Cookie Decorating Party!

I, voluntarily, had 11 children (8, plus my 3) in my house decorating sugar cookies & gingerbread men! :o) That's right, I asked some of my friends to bring their kids to get hyped up on sugar to ring in the Christmas season! :o) Those of you who know me may be wondering if I've lost my mind... maybe :o) But it was so much fun!!!!

I was up late last night baking sugar cookies, and then early this morning baking the gingerbread men...

Then, at 5:30 this evening the first of our guests arrived! :o) A fellow COVA mom, Laurie, and her 3 girls. She and I have chatted on Facebook for the last year or so, but we've only met maybe twice! :o) I had so much fun getting to know her, and her girls! They are all pretty close in age to my three, so that was very cool!

Oh my gosh, Laurie, this picture just makes me smile!!!

They were followed by a new friend, Ivy, and her daughter. We go to church together and met through our 'anchor group'. It took Laura a little bit to feel free enough to run like a maniac (like my children were/are), but she LOVED making the cookies! :o)

And, last, but in no way least, my friend, Cheryl and her 4 kids arrived! By this time, all the kids were running amok and watching Veggietales Christmas movies in between. :o) Some of them had eaten all their cookies (my kids!), others were working on it LOL

The kids played dress up, they ran around, the jumped off the walls (well, maybe that was just my girls LOL)... in all, I think they had a great time! :o)

And you may be wondering where MY youngest midget was during all this manic running and dressing up was going on...

She was eating frosting... from the containers! And later, she was eating sprinkles! Every time I'd turn my back, I'd hear the sprinkle containers LOL She was SNEAKING around the table trying to get to the shakers as I was picking them up... I was in stitches watching her! Believe it or not, she went straight to bed... I know! I was surprised, too! :o)

Such a fun way to kick off Christmas; hanging out with friends and letting our kids go crazy :o) Thank you Laurie, Ivy & Cheryl for joining us... we had a blast!!