A Visit From Santa

Santa and Mrs. Claus (our friends, Russell and Linda Johns, from church) came to our house last night to visit Drew. We had been telling Drew all day long that he was going to be getting a visitor at our house, and he was quite excited. However, when they arrived, Drew was a little nervous. They tried to lure him with cookies and candy canes, but he still wasn't too sure.

Santa picked Drew up and put him on his lap. For the first several minutes, Drew just chewed his lip and examined his treats.

I didn't think I was going to be able to get a smiling picture at all!

Mrs. Claus had to resort to tickling to try to coax a smile out of Drew.

Santa's jingle bells were what finally brought on a smile. Drew loved shaking them.

I finally got my smiling picture!

What a special memory!

Christmas Cookies

Drew and I did a little baking this morning. I wanted to make some Christmas cookies with Drew, and I was debating between regular sugar cookies and cut-out sugar cookies. I opted for the simpler cookies, and they worked out well. We used this recipe from allrecipes.com. I rolled the dough into balls, and Drew dipped the tops of the dough balls into colored sugar.

The cookies turned out well, and we had fun making them together.

Drew didn't want to stop with just one cookie!

Maybe next year we'll get more ambitious and make cut-out cookies and frost them, but these cookies were perfect for a two year-old to help make!

Christmas Traditions

As Drew gets older, we are starting some fun Christmas traditions in our home. This year we are really enjoying the "Elf on a Shelf" that my parents got for us a few years ago. Drew is old enough this year to search for the elf (Ralphie) each day.We have been trying to hide Ralphie in some fairly easy places this year.

I scrapbooked a page about the Elf on a Shelf using this week's sketch at Letsscrap.

We are also enjoying this 12 Days of Christmas advent calendar I made for Drew using a mini muffin tin and some decorated magnet squares.

I've filled each hole in the muffin tin with candy, coins, or a note from Santa. Yesterday, Drew got a note from Santa that told him to go look for a present under the little tree in his bedroom.
One of Jim's employees stopped by the golf course yesterday with a gift for Drew, and we decided to put it under Drew's little tree for his advent gift.
She had gotten Drew a Detroit Tigers Mr. Potato Head. Drew (and Daddy) loved this gift, and Drew is excited to see what else he will find in his advent calendar!

Double Chocolate Treasures

While we were in Greenville, SC last week, I went to a cookie exchange with my sister, Nora. We were each told to make 5 dozen of a favorite cookie, and then we brought home 5 dozen of a wide variety of cookies. I brought these Double Chocolate Treasures, and I am sharing the recipe today.

Double Chocolate Treasures

2 cups chocolate chips
1 stick margarine
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups oats
1 2/2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Melt 1 cup chocolate chips. Cool slightly. Mix margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Blend in eggs, vanilla, and melted chocolate. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients, except powdered sugar. Add to creamed mixture. Stir in remaining chocolate chips. Roll in 1 inch balls; roll in powdered sugar, coating heavily. Place on cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Cool slightly before removing from trays. Yield: 5 dozen.

Guest Designer

I have been participating quite a bit at the scrapbook sketch and challenge site, Letsscrap. I was thrilled to be invited to be the guest designer there this week!
I was asked to make a page based on this week's sketch.
I chose to use some pictures I had taken of Drew this fall at his library story time. I thought this sketch was perfect for my pictures and Drew's story time schedule and name tag.

I am excited about this opportunity, and I'm happy to be able to share it here on my blog!