Weekend Highlights!

If you have ever taken on the MIGHTY job of cutting and decorating sugar cookies, you know from experience that it is indeed a MIGHTY job! I can't tell you the years I eagerly set off in the morning with visions of this glorious mother and daughter bonding time, as we gleefully baked and decorated together. I was usually deserted only a few hours into this project and was left in a kitchen that looked like the Pillsbury Dough Boy had exploded. By late afternoon, my fingers were stained with food coloring, my back ached, supper preparations were looming over head, and I asked myself 'Just what was I thinking?'

From those experiences, I have come to learn that it is most definitely a 2 day project. We mix, cut, and bake one day and decorate the next. It prolongs the bliss and makes it a much more manageable job. However by the end of day 2, with stained fingers and a slight kink in the back, I will admitt I still am a bit exhausted.

I was so lucky to get my grandmother's cake decorating supplies when she passed away. Although they spent many years tucked safely away in my cupboards, it wasn't until just a few years ago that I decided to get a bit more 'creative' with my cut out cookies.

Now every year, it has been a wonderful way for me to reminisce during that second day of decorating. The fantastic 'raspberry birthday cakes' she made, how she ALWAYS had a fresh batch of cookies baked, and her warm hugs. In away this tradition I have set with my girls, I hope they will continue with their children, using Great Grandma Hillmer's cake decorating kit. It only has one 'decorator' (if that is what you call it) that only holds about a cup of frosting. It makes the job a bit tedious because it needs frequent refilling. Every time you have to change colors, you have to clean it out to start over.

However, each time I go to rinse and reload, I smile hoping that Grandma is also smiling too.

Here is a glimpse at the Christmas program this morning. Sorry, my first video post, so I have now figured out that you must hold the camera at a particular angle. However if you tilt you head 90 degrees to the left, you will have a GREAT shot! :-)

Enjoy!

Freezing rain this afternoon in Cedar Rapids, glad we are tucked safe inside. Sunday night left-overs (clean out the fridge night) and a 3 hour Survivor finally! It doesn't get any better than that!

P.S. Em, I love you swap idea and will start looking through my supplies. Can't wait to hear the other tid bit you have!

P.P.S. Check in tomorrow for a BIG surprise! No, Milo hasn't gotten a job, yet!

P.P.P.S. If you are wanting the sugar cookie and frosting receipe, it is Pillsbury sugar cookie mix and can frosting, come on girls we are in the 21st century!