December 4th Cookie Party! I just love our annual cookie party. It’s great to get together with our friends from college and their adorable children, and I get to play! Try new recipes, crafts, and games. This year I set up a cookie decorating station for the kids and an apple cider bar.
Here’s the apple cider bar! I went all out and actually purchased silver polish for the fancy tray my Mama gave me. Then I went nuts in the grocery store! Here’s what we had to choose from:
Torani Syrups in Almond, Pumpkin Pie, and Irish Cream flavors.
Butterscotch and Caramel sundae toppings
Maple Syrup
Apple Slices
Butter Pecan and Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
Cinnamon Whipped Cream
I think my favorite was almond syrup, cinnamon whipped cream, and apple slices. I also loved butter pecan ice cream with caramel sauce! Yum! I found a tip online to keep the cider warm in the crock pot, and it worked perfectly.
The cookie station was a blast! Serenity and I had made the cut out cookies the day before (Cinnamon shortbread, mmmm) I put icing into Ziploc baggies and cut the tips off when the kids were ready to design with them. Even the two year olds could easily squeeze the icing out! Granted it usually ended up in a big puddle on the cookie, but hey, still delicious. I had a bunch of candies to decorate, but I think the mini M&Ms and the mini chewy fruit slices worked the best. Oh, and sprinkles of course.
I made each of the kids a little chef’s hat using this extremely simple pattern. I just happen to have a bunch of muslin on hand, which I’d purchased to make curtains for Serenity’s room. Actually this is the second time I’ve bought muslin for that project and used it for something else, I should just keep a bolt of the stuff on hand! =)
The kids were wonderful today. It was so sweet to see Maggie and Serenity play slumber party together, and Brent set up a store upstairs where Brendan was the checker and Serenity and Maggie were shopping. The girls played play-doh together too, and Serenity did more of it on her own than I’ve ever seen her! She used the scissors to cut all the play-doh into tiny pieces and then smushed them to make her own special cupcakes! Donovan was a sweet heart all day and loved watching all the friendly faces!
I think the kids really enjoyed the cookie station. Brendan made three and was done, but he actually ate his cookie creation. Serenity and Maggie came back to decorate cookies several times but I think all they ate was the icing, although they agreed that it was delicious. Serenity told me she was making a delicious meal, as she puddled icing of every color on her cookie. =)
Eric got to play X-men and some lego game that Brendan had brought with him, which he loved. =) He also loved the parsley I used to make a tree on my veggie tray, and surprisingly Serenity ate a bunch of it too! I loved getting to visit with Abbey, Alisha and Bethany so much. Adult conversation! I’m always happy when my brain can actually come up with some, although with this group it’s ok to talk kid stuff =)
We ended the night with some rock band with Phill, Jessica and Andrea, who came for the second wave of the party. Serenity was adorable dancing the twist and shout, and Donovan just snuggled with me listening to the music and giggling at Andrea until he was almost asleep in my arms. Perfect day.