Christmas Cookies and Crafts

I've made some new friends at church through the last two years of doing Wednesday Bible study. One is Lori, who invited a few of us moms over with our little ones in tow to decorate Christmas cookies. Lori had a slew of sugar cookies and gingerbread men baked and ready to decorate. She even made homemade icing! Along with all the yummy toppings, the kids were in sugar heaven.


Some on the half-eaten works of art


The kids getting started


Sweet James, our host


Stacie and her daughter Mary Alice (cleaning up "snow")


Hayley was all about the sprinkles


A.E. sneaking a gumdrop


Cheese!


H.J. gets her chance to decorate, I mean eat

Cheese!

Sprinkle power

I'll save this part for later

Right here

Pat it down

Our collection


After decorating cookies, we played. Here's H.J. with the baby girls, Kate and Lily.

James showed the girls his bedroom!

A.E. is behind Mary Alice and look at Hayley go!

After we had our cookie date, we went to Nana and Papa's house for "nap time." Is that what you call it when both kids are on such a sugar high they can't sit still let alone fall asleep?

After "resting" we headed over to Stacy's house for some more cookie decorating, arts and crafts, and general merriment. Stacy always has the cutest ideas and a great big spread of food for us hungry moms; she had peppermint tea, sliced apples, fresh popped popcorn,--get this, NOT from the microwave--a new and delicious thing called a chicken ball with crackers. The chicken ball was kind of like chicken salad but with way more cream cheese than chicken. Maybe that's why it was so good!

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 8oz pkg cream cheese, softened
• 1 can chicken
• 1/2 can water chestnuts
• 1 pkg ranch dip seasoning
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

To Make:

• Mix first 4 ingredients at medium speed until blended.
• Form into a ball.
• Roll in nuts.
• Serve with crackers or Frito's. (I would go with crackers. Stacy did.)

After stuffing our faces, (or in my case, in the midst of it) we made these:


How cute! They are supposed to look like s'mores, and they came in a kit. Moms helped. Kids liked. We're going to string ours up on the tree. A.E. did the reindeer on the far left, and H.J. did the Santa on the far left.

Thanks to all my friends for planning such fun activities and the grandparents for taking us in in between play dates!