Sunday, December 14, 2008

And a New Tradition Begins

It has been a great Christmas season already. Dad is home, Cyrus and family get to be here for Mom's Birthday party, and I get to decorate my love of a house for the first time. I have also been petty excited to start a new tradition of baking goodies for gifts. Mom was totally on board, and as it turns out, all of the excitement was well deserved. It was a Christmasy, homey, good time. I invite any and all to join in next year.

I was able to get a head start and get the macaroons done and the caramel almond popcorn ready at approximately 1:30pm.



And then Mom joined me. Phew. I looked forward to the help, the company, and of course, the missing ingredients.
The popcorn took 1.5 hours to bake. We stirred it every 20 minutes or so.
Next up, espresso chocolate cookie dough. While it was pooped into the freezer, we got going on the iced apple oat cookies


And then the peanut better bon bons (or as Mom insisted on calling them all weekend, over and over, "bom boms." Pretty funny. (Notice Chad's homemade beer. I will try to get some over for Christmas day. Delicious.)

Well then the news of the day. Look what the cat dragged in to join us!

Yes please! Not to mention this little love of a guy:

The bon bons got dipped in chocolate and paraffin (I guess not just for soft hands ladies, you can actually eat this stuff) after the chocolate snowcaps were rolled in confectioner sugar and put to bake.

The Gramuglia's and Poppie left us to finish our day. By 9pm we were pooped. But the days work was pretty fulfilling to look at

The next morning, Mom rejoined me and we set back to work. Now remember, I said that the apple oat cookies had icing. Maple icing in fact. Yum! Really, Chad just walked in to tell me.

Now the rewarding part. The boxing of it all!

And the boxing, and the boxing.

Pure success. Hope to see some of you next year!

Love to you all. Merry Christmas!

7 comments:

Maureen said...

I don't know what to say first....very impressed with yours and ma's handiwork.
COMPLETELY jealous you saw dad last night (and scrumptious Leo!)
And what do you mean cyrus and family here next week?....Just talked to Cathy two days ago...is this recent news?
Cookies look delicious!

Martha said...

Yes, very recent news. Exciting right? And you would have beed invited btw- but I know you work on Saturdays and that was the only time I could do it.
xoxo.
(When do you want your cookie box? :) Want to visit tomorrow afternoon with Luke?)

Anonymous said...

This post just really got in the Christmas mood! Nice job Marty.

The Captain said...

Daaahling,

The apple oat cookies are to die for!

KBB said...

Martha - Lovely post!

But continuing with the story: I delivered goodies to both Pat Banach ( who hosted our 1st Way party this evening) and Bruce. But had to sit in the car for quite sometime to re-ribbon the boxes! So, head's up; tape those suckers like we did the first gold one! All that presentation work ALMOST out the window...hee hee.

What fun we had! Thank you so much for this idea and good for us for following thorough ( in joke).

BTW - It was a last minute thing with Cy's family: Cy's schedule now has it being not possible for he and the family to come in Jan.,and my stuff (Lita's) now taking up valuable space in Cy's garage so plans were to have Brent fly down; he and Cy to pack up small moving van and drive up; Cathi and boys to come as well and the family to visit through Mon or Tues. Brent is on his way down Thursday but as of this afternoon, plans for Cathi and boys nixed....Cathi can't miss work. So Cy and Brent will drive up together Sat. and Cy will fly home Mon. Cathi still planning to come with the boys for a week Jan, Feb or whenever they can get away.

And we are FINALLY getting our tree tomorrow. Just in time for Aloise to help us decorate!

Merry Christmas! (Annie - I'll bring over your goodie box Tuesday :)

Oh yeah - I collected $225 from our famliy for our Ist Way Client.
Yay!

storminomahoney said...

OK, so this just gave mee oodles of cheer. Isn't this just the best Christmas??

The layout of this post was just wonderful and made my tummy growl! I miss you all so much and truely wish I could be there with you. but if you keep these posts coming (That means Christmas Eve & Day too) I just might be sated.

Sean & Maggie and I are really settling into our makeshift Chrsitmas this year. Pandora in the background w/ plenty of Holiday cheer most days. And each time I open a crd from one of you I smile broadly. How I love my family.

Martha, what a spread. Are you sure you aren't a Stewart??

xoxo to all.

And nice work for the 1st Way family. God is very Good, even in these tough times!

Mars said...

One of the best posts of 08.

And even more than the maple-icing-covered cheer, your eagerness and follow-through is worth wishing for this Christmas.