These are the two batches of cookies I made...I needed four dozen cookies for my work cookies exchange.  I made the green ones first...they sure DID NOT look like the picture on the recipe.  I really wanted to make festive cookies this year (in past years I have just bought them) so I was very disappointed in the results.  When Jason looked at them he said, "they do look like chocolate chips cookies...that molded."  "Ouch...that hurts my feelings.  I FOLLOWED the recipe exactly!  The picture doesn't look like this...and this mixing bowl is terrible to work with!"  (seriously - the mixing bowl!!)  So bless his heart, he went out and bought me pretzels and everything to make the batch on the left...which would YOU take to a cookie exchange?? The question is, what do I do with four dozen mint chocolate chip cookies that look moldy?

This picture cracks me up...I was photographing my fabulous pretzels and he popped up...with crossed eyes!

We also went to a cookie exchange.  The boys walk around with our good friend Nancy (Leeand Nancy who we bought our house from) and pointed to the cookies that they would like.  The cookies were gone in THREE DAYS!! They were awesome!

and a picture with our favorite cookie host...Nancy AKA: Leeand Nancy.

Christmas Lights..

We got the Christmas lights up on the house...Jas had a little help this year!

The boys were so excited to help Jason..and Jason is just SO excited to be up on the roof, let alone having the boys up there with him, which basically just stressed him out...actually the entire process stressed him out.
(he is not a fan of heights...understandably...ever since he got stuck on the roof one day...)


Of course, Safety Sam sat most of the time...

I think I heard Jack announce, "Someday mom, I WILL walk the tightrope between the tallest buildings in the world!"

How this picture came to be:
Jason, "Come here boys...your mom needs a picture....hurry up....come on Jack....ok, take it, Katie!"
Me, "ok, smile! Oh - I don't know if I...."
Jason, "Alright, boys, your mom will meet you at the ladder and you need to get down."

and that was the end of the time on the roof....

Christmas Chains...

The other day I couldn't take it any more..."Mom, when is my preschool program? When does Xmas break start? When do I go to the Nutcracker?" So I set the boys down to make a Christmas chain to answer their Christmas questions. Yes, it sounds festive and cheery and all that sugar, but honestly, i was tired of explaining how many days to what...

While making their chains, Sam made up Christmas songs...something about about getting run over by a sled and thinking he was dead...really a good ho ho ho Christmas spirit song. As you can see, Jack was totally offended with it!

Of course, I had to take pictures of the chains on the doors...and as you can see, the boys were SO excited!
Jack is showing us his best Tiny Tim facial expression, "Sir, do you have a penny to spare..."

At this point, Sam is actually giving jack "smiling lessons."
"A little less teeth, Jack.  No..don't open your eyes so wide!"

After the lesson we tried again...of course I messed up and asked Jack to put his chin down...

Finally!!!

and immediately after the above photo, Jack told me, "NO MORE!!"
Like I really wanted to spend 10 more minutes taking pictures of such a cooperative subject!!

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

Have a great day, grandpa!
Happy Birthday from your family!
We love you!

 

December Daily Day 3...

    I am sharing day three of my December Daily with you because that is the day I have done...almost.

Day one and two are still in the works...imagine that!

On day 3, my mom came over for "Art Day." We sit in my basement and craft or scrapbook. On this day we made some Christmas tags for her friends. "How many tags do you need?" I asked...

She answered, "Well, five for this group, 10 for this group, 8 for this group....14,17, etc."

"Oh..." I replied.

I completed three!

Jack was with us for crafting day...he made a great little Merry Christmas sign.

(OH! Need to include that in my Dec. Daily!)

Jack worked at my mom's table. Actually, he is playing her i-pad..one of his favorite things to do!

After supper that night, we played some mean cards - Kings Corner! It was so exciting that the boys pulled out the pennies and turned our innocent game into poker. Sam won $268...meaning $2.68!! He kept telling us, "Look at all this loose change I won."  Don't think I have ever heard anyone at the casino refer to their winnings as "loose change!"

Here are my three Christmas tags that I completed!
Got the ideas off of Tim Holz's blog.