Cookies

I love the week before Christmas!! I am a planner - it is my nature - so I am the complete opposite of a lot of people this time of year - my Christmas shopping has been done since the day after Thanksgiving. That way I can take my time wrapping - and with Marlie in control of the tape, you need time!!!! And in these last days before the whirlwind of craziness, I can just enjoy my time with my family (and help my mother do her shopping and wrapping!!).

**On a side note - I do love the crowds of Christmas - and I am thankful that my Mom isn't a planner, because it provides opportunities like last night to jump into it all @ Toys R Us 1 week before Christmas @ 7pm on a Friday night - I LOVE IT - sick, I know!***

It is especially important to me this year that we take time and soak it all up - we have Jayson around for ALL of it!!!!

I read an article recently basically explaining why we have disappointment instead of satisfaction in our lives. The basic premise was due to the fact that we have expectations - good, bad, small, or big - expectations are what can destroy the satisfaction of life. I have to think a little more about it as it applies to life because I can see a lack of expectations as a problem if applied to a world view . . . but I know for certain, it applies to baking cookies with kids!!!!!

DO NOT have expectations of making a full batch of cookies, perfectly shaped cookies, or at times, even edible cookies!! Enjoy it for the messy, craziness that it is . . . it is our tradition that we started and we will do every year . . . and believe it or not - I think we got the most complete cookies this year than ever before - and Sam even helped!!!! The pic above is pre-icing, while the cookies are still whole :)