Cooking with the Minions

Today I decided to have a BAKING EXTRAVAGANZA! After baking, oh, I dunno..seven mini-loaves of fruitcake and bourbon balls, I decided to have the children help me in baking the rest of the holiday stuff. I like to give the teachers food (and being a teacher myself, food is the best present–everybody can use it, and it doesn’t cost a lot to give). Anyway, I started the morning with banana bread and progressed through date nut balls, gingerbread men, and sugar cookies. Mmm…

Here’s a picture of my helpers:
Notice the way my daughter is eyeing her brother with a “Hands off my cookies, pal!”

Last night my son survived the annual holiday performance. They sang a song about American kids and waved flags. All in all, he did great. He sang a few times, waved the flag, and didn’t break down sobbing like last year. Hey, works for me. At one point he put his hand in his pocket. Clearly relaxed about the whole thing.

And tonight is the office Christmas party. I’m taking macaroni salad and Christmas cookies. The hubby is staying home with the kids, which should be fun for him. I’m considering bringing a decent bottle of wine. Last year it was wine in a box….yikes.:ick:

On the writing front, I’m alternating between revising two different books. Happily, I’m making forward progress on both; on the down side, I feel unfocused. This is when I need an editor to tell me, “Michelle, I want you to finish XYZ book and have it to me by March.” I need a deadline, big time.

And we ALL know what Michelle wants for Christmas. And it sure the heck isn’t my two front teeth.

P.S.–My Dot Moms column is up.