It's Fun to BEE five!

 

Great-niece, Avery is five!

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In 2019 when Avery was celebrating all of her "firsts" she was not happy with everyone who wanted to have a photo op with her.  Fortunately, she now LOVES parties and time spent with her large extended family.

Her many adventures this year included her annual trip to Mexico and a much anticipated trip to Disney where she met her favorite doctor.

A curious girl who loves learning, Avery showed an avid interest in larvae this year, so I hope she likes her bee cookies as much as she liked observing the creepy critters.

 Avery loves spending time with the cousins .  .  .

but Mom, Dad and Lincoln, continue to be her best pals.

 

 

 

 

Avery has so many interests, but she still manages to spend plenty of time in the kitchen.  Perhaps one day she will inherit my large cookie cutter collection.  

From rock climbing to hanging with a rock star and all the activities in between, Avery is a busy bee!

Love, hugs, cookies and happy birthday wishes!

 

Hoppy Easter

 

I have hundreds of cookie cutters and always tell myself not to buy more, but when I saw this one online it was too cute to pass up.

 

Stenciling cookies is supposed to be easy, but I'm not sure I will ever master this technique.  Fortunately my  family doesn't mind imperfections, so I will just keep practicing.

Since my family prefers mini sized cookies, I thought these conversation eggs would be a fun addition to our Easter platter.

The bunny in a carrot car reappeared this year and great-nephew Elliot suggested that I add his cousin Leann's name to one of them because she is a new driver.  Leann won't be with us for the holiday because she is on a spring break trip to South Africa, so perhaps this will be a fun surprise for her when she returns home.

Sixteen Years Awesome!

 

Congratulations, today is your day . . .

Leann is my cookie puzzle loving great-niece and I have made several of them for her over the years.

 

 

Of course, her sixteenth birthday collection had to include a special puzzle just for her.  Much harder than it looks, my brain just doesn't work well with puzzles.  I bought the cutters, numbered them, cut pieces out on paper to know how to put it together and then cut out lots of cookies to make sure I didn't break any while trying to piece it together.  The final design was "plan B" because my original concept didn't work, so I was pleasantly surprised when her Mom picked up the cookies and told me that tie dye was trendy right now.

 

Since Leann is passionate about soccer, big sister, Mary Grace, insisted that soccer cookies had to be part of this collection.

There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball.

Flashback to Leann's eighth birthday .  .  .

 

I used the same cookie cutter for the mermaid and the balloon bouquet.

In addition to soccer and dance, Leann is involved in numerous service programs including:  Sister Sister, Best Buddies, Give a Little, fundraising for Dental Awareness and her church youth group.  

A very busy schedule for someone who also has to allow for the time it takes to make the 22 mile round trip to attend the high school of her choice.  No doubt, acquiring her driver's license will be the first thing on her birthday "to do" list.  I wish her lots of luck as she maneuvers the expressway that will be under construction until she graduates.

You'll look up and down streets.  Look 'em over with care. About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."  With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,  you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

Leann recently completed the 9,036 piece Legos Colosseum so I thought she would appreciate my effort at building a gift box out of cookies.

From family trips, to a service project in Alabama last summer, to spring break 2024 in South Africa, Leann is a girl on the go, with a loving supportive family waiting for her at home.

Sixteen years awesome, sixteen years loved. 

Can't wait to see all the places you'll go!

References:

Quotes from "Oh the places you'll go!"

Haniela's gift box

 

 

KISS for Christmas!

Kept it simple. . .

Since my sister, Rita has carried on Mom's tradition of making thousands of Christmas cookies to share with family and friends, I do not need to make many cookies at this time of the year.  I am happy to add my sugar cookies to her platters of family favorites. 

 

This year, great-niece Avery helped pack the cookie trays for the family Christmas Eve 

gathering. . .

 

and proudly displayed them after donning her new Mira, Royal Detective costume.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Book Club 2023

 

 

When I moved to Park Ridge in 2018, it was a pleasant surprise to learn that there was a book club in our community.  The Uptown Girls Book Club has brought me new friends, interesting book titles and lively discussions every month.  It has become a tradition that I create cookies related to my book choices when it is my turn to host.

For my January book club meeting, I selected a book because I loved the story. . .or was it because of all the options for cookie designs?  I imagined creating pretty pink roses, blue puzzle pieces and so many more.  However, a broken wrist prohibited me from baking.

Although, we have a large membership in our club and I didn't need to host another meeting for at least 18 months, I decided to partner with a friend and host the Christmas party this year.  We chose a snowflake theme and I boxed cookies for party favors with a simple bow and  a tag that said:

Books are like snowflakes, no two are the same.

It's Turkey Time

 

The cookie collection for our large family gathering includes the acorn turkey that is one of my favorite designs, a turkey from a seashell cutter and two "flips" from cutters that I have owned for years and have never used.

A turkey from a flower cutter inspired by the very creative, Jill FCS .  .  .

and a scarecrow from a manger.  This is the first "flip" that I designed on my own.  It won't be one of my favorite scarecrow designs, but it was fun to try something new.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Carol's Class Reunion

 I was asked to make cookies for my sister's 60th grade school reunion so I duplicated the cookies I made for my 50th reunion in 2016.  Simple caps and diplomas with a tag in our school colors.

160 cookies are bagged, tagged and ready for the party.  I hope Carol enjoys reconnecting with old friends as much as I did.