Memories of Christmas Cookies Past... and Present

I do remember making sugar cookies with Momma. Or was that tea cakes? I got to wear the red checkered apron around my neck. We'd spread out dish towels & cover them with flour. We used our jelly jar tea glasses to cut out the circles.

Fond as that memory may be, a more amazing Christmas cookie memory (and I don't think Momma will mind me remembering this) did not take place at our house. It was at Rhonda's house. Rhonda's mom went all out for Christmas! Every inch of that little house had a Christmas decoration! She even had a little Santa that she had cut out from a Christmas card attached to the landscape painting in the dining room! (Santa was climbing a mountain or something like that!)

Then there was the baking. Rhonda's mom was always making delectable goodies in that kitchen. But the first time I saw her cookie sheet I was in awe. She had made so many cookies on that sheet, that you could tell exactly where each lump of dough should sit. I couldn't even guess the thousands of cookies that made exit from that kitchen.

I remember thinking, silly as it may sound, "Someday, I want my cookie sheet to look like that."

Well, I'm working on it, and have been for the last 8 Christmas'. Continuing in the tradition that we started sometime when I was growing up, I am still making Christmas cookies for my neighbors. Here's the progress I made tonight:

First off, we have my traditional chocolate chip,
but I added some peanut butter chips & oatmeal to stretch the recipe some.





Then last year's new recipe:
Ginger Molasses Cookies
A yummy, chewy hit!






This year's new recipe: Chocolate Mint Pinwheels!
I'm proud of how these turned out!

Swirls are my favorite shapes!

All that work for this little stack of containers! I topped them off with some kisses & crunch bells. The big bucket with go to the fire station with Dad, the flat container will go to our neighborhood fire station. That's a stack of baggies full of Chex mix there, too.

I've got a few more years on my cookie sheets now.... Rhonda's mom - I'm catching up with you! : )

(my first audio blog doesn't really sound that great!)

David Plays Again

For the first time in 4 days, David is playing in his room! (even though short-lived)

He actually slept through the night again last night, instead of waking up every 30 minutes. I took him to the clinic today even though he was doing better this morning.

The dr there said it looked like he was having a respiratory problem, and that drainage probably caused the throwing up. David did so good letting the dr look in his ears, nose & throat! His throat was red and right ear drum was "dull" but not red. He heard David cough while we were there.

He prescribed a decongestant to use if necessary and amoxicillin. He said to lay off dairy products until he's doing better and keep pushing fluids.

Tonight I plan on baking Christmas cookies... we're cutting awfully close on the neighborhood delivery. I didn't want to bake if we had a stomach bug, though.

First Christmas Presents of 2005

Poor baby... still not feeling well. He cried for most of the day & got sick one more time. I'm concerned about dehydration, now, as he hasn't been drinking much at all. Since the doctor's office didn't call us back, we may try the clinic in the morning. David & Mom are both wearing down...

Then about 8:30 p.m., David played for a little while. So we took advantage of this time to give him the Christmas packages he got in the mail today from Tia Taya.

Before we get to that, though, here's what the rest of us got from Taya's family: Mom got a set of "Kitty Klaus" placemats! Tapestry cats in Santa hats! Dad got a Snowman Fireman that lights up & a fireman figurine. A feathery flamingo Santa pen caught Tort's eye... though I doubt it was intended for him!

David got one of the personalized VeggieTales CD's! It's so cute! Bob, Larry & Junior sing & talk to David on the CD! Also a little on piece suit with fire truck & dalmatian on the front, and the cutest little fire truck slippers!

Here is David modeling the fire truck slippers!

He seems to like them - especially the wheels & the ladders!

Here he is checking them out more...

Now he's trying to take them off...

Success! He got them off all by himself!!

Now he's trying to put them back on.

David's Improving Health

His symptoms are getting better. This & sitting or sleeping on mom is all he wanted to do today.

...still sick...

Puking stopped, but now he's had fever all day.

David Is Sick

If you're checking to see how we're doing.... not too good. There are no pictures today, because I was too busy changing diapers, mopping the floor, washing clothes & towels... not something we want pictures of - a stomach bug! David is sleeping now, hopefully he'll have a good night.

Not feeling well...

David is not feeling well today. He's had a little cough when he lays down, some diaper issues, loss of appetite, and spit up pretty good this afternoon after he finally ate something.

This picture was from yesterday before the evaluation:

How many fire trucks can you find in this photo?

Does Popcorn Count?

I know people have thought this about ketchup... I have too. But yesterday...

I found myself wondering if popcorn counts as a vegetable!

Anybody else ever wonder that?

The Evaluation at WTRC

This was the cookie that David got at Santa's Fire Station the other day. Didn't want to leave you without a photo.

Today, we went to David's evaluation at WTRC. David & Mom (Dad was at the station) met with a team of 4 ladies: a physical therapist, a speech therapist, a motor skills therapist (not sure if that was her title, but that's what she did) and another lady who asked us a bunch of background questions. He basically played with them while they made notes and asked me more questions.

The PT said he is just a little late in starting walking, but he's doing really well. They have recently determined that exer-saucers cause a walking delay in some children & he spent a good deal of time in the saucer at Casey's - when he was just starting to cruise. Maybe that was it.

The ST said he was in the 12-18 month range. Keep working with him at home & she wants to see him back in a month. She said to use the sign for "more" and "please" with him while saying the words, put words with his play, and don't console him during a tantrum (which is usually what I do).

The MST (?) said he was in the 12-18 range, too. She tried to get him to scribble with a pen & put pegs in a board with no success. The other things he did for her fine. I had already gotten some fat crayons for his stocking so we could try scribbling, but we hadn't tried it yet. She wants to see him next month, too.

Mom's opinion - he's fine - he's cute, he's smart, he's lovable. I wouldn't want any other baby!!!

David Visits the Playhouse

Since there are no openings in any Mother's Day Out programs anywhere in town, David & Mom visited a play group today, part of a Mommy & Me class. The class size is usually about 8, but due to illness and other reasons, only 2 regulars came, along with David. All 3 boys - David (18-mo), Baylor (19-mo), and Adonis (22-mo). Baylor's mom runs the place. Adonis' mom is Greek & he's learning to speak in English and Greek!

I carried David in, since I didn't know where or what we were going to. As soon as we got inside & he saw the play mats and a stack of little musical instruments, he started grinning & I could not contain him in my arms.

I wish I could describe how cute he was when he picked up a little set of jingle bells & started shaking them, but I don't think there's a word for something that adorable!

First, we had circle time, playing the instruments as we sang 3 songs. David was so excited just being there, he could hardly contain himself. He was walking & talking, crawling around in circles and of course, rocking on all 4's. This was all in the first 5 minutes!

Then we had a bunch of beach balls - all over the place. Then we did a craft. David actually held his hands still for me to trace 4 times! His hands make the antlers on this cute reindeer hat! (Notice Mom holding his hands!)

Then they had a snack & ran amok. There were big foam structures & blocks to climb on & through, all kinds of toys, and David might as well have been in heaven when he found this table of gears!


I think this place is worth the monthly fee!