A Special Day For Mary Grace

After two years of hard work at the University of Iowa, great-niece Mary Grace began her junior year with her white coat ceremony to signify the beginning of her clinical practice for the College of Nursing. 

 As Mom and Dad sent pictures, the family shared the following text messages: 

 Grandma Rita:

Happy tears, so proud of you. You were only 21/2 when you sat on Grandpa's lap in the emergency room during my stroke (on the day baby sister, Leann was born)  until Uncle Billy could come and get you.  You never made a peep but for the next months and months every time I talked to you, you would ask, "Grandma, you feeling OK?"  You will be a wonderful nurse.

Grandpa Bill:

This is very cool!  You will save some money with that jacket, you can dress up as a nurse for Halloween.  Oh, silly me, I have a hard time sticking to the point.  Looking at those pictures I see a beautiful, smart, enthusiastic woman.  I am really happy for you.  PS your parents did a fine job. 

Aunt Heather:

Yes, I will always remember Mary Grace as wondering "you feeling ok?"  The heart!  The brain! The EVERYTHING!  Go get 'em!!!!

 

Although she might have laughed at Uncle Billy's note, there is a LOT of truth in his words.

Uncle Billy:

"Way to go MG!  You make us all proud.  Toddler MG didn't know she'd be signing up for decades of helping this aging family." 

 

 

                                So proud of this special young woman!

  

 

 

My Favorite Little Monsters

Halloween offers so many different options for imaginative cookie designs and bright colors, but I just love these little monsters.  I haven't made Halloween cookies since 2019 due to Covid and changes in the annual bake sale date. In addition, do the kids need cookies when they have so much candy?

 However, since great niece Mary Grace has been away at college for 3 months, I decided it was time to send her a taste of home. She might be on sugar overload because Grandma is sending her cookies, too! 

Celebrating Mary Grace's Graduation

 

At a young age, Mary Grace realized that Chicago schools offer a wide variety of programs throughout the district and transferred multiple times before her 8th grade graduation in an effort to participate in various experiences.  However, for her high school years she wanted to stay in one school and chose to attend Lane Tech College Prep.

Little did she know that she would become part of the "Class of Covid."  A recent article in the Chicago Tribune stated:  . . .freshmen when the pandemic hit and, as it happened, seniors on the verge of earning their diplomas when the public health emergency formally ended in May .  .  . for many graduating seniors, it dominated and defined their high school experience.

In March of 2020 when students were forced to switch to online learning, Mary Grace made the best of the experience.  She embraced online learning in the classroom her Mom and Dad created in their home and enjoyed learning in her pajamas.

Throughout the months glued to a computer screen, Mary Grace remained committed to her exercise routine and was outdoors running whenever possible.  When athletics were allowed to resume she was ready for cross country, shot put and even added a weight lifting routine senior year.

Mary Grace's high school years included challenging classes, volunteering in several activities at church and a part time job as a waitress.
 

Congratulations to my sweet niece as she leaves her high school experience behind . . .

 

.  .  . and looks forward to the years ahead at the University of Iowa College of Nursing.  I'm not sure that Herky would be pleased with my cookie version of his likeness, but Mary Grace will appreciate my effort.

Love, hugs and cookies for a very special young woman.

Behind you, high school memories. 

Before you, all your dreams.

Around you, all who love you.

Within you, all you need.

 

 

References: 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/education/ct-class-of-2023-covid-graduation-20230601-nbyx4mrqjne6fajqwnhe2427ty-story.html 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Easter!

 

 

After a five month hiatus from baking cookies due to a broken wrist, surgery 

and therapy, I'm back to making cookies.  Physically I'm capable, mentally it was hard to get motivated.  I opted for simple minis, the preferred size in my family, with one large cookie for a centerpiece. 

Happy Easter, Happy Spring!

 

Happy Easter, Happy Spring!

The wind is brisk, snowflakes keep appearing in April, but flowers are beginning to appear and eventually spring will arrive! 

After a long cold winter, I opted for bright colors and floral designs for Easter cookies.

Despite the chill in the air in mid-April, I'm grateful to be able to attend a large, family gathering after so many cancellations during the pandemic.

             Happy Easter!  Happy Spring!

Christmas is Here

 

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and after social distancing in 2020, our extended family was looking forward to our celebration. Since some of the "kids" in the family now live out of state, the crowd was not expected to be as large as usual.  However, due to the Omicron variant of the Corona virus, by Christmas day the crowd had dwindled from 27 to 6!

Matt and I were grateful to be able to attend and the food was packed and delivered to other family members.  I guess "meals on wheels" was a step in the right direction from last year and we are grateful that the vaccine has kept symptoms mild for those who were afflicted with the virus.  Hopefully, next year we can return to a full family gathering.

Cookie designs this year,  included:

Plain  .  .  .

Fancy .  .  .

Traditional  .  .  .

One cutter, four looks. . . 

a new Santa .  .  .

and angels in remembrance of family members, Kathy and Diana,  who left us this year.

         Merry Christmas one and all.

Happy Thanksgiving

 This year I am grateful for the Covid vaccine, good health, good friends and the opportunity to spend the holiday with my family. 

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

BEE Like Mary Grace

 

 

 

For a girl who has celebrated her birthday with pickles, pigs and brains, sixteen candles just wouldn't do!

 

Count them!  Sixteen happy, little bees adorn the letters.

 Great niece, Mary Grace, lives each and every day with these "hive" rules in mind.  .  .

Wishing an amazing young woman a very happy birthday!

Can't wait to see what the future has in store for this creative, loving, adventurous, busy bee!

Happy Easter

After a year of social distancing, we are slowly returning to normal!  Not quite the entire 3 generations of our extended family, but at least it is not a Zoom holiday.

 

Silhouettes and one line designs are a bit of a trend in the cookie world right now, so I gave them a try. They were only possible because of You Tube videos, clip art purchased from Etsy and a Kopycake projector that was a gift from my Sugar Sister, Donna, who didn't want to pack it for her move to FL.

Finally, some tic-tac-toe designs that were packaged with a bag topper that said, "Go ahead, play with your food."

God Bless Mary Grace

Great niece, Mary Grace, will celebrate her Confirmation today.  Once again, it will be a celebration marked by social distancing and masks.  However, Uncle Matt and I are sending "virtual hugs" and a cookie delivery to honor her commitment to her faith.

Love, hugs and prayers for a special girl on her very important day!

Baby It's Covid Outside

 

 Our holiday will be a party of two this year due to the ongoing pandemic, but we are grateful that friends and family who have suffered from the virus are on the road to recovery and we look forward to a vaccine in the future.

Although I have hundreds of cookies cutters, I can never resist adding new designs to the collection.  Cookie deliveries to family and friends will include a gnome for the first time as well as a new Santa, Ms., and a cute little elf.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas . . .

 

 

and a New Year filled with real hugs, fewer masks and less social distancing.

 

 

 

 

It's Been a Turkey of a Year!

 

The Covid pandemic has forced us to cancel another holiday celebration, but my tradition of sharing cookies with my family will continue.  I will wear my mask and deliver them to individual homes, rather than sharing them at our large, family gathering.

In addition to traditional fall designs. . .

.  .  .humor was definitely needed this year!

Since 2020 has been such a crazy year, I decided to take inspiration from a popular emoji and create "pooturkey"!  

Love, NO hugs and social distancing are the reality this year, but we look forward to gathering with our extended family as soon as it is safe.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!