Christmas Cookies

Baking is just one of those things that makes Christmas a little more "Christmasy." This year I have been able to share that joy with both Thomas and Jared! I'll start with Jared. This week he had a Christmas exchange at work, which I felt he needed cookies to take with him to share. So, I pulled out the Chocolate Almond Bark and Oreos and set out to make his favorite, Chocolate Dipped Oreos. Because my husband is wonderful and Thomas was in bed, Jared gladly joined me on this baking assignment. He melted the chocolate in our make-shift double boiler and I dipped the Oreo's. I packed up a container full, which he reassured me that many would return home. To my joy, it returned empty, which was to Jared's disappointment, it was empty leaving him no more of his favorite treats.

Now to share about Thomas baking help. He is loving this whole baking thing, for several different reasons. We made Coconut Macaroons on Su

nday where he got to measure the sugar. Such fun for him. He was able to scoop out of one jar and poor it into the other bowl. He was actually quite successful. Then, while I fluffed the egg whites, he moved sugar back and forth to his utter satisfaction and to mine as well. He was distracted and shockingly not making too much of a mess. That is... until the first spill. He went right to work shoveling it back in the bowl and scooping it up with his fingers. Then, you could see the light bulb actually go off, "hmmm I wonder what this taste likes..." First a try, then he was committed to it and we had sticky goodness everywhere!!! Ever since then he hasn't been quite as much help as before. He has now tried flour, didn't like, stirring with a spatula, only fun if you can lick it, and the beaters, which he loves to lick clean!! I'm sure by now your all smiling, but thinking, hmmm, "do we want to eat any of the Matlock's goodies." Rest assured and eat away knowing nothing Thomas touched went back into the bowls of batter. : )