Christmas 2008

We had a great Christmas. Yes Santa was kind to the kids but Mom and Dad did really good. Instead of individual gifts to each child they bought one big trampoline. We need something in the backyard until we can afford to build a pool!! It has been a big hit. Here are a few pics from Christmas.

Handprint Quilts

You want to make a Grandma happy....give her a piece of each grandchild. The story behind these quilts goes back in time to when Toby and his silbings traced their handprints for their grandma. Well last Christmas Missy brought up the idea it would be so cool to make one for Nancy. With 2 weeks before Christmas that was impossible for 2007 but it became the plan for 2008. Both grandmas would get quilts.

So I begin researching how to do it. I learned how simple the process was, use regular crayons and decorate your squares then heat set them into the fabric. I designed a pattern. I bought the fabric and lucky me...Everyone decided to visit this summer so I did not have to mail it out ((AT FIRST)). It is amazing how long it takes to coordinate so many people!! I finally did get all the squares back but it took months!

Well Quilt #1 for my mom was moving along well and by mid August the top was almost ready. Then enter a two year old with scissors. I really just went down to make lunch for kids and when I left the room Toby was still in it but he came down for lunch. But it does not take long for a little boy. It was a good thing Daddy discovered the disaster and not Mommy! After lots of tears and fustration , one more ironing helper set back, and 2 stores I was able to recreate what was damaged. The quilt got done and mom has a more secure sewing area. The quilt did get an additional square after the newest grandbaby was born in late Oct!

For quilt # 2 I waited a little longer for all the pieces. It was just before Thanksgiving when I got the final ones so I had to rush a little to get it done before all the gingerbread activity (see previous posts). We did have a quilt tying session the Sat after Thanksgiving so the local cousins could do some work on it and see it all together

I knew that grandmas would be happy for Christmas and they did not diappoint. There was smiles, a few teary eyes and great joy. I do not think I can top this gift!! What will I do for next year?

PS... I do have a no sound video of the grandmas opening the quilts but I cannot figure out how to get it posted here. It did not work on email either. It does not seem to be the right type or file. I will work on it. And because Toby was videoing it I do not have a still pic of Nancy with the quilt. I need to see if Missy or Tammy of someone else got one.

Gingerbread Cookie time!!

I love Gingerbread and houses are fun to look at BUT cookies are so good to eat. Making gingerbread cookies is a tradition from my family. As kids we would help my mom bake and docorate gingerbread cookies to take to our family and friends. I love continuing this tradition. Here is a sampling of this year's work. We usually package the cookies in family chains. But as our circle of friends grows I have to make more smaller cookies...all that baking is alot of work. But those who get smaller cookies also got some of Toby's Fudge....his grandpa's recipe! That is another tradition.

Please be aware that the plate of cookies included in this post. Robert did those all by himself. Everyone decorated handful of cookies and then the kids got up to do other things leaving me with many to decorate, but Robert sat with me decorating for close to an hour. He was having a great time and was so happy! Family traditions keep us strong and my kids will have these memories for years!!

Gingerbread Houses

It is that time of year....gingerbread. First the houses then the men. It is our fun family tradition to decorate gingerbread houses. Yes I make one house from scratch as you can see the twins helped me work on it. Steven figured out how to squeeze that royal icing out and he was having a blast! Austin's pretzel roof looks good, he did it himself.

A few years ago I could tell one house was not enough because of the disagreements on what to put where so we started something new. Each child makes their own little house and yes I cheat and use graham crackers for these ones. We started one year and had all our cousins over (almost all were in town that year over 20 kids!!), then the next year most cousins were not in town so we started inviting some friends to join us. It is now a mix of cousins and friends. We enjoy sharing the experience and it is really easy to share the candy. I still have lots of candy left.

The secret to making it so easy and stable....I get empty milk cartons from school and bring them home and wash them. Then it is really easy to stick the graham crackers around the carton without fear of the house falling over. It is so easy the twins who are two could do it mostly by themselves. I would squeeze the icing and they would place the graham crackers or decorate with candy.

I love gingerbread...Made the cookie dough for the men tonight. We roll them out tomorrow!! Yummy! I use a different dough for my house and men. I like the house strong so the dough is firmer and drier so it last well, but I love my cookies soft. It will be a long day tomorrow with all the cookie cutting out and baking but it is a labor of love. And each year the kids get better at helping. I will post some pics of cookies they decorate later.

It's snow...in Tomball, Texas

Snow is rare here in Texas. Well as I was picking the kids up from school the rain/sleet turned to snow. It snowed a good hour or more and we enjoyed playing in it. The kids even got enough off the cars and fence to make a golfsize snow ball!!

Toby was watching Rudolph with Steven when he looked out the window and said "It's snowing" He and Steven ran out without shoes to see it and feel it. When we got home from school Steven had just gotten his shoes on to come out with us to enjoy the snow. We had to wake Robert from his nap (he had almost 2 hours) so he could see it too. It is the twins first snowfall. We did not know how long it would last. It was fun while it did.

Why Cookies??

Well, I am entering the blogging world.

Why "My Family of Cookies" you may ask, because at our house the question is not IF mom is making cookies but What Kind. Cookies of all types and flavors are loved and enjoyed in our home. As we approach the Christmas season, Gingerbread cookies are on my mind. I can't wait to make our traditional cookie families and decorate our gingerbread houses.

I hope to use my blog to keep in touch with family and friends and give a little insight to what our family enjoys. And the top of that list is Cookies. We each have our favorite. Toby loves the traditional chocolate chip. Carissa has a fancy to my Chocolate crinkles. Tanner follows his Dad in loving those chocolate chips. Austin likes those Chocolate Pudding Chocolate Chip cookies. Steven loves to taste whatever dough I am making and loves all cookies. And Robert just wants another cookie, please.

Me....I make several kinds of cookies because I love them all. Each season makes me crave certain ones. I like sugar cookies at Valentines, pumpkin chocolate chip each fall, and of course gingerbread at Christmas. But throughout the year we make chocolate chip, Oatmeal Scotchies, Hershey drop kisses, Chocolate Crinkles and so many more.

I feel like a cookie right now....til next time Bye