Christmas Photos finally!

Finally around to posting some photos from Christmas for my family near and far. Even though Christmas had to be postponed to due a stomach bug I had (YUCK!) We did get around to it eventually once I was feeling better! Here is our newest addition...Ashlyn Rosie's first Christmas

All of the kids got awesome presents, but as usual had more fun having a paper fight with the left over wrapping!

Experimented just a bit with my new camera (7 months old now, but still new to me) and the Christmas tree. It was sooooo beautiful this year. Perhaps it was because I had time or took the time to enjoy it!

Our other new addition...Julio...enjoyed himself in the midst of all the chaos with a nap!

Santa brought the Wii Fit Plus for the kids this year... and new Christmas Jammies!

Aubrey got many things princess this year...including this card from her Grammie. There is nothing like Christmas will little ones!

Now that I felt better, we gathered for a hearty meal of Ham, mashed, broccoli gratin, rolls, deviled eggs, and ambrosia. Yummmm!

It was wonderful to be together...

in the real life snow globe we've been living in...

Lacey just can't get enough of the snow! She runs around like a crazy dog and usually has a face covered with snow. After trying for more than 10 shots to get a picture of it, I gave up. She has a way of shaking the snow off her face right as I take her picture!

Speaking of little ones...we finally had EVERYONE at Grammas this year. Gramma, two kids, two spouses, 6 grandkids, and 6 great grandkids. So awesome. Do you think we took a picture of us all together? Heck no! How crazy is that?

We did however take SOME pictures...

Grammas not really drunk, in fact she rarely drinks. She just manages to look 'drunk' in every picture!

This is my favorite Christmas picture this year...My mother in law collects rocking horses of all types, shapes, and sizes. She has quite the amazing and beautiful collection. I have a baby great niece Lizzy, who looks an awful lot like my big girl...check it out...

How stinkin cute is that?!? Couldn't they be sisters? Next time you visit the Ruchus, that ones' gonna be framed on a wall. So precious.

Finally, a few more cookie shots and one more recipe...I love cookies that taste good AND cookies that are beautiful...

These cookies taste good...Raspberry thumbprints...

And these cookies are beautiful...Strawberry Sandwich Cookies

My new recipe I'm sharing is Carrot Cake Sandwich cookies. Sorry that I don't have a picture....but MAN were they yummy.

Here's the recipe...

Carrot Cake Cookies

1 1/2 C all purpose flour

1 1/2 C granulated sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

8 oz. unsalted butter

2 large eggs

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 C chopped or sliced almonds

3/4 C shredded coconut

2/3 C pureed cooked carrots

2/3 C drained, crushed pineapple

Cream Cheese Filling

8 oz. room temp cream cheese

6 T sweet butter

3 C powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy, add eggs and vanilla until combined. Add four, salt and baking soda. When flour mixture is combined, add remaining ingredients and mix until just combined. Portion onto sheet pans prepared with parchment paper lining using a #40 scoop.

Bake at 350 degrees F 10 - 12 minutes.

While cookies are baking prepare filling by combining all filling ingredients until smooth and well combined.

After cookies are completely cooled, turn over using a metal spatula. Frost every other cookie bottom with 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese frosting and top with unfrosted cookie.

Enjoy!

If you double this recipe (as I did) you only need a single batch of frosting to frost all of the cookies.

Single batch makes 29 cookies.