Tag Archive | Christmas

The Gift of Girl Scout Cookies

Lily donated 26 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to the New Haven Food Bank.

Lily donated 26 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to the New Haven Food Bank.

Lily worked so hard this past cookie season. She worked the cookie booths with her troop and on her own every weekend. She exceeded her goal of 260 boxes by more than 100.

We also put out a donation box for people who wanted to support Lily and the Girl Scouts, but didn’t want to buy cookies for themselves. For each box of cookies donated to a local food bank, we would match that with a non-perishable food item.

11242014 - Food Bank Donation

Lily picked out 49 non-perishable food items to donate to the New Haven Food Bank.

At the end of cookie season, there were 26 boxes to donate to the New Haven Food Bank. Lily picked out 49 items to donate. Lots of things most 7-year-olds would want to eat; mac ‘n cheese, pickles, fruit snacks, and ranch dressing, just to name a few!

The purpose of doing this was to teach Lily the importance of giving back to a community that has been so supportive of her. Family, friends, and complete strangers helped her not only reach her goal, but exceed it!

According to their website, the New Haven Food Bank served 1,652 in 2011. If anyone is interested in making a food or monetary donation, you can contact the Emanuel Lutheran Church office.

Lily has been asked to come back during Christmas break to see how her donations are used by the food bank and to help however she can. We’ll be taking some candy canes to pass out to spread some Christmas cheer!!

Christmas Eve

We had plans to get dinner before every place closed. Sweet little Navy had skipped nap, so as soon as we were in the car, he was fast asleep.

Plans were altered. He would sleep for another hour after we got to the house, then we’d go out.

Waking him was another matter. So, we put him back to bed, and decided on take out.

It was 8:04pm when Henry left. Most places advertised closing at 8. Bummer. Even McDonald’s was closed!

Jokingly, I suggested Panda Express. I may have seen too much “A Christmas Story.”

We also did the Christmas Eve box idea that has been making the rounds on Facebook.

It was impossible to find Christmas pyjamas that Lily would wear. I finally settled for Lalaloopsy footed jammies, which she loves.

We also let her open a super soft blanket to sleep with that night.

Our Christmas Eve Box
– pyjamas
– hot cocoa
– microwave popcorn
– Christmas movie

Lily’s movie: My Little Pony: A Very Minty Christmas
Navy’s movie: Go Diego Go! – Diego Saves Christmas

Lily’s blanket: Hello Kitty Canvas Tote & Sherpa Throw
Navy’s blanket: Disney Planes Throw Blanket & Canvas Tote

Note: Navy is still asleep, so he will just open his in the morning.

Christmas Cookies

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Cookie Decorating Essentials

One of my fabulous co-workers suggested that we do a cookie/treat exchange at work. I loved the idea. After all, I like to bake and decorate.

I’m terrible at cut-out cookies.

The dough doesn’t roll right. The cookies rip when I transfer them from the counter to the cookies sheet. The edges end up burned.

So, I bought Holiday Cut-Out Cookies from Market Day. I’m not a fan of the frosting, so I also got Betty Crocker Whipped icing and decors.

Lily got to decorate first. She got 6 of each cookie (snowmen, stars, trees), half of the candies, and 4 decor shakers.

We attempted to have her do the icing before decorating, but that wasn’t working out well, so I iced and she decorated.

Navy had fallen asleep while the first batch was in the oven, so he decorated his after dinner.

He got the remaining cookies and candies, but only 3 shakes. I thought the one “holly” shaker would be too messy.

He did really well. Didn’t lick or eat any cookies he wasn’t supposed to. Didn’t stick his fingers in the frosting.

I can definitely see our family repeating this next Christmas, hopefully with homemade cookies!

Got a good (fool proof) cut-out cookie recipe?

Family Christmas (Picture Post)

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Lena and her doll

Our family Christmas is one of the few times each year that our whole family gets together. Food, family. Loved it!

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Christmas Cards 2013

I love the idea of sending adorable photo Christmas cards out. A snapshot of the kids and/or our family just before the upcoming holiday chaos.

It’s festive and popular, but it can add up when you wanna send out cards to everyone in your family, all your friends, the babysitter, the kids friends, etc.

Here’s how I managed to get this done in about a hour!

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