Christmas Cookies!

So...if you were to ask Kevin or Kaelyn about my Christmas cookies, they would tell you some hogwash story about me having a breakdown making them one year.  Apparently I screamed, yelled, and slammed things on surfaces.  I don't recall any of this.  Anyway, fast forward to now, and I have a good groove going with Christmas cookies.

Sometimes I make them willy nilly and people get the same kind in a large batch.  Sometimes (like this time) I make a bunch in a couple days time, so I can give a variety.  Here's my variety for this year...

Monster Cookies - I love these because they make A LOT.  I use these all the time because you can change the M&Ms in them for different seasons.  For instance, I used the Christmas ones in red and green.

(Half Recipe)   Whole Recipe – about 12 doz

(1/2)                          1 lb butter or margarine

(6)        12 eggs

(1)           2 lbs. Brown sugar

(2)           4 cups white sugar

(1/2)                          1 Tblspoon  Karo Syrup

(1/2)                           1  Tsp. Vanilla

(4)                      8  Tsp. Bkg Soda

(1 ½)                          3  lb. Peanut Butter (smooth)

(9)           18 cups Quaker Quick Oats

(1/2)                       1 lb. Chocolate Chips

(1/2)                       l  lb.  M&M’s for topping

Mix in Order and bake at 350 for approx. 12 minutes.

Snickerdoodles - These are new in my round of Christmas cookies.  I asked Rory what other ones I should make, and she said these.

1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup shortening 1 1/2 cups white sugar 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons cream of tartar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons white sugar 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2.	Cream together butter, shortening, 1 1/2 cups sugar, the eggs and the vanilla. Blend in the flour, cream of tartar, soda and salt. Shape dough by rounded spoonfuls into balls.
3.	Mix the 2 tablespoons sugar and the cinnamon. Roll balls of dough in mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
4.	Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until set but not too hard. Remove immediately from baking sheets. Ritz Cookies - These are the crowd pleaser.  They're so easy! Spread Peanut Butter on one Ritz cracker and Marshmallow Fluff on another.  Dip and coat in chocolate.  I use Almond Bark from Walmart.  For a difference variation, I melt a Rolo on the Ritz, then put another Ritz on top and then dip.    Lemon Decorated Cookies - I got this recipe from The Pioneer Woman, so I'm going to post the link to her website for it.  This is a Christmas tradition.  The kids love painting them.  Here's the link.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies - I have made these cookies ever since my friend, Amanda, first introduced them to me.  I love them!

1/2

cup vegetable oil

4

oz unsweetened baking chocolate, melted, cooled

2

cups granulated sugar

2

teaspoons vanilla

4

eggs

2

cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour

2

teaspoons baking powder

1/2

teaspoon salt

1/2

cup powdered sugar

1. In large bowl, mix oil, chocolate, granulated sugar and vanilla. Stir in eggs, one at a time. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt. Cover; refrigerate at least 3 hours.
2. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease cookie sheet with shortening or cooking spray.
3. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls into powdered sugar; roll around to coat and shape into balls. Place about 2 inches apart on cookie sheets.
4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until almost no imprint remains when touched lightly in center. Immediately remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks.

Makes 6 dozen cookies

Enjoy baking!

School's Out for Christmas

Kevin came with us to co-op last Friday.  Marley was really excited to have him there.  She's the only student without a parent in music class.  It does not go over well.  I just had to get through last Friday, and that was it.  It's done.  Everything is smooth sailing for the rest of the season.  There's nothing else I can think of that I'm dreading.  

We did some school today because I want to keep up with math and reading.  I got a bunch of stuff done that I've been putting off.  It felt really good.  The basement got a good start to decluttering and cleaning this weekend.  I'm pretty impressed with myself if I do say so myself.  I got some cookie batter made, and I'll be making more tomorrow.  I'm hoping to deliver cookies later this week.

We have our first cookie jar.  It's a snowman.  I love the idea of a cookie jar.  My friend, Mary Kay, had one at her house and it was always filled.  I'll probably have a love/hate relationship with keeping it filled.  ;)  My kids are rather enjoying it.  

Mid-Advent Daybook

Outside my window...
It's cold!  Brrr...second snow storm...check.  

Giving thanks...
For our first snow day.  You can thank me by the way.  I made sure we got all our homework done to go to co-op this morning, which resulted in schools closing.  You're welcome.  ;)

I am thinking about...
Advent.  I'm wondering if I'm doing it right.  I read all these blogs of people doing great things to prepare their kids for Christ's coming, and it's hard not to compare and be discouraged.  I think they're getting something at least.  I have some ideas to bring more of the liturgical year into our every day.  I'll keep you posted.

In the schoolroom...
This is our last week of co-op before Christmas break.  Rory has a huge project due this Friday for science, and we haven't even started yet.  Yikes!

From the kitchen...
I made potato soup for lunch today because it was snowing, and I don't have a vegetable soup recipe.  I've made this soup a lot, and it NEVER turns out like my mommy's.  Well today, it did!  I don't even know what I did.  I was busy making lunch for the kids (because they're weird and don't like potato soup), so I just threw this and that in without even measuring. *GASP*  Other than that, I don't know about you but snow makes me fat.  I've made chocolate chip cookies, calzones, chocolate chip muffins (twice), and corn beef and potatoes.  It's all about the snow.

I am creating...
A clutter-free house.  I'm doing it!  I started today.  Our house is small.  We have too much stuff.  Maybe it would feel like a bigger house if we didn't have all this stuff in it.  If we don't LOVE it, it has to go.

I don't ever want to forget...
How our Christmas tree looks this year.  I am absolutely in love with it.  In love.

I am working on...
serving my family because it has to start somewhere.  How can I serve God if I can't serve those He's entrusted me with?  Isn't compassion more important than complaining and bickering?  I'm hoping to teach this to the kids.

I am reading...
St. Teresa of Avila, The Way of Perfection for Carmel, Jotham's Journey for Advent, and Lost in St. Peter's Tomb for Logan's history class.  All three are great books.

I am praying...
Every morning the Liturgy of the Hours.  I'm supposed to be doing evening prayers too, but I ALWAYS forget.  I am getting the night ones in, so I don't feel as bad.  I am also really working on the half hour with Jesus that I'm to be doing for Carmel.  We meet in the garden every day.

I am struggling...
With patience, which is really funny since this is the season of patience and waiting for our Lord.  I am failing miserably.  Thank goodness God loves the weak.

I am hearing...
The Singoff.  We love this show.  We just have a day delay, since we don't have cable.  It's where different groups sing a cappella.

Around the house...
I'm decluttering.  It has to be done.  The end.

One of my favorite things...
Our new Skinny Cow chocolate treats.  It's a variety box I found at BJ's.  I have one every night with hot chocolate because my mom says that warm things in your belly make it fuller.  Words of wisdom.

A few plans for the next week...
Not much.  I'm taking Kaelyn and Rory to see the Nutcracker at a local high school.  One of the girls that goes to our co-op is the principle ballerina.  I think there's a couple of cub scout meetings, but nothing that can't be canceled.  ;)  I want to do nothing but declutter and prepare.

A picture thought for you...

Doesn't she look like a little grown-up in this outfit?!  I can't stand it!


  

This Weekend

So this weekend I was supposed to go to the Thirty-One spring premiere, and I was supposed to go to my Carmel Advent retreat.  I didn't go to either.  I went to the gym.  I stayed home.  It needed to be done.  This is a time of patience and waiting, not running around crazy, and while I think it would have been silent and peaceful at the retreat, it was just better for me to be at home.  We were able to get the tree decorated...finally.  

We went to evening Mass because Rory was serving. Then we went to our co-op Christmas party.  That was out of character for me because I don't normally put myself out there for those things.  It went well.  I'm glad we were able to go.  This is my new community.  I have to be a part of it if I want to be a part of it.  Yes?  

Today Logan went to his first football game to see the Redskins get creamed.  I think the score was 45-10.  Besides the fact that there was a winter storm that showed up this morning, they had to lose too?  That just doesn't seem right.  Logan and Kevin were pretty prepared for the cold.  We got Logan some snow bibs to wear there and dressed him in his snow boots.  He lasted a lot longer than I thought he would.  They left about 3p.  

The girls and I tried in vain to make it to Nana's, and I had two pretty upset girls on my hands.  Since they were going to Nana's to decorate, I busted out the paper cutter and construction paper and showed them how to make holiday chains.  We have two red and green ones and a pink and purple in the making. A few are already hanging up.  We ended up making it down to Nana's for dinner to meet the boys there.  I did get to make some chocolate chip cookies too that I brought.  I meant to do a lot of my Christmas cookie baking today, but I was out of brown sugar and vanilla, so chocolate chip was all that got done.  :(  Guess what I'll be doing next week. 

Quick Takes Friday

1.

Well, I didn't get all my shopping done before Christmas like I wanted.  I have the majority done and just need a little something here and there.  

2.

Marley seems to be over her cold or whatever it was. Fingers crossed that no one else gets it.  Logan's pretty stuffy, and we were worried, but he woke up saying he felt a lot better.  I'm so glad because Sunday is his first football game...in the snow.  :(

3.

We just have to get through the 13th.  ;)  The 13th is my mom's birthday.  Happy Birthday, Mommy!  It's the kids' last day of school before Christmas break.  It's Chick-Fil-A day at school.  Kevin's coming to school with us.  Logan will be marching as a shepherd in his boy scout parade that night.  

4.

Three more days of school.  Three more days of school.  Three more days of school.

5.

It's 937p, and I am completely unprepared for school tomorrow.  I have no idea what I'm doing for my lesson plans.  It's the feast of Saint Nicholas, so maybe I'll go off that.

6.

Our Christmas tree is crooked.  We straighten it over and over again, and it still looks crooked.

7.

I have made absolutely no sales this month with Thirty-One.  Everyone else is posting their record breaking numbers.  It bothers me, but I have to be ok with it.  This is what I chose, right?

We were making cookies, and her hands were clean, so I told her she couldn't touch anything.

Ummm...yeah....

Logan's reaction to my dad giving him a ticket to his first football game for Christmas.

Kevin makes really good french toast.  This is how he gives it to me because I'm picky about which fork I use.  I know it's not just me.  My dad has his own silverware and everything!  ;)

Happy Birthday, Papa!

Papa's birthday was Monday, and I forgot his birthday blog.  Sorry, Papa.  Here's Papa's birthday pictures.

For your entertainment purposes, here's Marley...

Happy Birthday, Papa!  We love you!

O Christmas Tree!

This is by far the earliest we have ever attempted to get a live tree.  We're seriously doubting our black thumbs will be able to keep this stinker alive, but we have a secret weapon that give us hope...Rory.  Rory has a very green thumb and has managed to keep our bamboo tree alive this long, so she's better than the rest of us.  It's her job to water the tree.  We said that whoever's day it was, that they get to water the tree, but Rory will be on top of it still.  We kept looking for a thin, tall tree...so no fat bottoms.  :)  Last year's tree was a little short, so we learned that lesson.  Not far enough to measure, but to make sure we eyeballed it more closely.  Marley is still sick, so we were trying to hurry.  Plus it was EXTREMELY busy.  We were going to wait mid-week, but the weather is supposed to get wet and Kaelyn didn't have to work today.  

I'm one of those silly people that thinks the trees actually talk to you.  When Kevin pointed this one out, I actually teared up.  It is perfect.  

I haven't taken any pictures of it up yet.  We didn't trim it today.  I don't know when all the stars and planets will align for that to happen.  We also got our Advent wreath up and lit the first candle tonight, as we'll do every night this week.  We started our St. Andrew's Novena, but we're having trouble saying it throughout the day, and it's our second night saying all fifteen in a row.  Yikes!  Mary and Joseph will show up tomorrow and start their trek around the house, and Jesus will hide until His birthday.  As always if any of the kids find Him before His birthday, they get a prize.  This NEVER happens, but it keeps their minds in the right place.  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....