Sunday, December 20, 2009

Cookies and Christmas Books: A Celebration of December

Two big Holiday Traditions in our home are
COOKIES and Christmas books.



Each year, we get the boys a new Christmas book.
I so adore every one!


Christmas stories always set the scene
and create many, many memories.

We read The Night Before Christmas every Christmas Eve.



I place Christmas books all throughout our home during the season
to encourage READING
and to encourage the magic of Christmas!


This wordless book keeps us all spellbound every year...
Align Center


This Curious George book
is a favorite with my curious boys!
PS...a little off topic, but remember my Ugg fascination I talked about here...
and that incredible pillow on my wish list?
Well, it now snuggles on my couch instead of on a catalog page! ;)



This year I combined our 2 big traditions of cookies and stories with the PERFECT book...

2009 BOOK IS:

Christmas Cookies, Bite-Size Holiday Lessons

This book is just precious.
It teaches valuable character qualities
and is super cute!
I always write a little note in the front cover for them. This year it read,

"To my precious boys.
I hope you always learn to keep your hearts
as sweet and as good as cookies."


It's SO imperative to train our young, growing children at this impressible age
that a strong, solid character will be one of their greatest assets in life.



The boys love to listen to Skyler read to them...
and Momma likes to watch.

And of course a tray of traditional cookies is the perfect touch.
I make these cookies every single year!

They are just plain good...
yummy for little {or not so little} tummies.


Traditional Sugars with Cream Cheese Frosting


Maple Frosties
Chocolate Crinkles

Just add a glass of milk...

For More Cookie ideas,
see some new cookies
I made this season HERE!



~~

What is your all time favorite Christmas book?
Do you collect Christmas stories?
What's your favorite holiday cookie?

This post is linked to Bake at 350, Today's Creative Blog, Show and Tell, Holly Bash, DIY Showoff, So Very Cheri, DIY Day, Works for Me Wednesday

Don't forget to check out this post I have here on making the holidays easier and {almost} stress free!

22 comments:

Michelle @ Delicate Construction said...

What a great memory for your boys! Those books will be cherished when they are older and especially when they have children.

Rebecca said...

This is such a precious idea! I love it. Oh, and i now want a tall glass of milk.

Ruby Red Slippers said...

We are big Christmas readers here, too-I read Christmas books to the boys, but also read some for myself-This year, The Christmas Jar was my favorite-

b. said...

i love the idea of Christmas books all over the house like that, pretty cute idea!

i, like you dont give books without writing a little something in them too!

that pic of cameron, i mean skyler :) reading to them is adorable! xo.

Leanne said...

Your guys are so cute! I think books are such a wonderful tradition. Mmmmmm, those cookies look delicious. My sugar cookies never look that good.

Jane said...

Love the books!!! (and the cookies look delicious, too!)
You certainly are storing up memories with your children. What a wonderful legacy...one that I am sure they will always remember and pass along to their families.

Those maple frosties look divine! I have never heard of these cookies. Do you share this recipe? (hint)

Have a fabulous week...
Jane (artfully graced)

ps I have posted a Chocolate Mousse recipe you might like. It's easy...and my middle son's favorite (as was the book I shared).

Judy@cutest-little-things.blogspot.com said...

Yet another tradition we share! Andrew gets a pile of Christmas books every year! I never thought to leave them throughout the house though! We just read them every night after Thanksgiving leading up through the New Year. I'll have to keep a lookout for a few of the ones you listed...they look SO cute!!

You're always FULL of super ideas, gorgeous photos, and the sweetest musings! I'm constantly inspired by you! I love love your blog and I'm so glad I found it this year!

Its So Very Cheri said...

Yummy-we made some chocolate crinkles today.
Cheri

Kristen said...

Several years ago, my parents gave us, The Polar Express.

What a great book and a little hidden message. You're never too old to hear Santa's bells ring or to believe.

*wonderful movie!*

Jane said...

Hi Lisa
Thought you might get this info faster through the blog comment.

A young mom sent this to me...a website from Santa. It is personalized for your children.
If you already have it, great. But just in case...Here's the link:

http://portablenorthpole.tv/watch/89e82ef6b970c1cc8609b31064ed716f

Jane (artfully graced)

Jenny said...

Oooh, oooh, I want the maple frosties recipe. That looks divine. And I love the books. I did that when my kids were little. The Puppy who wanted a Boy is one of my favs. I also have these old books called "A Story a Day until Christmas" and they have the neatest stories in them. I used to read those to my kids each night. I don't have my granddaughters every day or I would do it with them, too. You are such a neat person!

Kathleen Grace said...

I love the idea of a collection of Christmas books. We have a new godson and I think we will be starting a collection for him. Thanks you for the idea! Merry Christmas to you and your lovely family:>) Now, can you pass those cookies?

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Now that you have us starving, just where are our cookies, milk, and story??? ;-)

Ranelle said...

Our favorite Christmas books are "The Tale of Three Trees" and "Christmas Star". Christmas Star has the most amazing illustrations in it - they call them soft scultupres, but they are basically illustrations made from all different cloths and materials. Great ideas, Lisa.

Ramirez Family said...

My sister and I's favorite book is Carebears Christmas because we would read it Christmas Eve every year...we liked the tradition so much that we actually still do it =) We are passing it on to our kids now too. I love it!

caveman said...

Favorite Christmas cookie? That's an easy one! I like the maple ones you make (third picture from the bottom).

bridget {bake at 350} said...

I LOVE those Cookies books...they are so sweet! We have a big stack of Christmas books that we get out each year, too. :)

Your cookies are making me so hungry...I don't know which I would eat first! ;)

Dorothy said...

What a wonderful idea! It's so encouraging to know that there are moms out there fostering a love of reading! Your boys are precious.

Sue said...

What great traditions you have! Books and cookies, you can't go wrong:) Happy New Year!

Diane Schmidt said...

Oh how I would love one of those chocolate crinkles right now!

Unknown said...

Ba người không phải hạng người nhàn nhã, tự nhiên tốc độ bay đi rất nhanh. Không lâu sau, dưới sự dẫn đường của Sất Hổ, đi đến một mảnh nhỏ khác của Tiên giới, ở đó có một ngọn núi lớn.

Ngọn núi này có hình dạng như con rồng. Đầu rồng mờ ảo, lúc ẩn lúc hiện trong mây mù, đúng là một nơi như tiên cảnh, rất hiếm gặp.
mu private cho thuê nhà trọ nhạc sàn cực mạnh tư vấn pháp luật qua điện thoại công ty luật tổng đài tư vấn pháp luật dịch vụ thành lập công ty
- Sất Hổ huynh, vì sao địa điểm trong ngọc giản ghi chép tới đến bây giờ vẫn chưa bị người nào phát hiện ra?! Vấn đề này còn cần Sất Hổ huynh giải đáp!

Vương Lâm liếc nhìn ngọn núi một cái, chậm rãi nói.

Sất Hổ đang tại giữa không trung, cười nói:

- Thực không dám dấu, Tằng huynh, sở dĩ tại hạ có thể khẳng định như vậy vì địa điểm của mảnh nhỏ mà ngọc giản ghi lại không thể từ lốc xoáy tiến đến được.

Ánh mắt Vương Lâm lộ ra vẻ hứng thú.

Ánh mắt Hồng Điệp cũng trở nên ngưng trọng, nhìn sang phía Sất Hổ.

Sất Hổ lại cười nói:

Unknown said...

Such great photos! Even here, being home alone and struggling with all seductions to write my essay and go out as soon as possible, I feel the spirit of Christmas and feel jealous of you, guys. You are so nice and happy!