Holiday Cookies

People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us.  ~Iris Murdoch, A Fairly Honourable Defeat

I love that quote above!  And I feel the same goes for having cookies around at Christmas, wouldn't be the same without them and they bring such smiles and warmth to a table! 

Between both the boys school parties, teacher gifts, neighborhood functions, family gifts, and our own personal stash at home I think I lived in the kitchen the past week!  I totally enjoyed every moment of discovering new recipes and decorating each batch, but if there's weren't other holiday things like wrapping presents, cleaning and entertaining my children all day I could have enjoyed it much more!  Next year I'm defiantly evoking help from the kids, I don't care how they turn out, just so long as I get help!

Molasses Gingerbread Men




Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies



Sugar Snowflake Cookies



Melting Snowman Cookies

                   Saw these cuties on The Decorated Cookie and had to try them out myself!

Baked blobs out of sugar cookie dough

Coated in Royal Icing, watered down version so it was a little runny (melty)

Added mini marshmallows while icing was still wet.  The marshamllows were puffed in the microwave for a few seconds to get them mushy looking, and just a tip- I had to use a buttered knife, and buttered fingers, to get them off the plate and onto the cookie without sticking to me.

Added details with the rest of the Royal icing that I tinted with food coloring,

but you could use regular icing too

I'm sure they'll be a big hit at Carter's Christmas Party tomorrow!



Santa's Elf

We have been blessed with the presence of one of Santa's elves thanks to one of our wonderful neighbors who went to a book signing and thought of us!  I had heard about the Elf on the Shelf but never saw it anywhere to purchase or knew anyone who had one so never looked into it.  And to tell you the truth I wasn't too sure I like the idea of a little doll staring at us all day.  But I am so thankful Chip's here now, not only is he adorable but we have so much fun with him... and the kids do too :) 

 

Registering online is a must, the kids enjoyed the virtual visit to the North Pole and after we registered Chip there are so many neat games to play!

Chip's been hiding in some great spots but after a few weeks,  and if you have a small house like us, you might need some extra creative ideas and that's when I was on the look and found these:

http://www.complicatedmama.com/2010/11/return-of-elf-on-shelf-25-creative-ideas-to-hide-elf/

This will be such a great tradition for us, it's even helping to keep the boys in line with always saying 'Chip's watching, you'd better be good so he might tell Santa you've been naughty.'  Last week has been an exceptionally difficult week for the boys and getting in trouble so I used Chip as a helper to deliver letters from Santa in hopes that it'll encourage better behaviors.

If you don't have a Santa's helper yet in your home, I would certainly recommend one if you have children who still believe.  The magic of believing will only last so long and I'm looking forward to keeping the vision of Santa alive as long as I can!