Christmas goodies....getting ready for the cabin!

The time has FINALLY arrived...our long awaited Christmas trip to stay in a cabin in Oklahoma w/ my mom and dad and sis and her family! To say we've been waiting for a long time is quite an understatement. I think dad booked the cabin at Christmastime last year.

Of course, putting together a trip for 14 to a rustic log cabin takes a little planning...ok more than a little, but the list lovin' me was up for the challenge. Mom and Julie and I planned menus and mom (also a fabulous list maker in her own right...the difference: she uses technology i.e., a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet; me, a spiral notebook (that of course I got for ridiculously cheap before school started) and a pencil) made the lists of groceries and food and fun items that we each needed to bring. We figured out many Christmases back that the cabin deal works so much better when you just plan ahead and bring your own groceries and don't plan on eating many meals out. We've mastered the art form and now we don't eat ANY meals out....truth be told, it's easier to make a meal for 14 than to take 8 kids, most of them under the age of 8 out to eat dinner. Besides, it gives mom and Julie and I hours in the kitchen to just gab and cook and cook and gab. It's all part of the vacation package in my book!

But anyway, part of MY list for the cabin was to bring cheese balls/cheese logs and sugar cookie dough to make Christmas cookies. So today was the day and Jeffrey and Josiah were my willing helpers. Actually they did almost everything while I took pictures and just talked them through what to do.

Here they are rolling the cheese balls in paprika. I had actually already made the cheese mixture on Saturday, I'd just run out of paprika, so had to go to HEB on Sunday to get some more.

Then the really fun part....sugar cookie dough. This recipe is so old that I remember making it when I was little girl. It's the best. Makes delicious crisp sugar cookies, just the way they're supposed to be especially with some frosting and sprinkles! :-)

Here they are putting in some butter....

some sugar.....

eggs....

Mix that up a little...

Jeffrey doing the "scoop,level,pour" with the flour....

and Josiah doing the same w/ the baking powder....

Add the dry ingredients...

and a little more....

use your hands (if you're 8!!) to put the dough on waxed paper to chill in the fridge-I guess that way there's more to lick on your fingers later....

Jeffrey opted for the spatula...

I KNOW they will be just as thrilled about helping to bake them....and Lauren and Katie and David (and POP!) will be there to help.