.)

I was in a pickle about what to do about making the cookies.  The Bubble Guppies characters are adorable, but they would require me to make about 10+ different icing colors and I just wasn't prepared to do that with all the other party preparations I had to do.  I finally decided to hand paint the characters on white and then transfer them to a cookie.

I also managed to do a few decorations and make the cupcakes and his cake for the party.  It is amazing the things we will do for our children!

This face right here made all the hard work worthwhile.

He liked the cookies so much that he didn't even eat his cake!  I loved the precious smile he got when he saw them and that he immediately picked out Gil, the blue-haired boy.

I think this picture says it all!  I'm pretty sure he had a fun time on his birthday!

James, it is a joy to be your mom.  I love your silly faces, your gibberish that sounds like you speak Japanese, your sweet cuddles, the way you "make" me get in your crib with you after you wake up, your fascination with anything with wheels, your energy, and so much more.  I love you so much!

(Mommy)

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Birthday Cookies

I'm going to keep it short and sweet this go 'round and let the pictures speak for themselves!  I had so much fun making these Mickey Mouse Clubhouse cookies for Caleb's 1st birthday.  I loved how they turned out, plus they were a different interpretation than what I had seen done in the past.  

The Whole Gang

Mickey and Minnie

Donald and Daisy

Goofy and Pluto

Happy 1st Birthday, Caleb!

Baby Shower Cookies: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

Big News! My friend Kim is my first returning customer!  You may remember me talking about her in my Firefighter Cookies post.  Her sister-in-law Jordan and her husband Michael are expecting a precious baby boy this summer and Kim was helping throw a book-themed baby shower for them. 

I first met Jordan at Kim's bachelorette party.  She was so fun and you know how sometimes you just meet someone and you instantly click?  That's how I felt with Jordan.  Now, if she only didn't live in College Station... But, back to the cookies.  Kim and I discussed several ideas and she asked if I thought I would be able to make the mouse from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.  I honestly was a little concerned because it was another one of those feared character cookies.  Also, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie just happens to be Jordan's favorite childhood book, so no pressure, right?!  But, this cookie journey has been about taking on new challenges and improving every day.  And, oh boy (pun somewhat intended), am I glad that I took on the challenge! 

To complement the mice (there's a statement I never thought I'd say), I had the idea to do onesies with a chocolate-chip cookie with a bite out of it.

The following pictures are courtesy of Kim from the shower.  She also made the super yummy chocolate-chip cookies to really bring it all together.  After all, what is the mouse without his cookie?



Kim with the beautiful mom-to-be, Jordan, at the shower.


Jordan, I am so excited for you to be Grayson's mom!  Little boys come with their challenges, but they are also so much fun.  I know you are going to be an amazing mom, but remember that it takes a village and fortunately you have an amazing, supportive family around you.  James can tell you from experience how much Aunt Kim is going to spoil that baby!

Happy Birthday, Jack: Pikachu Cookies

Today is my nephew Jack's birthday!
 
I cannot believe that he is 7.  It seems just yesterday I was in my dorm room at A&M jumping up and down in joy as my sister told me she was pregnant.  And I'll never forget getting home late after my trip from Germany and Katie asking me if I wanted to meet him.  Of course! There he was- this perfect little baby.  It was really my first experience with a newborn and I remember being struck by his "frog legs" and it amused me how I could pull one down and it would bounce right back like a spring. I was so awestruck with him and thought it was so unique and special. I now know it is a hallmark of a newborn.
 
Jack is my first nephew and the sweet boy that promoted me to one of my favorite jobs: being Aunt Malu.  I love how sensitive and loving he is.  I love his big brown eyes and his cowlick. I love that he told me I am "a really good artist" after seeing the Pikachu cookies.  I even love that my standard greeting from him nowadays is, "Hi, Aunt Malu, where's Uncle Kevin?" But probably most of all, I love his hugs.  When he asked if I could make cookies for his party and described the exact expression he wanted Pikachu to have, how could I say no?! Once again, I was forced to face my fears of the dreaded character cookies!
 

 

The one of the left is the face Jack described in detail.  He explained the positioning of his ears and said he should have a smile "like this" while demonstrating for me.

 

I hope you have an amazing birthday, Jack! I love you so much!

Winnie the Pooh Cookies

Thanks to a picture of Magnolia Pancake Haus posted on Instagram, I found out that my friend/colleague from college Jessica also lives in San Antonio!  We had the greatest job ever working as a "Supplemental Instructor" and at "Tutor Zones" at Texas A&M, but we hadn't really spoken since we graduated.  After we touched base with each other, she saw my cookies and contacted me about making Winnie the Pooh cookies for her niece's 1st birthday party.

Now, if I'm being completely honest, I was a little freaked out about making a character cookie.  The cookie has to be spot on and just the slightest element being off will ruin the look of whole cookie.  But, I put on a brave face and set out to conquer this fear!

 

Happy Birthday, Sakura.  You are one very loved little girl and very lucky to have such a wonderful aunt!