Christmas Cookie Recipes????Activities???

I just made these last night and my kids will decorate them tonight. They're great because all they need is green frosting and m&m's so they should look good no matter how old the decorator is!

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/tasty-trees-816815/

Another mom last year gave me the idea to put storebought peanut butter cookie dough into a mini muffin tin (roll into balls), bake at 350 for 10 minutes, then push an unwrapped mini peanut butter cup in each one as soon as they come out of the oven. Easy and kids love them, as long as there are no peanut allergies.
I've made them w/ my own peanut butter cookie dough too.

Make sugar cookies and let the kids help you. They can help measure flour and sugar (etc), help stir, use cookie cutters, sprinkle sugar on top, frost them once cooked and cooled......it's an activity AND cookies at the same time! You can also make Rice Krispies Treats, with measuring help of course!

SO MANY CRAFTS HERE!! http://bit.ly/gPNsR4 You could keep busy for HOURS!! I love the handprint art - tree, wreath, and reindeer are all too cute!! Scroll down for more coloring pages, cards, books, worksheets, activity pages, and MORE!!

More coloring pages:
http://bit.ly/eH39FY
http://bit.ly/fhjift
http://bit.ly/fWR3ms
http://bit.ly/fstK8B
http://bit.ly/fxscQ2

More activity Pages:
http://bit.ly/g9GQiH <~~~ I like doing this one (c:
http://bit.ly/igglWJ
http://bit.ly/eUZhRO

Go to your local craft store and shop around. They usually have awesome holiday craft things.
As for cookies...

I found this recipe for cookies and Oh my they are AMAZING!!!

Ingredients

* 1/2 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa or HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Cocoa
* 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, melted
* 1 cup all-purpose flour, divided
* 1 cup sugar
* 2 eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1. 1. Stir cocoa into butter in large bowl; cool slightly. Stir in 1/2 cup flour, sugar, eggs, vanilla, baking soda and salt; beat until well blended. Stir in remaining 1/2 cup flour and pecans until blended. Cover; refrigerate until firm, about 3 hours.

2. 2. Heat oven to 300°F. Lightly grease cookie sheet or line with parchment paper. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in powdered sugar. Place balls 3-inches apart on prepared cookie sheet.

3. 3. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until tops have crackled appearance and are set. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. About 2-1/2 dozen cookies.

I came upon this today an it looks like SO much fun!! Perfect, for kiddos!

http://www.ourbestbites.com/2010/12/dipped-marshmallow-po...

Last weekend I baked up some ornaments with my 5 and 3 year old. Mix up 1 part salt, 2 parts flour, and 1 part water really well. You can add in some food coloring or some cinammon if you want yummy-smelling ornaments. Get out some cookie cutters and let the kids go to town. One cool thing we did: got out 3 different size lids from different spice jars and used them as cutters to make a snowman shape. Bake in oven on 200 degrees for 2 to 3 hours. The next day, get out some glue, pipe cleaners, buttons, m&m's, felt, whatever crafty stuff you want to decorate with. Just be ready for a mess! But my kids, especially the five-year old, loved it. (Oh and make sure to put a little hole in the ornament before you bake it so you can hang it up).

Construction paper - Christmas trees, either you cut out or them, decorated with scraps of construction paper and use stips of foil for garland! Cut out and asseble snowmen. Hand reindeer - cut out a peanut shape for the head, hand prints become the antleers! Pin the carrot nose on the snowman.

google "no bake cookies" and tons of them come up. they are super easy for the kids to make. good luck and have fun!!!

You should check out www.familyfun.com for recipes and ideas.

My son for years has begged to make a gengerbread house. I have put it off because OH MY that a lot of work. However I was in a craft store last night and there was a cake pan in the shape of a gengerbread house. I am going to go back and ger it and let him and his little sister do that one day this next week when he is home with me. The store had a lot of neet and fun crafty thing and kits as well. I stink and baking and I am sure you will get a lot of help there anyway
Have a great Christmas and Enjoy!!!
Blessings
S.

I have two kids myself and love celebrating the Holidays! My oldest is 4 and is really starting to get into the spirit. Some ideas that I have done so far are below, he has enjoyed them all!

Decorating a gingerbread house. You can get these great kits under $10 at bed bath and beyond or any grocery store.

I see you live in TX, not sure if you are near Dallas but there is this great neighborhood that has a spectacular light show. Check out link for location:

http://www.ittakesavillagedallas.com/It_takes_a_village/O...

I love to bake with my 4.5yr old and we made these great little holiday Dried Fruit cookies that are so festive. There is also a recipe for peanut butter and jelly bars in this link as well...yum!

http://www.ittakesavillagedallas.com/It_takes_a_village/M...

One of my new favorite traditions is opening up one present on Christmas Eve. A toy would not make a good choice as you do want them to go to bed before Santa arrives. A better idea would be to open a new book that you can read to them before they go to bed? To read more about this tradition check out the full article that also suggests some great new holiday books.
http://www.ittakesavillagedallas.com/It_takes_a_village/B...

Happy Holidays!
V.

Make homemade Christmas ornaments and let them paint away. There are recipes all over the internet and require the most basic ingredients. String popcorn, make paper chains, draw a santa face and have them glue cotton balls on for the beard. Drive them around at night to look at decorations.

on facebook theres a webb called moms who think. they have recipes and activities! good luck!