So today was the official start of our elf Bell having fun at night and giving the girls a challenge in the morning. I know it was only the first morning, but I'm hoping this is an incentive for the girls to get up on time during the week. They hopped right out of bed this morning...so we shall see.
This morning, we found that Bell watched TV last night with some friends (the girls said he was on a date since it was two barbies but it wasn't intended for that. I just wasn't able to sneak in their room to get some other toys so we had to go with the barbies that had been left in the living room.)
The girls found their letter from him on the chair as well and Sophee read it out loud while I heated up the pancakes leftover from yesterday (That's the great thing about the recipe I posted yesterday. I usually get about 20 pancakes from that batter so we use the leftovers through out the week.) In the note he told the girls what he watched last night (Doctor Who of course!) and then what challenge he had for them today. Today, they had to open the doors for others and let them go through first. The girls were super excited about this. The verse that went along with that was from 1 John 3:18~ "Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth."
I learned after Sophee got out of school maybe I should have done this on another day; Olivia was with me all day and hadn't had a chance to do this, and at Sophee's school the teachers have to open the doors. Thankfully though, I had to go to Lifeway before gymnastics to return a cd I got for a certain someone on Black Friday, only to have them go later that day and get the same cd *cough cough Kylie* :-) And wouldn't you know, God had placed someone to walk in at the same time we were, so the girls held the door open together to let the lady through. The lady had a huge smile on her face, but it sure didn't beat the smile on the girls' faces to know they did something good. They also had another chance at gymnastics. All in all, this was a good challenge in not just doing the act, but also being aware of those around you and looking for ways to serve.
At the end of the letter from Bell, he talked about the advent calendar and what it was. Today, the verse came from Luke 1:26-30~" Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God."
The girls love the story of Jesus' birth, and Sophee gets so excited when she's the one who gets to read it to us.
So day one was a success! I'm working on tomorrow's letter and challenge. Going to do one the girls can do often!
One of my favorite cookies of all time is the snickerdoodle cookie! Just thinking about it makes me want some with a big glass of milk! Mmmmm......
Anyways, I've been making these since I was little, but I only started doing them from scratch for the past three years. I've tried out a few (dozen) recipes and this is one that I really like. It gives you soft and chewy cookies that melt in your mouth!
Melt in Your Mouth Snickerdoodles
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp real vanilla extract
2 Tbsp milk
For rolling the cookies before baking
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
Whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, and
cinnamon. Set aside.
In a measuring cup, whisk together the milk and vanilla. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add the egg and mix an additional two minutes. Add the milk and vanilla mixture and mix another minute.
Add in the flour mixture,slowly, beating just until incorporated. The dough will look wet and sticky. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
While the dough is refrigerating, preheat the oven to 375’F and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
When the dough is ready, mix together the additional ¼ cup sugar and 1 Tbsp cinnamon in a shallow bowl. Using either a cookie scoop, or a tablespoon, scoop the dough into balls and then coat with the cinnamon sugar. Place on the prepared baking sheet and bake 8-9 minutes or until set. Remove from oven, allow to cool on baking sheet for 3-4 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
So get to baking and enjoy some cookies with your family and friends. Maybe that could be your act of kindness :-)
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