It's Elliot's Day to Shine

It's time to celebrate, great-nephew Elliot's eighth grade graduation and an opportunity to take a look back at his K-8 years.

 From play dates at the local park when he was just my "little buddy" to becoming a regular fan cheering him on at sporting events, it has been a joy to be a part of this special guy's life.

 Sports has been his passion from an early age.  Baseball . . .

Hockey. . .

Basketball and flag football!

Elliot displayed his unique style through the years.  His mismatched hockey socks became his trademark and all those hairstyles!

Never one to shy away from wearing costumes, Elliot did manage to find time away from his demanding sports schedule to enjoy improvisational theater experiences at school.

When Covid forced the shutdown of schools, I became a tutor in his home classroom. His teachers did an incredible job of providing engaging lessons online,  so we just had fun supplementing his learning with online museum visits and playing games including our creation, "Where in the World?"

Although, Elliot enjoyed playing in the kitchen at the park when he was young, it did not inspire him to become an adventurous eater.  No amount of coaxing could get him to deviate from Covid classroom lunches of pizza, dinosaur chicken nuggets and white cheddar mac and cheese.

The interrupted school years due to the Covid pandemic will forever be a part of his elementary school memories, including the adoption of  his beloved Bailey. 

When schools finally reopened, Elliot returned to his local school, Portage Park Fine and Performing Arts Center for sixth grade.  However, in 7th grade he traded in the blue and gold at Portage for blue and silver at Taft where he will continue next year in the International Baccalaureate program.

Elliot brings so much joy to his family each and every day.

 

Gold stars for a special young man as he celebrates this milestone.

 

 

You are loved to infinity.  .  .

. . . and beyond!

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!