I know it's almost the end of January but, as it's still in the teens outside and I'm wearing multiple layers and snuggling with my loved ones to keep warm, I think we can forgive a post that references Christmas and the holiday season without being
too random! (Hey, at least I finally took my Christmas tree down...the weekend of
Epiphany, as it should be!)
One of my favorite holiday traditions that I hope continues well into my life is the tradition that my sisters-in-law, Cristal and Rainy, and I have of getting together one Saturday in December and just binge-baking cookies and treats. We started it on a whim back in 2008, right after my husband and I moved back to Texas and got married. My stepmom gave us all funny, dollar-store Christmas aprons to wear, and we spent the day snacking, baking, and connecting with each other:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWYnFiAJ8aFQZtAEvcpKGOTsztCH6l__gTRprRsID9nefwklsPmpoXJUCajULPYejqFTsAG1K0UN5XwmbL94Q0wdqj9VqzbZ_e-8Skr1yl4YsPNMhR2eEWXF8M5L9l8gPPzQElvMkap6S/s1600/cookies+2008.JPG) |
2008 |
We decided to do it again the next year, and the next year, and the next year...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUdwTZE-Q0lFbEFxCsh9ieXVKHTlEdhG5MXf8BHrcTR0opWCCnDwJRQqhqI9QKEBfOuc9OeBmvQycrPw1RzngiRG8RGWBTL-yuprWYtv2knm3_hgIPkPxxvOj2UqXuGXT2k-D3lFCcqGKD/s1600/tumblr_m01bcxylnt1qzmsxe.jpg) |
2009 (we still don't know why there's no photo! sad) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdfTP-_likqgzYFf-KlBLPcWEnDaTdX7WcPgXK77i-f0KNj_h0awzAY8afXjAMYDwfjv71t4exsoLM-SIFKcuVhve3zWnW-Ly3zKHO4HlkVBe3EPSKE26hW724RdN5H2q4kycuJZLbC4F/s1600/cookies+2010.jpg) |
2010 (horrible quality photo, but documented the day!) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ91VSP2SkNZ6NbJ2Y1d7a9oWEus3F43SwkFeiNz-ZD20dnAIpzbtuAWAeuryCqiL2ShiS1f0bqkudWzPwtVeVHqW67z-xpRJO9eyetYmDNBFcb1Slc2go4EzBZLsWReMtytVPXSVUYHDj/s1600/cookies+2011.jpg) |
2011 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1o7nC36jk9j00_ccKfSyTS2rG5KNgCgqPCVn3moGTylDBYOwEn9OjTfz3OOscQpELcx9RzVAcGGH5CJaAac2M67T4WU-s08-vXrAro_9v-N_ESKteu-3KA9JI2W5EQS0PViqLXb82WGdD/s1600/cookies+2012.jpg) |
2012 |
Each year, we dig out the aprons and the messy recipe cards/printouts and gather at my sister-in-law Rainy's house (it's always been at her house...God bless her for hosting every year!) and dig in for a long, productive day.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lh-_NXsyJ2sZXZdoku4t-8b571gC510YgT9lWUw_S9IV5Y1RCYe2sckUkEHDFdRAm6qGXPrf8DasEKujcc8EHT0Rynk_NmZ9c-qtGsnOaSgKasOMCpHE6mgdMYaw11vuJCAnSZ9JH1WB/s1600/11375156963_f562a382c6_b.jpg) |
Rainy makes a darn fine pot of coffee. |
We take turns and help each other mix, roll, sprinkle, fill, chop, etc., and someone is always watching or stirring our lunch (usually a warm, comforting pot of soup) on the stove or making an extra pot of coffee.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7tHybsW8UGvmm-MBZCFepJ8MIog682Lp8P4xiHnfPld98hoJsO-um1hjBZwjv9BdvBRyWYgpYE8FE70I4kRA4xQroSk8LwGhR18M0rCw4VU_0EsyxfZXLp1y9go5YavJG0LDxzqT_z2R/s1600/11375043575_35a0375b81_b.jpg) |
Prepping the soup! Zuppa Toscana this year! SO GOOD. |
2013 was no exception! We limited ourselves a little bit this past Christmas...we each only baked our "staples" and maybe only threw in one or two new additions (we've gone a bit overboard in the past...). With busy schedules, the addition of little ones to the mix, and colds/stuffy noses, we wanted to make sure we still enjoyed ourselves!
The results were, as always, delicious and plentiful:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmQu_qKCJDmD2PRZ5VnWN0tnrWXiU_VH-AnVfydukBkbCIUxTdGH8vpRssB9xo7Bn2DcyGeTunHZhxR2kqMh9uSQX2lJXPMuceuCYoOCT3JKRAQ6dtRwY8iynP5W5rhYLC7WXaU0H8ZDw/s1600/11375215293_dbf01de852_b.jpg) |
Sugar cookies |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWVnaTKz7xV-KuP_KUnPytN2ytkmF-Qz3fMk6nV-k6ZX6xsR5apFd3omXvX6AtwU8VLE8sKDXkK4lzlsEqwTCj5TpdQ__a1iWOT2fRh3UKwtWPVwzcdiL6cprSdwpZiGneFrZl-nMxKh2y/s1600/11375068516_80c7f2a8a7_b.jpg) |
Andes Mint chocolate cookies |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7IXVNVe7EKsF7PVsB-dTpM_-CGaBiaIhwD1Z6omtHFh1sGRfiiGtxdrCO8WGKQFiSPE56jbLARZcHXv7_wZmLmcwuZdKctdbj1MDc__TvZULh-wuVmugsTZQudmT1UmBGqHph27DG5Cl/s1600/11375087795_b3f28165c4_b.jpg) |
Finished apricot cookies |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWEjo1-FW6o8MqLTjqg1JiGd0D-gcNtjpFEE28i3FKPKDhtRR7Fd7f2QlGZOILVytyX2Cnc0DLQhCbr0j2ZInIV21HSATY4zM4mE4ljMEdbZlKMHn7htbVEj-qlFN5L_wmF06qTD8OTpx/s1600/11375094656_277be11580_b.jpg) |
Peanut butter cup cookies |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-_851Qc4vMaFwBCTABwqi3h3EiapgCHPHk5pK8X_keWY3iCio1FBbBVAVXcn1zyhlWJC7f64hep9GO7AUkqPAgx6tdLP2edV9R9N5PCthdZ9MsIOaBMln5ptQqw39K_5yqEPimpl49rP/s1600/11375183253_b41d43932e_b.jpg) |
FLOWER? Really, self?! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF13Aq3QxagPIKDbOFQEuC80zftFyhRripDMiGZNbkZ7a7Iss2gnw1o3fd_Rnq9oyN-_W3zTM0QbAAcT97c8JiCqfQfKx2N4XOpjghZB_IztUmlMNpwlkKfTuQZV5qx9tvuqA4hReGljj-/s1600/11375199543_0981971a33_b.jpg) |
Cranberry almond biscotti |
I love seeing how much we've changed (you can really see it when you look at my niece, Caitlyn, from year to year!) over the years....
I love this tradition because a) it's tradition! I love traditions! and b) I love these
women, and I'm glad they're my sisters. I have always been known for pretty much thinking that my
two brothers hung the moon. They are fantastic, hilarious,
pain-in-the-ass, smart men, and God gave each of them a woman perfectly suited
to them...who will love them more than I do (which is a lot!) and put
up with them and challenge them and make them into even better men.
I'm so glad this tradition started six years ago, and I can't wait to continue to add recipes and memories for years to come.