The Big Move

First of all, I apologize for not posting yesterday but my entire day was unpredictible. A freak snow storm caused all of the surrounding counties to cancel school yesterday. Since Royal Learners follows the Fayette County school closings due to bad weather, my munchkins had to stay home yesterday. Not too big of a deal, except when I went to turn on the TV in our living room, it wouldn't turn on. So I was stranded at home with 3 children, all of us in some stage of an illness, without a TV and the weather too cold to allow us some fresh air time. I tried to get to the computer...trust me I tried. Then last night once relief came (in the form of daddy), we packed up and went TV shopping.

So here I am, ready to end the suspense.....

Click HERE.

We're Moving

I don't want to give too much away so all I'll say is "We're Moving!". Look for more details on Monday, March 2nd.

Have a great weekend!!!

Saving Some Money

We have two wonderful fur babies that we absolutely adore. Bonnie and Clyde are very spoiled with their large fenced in back yard. Both my mom and I use a pet sitter who comes to our home daily to let the poopers out while we're at work. David makes a womping $280 per month ($70/week) just to let our dogs out to pee. It's ridiculous!

Jason and I have tossing the idea of a doggy door for some time now. I didn't like the idea of having a hole in our door or wall though. I was also worried about bugs, rain, losing heat/air conditioning, having animals other than our dogs get into our house and other safety issues. After spending a lot of time researching doggie doors, we think we have found the best there is to offer. This bad boy is meant for the frigid temps of the frozen tundra (aka Wisconsin) and has dual flaps to keep the bugs and bad weather out. The best part?? There is a doggie door that just left La Crosse WI and is headed our way via UPS. Our very own Max Seal Wall Mount Pet Door is scheduled to arrive this Thursday!

As much as I love David, it's going to be nice to save that $70 every week!

Looking For A Change?

Are you disatisfied with the template designs that Blogger provides for you? Then check out this website for some premade designs that totally rock!

I think this one is my favorite so keep your grubby paws off!

Life Is Good

Last night after the boys were both tucked in, I stood at the kitchen sink washing bottles while Jason snuggled with Ava on the couch.

Jason: You know what?

Me: What?

Jason: I'm really happy we had one more.

Me: Good! Because I was seriously starting to consider putting her back where she came from.

In all honesty, Jason's statement that he's "happy" we had one more baby brings me so much joy. This is the man that was absolutely adamant that we not have any more children. The same man that took about 4 months before he could accept the fact that we had managed to get ourselves pregnant again. This is also the same man who almost fell over when I told him we were having a girl. Now he's a man who has fallen madly in love with a baby girl named Ava.

Life Is Good

I'm an overproducer

When I first started to nurse Ayden, I had a problem producing enough milk. After working with two very awesome lactation consultants at Theda Clark, I started to take herbal supplements to increase my supply. Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle are both known to stimulate milk production and they did the trick for me.

Now, 4 1/2 years later, I seem to be having the exact opposite problem. I am making way too much milk. On an average day I pump 72 ounces (18 ounces, 4 times a day) and sweet baby Ava only drinks 24-28 ounces. I'm freezing a lot of breastmilk. Actually, I now have about 600 bags of frozen breastmilk and I'm running out of room. Not only am I having storage issues, but I'm constantly in a state of discomfort. My goal is to pump only 24 ounces per day, but at this point I'm not against quiting altogether. It's not like I don't have a 4 month supply sitting in the freezer!

So after some research and okaying it with the lactation consultants at Piedmont, I'm going to start by drinking 3-6 cups of peppermint tea every day (this shows I'm desperate because I don't like tea). If the tea doesn't do the trick, they've also recommended trying sage capsules and antihistamines (Benadryl). I'll let you know how it goes

Sorry for getting so personal, but it's been something I've needed to get off my chest...ha ha ha. Get it? I crack myself up!

Update: After telling my boss about my game plan, she pulled out an entire box of organic peppermint tea from her drawer! I'm on my first cup of tea and I have to admit that it's not horrible tasting. Hopefully it works...

Busy Little Bee

It's been busy, busy, busy lately! Between doctor appointments, behavioral therapy, Valentine's Day parties, birthday parties and work there hasn't been a lot of down time. I haven't downloaded pictures since....okay, so I can't remember the last time I had time to download/edit pictures.

So this post is to say sorry to my blog readers (all 2 of you). I hope to find some time tomorrow for a proper post.

XOXO

Lots of good things to look forward to

1. Warm weather! It's supposed to be in the upper 60's all weekend so we'll finally be able to get outside and do some yard work. I desperately need to go through the outside toys and get rid of a bunch of stuff.

2. Double header birthday parties. Tomorrow is Caitlin's party at one those inflatable jumpy places. They didn't have quite the response they'd been hoping for so Jameson is being allowed to tag along. Sunday is Maddie's indoor pool party at the Peachtree Dive Center. This is where Ayden takes his swim lessons so he should be more than comfortable in the water.

3. Ayden starts Level 1 swim lessons in March. He did fabulous in PreLevel 2 when daddy took him in December. I love watching his progress!

4. Soccer, soccer and more soccer. The instructor for Soccer Shots (program offered at RL) told me after the spring session that Ayden shows true talent. She advised that we get him involved the Tyrone Rec Dept's soccer league so Ayden is now registered for the Smart Soccer (designed for 3-4 year olds) program that begins 4/18. He'll have practice/games ever Tuesday and Saturday for 5 weeks. I'm not sure who's more excited...Ayden, me or Mimi! If he does well, he can join the 5 year old league in the fall.

5. The first annual Diva's Scrap Retreat. Two full days (5/2-5/3) of scrapping, eating, drinking and laughing with 4 of my favorite women is definitely something to get excited about. Each one of us will be teaching a class and I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.

6. As usual, I always look forward to my children's birthdays. Jameson will be 3 in May, Ayden will be 5 in August and sweet baby Ava turns 1 in November.

6. It's a long ways away, but I'm seriously looking forward to Christmas this year for 2 main reasons. It will be Ava's first Christmas (I don't count last year since she was only a month old) and we'll be celebrating in Orlando. Yes, we're making another family trip to Disney with Mimi and Bumpa. It sort of breaks my rule about being away from home for Christmas, but I think we can make an exception for Mickey Mouse!

Do you have anything that you're looking forward to in 2009?

Keepin' It Real

12:30am - Pump
3:30am - Ava wakes up for a bottle
4:30am - After more snuggle time than normally necessary, Ava goes back to bed and I pump
5:00am - Hop in shower. Okay, so I didn't exactly hop...it was more of a crawl
6:00am - Pack up bottles, wipes and change of clothes for Ava, breast pump for me and backpacks for the boys
6:30am - Wake up boys with a sippy of juice and Flinstone gummy vitamin. With minimal amount of screaming from Jameson, both boys get dressed and brush their teeth
7:00am - Get the boys shoes and coats on (it was only 16 degrees out this morning!) and shove them out the door to get in the truck
7:10am - Ava is up, diaper changed, dressed and in her carseat
7:30am - All kids are dropped off at Royal Learners and I'm on my way to work
8:00am - Pull into parking lot and make my way across the park
8:30am - Pump
12:00pm - Freeze my ass off while walking across the street to work out
1:00pm - Freeze my ass off while walking back across the street
1:15pm - Pump (note to self - pump before working out)
3:00pm - Realize I'm totally exhausted and decide to take a break to blog

What's in store for the evening?

Pick up kids, go home to pump and make dinner, give all 3 kids a bath, practice alphabet flashcards with Ayden, get boys in bed by 7:30, clean up the kitchen, do a few loads of laundry, awe heck...let's pump again, give Ava a bottle and snuggle, wash bottles and finally pour myself into bed.

Just keepin' it real

Embracing My Life

Always

leave enough

room

in your

life

to do something

that makes you

happy,

satisfied

or even joyous.

-Paul Hawken

I love this quote! It reminds me that even though I enjoy spending time with my family, a little "me time" is also necessary to keep the balance. I think that a trip to the park with the boys on Saturday and some quality scrapping time and possible photo shoot of Ava on Sunday would definitely make me feel happy, satisfied and joyous!

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

6 Random Things

I've been tagged by Debra (my mom) at Georgia Rectors with a meme.

Here are the rules:

Link to the person who tagged you.
Post the rules on your blog.
Write six random things about yourself.
Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
Let each person know that they were been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
Let the tagger know when your entry is up.


Okay, here it goes...

1. I simply can not function without a routine. I need to know where I'm supposed to be and what I'm supposed to be doing at all times. Without my routine, nothing will get done. I swear it's like my brain just shuts down.

2. Jason was the first and only guy I dated after moving back to Wisconsin in 2000. We met at my cousin's birthday party an entire month before I moved from Chicago. The day of my big move he called to ask me out and we were together only 4 months before he proposed. This year will be our 8th wedding anniversary!

3. I can pick up almost anything with my toes and I can roll my tongue but I can't wink.

4. I'm a list maker. I make lists for just about everything. I even have lists to manage my lists. I know...pathetic!

5. I would love, love, love to own a beach house. Maybe when we win the lottery....

6. If I could have plastic surgery on one part of my body, I'd choose my breasts. Nursing/pumping for three children has definitely taken it's toll on the girls. I just want them put back where they belong...is that too much to ask for???

Here's where I now have a problem. My mom tagged almost everyone I know who has a blog, so I'm only tagging my sister.

Kelly at Half Dozen

My 2009 Word

Do you remember this post from last year? All I can say is that I failed...big time. I did absolutely nothing to simplify my life in '08. In fact, a lot of things happened that only complicated it more!

1. Pregnancy (which turned out to be a totally awesome thing, but being pregnant isn't always easy)
2. Jameson's behavior/speech problems
3. Moving Jameson to Royal Learners (which also turned out to be a totally awesome thing, but the transition was killer)
4. Getting Ayden used to wearing glasses
5. Studying for and taking the CPP exam...sure am glad that's over!

There's so much more but I won't continue to bore you.

So when we rang in the new year, I thought I would give up on having a "word" for 2009. Why add more pressure to my life? But then I realized that even though I failed at simplifying my life, I wouldn't trade it for the world. And then I knew what my 2009 "word" just had to be....

Embrace

I'm going to embrace my life instead of trying to change it. Every person goes through struggles in life. When I think about what some of the people in this country are facing right now, I realize I need to embrace all of the positive things in my life.

1. My family - I love my husband and he loves me. He's a fantastic provider, husband, father and friend. I have three beautiful children who keep me entertained 24/7. They drive me nuts, they make me laugh and they can bring tears to my eyes with just one sweet hug and kiss.
2. My job - I'm employed by a wonderful organization and in these times of economic turmoil I am grateful for even receiving a paycheck.
3. My health - I have Lupus but fortunately it does not control my life and I know that it could be so much worse. My doctor loves to inform me that I'm one of the lucky ones.
4. My friends - I may not have a ton of friends but I believe in quality not quantity. The friends that I have are loyal, honest and devoted. If I ever truly needed anything, they would all be there for me...even the Wisconsinites.

I will continue to experience both ups and downs...that's just a part of life. In 2009 I want to embrace both the good and the bad. In the end, the challenges make me a better person and the joys make it all worthwhile. So if you see me complain too much this year, be sure to remind me of my '09 word!!

What about the rest of you? Did you have a "word" for 2008? Did you succeed, fail or end up somewhere in between? Has anyone chosen a word for 2009?

Current Stuff

1. I've got 5 dogs in my house right now and 1 pile of crap. I have no idea who to yell at.
2. Jason is working out of town. 5 dogs + 3 kids - Jason = crazy house
3. I miss my parents. I can't wait until they get back from their cruise on Saturday!
4. I'm not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow. At least Ava is coming with me.
5. I got rid of half of the toys in the boys' room yesterday. Their room no longer looks like a miniature Toys R Us.
6. I have to count out 100 peanut M&M's to celebrate Ayden's 100th day of school tomorrow. I swear that his teacher comes up with this stuff to make life more difficult for us parents.
7. I love finding people on Facebook. I just reunited with an old friend from elementary school tonight!
8. I still smell dog crap. There must be more somewhere in this house...
9. I hope my Lupus tests come back with good news and it's just my arthritis acting up right now.
10. Ava is still wearing newborn clothes. I can't wait until she's finally into her 0-3 months stuff!

What we do all day

After waking up, Ava gets her diaper changed. She poops a lot! Ava loves to be swaddled. If she goes to bed without being swaddled, she just doesn't sleep very well.

After being swaddled, it's time for a yummy bottle. Ava drinks anywhere from 4-6 ounces. After every 2 ounces she'll spit her bottle out which is how we know that she's ready for a burp.

She's exhausted after her breakfast and is ready for nap #1. She'll sleep for about 3-4 hours and we'll repeat the process all over again.What do I do after putting Ava down in her crib? I pump! It became very painful to both pump and nurse Ava after she was released from the NICU. I was producing waaaay more than she was consuming so I kept getting clogged up. After many frustrating weeks of trying to do both, I decided to stick to pumping and bottle feeding. Below you see 12 ounces of breast milk that I pumped out this morning...I'm a total overproducer!So what do we do with all of the extra milk? We freeze it. Unfortunately, we're running out of space. This is one of the bins of the freezer inside the house. It's packed.

So is the top shelf.So is the freezer in the garage!It's a good thing that we also have a chest freezer. Jason just threw away everything last night and gave it a good cleaning with bleach water. Now I have plenty of room for more frozen breast milk.

How much have we stored up so far? We have over 200 bags of frozen breast milk with approximately 6 ounces in each bag. I'm starting to feel like a cow!

So now you know how we spend our day...eating, pooping, sleeping and pumping!

The Waiting Game

I can't believe it's been a week since my last post but things have been busy around here. Besides going out to see Twilight last weekend, I stayed home to clean, clean, clean. Jason built the valances for Ava's room and my grandmother's painting got hung above the crib. There are still a few more accessories that I'd like to get, but at least everything is about 90% done for her arrival.

On Monday, I had an ultrasound and an OB appointment. The ultrasound went great. Ava gained another pound so her estimated weight was now 6 1/2lbs. She should be around 7lbs by now...especially after the way I ate yesterday! The rest of my day was spent finishing up projects at work.

Tuesday morning Jameson had his second session with the behavioral therapist. Ms Monique pointed out again that Jameson really doesn't qualify for the Babies Can't Wait Program and said our case would probably be closed out in 3-4 months. It makes me feel good that Jameson's behavior isn't that bad but I'm still grateful that they're helping us make better decisions with him. Now that we've got the knowledge, Jason and I have to work on using the skills we've been given and stay consistent. It's actually much more difficult than I thought, but we're already starting to see a change in Jameson so it keeps us motivated.

Wednesday was just a normal day at the office...NOT! I came in armed with a list that I had made throughout the night of all the things that still needed to get done. I worked in a sort of frenzied state all day. Typically, the Chamber employees get sent home early the day before a holiday but I already knew I'd put in a full day to get everything done. The thought that it could be me last day before having a baby had me panicked. I think I've mentioned before that I really like my job and am sort of "protective" of it. I wanted everything to be in order before someone else has to come in and fill my shoes. As predicted, I worked until 4:15 and then headed home to pick up the boys.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving day! I was sooooo excited about the meal that my mom was preparing. All of my favorites were on the menu and some new things as well. Jason and I spent the morning getting a few things done around the house while the boys played outside. After 2 weeks of cooler weather, yesterday's high was around 65 degrees so they were in heaven! After lunch and naps, we packed up a laundry basket of necessities for the boys and headed over to Mimi & Bumpa's house. After Ayden and Jameson played bubbles and drove their new Polaris Razor it was finally time for dinner. My plate was full and I indulged in a glass of wine. After dinner, we sat outside by the fireplace and watched the boys play with some glow necklaces that Bumpa pulled out. After a helping of my Double Chocolate Cheesecake, Jason and I got the boys in their PJ's. We had our fingers crossed that Jameson would be okay sleeping at Mimi & Bumpa's. He's only 2 1/2 and has never spent a night away from us. With Jameson settled in Mimi's room watching Scooby Doo and Ayden tucked away in the den watching Transformers with Bumpa, Jason and I made our escape. Since we didn't get a phone call to pick Jameson up, I'm assuming all went well.

Today is Friday. It's supposed to be the day we have Ava. I got up promptly at 5am and sucked down a tablespoon of castor oil. Despite the bottle promising the goo inside to be be odorless and tasteless, it still tasted like crap. It took all my effort to not throw the stuff back up! I'm taking a quick few minutes to blog and then I'll shower and finish packing my bag. I'd also like to finish cleaning up the kitchen, get a few more loads of laundry done and take another trip around the house with the vacuum. Hopefully by 10am we'll be making our way to the hospital. If all goes according to plan, I'll be back home some time tomorrow with a another baby to love and cherish.

I sure hope you had a fabulous Thanksgiving! We'll keep you posted on "Operation Get Baby The Heck Out of Mommy"!

Random Wednesday

1. It was only 22 degrees outside this morning when I left to drop the boys off at school. Brrrrrr!

2. Gas is down to $1.81 at some stations! We're paying about $75 less per week than we were just two short months ago.

3. I really like my new haircut. Cassie cut 5 inches off the length and layered me up. I love how a simple haircut makes me such a happier mommy!

4. It hit me last night that I could possibly only have six days of work left before I go on maternity leave. I think that deserves a little Amen.

5. The other night Ayden didn't want to eat his dinner. The excuse? "Mommy. If I eat anymore my tummy will get a headache." I gave him an 8 for creativity and then sent him to daddy for bathtime.

6. I love Thanksgiving. It's one of my favorite holidays! I think it's got something to do with the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, flaky layer biscuits and dessert. Does anyone else hear angels singing right now or is it just me?

7. I get super freaked out when someone else has to do my job. As much as I'm looking forward to 8 weeks off with our new baby, I really don't care for the way my backup does my job while I'm gone. He hasn't had to help out since my maternity leave with Jameson so he's getting a refresher course this week. I'm about to kill him.

8. My pay increase for passing the CPP exam is "on hold". Apparently the Chamber is in the middle of a pay increase freeze due to the economy and even though this is something that was promised to me in 2007 and I worked my butt off for over a year on it....and passed, I'm getting screwed. And even though the president wrote a nice personal note stating that it has nothing to do with my job performance and he looks at me as a valuable asset/leader for our organization...blah, blah, blah...I still want to poke his eyes out.

9. Jameson is still sleeping in his own bed through the night. Along with the new haircut, this makes me an even happier mommy!

10. I'm not sure why I saved this one for last. Maybe it's because I find it difficult to explain my feelings about it...okay, here goes. I have had no contact with my grandmother (my mom's mom) in over 12 years besides the Christmas cards I continue to send every winter. The story as to why I have no contact with her is long and complicated (and mostly my mom's) but I will say that it's her choice, not ours. So imagine my surprise when she emails me out of the blue to tell me that she has sent me something in the mail. This woman is a very talented artist...even at 82 years old...so I knew it would be something she had painted. I was completely floored and emotionally overwhelmed last night when I opened the box to find a large, beautifully framed painting of a little girl with angel wings sitting in a garden holding a butterfly. It was titled "Ava Marie" and was indeed painted by my grandmother. There are about a million emotions running through me because of this painting. Jason and I were waiting for that perfect "something" to hang over our daughter's crib and this is exactly what we were waiting for.

Friday Goodies

I am so happy today is Friday...it's been a long week. I say that every week and every week I mean it. Fridays make me happy, especially now that Jason's big projects have come to a close and we have weekends together as a family. So here's some things that are making me happy today.

1. Even though I haven't been posting my progress, I've been staying on top of our A Week In The Life project. Wednesday I didn't do so well but I managed to get a few meaningful pictures taken during the day. Can't wait to work on assembling everything. I definitely learned something during this project though...it's not about the quality of the photos, it's about getting the photo. Most of my pictures are blurry or where taken in horrible lighting and it really doesn't bother me because I can still tell what was going on in that moment. That's what this project is all about to me.

2. Had fun last night taking the boys to Spirit Night at Taylor Made Tumbling for school. Jason followed Jameson around and I kept track of Ayden. It was insane, but the boys had a ton of fun.

3. I'm getting my hair cut tomorrow at 2pm. I haven't had a haircut since January 21st and it's about time! I have no idea what I want to do so if I find some time today, I'll cruise the internet looking for inspiration.

4. Mimi and Bumpa are taking Ayden to see Madagascar 2 tomorrow night and then he's sleeping over. I love that he looks forward to sleepovers with my parents.

5. The trees are absolutely beautiful...finally! As I was driving in today I was mesmerized by all the different shades of red and yellow. I love fall. It is definitely the most beautiful season.

6. I'm taking a vacation day on Monday. Not because I plan on sitting on my rear doing nothing, but it's going to be a good day. Ava has a photoshoot at 8am and then Jameson has his behavioral evaluation at 10am. Afterwards we're going to set up our plan/goals with the therapist. I'm so excited to have a game plan...something positive to work towards with Jameson instead of feeling lost and confused all of the time.

7. This goes along with #6, but Jason is taking the day off as well. After we drop Jameson off at school, we're going to go have an adult lunch and maybe see a movie. We desperately need some "us" time. If taking some time off from work is how we need to get it accomplished, then so be it.

8. I'm getting excited for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I love the holidays. I love the traditions. I love spending time with my family. This year I really love that we'll have a new baby to enjoy all of these things with. Ava is going to complete our family and I feel so blessed that we get to share our life with her.

Well, that's about it. Despite contractions, exhaustion and swollen ankles; I'm one happy mommy this Friday!

So Cool!

I love 80's rock and current country. Seriously, how different could those two styles of music possibly be? Mixing up some Journey, Taylor Swift, Def Leppard, Keith Urban, Boston and Carrie Underwood makes me a very happy girl.

So you can only imagine how excited I was to hear on the radio this morning that the next episode of CMT's Crossroads will feature Taylor Swift and Def Leppard!!! I was full of tingles when they played a clip from Photograph with Taylor Swift singing the famous lyrics. I've never actually watched Crossroads before but I certainly plan on programming my DVR for tomorrow night at 9pm.

If you're a fan of either one, check out this video from tomorrow night's show! I've been watching it all day...can't wait for the rest!!!

33 Weeks

Ava and I went to see the OB today. I took along my list of concerns:

contractions
pressure
numbness in my left hand
swollen feet but not swollen ankles
sharp shooting pain

All is normal. Yes, they're concerned that I may deliver early so they agree with Dr. Korotkin that I need to limit my walking, bending and crouching. I need to cut back on picking up/carrying Jameson. I definitely can not pick up or carry Ayden which is really not a problem because I think only daddy has the strength to pick that child up! Dr. Dozier and Dr. McSwain both think that baby Ava will be here in 3-4 weeks. I have my next OB appointment on the 17th and we'll start non-stress tests then. I see Dr. Korotkin for another photo shoot of Ava on the 10th.

Basically, we're ready. Ava's room is painted, the new flooring has been installed and the new wood blinds are up. There are fresh sheets on the crib and blankets have been washed. All of her new clothes are washed and either hanging up in the closet or put away in the dresser. We have lotions, bath wash and towels ready to go. The swing has been put together and the bassinet is ready to be put in our room if needed. The breast pump has new batteries and bottles have been washed and are in the cabinet. Diapers, baby wipes and Balmex are waiting by the changing table. Other than some putting some finishing touches on her room (I still need to find a quilt I like), we're well prepared.

BTW - Jameson has his speech evaluation tomorrow at 9am. I spoke with the therapist for some time yesterday and I'm looking forward to hearing her thoughts after the hour long evaluation. If Wanda feels it's necessary, Jameson will also be evaluated by a behavioral therapist next week Monday.

Ayden is doing extremely well with his new glasses. I spoke with his teacher yesterday when I picked the boys up and she said she can already tell a difference in Ayden's work. I'm so relieved we took care of his vision problem early!

Check back tomorrow for days 1 & 2 of A Week In The Life. I'm almost done editing yesterday's pictures and I've already taken a bunch this morning. I'm very determined to see this project through to the end!!

Thinking Ahead...

Christmas is going to be a little different for us this year. I will be on unpaid maternity leave and there will be a new baby in the house. Despite these slight changes, I still love the traditions that Christmas brings and there are definitely a few of them that I'm looking forward to.

decorating the tree/mantle
making Christmas cookies
wrapping presents
writing Santa a letter with Ayden
all of the yummy food

I know it may seem crazy to be thinking about all of this since it's only November 3rd, but as I look out my window the park is full of workers setting up Christmas decorations. Christmas decorations already?!?! It does seem a bit early, but it's definitely got me thinking ahead.

So, I thought I'd share my absolute favorite sugar cookie recipe. I made these for our Central Services Holiday Outing three years in a row and everyone just LOVED them!

Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup white sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 (3oz) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg yolk
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Directions:
1. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, butter, cream cheese, salt, almond and vanilla extracts and egg yolk. Beat until smooth. Stir in four until well blended. Chill the dough for 8 hours, or overnight.
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
3. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough 1/3 at a time to 1/8 inch thickness, refrigerating remaining dough until ready to use. Cut into desired shapes with lightly floured cookie cutters. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Leave cookies plain for frosting, or brush with slightly beaten egg white and sprinkle with candy sprinkles or colored sugar.
4. Bake for 7-10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until light and golden brown. Cool cookies completely before frosting.

And to top everything off, I always make my favorite cream cheese frosting for decorating. I'm a frosting snob and use this recipe for everything...carrot cake, cupcakes, cookies...or to simply eat straight from the bowl.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
1 8oz package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:
In a medium bowl, combine confectioners sugar, cream cheese, butter and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Spread onto anything...cookies, cupcakes, cake or your tongue:)

Now that I'm dying for a handful of decorated sugar cookies, I may have to see if I have a turkey or some leaves in my cookie cutter stash and make a few batches in celebration of Thanksgiving!

Enjoy!