One More Week. . .

I. .

LOVE. .

CHRISTMAS!!

I always have. .

and I hope I always will. .

This year feels different. .

I'm slower, a little less excited, and a little more reflective. .

I find myself straying from "the plan". .

you know, if you've been around this blog very long. .

that there is ALWAYS a plan. HA!

I finally mustered up the time and the energy for my favorite Christmas activity. .

COOKIN!

I cooked for TWO solid days this past weekend. .

Cookies, candies, snack mixes, seasoned nut mixes. .

Cami and Devin helped some. .

And Tristan cut caramels like a trooper. .

I finally made toffee that is pretty. .

after HOW many years. .

(my new secret?

I didn't use chocolate chips. .

I used melting chocolate and put it on when the toffee had cooled). .

and look!! Gorgeous!

And yummy!

With most of the cookies in the freezer waiting for holiday gatherings and surprise last minute give aways. .

and the majority of the candies already repackaged and given away. .

That leaves us with a few nibbles here and there of our favorites!

Which, dear friend Sue. .

is what keeps us from getting fat :-)

I've had a little project in the back of my mind for several months now. .

And I even found a little time to work on it over the weekend too. .

With a little help, of course!

I hope to be able to show you the finished project soon. .

Mostly, because it surpassed my expectations!

And, because I think some of you would enjoy doing it yourself!

The BIG deal of the weekend, however. .

was this. .

Grant and his dad, after 1 1/2 years of working on it. .

Had finally gotten a motor installed. .

and the body work done on Grant's pickup. .

And the paint went on!

It is now a joke between Grant and I, that I think the paint looks like primer. .

but he LOVES the way it turned out. .

And he was right, in the sunlight. .

it glistens a lovely shade of sparkly silver. .

They think in a few more weekends of putting down carpet, placing windows, putting the hardware back in, and installing the gauges. .

it will be ready for it's maiden voyage to school. .

The boys will then have to argue about who is driving. .

and who has to buy the fuel!

We had a little rain shower the other night. .

and a really heavy fog yesterday morning that froze on the trees. .

We are hoping for some more moisture soon. .

I thought it would be nice to share one of the cookie recipes from the weekend. .

I've made these a time or two before, but not for a few years. .

They have been Cami's favorite treat this season. .

And are just enough different than your average cookie,

that they make a welcome gift for someone special!

One week left until we mark that special day commemorating the birth of Jesus. .

I can hardly wait. .

Festive Chocolate Mint Cookies

1 ½ sticks butter

1 ½ cup brown sugar

2 Tbsp water

2 cup chocolate chips

2 eggs

2 ½ cup flour

1 ¼ tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

50-70 Andes mint candies

assorted sprinkles

Melt butter, sugar, and water.  Add chips until almost melted.  Let cool 10 minutes.  Beat eggs into mixture 1 at a time.  Add dry ingredients.  Chill dough for at least one hour. Roll heaping teaspoons or small cookie scoop into ball.  Bake at 350 on ungreased pan for 12-13 minutes.  Place a mint on each cookie; swirl candy as it melts with a knife and add sprinkles.