Making Christmas Goodies

Monday & Tuesday were baking days at our house.

I baked a lot of breads--some for the Cheer Baskets our church delivers to those in the community; some for my family & some for me (sugar-free & wheat). And I mixed up a double batch of sugar cookies.

So for Family Home Evening, we cut our & baked the  sugar cookies.

 Here is Benjamin helping me mix things up during the day.

 Emmalee & Zane--wrestling over something.  This is a common occurrence.

 Let the fun begin--mom rolls out the dough...

 Except for the small pieces I gave to Benjamin to play with.

 ...and the kids cut out the cookies.  First Emmalee,

 then Callum

 and both of them.

 Brienna was a big help--entertaining Ben & supervising.

 Then Tuesday after school we frosted the cookies.  I put Brienna in charge of that project.  I had mixed up the frosting, but she put the food coloring in & "taught" Benjamin & Emmalee how to frost the cookies.

 Emmalee had a blast being able to "do it all by myself!"

 And we gave Ben a small bowl of the frosting and 4 small cookies.  But he decided it was just easier to eat the frosting & cookies separately.  After a couple of spoonfuls, I had to hide the frosting.

 In the meantime, I made these loaves of banana bread--they all were sugar-free.  Three have s/f chocolate chunks, & the other 2 have walnuts (for Rusty). 

{FYI:  I am allergic to tree nuts, so in order to put the nuts in, I wear gloves (or just slip baggies on my hands) to make sure I don't come in contact w/the nuts.  Even touching the nuts can cause a reaction (cold sores, hives) if anything else is contaminated & touches my mouth/lips.}

 Brienna was creative & made a wreath out of the round cookies.

 The finished product!!  As I have gained more wisdom, I have realized that it doesn't really matter how "pretty" the final product is; the beauty is the memories made & the fun the children have.  Emmalee said, "I waited ALL DAY to decorate!!!"

 I also "helped" Ethan make a triple batch of cinnamon rolls.  He was asked to teach seminary Wednesday morning (our seminary teacher has pneumonia) & decided he wanted treats "...because I am awesome!"

 The bishop had been teaching, but decided to let a couple of the newest "elders" of our ward experience the joys of teaching seminary!  (his friend Austin taught today).

His report:  It all was good, except I ran short.

He actually got up (early), drove Brienna to seminary (a friend usually picks her up), and had a productive day because he had ALL day!  (not just the afternoons/evenings).

Our next project will be making gingerbread cookies--and I think that will happen next Monday (again for FHE).