Making Sugar Cookies

So each time a holiday rolls around I think how much fun it would be to make sugar cookies with my boys. They can actually get involved and feel like they helped. I have cookie cutters for Easter, Halloween and Christmas. Plus the little mini set from Pampered Chef that includes a heart, clover, flower, chile pepper, star, pumpkin and apple. So it kind of fits all seasons. And we have a fire hydrant too.

I made the dough one afternoon with Parker and we put it in the fridge to chill. Well that particular night there was too much going on to make cookies, so the next day we pulled out the dough and made cookies. Both boys were awake and excited to be helping with making fun shapes. I could hardly get the dough rolled out fast enough. Of course the whole time I am answering Parker's questions to the running commentary.

What are we doing?
Why are you rolling the dough?
I want to help?
Why are you making fire hydrants, trees, boots (whatever cutter I chose)?
I want to make a star.

Then as soon as they come out of the oven he couldn't wait to sprinkle with the colored sugar. He liked to cover them generously. Which if you waited until they were cool you could tap the excess off and the whole cookie was covered and it was actually really pretty. He was also eating them as fast as they were coming off the pan. Then more commentary.

Why are you putting them in the oven again?
I want to eat them.
I want to put sugar on them.
What happened (to the ones that broke as I was pulling them off the cookie sheet)?

I guess he is learning. We didn't finish all the cookies. I had doubled the batch because in the past the dough didn't seem to make much. I was frustrated by the end. I always have these visions of having so much fun with my boys and all it did was stress me out. Perhaps I have my expectations too high or try to be too much of the perfectionist. Every time I do this I end up asking myself what was I thinking? This is too much work. I should just stick to brownies.

I just asked Parker if he had fun making cookies last week and his reply, yes, I want a cookie at Grandma's house.

Christmas in October

So we are on our way home from church today and Jim says to me.
Jim:"I wore my Christmas socks today for the first time. I didn't have any other matches. I had 4 (left) socks, but none of them were matches."
Emily: "Your kidding, your wore your Christmas socks?"
Jim: "Yep the black ones with red and green Ho, Ho, Ho. That is why I don't like Holiday socks, you can only wear them a short time." He says as he raises his leg to show me.
Emily: "That is too funny! I'll have to write about that in our blog."
Jim: "Well I will change before you can get a picture."

So no picture and I guess it could be his word against mine. I love Jim's sense of humor in situations like this. I bought him those socks years ago, but he prefers more plush like socks and so never wore them until he was desperate to have matching socks.

Oh and he always has left socks in his drawer, but never any matches.