Cookie Exchange 2011: Cookies for Santa

It was time once again for my annual cookie exchange.
So, a theme was chosen (Cookies for Santa), the invites went out,
an apron was made, and eleven awesome ladies converged on my home.


The contestants were . . .






Caramel Filled Chocolate Cookies
Reindeer Cookies, Spritz Cookies,
Chocolate Cake Reese's Peanut Butter Chunk Cookies, Mexican Wedding Cookies,
Gingerbread Cookies, Apple Chip Cookies,
Alfajores and Cinnamon Roll Cookies.

Of course there were treats and snacks served -
including a hot chocolate and hot cider bar, complete with Cinnamon Dolce Syrup.
My favorite snack was the Santa Hat Party Mix.


The little Santa hats were just so dang cute!


After some snack eating and waiting for the last
two guests to arrive, we had a little handmade gift exchange.
We all unwrapped a gift and then for two minutes
two sets of dice went around the circle.
Every time you rolled a seven or doubles you had
to trade/steal another gift.
It was CRAZY!
I lucked out and got these yummy
and darling cupcakes from my friend Vicki.


Next year I will take pictures of all the fabulous handmade gifts.
Angry Julie brought a pennant that was fiercely fought for,
Kara-Noel made a cute bow tie & bow tie headband set,
Jaime sewed up some HO HO hot pads,
Syl made a fab sugar scrub,
Sam made a darling purple monster friend
that she stole back FROM ME so she only had to make
one for Christmas - smart lady!
There were other fabulous gifts that I don't remember,
but they were all awesome.

Then it was onto the official vote!
I got really fancy this year and made cute voting sheets.

And of course there were prizes!


Vicki took Most Festively Dressed!
And added more hair accessories to her coif.


Jen took the tastiest cookie and won the coveted apron.
(Double Mint Yummies)


Kara-Noel claimed the Best Looking Cookie
and won cute cookie cutters.
(Caramel Filled Chocolate Cookies)


Jaime was shocked to take The Most Creative Cookie
and got some serious Ghiradelli hot cocoa with mugs.
(Reindeer Cookies)


Marianne definitely had the Prettiest Cookie Display
and took home a rad cheese cutting board.
(Cinnamon Roll Cookies - lighted tower)


And no Cookie Exchange Party would be complete
without a little gift to take home.
Keeping with the "Cookies for Santa" theme,
I made these!


The haul was quite lovely!


And I had to fight my kids and husband from
eating them the minute the last guest left.


I made Alfajores this year and I'm sharing the
recipe card I made with you.

It's Christmastime: Christmas Book Advent Countdown

We did this last year and had so much fun with it,
that I had to do it again this year.
I already had enough books last year -
perks of being a former 2nd grade teacher -
but I wanted to collect some new ones this year.
So when it was time for Scholastic Book orders,
you know I grabbed some of $3 deals :)



I got wrapping paper at the 99 cent store and I love
how it turned out.
Last year I used the same wrapping paper to wrap each
book, but this year I wanted it to look just a little
more colorful and exciting.



We are five days in and the kids are loving it.
If you haven't started yet,
never fear!
You could start on the 12th or 13th,
depending when you want to end,
and do the Twelve Days of Christmas.
There's still time!!!

Some of the books we used this year:
The Jolly Christmas Postman
Snowflake Bentley
Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear!
Dinosaur Christmas
The Tale of Three Trees
Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed
The Gingerbread Girl
Snowmen at Christmas
The Polar Express
Snowmen at Night
Gingerbread Baby
Milly and the Macy's Parade
Oh What a Christmas
Christmas in the Country
Snowbears Christmas Countdown
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies
Tacky's Christmas
The Biggest Christmas Tree Ever
A Pirate's Night Before Christmas
Night Before Christmas
Christmas in the Manger

And remember, if you don't own 24 Christmas books,
you can use winter books, holiday books,
or even check them out from the library!



Enjoy!!

Picture a Christmas: A Christmas Lesson

This year it was my turn to teach the Christmas
lesson to all the Young Women at church.
I worried for weeks about what to do,
and then one evening I realized I wanted to use the theme
"Picture a Christmas" from the LDS Children's Songbook.
One Christmas was I was about 9 years old - I'm guessing -
Christmas fell on a Sunday and I sang it for sacrament meeting
and then I sang it for the children at juvenile hall.
I've been in love with the song ever since.
(P.S. I can't believe my mom took me to juvi to sing!)

So I asked my friend Leilani and her beautiful girls to open my lesson
by singing "Picture a Christmas".
My friend plays ukelele and they all sing beautifully.
Leilani writes her own harmonies,
so the song was gorgeous.

Then I shared the quote by Elder Neal A. Maxwell,
"Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus!"

And then proceeded with the following
activity/experience that I found on Sugardoodle.net.
I used my favorite Nativity that my Grandma Meyer gave me.
It is truly a treasure.
I wrapped each piece individually and placed them in a large basket.


I had each girl take a gift from the basket,
and we opened them in the order below.
I created the cards using some of text from the lesson
on Sugardoodle and the digital scrapbook kit
by Jacque Larsen at The Lilypad.

After the Shepherds my friend Jen and I sang
"Were You There" by Natalie Sleeth.









After Joseph I read an excerpt about Joseph
from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk -
"Maybe Christmas Doesn't Come from a Store."
Then I played for them a recording of the song
"Guard Him, Joseph" by Sally DeFord.



After Mary I read I read an excerpt about Mary
from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk -
"Maybe Christmas Doesn't Come from a Store."



After we opened Baby Jesus I shared this video that I also
found on Sugardoodle.

I ended by bearing my testimony of the divinity of
the Savior and my gratitude for His life, his sacrifice,
and his resurrection.
I shared my gratitude for His mother and surrogate father,
for their sacrifice and strength.

I reiterated the quote by Elder Neal A. Maxwell,
"Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus!"

And challenged them to make room for Christ in their lives
this Christmas season.
I gave them a pillowcase to remind them that
when they go to rest their head, that
Jesus had no place and to give Him a place.
I also printed a set of the cards for them so
they could use them with their own families.