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Wellington, New Zealand
welcome to my corner of the blog world! i love step, boxing, zumba, scrapbooking, photography, watching movies, walking the hills of my suburb, my family, and life in wellington. take some time to have a look around and be sure to say hi!

Friday, February 6, 2009

photostory friday - spreading christmas cheer

just before christmas, i had [what i thought was] the brilliant idea of making the pioneer woman's candy cane cookies and delivering them to local businesses.

i hand-stamped the cards, recycled some cellophane and we were good to go.

now, don't for a minute think that our children behaved perfectly all afternoon and indulged their mothers by uncomplainingly spreading christmas cheer.

no they did not.

THESE pearlers (among others), were heard during the course of the afternoon.

"i can't be bothered rolling the dough into balls, but i still want to deliver the cookies!"

"do we HAVE to walk? why can't we take the car?"

"you can't make me walk. i'm not coming!"

"you can't make me spread any christmas cheer"

"...and i'm certainly not delivering any STUPID DUMB CHRISTMAS COOKIES!!!"

thems fightin' words, but in the end the christmas spirit got them. their mothers were so nauseatingly upbeat, they simply gave up the fight, although miss 12 was later heard to be very upset with tara's miss 10 for 'caving'.

they all lined up to smash the candy canes with my hammer
ewwwwwwwwwwww - look at the butter wrapped around the beaters!
kitchen idol...
you knew someone would...
lunch (and gin) break
all this mixing, rolling and baking takes it out of you!
out of the oven and ready for icing
dipping in white chocolate
could we get some more people in the kitchen please?????!!!
ever make something and it doesn't quite look like the picture in the recipe book? that happens to me all the time, but these babies sure tasted nice. that pioneer woman sure is one clever lady
"do i get one?"
this one maybe?"
packaged up and ready for delivery!
ready to hit the road"wait! i forgot the christmas music for the car!"see? the spirit got to them eventually
let's go!
we parked the car in one suburb and walked to the next (it was such a gorgeous day). check out miss 12 in the back (in my lime NY hoodie) trying to be cool and disinterested...
first stop the dairy. "for us?"then the local doctors. "i hope you're not all patients!" was her first response!
sheesh lady - they're just kids!then to our favourite petrol station attendant "T". he always has a smile for everyone. he's a bit of a chatty cathy too! he was thrilled. we definitely plan to do it again this year - well, i do!!!


PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

20 comments:

Chris said...

You are an inspiration! I always want to do things like this at Christmas, but rarely seem to find the time.

I have to ask - what was the saw for? Is that part of the gin break?

Anonymous said...

Ha I was wondering also what you were hacking at with the saw...or was that part of the convincing the kids to do it?

Leah said...

Nice family togetherness!!

Pam Emmons said...

Love it, and I LOVE the apron... "I'm licking the bowl" My kids need that!

the mama bird diaries said...

Yum. That looks awesome.

tiarastantrums said...

1- the cookies look gorgeous and delicious
2 - you are so nice to do that!!!!!!!!!!
3 - what was the saw for?

scrappysue said...

the pic with the saw in it was taken at tara's place (well, most of them were) and you never know what you're going to find lying around at her place! i noticed it before i took the pic, but decided to leave it in for fun. i figured (correctly) it would be a good talking point!!!

auntiegwen said...

You are very kind, what a nice thing to do x

gigi said...

Sometimes it is so hared to force kids to have fun. In the end it did look like everyone enjoyed theirself. Stick it out you can make it a yearly event.

Anonymous said...

What a really cool idea! Sometimes it's near impossible to get kids involved like that, but looks like you did a phenomenal job and what a nice surprise for all the recipients! I too wondered about the saw - and you're right great talking point!

Izzy, Emmy 'N Alexander said...

Looks like a lot of fun. i always try to find something to do like this each year but my plans don't always come through.

The cookies look very yummy and I am glad to see everyone got into the spirit by the end.

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

Those look yummy! How generous of you to spread that delicious love!

Working Mum said...

Why is everyone blogging pictures of chocolate cake and cookies today? It's doing no good for my New Year diet!

Aly @ Lip Zip said...

Excellent photos and story! What a great little tradition you've started.

Carrie and Troy Keiser said...

Those are some great memories! Funny how we both did cookie baking posts for psf! the cookies look yummy even if they don't look like the picture! Yes yes do it again this year!

Susie said...

OMG I love that you did this! LOVE IT!!! I'm totally--totally copying next year! whoohoo for the Christmas spirit.

Oh, and the saw? was is to ward off any non-old-enough Gin swippers?

tommie said...

What a sweet treat! Those cookies look good.

Brenda Heisler said...

Love the idea. That's a great project. That apron is so perfect!!

Atlanta said...

What about this post DON'T I like? nothing... its all fabulous!! I really want some of those cookies! I love being all cheery and FORCING others to be cheery with me. Its what it is all about!@ right?... They always thank you later (usually). Im totally happy about your "break", gin and I arent really friends, but I would glady have some wine, or rum, or vodka or.... =) Smashing up those candy canes reminded me of the time I made pepermint ice cream. Delicious! =)
HAPPY SATURDAY SHAREFEST!!! =)

AP Mommy said...

That's so great! We do this for our neighbors never thought to for the local shop attendants! Great job.

Happy Saturday Sharefest!