Christmas 2009

We're growing!

Six original Denholms, 3 siblings in-law, and 2 new babies provides for one blessed Christmas 2009! This year, instead of celebrating at my parent's house, was our first year celebrating in Virginia at Kelly and Scott's and also our first year with babies! It was crazy, it was short, but boy was it fun.

Highlights of the holiday
(in no particular order):

 1.) Sledding on Christmas Eve with my 26-year-old brother and 31-year-old brother-in-law (except we didn't have sleds, so we had to scrounge up anything and everything sled-able.)

2.) A REAL winter jacket (with down stuffing and all!); warmest thing I've ever put on my body.

3.) ECPLIPSE

4.) This one:

5.) A white christmas thanks to the below-freezing temperatures that kept the snow from melting from 5 days prior.

6.) My 7-lb. nephew dressed up as Santa Claus :)

7.) Happy new families:

8.) Healthy family, all in one place.

9.) Vegan Vacay that allowed me to eat Christmas Eve hors d'ouvres.

10.) Rest.

11.) Cooking class in Philly with a well-known Vegan Chef...so excited.

12.) Spice Rack, complete with over 20 organic spices (Call me silly, but spices are expensive!)

13.) Witnessing my brother-in-law soothe his crying, 4-week-old son by singing Rick Astley.

To say this was a great Christmas would be an understatement. 

Praise God for making that the case.

Cookies with a side of Blizzard 2009

Every Christmas since as far as I can remember, and home videos tell me this was the case even before I can remember, my mom makes a huge platter of Christmas Cookies. Not just boring, everyday cookies; special recipes saved strictly for Christmas.


Some of my favorites in the Momma Denholm Christmas collection: Venetians, Mint Chocolates, Jam Thumbprints, Peanut Butter Kisses


This year, despite our travel to Virginia for the holidays and short (-er than usual) time together, would be no different. Me and mom let traditional Christmas cookies skip a year? You're crazy.


Two loves I inherited from my mother: Baking and Cookies :) 


And so began Cookie Baking Extravaganza 2009:

Ingredients are out and we're ready to bake!

Master Baker

One of the seven final batches -- Jam Thumbprints!

And to top-off our day of cookies, coffee, christmas music and green snowflake flannels......SNOW! 


And lots of it. 


Blizzard 2009; FINALLY!

The backyard, covered in 16 inches

My poor Texas car, she must be so cold...

 Sweet pups and their cute little jackets!

SNOW SNOW SNOW

Weathermen predict it to start tonight and continue ALL weekend!

**FINALLY**

Come on snow, bring it. And maybe a couple snow days next week?

Thanks.

Is this cheating? (Cookie 2 of 3)

As an aspiring baker, is this cheating?

They were just so easy and came out so pretty...See?

That is a lie, not all of them came out pretty. I laughed when these came out and had to document the square of Snickerdoodle...

It took all that I have to convice myself that it was OK to use Break 'N Bake cookies in place of homemade. What constitutes homemade, anyways? I mean, I made them at home...

Just so tired. Didn't have it in me or the time to make another 2 homemade batches of cookies. Plus, girl's gotta save her energy for Saturday's day of Christmas baking with the mom. Christmas music, candles, fresh coffee, green christmas lounge pants, and the lady that taught me everything I know; That's where the good stuff is made! 

Next up: cookie installment 3 of 3.