Christmas Cookies and All Things Sweet

During the month of December, there is a certain buzz to the house. Some say it is the joy of the Christmas season, others may astutely factor in the increase in sugar consumption. With a healthy dose of Christmas joy and refined sugar, here are some of our sweet creations from the past month.

First decorating of the season at Friday play date

(how time flies - these kiddos have known each other since birth!)

The joy of the taste of the first Christmas cookie of the season!

A break from Christmas to celebrate Dad's birthday (cake decorated by Eli the cake artist...the marshmallows were his idea)

Back to Christmas: a gingerbread house

Tasting the decorations while the assistant looks on

Getting a little silly

Getting a little sillier

The finished product

One more taste for good measure

Decorating cookies with three preschoolers equals delicious fun

Christmas Eve baking with Grammy B: pumpkin pie for Christmas dinner

Three bakers making tasty treats

 

After all that baking, somebody has to do the dishes

 Brasel & Son Dish-washing Team

Oh, Christmas Tree!

Twinkly lights, fresh pine smell, years of memories represented in ornaments, and an excuse to sip a hot chocolatey adult beverage on a cold evening - what is not to love about a Christmas tree!

We found a few cute snowmen at the tree farm.

The girls are bundled up and ready to hunt for a tree.

A free-range Mimi

Eli in the wild

Where did Eli go?

We found our tree!

Daddy and his helpers

The tree is trimmed!

Eli's own little tree...to decorate (and re-decorate) however he chooses

Walking (inside - it was cold out!) to the Capitol Christmas tree

Viewing the Capitol Christmas tree

Getting a closer look at the train

Choo Choo!

All of us and the top of a big tree

Feeling Thankful

Although we are now well into the Christmas merriment in our house, let's take a minute to pause and celebrate a few of the things we gave thanks for over the long Thanksgiving weekend this year.

We are thankful for...

 ...smartphones to be able to watch Wheels on the Bus

...slightly older cousins to chase around

...spending time with Uncle Alex and learning how to use a hole-punch

...sharing all of Mimi's art supplies with our aunt, uncle, and cousin

...Mimi!

...fairy godmothers

...ipads to be able to watch Wheels on the Bus

...plastic bins that two cousins can hide in for giggles during Hide and Seek

 ...playing card games with family

...BUBBLES! In the house!!

...bedtime stories with Mimi

...still really thankful for the ipad to be able to watch Wheels on the Bus 

(note how the adults were in rotation as to who got to be viewing this video throughout the weekend!)