Christmas Cookie Craze

With Christmas now only two days away, my winter bucket list is coming to a close.

To conclude it will most likely be on Christmas eve and Christmas day; baking Santa's cookies and watching the classic Peanuts Christmas. 

The most recent check mark, though, was baking Christmas cookies!! What an event. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law had the whole afternoon/evening planned. I can't wait to share the pictures. Literally. So here they are.

Given the spunkiness of them both, they had festive aprons waiting for us when we got there. Adorable.

Dressed and ready... it was on to the kitchen!

She was practically a pro [cough, cough] placing each cookie cutter in the middle of the dough. But whatev. Decorating them was her specialty if anything.

Then it was on to the final fun project! Reindeer cookies. [No I didn't make or cut them. But I shaped them... good enough].

This was the best time, and what better way to share it than with family. I'm so blessed to have such incredible in-laws who enjoy their time with Audriana [I'm sure they enjoy me as much, too] because it warms my heart witnessing these precious moments.

December Bucket List UPDATE

With just a week into it, I've managed to check a few things off the list! Although, being checked doesn't mean it ends there. There's going to be plenty more Elf watching, peppermint indulging, and Christmas caroling throughout the end of the year. 

At my recent doctor's appointment, I was told I'm right on track with my pregnancy weight = up 17 lbs. At [almost] 36 weeks, that's not bad! However, that's pre-cookie-baking and pre-Christmas dinner feast(s). 

We shall see how this weight holds off in the next 4 weeks.

Oh my, 4 weeks........

December Bucket List

We all have a list of things we plan to do every season, or every month for that matter. But Christmas time is no joke. There's an infinite list of things I try to accomplish each year! Sadly, I come up short most of the time. But by that, I mean I didn't see the giant tree in New York, or skip down NYC singing "You Make Me Feel So Young" [my first of many references to Elf]. Pretty impractical wishes. Although, I can mark off the Rockefeller tree, since I indeed have seen it. I just can't make it happen every year. Pity.

To shorten my ongoing list of things to do this winter was nearly impossible, but I did it. The following is my current, more practical, bucket list of December 2013! Not including having a baby. But he better not make his appearance by Christmas, or we're in trouble.   

Plain and simple, you see.

Hand me a cup of hot chocolate overflowing with marshmallows, some Nsync [yes, I said it] Christmas carols, and the movie "Elf" on repeat [because I don't have to watch it to enjoy it; a simple Christmas back drop in my home]... and you'll have yourself one happy girl. Even letting my four year old decorate the tree is a sweet accomplishment, not caring that I have to redo it later. It's all about the little things my friends. I cannot wait for this season to begin!!! WELCOME DECEMBER!!!!!!!

I didn't even add my birthday on that list. That's how much everything else is more important. But what the heck...

14. Celebrate my birthday!
15. and my aunt's birthday...
16. and my dad's birthday...
17. and my best friend's mom's birthday...
18. and my mother-in-law's birthday...

The list actually goes further on, but we'll leave it at that.