Christmas Creations

I knew early on this year that I wanted to use cookies in my Christmas card.

I went through a few ideas but finally landed on putting drawings of our faces on cookies.

I practiced with my projector and traced some pictures on paper.

I couldn't get them exactly like I wanted but decided I just had to go for it.

The mouths were the hardest part for me.

 

Then I just did some regular Christmas cookies...

Here is the final product...

I was throwing around ideas with the family about how to do the write up on the back.

While talking it through, it came to me to do a recipe.

I felt a little behind in figuring out my ornament for the year.

I think we were actually into November before I got going on them.

I eventually realized I wanted to do something with a wax seal and it came together after that.

I made approx. 150

(only about 130 pictured)

Thanksgiving in Park City

We arrived in Park City the night before Thanksgiving and jumped right into the festivities.

Great Grandma Nancy with her first great grandbaby, Quincy.

The meal...

Andy, Ben and I joined the kids table and had a chance to talk to Zach.

Cute pic of Abby and Grandma!

Jenny hosted a root beer tasting.

We ended up with about 15 different root beers.

Here are our two bar tenders, Mike and Preston.

Everyone tasting and rating...

Jenny and Mike tallied the results and it ends up that the Bryans don't have super sophisticated palates!

I can't remember the exact brand that won but it was a super cheap/off brand...walmart or shasta or something :)

The next day the ladies all went off to celebrate a bride to be in the family.

Ellie was going to be getting married the week before Christmas so for those of us that aren't close to Idaho Falls, we had an informal, family brunch at The Homestead in Midway.

We all crowded around one table (blurry, but cute pic) and enjoyed a yummy meal.  We also really enjoyed our conversation.  We had Ellie tell us about her story with Eli, her fiance, and then Nancy told us some fun stories about her courtship with Merill.

On our way out we stopped in The Crater which is a geothermal spring where people go scuba diving.

It was pretty cool!  I had never seen it before.

 It was a great Thanksgiving weekend!

Driving home we stopped in South Weber and visited Andy's grandpa...the kids' only living great grandparent now.  We hadn't seen him for so long.  It was wonderful to visit with him and enjoy his humor!

Megan's Baby Shower/Birthday Party

My workout buddies and I had a baby shower/birthday party for our cute trainer who is expecting her first baby.  She is the one that tutored me a year ago in my beginning cookie stages.  I suggested the Mommy to Bee/Bee Day theme since I've always wanted to do a bee themed shower and Megan's birthday was that same week.

I had fun designing a bee cookie set!

I used a stencil to create these...

...and a projector for the font on this beehive.

I also made some lemon/poppyseed cakes with some bee pans I have :)

We met at Chanelle's beautiful home and had a waffle bar (I bought a little, hexagon waffle iron for the event), treats and wonderful company!

Megan is the cutest little Momma to be!

We all pitched in and gave her a baby monitor that she wanted.

Just a few more shots of the setup...

Jennie made the cutest, yummiest, little cake!

This is the crew...Karen had to leave a bit early so we are missing her in this pic.

I sure love all these women (including Karen :)