First of all we mixed up a triple batch of sugar cookies. You can almost NEVER have too many sugar cookies around - though it took quite a while to get them all cooked!
Next we made a bunch of soft ginger snaps. These are one of my favorite Christmas cookies.
Then we tried a new recipe for a chocolate mint cookie. I'm not too sure about the green color, but they were tasty just the same. We cut up mint Oreo chocolates and put them in the cookies. Very tasty I must say!
A little more baking saw fruit cake filling our cooling racks and even a batch of the yummiest caramel popcorn you ever tasted!!! It's made with sweetened condensed milk and is hard to stop eating once you have started! Let me tell you, with 8-10 people in the house, it didn't take long to devour!
The picture really doesn't do it justice, but no matter, it is the only caramel popcorn I make anymore!
I am so grateful for all the help I had as we worked together as a family in the kitchen. Even with Chad's sore thumb, he was right there at my side helping and assisting every way he could. What a blessing he and my children are to me.
With the baking out of the way we were ready to begin making our candy houses.... but this year they didn't turn out too well as the structures seemed to have some structural flaws (the cookies were too soft). As the kids began assembling their houses, the cookies started to bow under the weight of the candy and frosting and pretty soon the walls and roof went askew. Not to worry though, we managed to get the cookie pieces decorated enough to eat anyway - which was the whole point!
Charity and Breanna loaded the candy onto their house! I don't think we've ever had such a colorful year for our candy houses!!!
Myles, taking after his dad with great house building ideas, decided to put a porch roof on the front of his house. Above you see him setting up the pretzels as his roof supports. I am happy to report that Myles house survived and did not self destruct under the weight of the candy and icing! Melodee helped him decorate it.
Naomi and Beth worked together and as you can see really enjoyed building and decorating their house. They decided they didn't want to put the roof on so they put up the four walls and then proceeded to fill them with candy and cookies! Yup, a very yummy year for the candy house tradition!
I love the traditions of Christmas. We are so very blessed to enjoy the bounty that we have. Sometimes I think we have it too good, but, I am grateful we don't have to struggle from day to day just for sustenance at least not physically. We are also blessed spiritually with continued revelation it just takes a little more effort to internalize spiritual food. This is truly a time to be grateful for - I am sure that 2013 will be a year to remember! What a joy it is to share such special times with my children and family every year at Christmas.
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