Treats, etc.

Well, today the kids and I will start making our Christmas cookies. I say start because we will space it out this year:-) I like to make at least three different types and then we give them away as gifts. I was thinking of cutting the sugar cookie recipe in half because they take so long to finish, but I think we'll just space it out instead.
Last year, I made some bars that the kids and I love- they're called magic cookie bars. You've probably all had them. I first tried them in my tween years when Joy would bring home a huge lot of cookies from her cookie exchange at the college. They have chocolate chips, coconut, walnuts(which I now realize I forgot to buy!) and they are on a graham cracker crust with sweetened condensed milk on top. Very good. I wasn't planning on making them this year, but Tyler's buddy Brandon was bragging about them to some other kids. I had given he and his step dad some last year. He's the friend that lost his mom last year. Well, when some kids were sharing about what cookies their moms were going to make, he chimed in that Tyler's mom makes him cookies for Christmas. I didn't realize he appreciated them so much so I'll have to continue to do that:-)
So in addition to those, I'll make these Hershey kiss surprise cookies that have a kiss inside the cookie- they are really good- similar to Mexican wedding cookies except that they are chocolatey.
So the kids and I will be busy baking. I wonder how long their stamina will last- they tend to get bored after the second batch of sugar cookies- course so do I! I wish there was a way to make several batches of cookies at one time in an oven! I think with those new convection ovens you probably can.
In other news, Paul is getting close to getting the wood stove back up and running. Hopefully in the next day or two.
Tyler has his last basketball game this Saturday. It's against Holy Name again- that's the most similarly matched team to them. Last time they played them, it went into overtime and then our boys lost by two. So it will be a nail biter- practically pee your pants- kind of game.
Well, I better get going. Have a nice day!