Real Life: Things to be done before Christmas ...

Friday, December 9, 2011

Things to be done before Christmas ...

There are still things to do before Christmas day. Banquets, gift wrapping, baking cookies and desserts, and more. I started this week with doing some baking. I needed a big tray of cookies for a school hot lunch and so I picked my favorite cut out cookie recipe. "Super Soft Sugar Cookie" is what's it's called and I got it from the Internet last Christmas. It's a really soft dough and because I cut it in shapes, I decided to bake these while the kids where in school and saved some for them to decorate. It was a long day of baking even though I only did two kinds and most of them are all eaten already. (More baking days are coming up!)

Baking apron ...

* Bake ... icing ... sprinkle with sugar *

* Recipe *

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 cup shortening

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. soda

1/4 cup hot water

1 cup milk

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

5 cup flour

Mix shortening and sugar until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla. Dissolve soda in hot water. Mix all together.

In seperate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add milk and dry ingredients, mixing thoroughly.

Cover and chill at least an hour.

Roll out on floured surface and cut into desired shapes. Place on greased baking sheet.

Bake 375 for 7 - 10 minutes.

... Icing ...

2 1/2 cup powdered sugar

3 Tb. water

1 Tb. butter

2 Tb. corn syrup

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 tsp. salt

Combine ingredients in mixer bowl and put in a squirt bottle and pipe unto cookies.

Sprinkle with sugar and enjoy!!!

* Peanut Butter Blossoms *

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* Ashlyn is 36 weeks old *
I finally caught her doing this with my camera near by!!! Ashlyn is 36 weeks old now and she has this thing with standing her head. (Well, trying to!) She's still working on her two bottom teeth coming through but you can now see the tips and it hurts when she bites on your finger. She is still chowing on cheerios and crackers. She is starting to crawl on hands and knees and if at all possible, she's pulling herself up and stands against something. I put my gate over the basement step opening because I am nervous when she's crawling around so much and I don't want her falling down those steps! She's growing more blond hair, her blue eyes sparkle, and she's a blast! Love her to death!!!

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* Buying a Christmas Tree *
Last night we went for our Christmas tree and after the kids picked the perfect tree, we went around the block and looked at the Christmas lights. Pretty!

Other years, we went for a tree and wanted to hurry bring it home and decorate it. Lately, Mike and I have been trying to enjoy all the little things about Christmas, so instead of driving our same route home, we went some back roads and enjoyed the Christmas lights that people have put up!

Mike and the kids even walked this little display!