Cookie Baking

We had our first annual Cookie Baking Day with my mom and sister {and niece!} last weekend, and it was such fun!  We will definitely have to add this to our list of traditions, because Family + Cookies = all sorts of wonderful memories.

We made my variation of Jam Thumbprints:

Those are Jeremy's favs.  I think they're okay.  I mean, I wouldn't turn down a cookie, but Jeremy thinks they're the greatest cookies on earth.

We attempted to use a cookie press, but it just wasn't workin' so great.



Which actually resulted in a lot of laughter and even a few shenanigans.  I love that photo.  Sierra was either totally embarassed, or laughing so hard she couldn't keep her head up any longer.  I'm thinking it was the latter ;)



Then Sadie got serious about it, and managed to create a few trees.  And they were SO adorable.



See?



We wound up with a LOT of cookies.  But we're not complaining one bit!
Have y'all started baking?

You can call me 'Mom mom!'

That's what Kam calls me now ;) At first I was thinking she was just babbling {as she always does}, but she only says this ~ 'Mom Mom!' ~ When I have put her down and she thinks she needs me ASAP. It is pretty darn cute, if I do say so.

In other news . . . I have a cookie exchange to go to this week. HELP!

We spent the better part of yesterday making cookies.

We made some jam thumbprint cookies. We also made a Sandies type of cookie with a cream cheese and peppermint filling. And lastly we made some chocolate and mint chip/cream cheese bars. Though, I don't know that bars are really cookies. Are they? Is it legal to bring them to a cookie exchange? Who's the authority, anyone know?

So, here's the thing. I can't decide which to take. I think the bars are out. They're a bit more work, and I'd feel like I need to cut them out into circles so they'd look more cookie-ish. Yeah, the bars are definitely out. I like the look of the jam thumbprints {in a taste test they were preferred 2 to 1~ my parents liked the jam, Sierra liked the peppermint/cream cheese. And I cannot taste right now, as I'm smack dab in the middle of a cold, so I couldn't tell ya which I like the best. Kenners didn't care for any of them. I'm sorry, but who doesn't like cookies? And Jeremy's been at work for the last 48 hours, so he hasn't had the pleasure.}

I don't know. Should I just take the jam ones? Are these over done at cookie exchanges? Should I find a different recipe altogether? Anyone?

{Or should I just shut up, bake the dang cookies, and not worry about it? I think that's my vote.}