I was 6 now I'm 7

 

Who knew that 6 7 would be such a cultural phenomenon that it would be selected as dictionary.com's word of the year?  This trend may not last, but the timing was perfect for great-niece Avery's birthday!

Since Avery has started to choose the theme for her birthday party, I try to anticipate what she will select.  I thought it would be 6 7, or possibly Taylor Swift, but then I learned about her love of Labubu collectibles and thought for sure that would be it.  Definitely NOT!  She chose Wicked.

Let's just say that she has had a "wickedly" interesting year. 

Her first day of school sign showed a significant change this year.  In preschool and kindergarten she said she wanted to be a doctor, but this year she wants to be a teacher.  

I wonder how many careers we will see on that sign in the future?

Avery loves school and definitely appears to prefer working on homework projects that include a partner to all of those individual assignments.

This year  Avery experienced many "firsts."  She lost her first tooth, added a balance beam to her play room, appeared on her school's social media page, had her ears pierced .  .  .

 .  .  . and was featured as a design critic in Chicago magazine.

Avery can still be seen hanging around with Lincoln, her best pal.

However, she LOVES cats and seems to find them everywhere she goes.

Love cats?  Why not get a job at the local pet store?  Another first for her this year.

On my birthday, Avery sent me a very sweet video and told me that she hopes she will make me birthday cookies some day.  She is a good baker and has already learned the problem with black food coloring that I had to use for her Halloween cookies.

Avery was 6 now she's 7, but no matter what her age she continues to be wicked sweet.

             Love, hugs and cookies to a very special girl! 

 

 

 

 

6 7 Easter and More

Avery's 7th birthday coincides with Easter this year so 6 7 cookies for her.

A repeat from 10 years ago.  The kids like creating different designs with the mini cookies and candies.

 Some simple minis to add to the dessert table.

Finally, Leann joined me this year to decorate the lamb cake. She added some new touches and chose to name this creation Hillary.

 

                                                                  Happy Easter!
 

Merry Christmas!

 

Santa and Grinches for friends. . .

Happy Birthday and first Christmas to our Christmas baby, great-great nephew,  Kolten. . .

 and traditional minis for the family.

 Love, Hugs, Cookies and Merry Christmas to all!

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Our Thanksgiving celebration was also a birthday party, acknowledging the numerous milestones reached in November.  Brother-in-law, Marty celebrated 80 years . . . 

Niece Wendy reached her 50th milestone, and great niece Chiann celebrated her 30th.  

Finally, a turkey with a party hat for my Irish twin.  It may not be a milestone for Rita this year, but she is the one family member with a birthday that was actually on Thanksgiving Day!

 

 

 

Halloween Treats for Avery

 

Last spring while attending cousin Leann's soccer game, Avery proudly displayed the blisters and callouses that she earned while climbing the monkey bars!  She then said, "I want you to make cookies of my hands."   So, Halloween seemed like the right time to make these designs.

In addition, I added a few K-pop cookies to her trick-or-treat bag.  Since I knew nothing about this global phenomenon, I spent some time reading online and then hand cut the designs rather than purchasing more cookie cutters.   

Avery always joins Grandpa Bill to distribute candy on Halloween night, she switched out her pink wig for a clown mask to match the Halloween decorations in the yard! 

 

 

 

Happy 75th Birthday!

 

A few cookies + a cute card  

 to wish my pickleball loving brother-in-law a happy birthday.

  

          Dinking of you on your birthday! Hope it's a great one!

 

 

 

Happy Easter

 

Many, many years ago, I purchased these teeny-tiny crystal bunnies in St. Thomas for 1.00 each.  Buyer's remorse, I should have purchased dozens for gifts.  Of all the things in my home, those bunnies are what people commented on the most.  Over the years countless nieces and nephews played with them, loved making them kiss and they survived it all.  They now happily reside at great-niece Jody's house and have become a family "heirloom."

So, although I keep telling myself to stop buying cookie cutters, when I saw this set from Mike at Semi Sweet Designs, I couldn't resist.

This cute little pair were added to the family cookie platter and boxed as gifts for friends. 

I also finally got around to making this guy that has been on my "to do" list since 2016 when Montreal Confections first posted the design on YouTube.  I couldn't decide if I wanted a fuzzy bunny or not, so he is sporting a beard of sorts. 

In addition to cookies, the lamb cake tradition continues.  Great-nieces Leann and Mary Grace are representing the 4th generation to decorate the cakes.  I baked, they decorated!

                        

 

SIX is for Avery

It's been another wonderful year watching dear, sweet, great-niece Avery grow.  She continues to be a foodie. . . 

 

 

still loves fashion .  .  .

 

and wears it all with style and perhaps a bit of attitude.

 

 

Avery has become quite the little helper this year.  No projects are too big or too small for her.

Kindergarten took her to a new school.  .  .

 

 

. . . and on the first day, she once again said she wants to be a doctor just like she did in preschool.  However, with all of the activities she enjoys, I suspect she might change her mind over and over in the years ahead.

One of Avery's goals this year was to use the monkey bars without assistance.  Although she broke her wrist on a failed attempt, her cast did not slow her down.  The little daredevil even added gymnastics and rock climbing to her routine.

Halloween has always been a favorite holiday for the family and she was quite enthusiastic about decorating this year.

Avery is definitely following in Mom and Dad's footsteps when it comes to interest in design.

Avery's earlier birthday celebrations included cookie designs of my choosing, pastel and cute.

 

However, this year was the first time that SHE chose the theme for her birthday party, Wednesday/Barbie, and asked all of her guests to wear pink.

The theme was a new one for me and I had to do a little research on Wednesday Addams, so it seems that she is following the family tradition of challenging me to make some unusual designs.  Her older cousins had some pretty unusual requests at young ages, too.  Elliot asked for numbers for his sixth birthday so his friends could do math problems at his party.  At nine, Mary Grace requested brains and took her friends to the museum to dissect eye balls.  At ten, Leann wanted to serve her guests chicken nuggets.

From Doc McStuffins to Wednesday Addams, I'll never know what to expect from Avery, but I think she is well on her way to changing the world!

S is for sensational and stunning.

 I is for interesting and imaginative.

  X is for eXtraordinary and eXcellent.

Avery is definitely SIX in every way!

 

 

Love, hugs, cookies and happy birthday wishes!