trovato cookie baking

Cookie day. A day my mother always dreads and my sister and I always love. I eat a lot of dough. We get our hands dirty. It's mayhem with children and music and other crazy noise. This particular cookie day was scheduled for the afternoon following Letty's preschool Christmas Program. Matt was spared the mayhem and took David home for naps while I kept hold of Dominic and an ever sick by the moment Letty. True to form that one.

My mom decided to control the situation by only preparing for two different cookies to be made. These sugar cookies as well as the Spritz cookies. Both of which have almond extract and I mean hello. Almond extract. For the recipes just follow the links. The sugar cookies were new to us, and the recipe called for rolling out between parchment and then refrigerating for some time. The Spritz cookies I pretty much find an excuse to make any time of year. 

We did lots of lining up of babies and just overall oohing and aahing over all the new life in the family. It's been a pretty great year for us and that's most appreciated. The past two cookie days have had a little bit of a cloud over them. But this year! Babies! How much fun it will be to watch these three grow together. Not that I'm rushing things. Because I would most certainly utilize a pause button should I be able to find one.

Isn't Dominic's outfit just the best? My sister had her eye on that at Target and oh so patiently waitied until we were certain he would arrive prior to Christmas before she snatched it up. So thank you Aunt Beth! For that and a zillion and a half other things you've been doing for us along the way. Oh and most of these shots were taken by my sister-in-law. She's good with a camera that one, even a camera as subpar as mine.

Sometime between the sugar cookies and the Spritz cookies Letty started to cry and complain of ear pain and so I whisked her away to the pediatrician for yet another prescription for a varying antibiotic. This girl and her double ear infections. Going on lucky number four for the year. As long as get it over with prior to Christmas. 

Last year's baking day here.

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letty's christmas program

This Christmas program... from the moment I learned of the date I made it my goal to be there. The thought of missing it sort of plagued me from September on. After I saw her Thanksgiving program I about cried thinking of missing this. So I was over the moon that I was able to go. Me with my little bundle now on the outside, just a short four days old.

As per usual I had been asking Letty for weeks what she was going to be in the program. I heard all sorts of tall tales. A goose. A bell ringer on a carpet. An angel. She was none of these things, as she was a gift. As in, brought by the wise men. I was also happy to see that her fellow gift was her very best friend at school, Leah.

Lots of family came to watch the show, not just our family of five. My parents, sister and Lena, my sister-in-law, and Matt's Aunt Sue all came from far and wide. 

They started by reading the Christmas Story, and each child entered the church as their part was described. Here are the two cutest gifts I ever did see.

The whole group sang Away in a Manger (with hand motions!) that even Letty participated in.

The costumes were removed and a few more songs were sung, including Jingle Bells, complete with bells. Which is where I figure Letty got the whole bell on a carpet thing. They rounded out the show with the birthday song in honor of Jesus.

After the show we were all invited back for cookies made by the preschoolers themselves. Then the kids could take us into their classroom and give everyone a tour. This made Letty most excited. Even David enjoyed checking out her room. He is going to love school. I just know it. He chased after Letty and her friends and just had no qualms whatsoever about walking up to strange girls and joining in with their play. This bodes well for the future.

It was hectic. It was loud. It was adorable. She is quite the little social butterfly now and I am very happy to see that. How much can change and how quickly. All the family stood back and became second string to her friends. Something all of us weren't quite prepared for. Yet.

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another year, another gingerbread house

The night prior to induction we headed over to our neighbor loves for our annual Gingerbread House Making Night. Otherwise known as the eating of the candy and the icing. This event can really take place at no other location than their house. Sprinkles at the mercy of a two year old is not something I want to introduce to my kitchen floors. Stephanie has milk cartons and gingerbread already prepped and glued onto Christmas plates and four separate bowls full of all kinds of candy large and small.

It's hard for me to let Letty's creativity flow but I did just that. And she ran with it. Covering house and plate from side to side and top to bottom all while occasionally sneaking a bite or two. We so do enjoy our time with the Fitzs. And I also enjoy crossing yet another thing off my bucket list. 

What does one with with these houses after creation? Eating them is out right?

Last year's houses here.

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cornelius week four.

The final week. Sniff. I gave up after a few days because there was a certain someone demanding my attention each evening so I asked Matt to take the wheel. A job which he took and ran with. Full steam ahead. 

Day one: Letty was sick with a double ear infection yet again, this time paired with a nasty cough. She loathed the cough syrup. Cornelius didn't think it was so bad. 

Day two: Sometimes you're just driven to drink. 

Day three: Can you tell who took over now? Quite the team Cornelius has am I right? Note the giraffe's nose.

Day four: He was caught red handed. Har. Har. 

Day five: It's a basement race!

Day six: Nothing like setting up shop next to the First Family. 

His goodbye act before heading back to the North Pole.

So goodbye, my sweet elfin friend! Until next year! 

For more Cornelius antics click here!

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