15 Days until Christmas

I started my cookie baking yesterday.  I was so focused I didn't take any pictures.  So I'll post the very, top sercret recipe instead.

Ginger Cookies

3/4 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup molassess - spray your messuring cup with cookie spray before hand.  Molassess will slide right out.
1 egg


2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp each of: Cinnamon - Cloves - Ginger


Cream the first four ingredients.  Stir in mixed dry ingredients.  Shape into balls - roll in white sugar - place on lightly greased cookie sheet and give them a little 2 finger pat.  Just to knock them down to half the hight.  They will spread out the rest when they cook.  Rolling them into smaller balls makes traditional sized ginger snaps. BAKE at 375 for 9 minutes.  (If mixing by hand or using anything other than a Kitchen Aid - make one batch at a time)

16 Days until Christmas... are you sure?

My oldest, the 10 year old, has been reluctant to read long chapter books with no pictures.  His comprehension level has been ready but he hasn't been and I've been ok with that.  A couple months ago I posted about his interest in the young reader books called "The Dragons of Wayward Crescent."   There are 4 in series and he read them all rather quickly. 

The other day while I was at B & N bookstore I decided to pick up book one of the Author's bigger kid books called "The Last Dragon Chronicles - The Fire Within."  After letting it sit for a week in the living room the boy picked it up and finished it in about 5 days.  This is pretty exciting.  Both, Josh and I were really impressed. Here's a link to the authors books.  Dragons .

17 Days and an Apple Pie

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World is one of the books in the "5 in a Row" literature program for little ones.  I really wanted to make an apple pie at the end of last week but it didn't get done.  Yesterday while my Mom was over to be a study buddy and helper during our school time she took on the pie making project with the 5 year old.  Yeah Grammy!

Grammy shows how to cut the Crisco into the flour to make the crust.

Giving it a try.

Preparing the apples.

Before.

After.

We didn't see the world yesterday but we made

some great memories.  
Linked at Come Together Kids