halloween 2010

Two things happen when you have a baby on November 5:
1. You still have a jack-o-lantern on Dec 30, and
2. It takes you this long to post anything about Halloween.

Stella was a cat. It was easy and she knows how to be a cat, so that worked well. Next year I'm sure she'll want to be a princess or a butterfly or a butterfly princess, so this year we went with the easy win.
Grandma Sugar was in town and we all went up to McKinney to trick-or-treat with our friends the Garlands.

 My nephew Gabe was a pretty bad-ass cowboy:

 And here's the kitty cat herself - meow!

 We had a great time, and I'm thinking that next year maybe all four of us should be Elvis. We'll see.

christmas cookies 2010

Our cookie decorate-off has become an annual tradition, since we did it last year and the year before that. I know we are not the first people in the world to frost sugar cookies, but it is a nice tradition I grew up with. We started doing it when I was very small - my mom was flat broke one year and literally could not afford to trim a christmas tree. So she baked cookies, decorated them, and used a needle and thread to hang them on the tree. We enjoyed it so much we kept doing it every year. As the season went on the lower hanging 'ornaments' would lose frosting and parts of their anatomy. Way fun for us kids.
I should note that such a tradition is only really possible in a desert climate - I would never dare try such a thing in Texas. But dry SLC winters + icing = cookies with some serious staying power.
Here's Stella rolling out the dough with Grandma Jenny:

And now on to the winners!

Best New Artists: Chris, Sarah and Jackson joined the fun this year. Jackson, Stella and Gabe practiced the traditional zen-like technique of frosting a cookie, licking it clean and starting over. Again and again and again.

Honorable Mention in the 3D category, this was the first cookie to add height. Also placed in Best Alternative Use of the Shape.

Best Tribute To A Novelty Folk Duo From New Zealand:

 Best Tribute To A Childhood Classic ("his heart grew three sizes that day")

Best Wearing Your Heart On Your Sleeve:

Best 3D Cookie, also Honorable Mentions in the Death Star and Tarantino categories:

 Best Death Star Cookie:

Tarantino Award for Best Gratuitous Violence Cookie:

Best Mod Cookie:

Best Traditional Cookie:

Best Beatles Tribute, with Honorable Mention for Alternative Use of the Shape:

I was impressed with the creativity of our crew, especially considering the relatively primitive tools we used (frosting, sprinkles, toothpicks). You'd think that since we are on the third year of this tradition we would at least go to the trouble of using pastry bags/tips... next year we will be upping our game for sure!
So, anyone want to come over for cookies?

Dear MJ, Stella loves the dancing santa you sent. cheers!