Christmas Cookies

Each year I make some kind of Christmas cookies, while other years, I get a little ambitious and make more than 20 dozen to deliver and share. This year was an ambitious year so when my mother-in-law and sister-in-law said they were making sugar cookies I didn't know if my kids would be up for it. However, a chance to go to their aunts house, well they were out the door. They of course brought a plate full home, even though I know they probably had a dozen between the three of them. Or at least had a pound of icing to sample. Kyle had a lot on his shirt that he was saving for later. 

Anyway, these cookies took a little longer to consume because of all the Christmas goodies that continue to fill my pantry. (That's why I make my cookies early, so I know they are eaten.) I pack my husband's lunch each day for work and the kids have all gotten accustomed to figuring out a dessert to pack. Lane doesn't participate as much anymore but when he was little he did a lot with a special note. The other night I started to place things in his lunch and Morgan and Kyle decided they would each pack a cookie. 

The next morning, Morgan asked "Dad, did you like the cookies?" I was walking away from the kids, passing my husband, as he started to say, "oh yes, absolutely I loved them," and I whispered that Morgan packed the reindeer and Kyle the tree, so that he could comment individually, which he did. You could see both children's smiles.

Later that evening, we were all in the living room and the kid's van driver called, asking if he could stop to give all of the kids a gift, even though Kyle isn't even in school yet. (Our van driver is one of the nicest and sweetest people; he just is a genuine person.) After ending the call, I looked to my husband and said, "I don't even have anything made for him, I guess maybe I could give him a couple cookies the kids made." There were just a handful left. 

As soon as I said it he responded with...

"No you can't do that, those cookies are gross, they are old! And stale! You cannot give him those! They're over two weeks old!"

Morgan's head swiveled right to her dad and yelled, "YOU SAID THOSE COOKIES WERE GREAT!"

I had to hide my face and leave the room because I was laughing so hard. My husband rarely makes a mistake like this, like once every 10 years, but boy when he does...he makes it count. 

He tried to recover by saying, "well they were great yesterday honey, but today they went bad!" 

Seriously I had tears from laughing so hard. As Morgan looks away from him, he imitates pulling his foot out of his mouth. 

I packed the dessert today. :) 

Filthy Animal

This year our family spent Thanksgiving at home because of the coronavirus pandemic and even though I made a full dinner/lunch it didn't quite feel like a normal Thanksgiving holiday, so I think each one of us was ready to start with the magic and celebration of Christmas. I mean the kids had talked about their Advent calendars and were more excited to start those than anything turkey. After our lunch the kids talked about watching a Christmas movie, Lane had talked the Morgan and Kyle into watching Home Alone, and then the following day they could watch Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. 

The Christmas movie watching has turned into a daily, evening occurrence, and the movie has consistently been Home Alone. If Home Alone has been on television during the day, well...we obviously need to have it playing, even if we are in and out of the living room. It must play! The only slight break is if one of The Santa Claus movies are on. Now, I'm not really complaining because I do enjoy all of the above movies; I may feel differently by the time December 25th rolls around but for the time being, I'm good. 

However, when Kyle, 5 years old, is arguing with Lane, 12 years old, and suddenly screams "stop it you filthy animal!" we may need to reevaluate and limit Kyle on how much Home Alone he's viewing. Or maybe when we are all sitting down at dinner and the conversation turns into comparing dad to Marv and Harry as a legitimate conversation...well maybe we should start watching a different movie?! Anyone up for National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation?