Cookie Time

A couple weeks ago, we had our holiday baking day with my mom. My sisters and my cousins gathered at my parents' house for a day of non-stop cookie baking. We always have lofty ambitions and this year was no different. Some of our classics got the boot this year in favor of trying something new, but I think it was our best year of cookies yet. All of the cookies turned out awesomely. My favorite to eat is a new one that we added this year: Giada DeLaurentiis' peanut butter cookies with blackberry jam (we used raspberry though!). My favorite to look at? The cocoa thumbprints, pictured above. They just look like beautiful, snowy Christmas ornaments and I adore them!

One of the things I was most excited for was to have Penelope join in the baking fun. I wasn't sure if she would have any interest, but she was totally into it. She had a blast {and did a great job!} flattening out rolled balls of cookie dough for baking and filling up the cocoa thumbprints with sprinkles and candied cherries. She also got to experience some of the perks of baking, which is sampling the goods as she went along ;)

I took lots of photos, so I'll let them do the talking from here.

Are you getting into the baking spirit? What's on your list?

 

 

 

9 Christmas Activities for Young Kiddos

 

One of my absolute favorite things about being a parent is celebrating holidays with my daughter. Every holiday is suddenly new again and getting to see it through the eyes of my child is truly a special experience. I'm such a traditional person and though Penelope is still so little, I am already finding ways to introduce her to our holiday traditions and excited to create new ones for our family. At 22 months old (today!), Penelope is young, but certainly old enough to partake in some holiday fun. I came up with 9 things to do with your own toddler this holiday season!

 

Bake something. This past weekend, we had our annual holiday cookie baking with my mom and I was super excited to include Penelope in the action. She has been playing with our Christmas cookie cutters for weeks and I kept telling her that we would use them to bake cookies at Grandma's house. Penelope did a great job of using the bottom of a small measuring cup to flatten out cookies on the baking sheet and was so proud of herself. This totally made my heart sing, as a Mom and as a baker. Let them pour on sprinkles or roll balls of dough. Maybe try their hand at placing cookie cutters. 

 

Decorate the tree. Choose non-breakable ornaments and let your child place them on the low branches. Or, give them a boost to the higher branches. We are getting our tree this coming weekend and I'm pretty excited to let Penelope hang the first ornament. 

See some holiday lights. Many towns and counties have local events with holiday lights. Check your local listings for what's happening in your neighborhood. I'm sure even toddlers will appreciate twinkling, beautiful holiday lights! Our local zoo is having a lights and movie spectacular throughout the month of December. I cannot wait to bring Penelope later this month for Frozen weekend!

 

Build a gingerbread house. Again, not something that toddlers can do on their own, but I'm sure P will enjoy adding some gumdrops and tasting the 'glue'. She was pretty excited to hold the box in the shopping cart on Sunday when we picked this baby up.

Add a toy nativity set. My mom had the great idea to get a toy nativity set with the baby Jesus for Penelope to put under the tree. I love this idea. A simple, fun way to start teaching Penelope about the religious aspects of Christmas...not to mention it will be a nice distraction from the actual tree.

 

Watch Christmas movies! I do this anyway and P loves her movies. I know that some animated Christmas classics will be great for her (like Charlie Brown Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, The Grinch...any others you'd recommend?).

Listen to Christmas music. Another one of my favorite holiday activities. Penelope and I listen to music during bathtime every night. Typically it's my Disney playlist on Spotify, but Christmas music will be making an appearance.

 

Local church events. Check out what your local churches are doing for kids around Christmas time. Shaun's parents' church has a Breakfast with the Baby Jesus a few weeks prior to Christmas. It includes crafts, breakfast, prayers and some caroling around the alter. A great way to get kids involved in church at a young age! 

Give back. We always donate toys at Christmastime and I always know there is more we can be doing to help those less fortunate than us. It's my hope to teach Penelope as she gets older that we are truly blessed and lucky for all of the things that we have and not everyone is as fortunate. When she is old enough to understand, I hope to help her donate some of her own toys or clothing to those who need it. This year, she can help wrap the gifts and come with us to bring them. A small task for her, but one that I'm excited to show her early on.

{what a difference a year makes!}

So those are some of the things I plan to do with Penelope this holiday season!

What traditions do you follow with your kids?

What else is missing from this list?

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

It snowed for a lot of the day yesterday. Am I the only one who didn't really mind? I kind of love the snow, and the fact that I got to spend the day at home with my love bug just made it all the more sweet. I can't believe that another Thanksgiving is upon us. I really love Thanksgiving so much. It's a holiday that revolves around all of my favorite things; Food. Family. Cool weather. And no gifts. Don't get me wrong, I love giving gifts, but it's nice to have a holiday with no pressure to prepare anything other than some food to share.

Over the last month, I took some time to take note of something I was truly thankful for each day. Whether big or small, there are so many things to appreciate everyday. I hope to continue this throughout the year! I hope you'll share the things you are most thankful for as well! And most of all, I hope you all have a wonderful and safe holiday!

xo,

Rachel

Nov. 1: A rainy and cold day turned fun after seeing Penelope's pure joy at Field Station Dinosaurs.

Nov. 2: Daylight Savings awesomeness. All of us in bed at 8:40PM = Mom gets to watch Scandal in bed with a pile of Halloween candy.

Nov. 3: Dinner plans to celebrate Christine's birthday; so lucky to have my family.

Nov. 4: So much Mom solidarity on today's blog post. Mom acceptance starts with small steps of support!

Nov. 5: The realization that lattes are just $1.99 at Dunkin' for the entire MONTH of November! Woot!

 

Nov. 6: The most amazing sunset over the Hudson. 

Nov. 7: A man who peels 15 pounds of potatoes on a Friday night {and still likes me afterward}

Nov. 8: Our annual Sweatsgiving feast with good friends

Nov. 9: So thankful for my cousin, his pick-up truck, and his willingness to help us move our old couch to make way for the new one!

Nov. 10: In complete denial about my work trip to Denver but happy that my presentation went well today.

 

Nov. 11: A great travel companion for the Colorado trip; and we made it safely despite the snow!

Nov. 12: A good meeting, a safe drive to the airport, and a successful flight home from Denver.

Nov. 13: Not quite the reunion I'd hoped for {P was kinda mad at me}, but just so happy to be at home with her.

Nov. 14: The best co-workers ever who willingly went to Philadelphia on a Friday night for an early morning 5K the next day.

Nov. 15: Bottles of wine and chatting around the kitchen table with my parents and sisters until late in the night.

Nov. 16: Morning snuggles and Frozen viewing in bed with Penelope. But...since when does she wake up at 6:30 on a Sunday morning?

Nov. 17: Feeling bleary-eyed but thankful for a weekend filled with friends and family.

Nov. 18: Scott Foley. (I was unwaivering Team Noel!)

Nov. 19: Idina Menzel & Michael Buble's Baby It's Cold Outside...is it too early for Christmas music? I don't think so.

Nov. 20: A decadent treat on my way to work: the Dunkin' Donuts Snickerdoodle Cookie latte.

Nov. 21: My mom, who steps up at the drop of a hat to care for Penelope when I need to be at work.

Nov. 22: So much love! Celebrating the wedding of dear friends and the engagement of my sister and future brother-in-law!

Nov. 23: Celebrating life! My best friend's baby shower.

Nov. 24: A tough day that is testing the will of this working Mama. We made it through, though, and accept the things that can't be changed right now.

Nov. 25: A husband who cooks! Steaks and red wine for dinner.

Nov. 26: the gloriously cool weather and snow outside while I'm cuddled up indoors with my love bug.

Nov. 27: Feeling blessed and thankful today and everyday for my daughter, husband, family and all of the good things in my life.

Happy Thanksgiving all!