BEFORE Christmas....

We spent some time in the kitchen making cookies this year.  So? You may ask to yourself.  Well, I LOVE cooking and doing things in the kitchen and Tate is my ever-trusty little helper.  However, one thing I've never been just super pumped about is making cookies....round ones or shaped ones either.  I find it time consuming and tedious.  And it makes a rather large mess.  I like to cook and clean as I go so that when I'm done I can enjoy the product, not clean up while it cools to room temperature. So. To say that we made SHAPED Christmas Cookies is a BIG DEAL!  It went well.  Tate got a little over zealous a few times in his rolling and his "stamping" of the cookies but all in all, they were a success. =)  And, p.s.  I had fun too!! 

oh, and yes, we wear cowboy attire often these days =)

We were able to be a bit more productive in our cookie baking while Dax took a nap.  He woke up mid-way, but as you can see, he was a somber fella and he just chose to sit on the hot wheels while we finished.

Also, before Christmas, at the first of the month, we had a baby shower for Uncle Josh and Aunt Elizabeth (Steven's brother and his wife).  Their new little girl will arrive in early-mid February and we are all most excited!  Her name is going to be Elise.  LOVE it!  =)  Here are some shots from the shower.  They got lots of nice things and, as usual, she will not be a poorly clothed little girl!