Stockings, Christmas Trees, and Decapitated Snowmen

It is that time of year. Our banks accounts dwindle, the air is filled with pine, Christmas lights replace trim (singlehandedly causing an energy crisis), and if you're like me in the valley of Northern California, you wish some miracle would happen and it would snow. But we make the most of it.

To me, making the most of it usually requires music and cookies. So this week, the amazing and brilliant Annie (my sister) came over.

We decked the halls--well, we decked

my kitchen counter--with cookies, icing, sprinkles. It was a beautiful sight to behold.

<---that's Annie's meticulous hand.

Samson the Faithful

waited by our feet,

hoping desperately to catch a

rogue sprinkle.

Annie had to keep rinsing excess

frosting from her hands...

Gingerbread lost limb, star lost point, snowman lost head--all in a duel between the territorial cookie sheet and the spatula.

Very few cookies perished.

Ben came home from a long a

grueling final to indulge in the festivities.

He also started taking photo's.

Even the amazing Uncle A,

all the way in Atlanta, was able to join us!

Skype is THE fastest way

to travel.

(Ciao il mio preferisco Zio A!)

An afternoon well spent.

We enjoyed the fruits of our labor.

With a side of egg nog, of course. :)