Christmas Cookies

The very first day of Christmas Vacation this year was spent baking cookies.  The girls chose four recipes that we would make -- nut tarts (a recipe from Aunt Chris and one of my most favorite Christmas cookies ever), peanut butter blossoms with chocolate kisses, gingerbread cookies and sugar cookies.  During the boys' afternoon nap, we set to work rolling the dough(s) and cutting shapes.

But first ... the girls made hot chocolate to sip on during the baking session.

Sophia loved going through the plastic tote of cookie cutters to choose her favorites.

The girls took turns with the dough, cutting each and every shape.  And then I arranged them on the cookie sheets and baked them.

They took turns and had the best time.

In fact, the difference in just the last year is remarkable.  They understand the importance of teamwork now and there is no fighting over who has cut more cookies or which cutters they want to use.

After the last of the sugar cookies were cut, we cleaned off the counter, refilled the hot chocolate mugs and prepared to make gingerbread cookies. 

It was perfect timing because Jack woke up from his nap and came into the kitchen, just as we were finishing up the last batch.  He immediately washed his hands, donned an apron and grabbed the rolling pin.

And he was an instant pro.  I mean, the kid cut cookies like he has been doing it for his whole life.

And just like that, we were done. 

I stored the cookies overnight in a plastic storage container and then told the girls that we would decorate them the next afternoon (during the boys' naptime).

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I made homemade icing and chose 6 colors and then let the girls be as creative as they wanted. 

It took them a few cookies before they understood the technique of not using too much icing; otherwise, it can be runny and a bigger mess than necessary.  And it takes longer to set up.

The girls took their jobs seriously and I often overhead them talking as if they were running a cookie decorating shop with an assembly line.  I just love their imaginations.

In the meantime, I had a table set up in the kitchen --- covered with a disposable tablecloth -- to set the cookies on once they were decorated and waiting to dry.

It was the perfect set-up.

And of course, there was more hot chocolate and the sampling of at least one cookie!

Like the day before, Jack joined in towards the end, well-rested and ready to partake.

Meticulously adding sprinkles to his masterpiece:

My little worker-bees:

Just finishing up ... Look at all those cookies!