Christmas Cookies

My mom makes THE best sugar cookies.  She would make them every December for us to decorate.  I've kept this tradition alive with my children.  This was the first year that they turned out perfectly!  They were amazing.  Thanks mom!

Best Sugar Cookies Ever

3/4 cup shortening/butter (half of each)

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 t vanilla

MIX

2 1/2 cups flour

1 t baking powder

1 t salt

MIX with your hands.

Dough will be sticky.

Refrigerate for several hours.

Flour counter top.

Form dough in small ball.

Roll it out with rolling pin.

Cut into shapes.  

BAKE on 400 until edges are slightly brown.  

COOL on wire racks.

Frosting

Powder sugar

Cube of butter at room temperature. 

Vanilla

Milk until the desired consistency.

Add food coloring if desired.

                                  

Sister Jones & Toboggan Rides

 Brother and Sister Jones host an annual Christmas party at their house.  They have the most extensive village set-up I've ever seen.  They invite the whole ward over.  We hope this party will become one of our new traditions.  

Toboggan rides!  How fun is that!  

We love the metroparks in Ohio.  They have such awesome activities.  

We went with our good friends, the Spittles.  

Our kids were a bit apprehensive at first, but they ended up loving it.  

There weren't many people there so they were able to go a lot of times.  

 

Jessica captured them perfectly.  I love this picture.

My boys have beautiful, curly hair.  

I love their long hair...

but it was time for a change.

BEFORE

AFTER

 

Harrison was hilarious.  

Another One Bites The Dust came on while he was getting his hair cut.

This is one of his favorite songs. 

He was dancing underneath his cape. 

It was awesome.  

COSI Museum with the O'Neils

The COSI museum in Columbus, OH is amazing!  By far, the best museum I've ever been to.  We combine temple trips with visiting the museum.  We went down with our good friends, the O'Neils.  They are in our church and homeschool their kids.  

We're so grateful they are our friends. 

We love them:)

Unicycle on the high wire!  

The boys were brave. The girls were not.

                                  

  Princess Waverly is holding Princess Iralee.  
Princess Jaylee is holding Princess Evelyn.

 

Happy 11th Birthday, Conrad!

Where has the time gone?

Conrad bought a Kindle for his birthday with the money Nana and Poppi gave him.  

(We also contributed to the present.)

I took Conrad on a little date to Chili's.  He's a fun date!

I'm so grateful that Conrad is in our family

This is the funniest picture.  I laugh every time I see it.  

Love this kid.

Randomness

Harrison's new look!  His haircut makes him look older:(

Meanwhile, Jaylee's hair is getting so long:)

Group piano lessons.  With popcorn, of course.

Ping pong at the rec center. 

We had a ping pong table before we moved to Ohio...

Fondue Friday 

Waverly giving Conrad a beat down.

(He's a gentleman.  He let her win.)