Christmas cookies... ???

yes...this is about Christmas cookies...oh my.... :)

The last couple of months, especially since Eric has been back home, I've stepped up my cooking. I have been cooking gluten and casein free now for 4 years...yes, that's right...wow...4 years. It is definitely so much easier now than it was when we started. Through this process of learning a completely new way of cooking, I've also gone through mourning. That sounds funny, but it's true. Growing up some of my favorite things I remember were centered around food....yummy recipes, snacks and goodies! I wanted to pass these same dishes down to my kids, but when we learned that for Josh, eating foods that contain those proteins were impacting his health dramatically, those wishes of mine were not going to happen. Well, of course, after more perspective and thinking about my own memories it really wasn't about the food...it was about the family and friends....I mean, really, I loved my childhood and am incredibly blessed by all my family...but, now that I have kids...it's NOT about me, right?!?! ;-) It's about them...not about trying to recreate or have them experience the same things I did. Obviously there is a place for traditions...but, not necessarily what I had. The best ones seem to develop when you aren't even trying. Am I right? I know for me that if I find a great idea for something to do around Christmas/Thanksgiving...any major holiday...it never goes as planned... ;-)

So...getting to the point here....look...I made some dough for "sugar" cookies. They were not the real ones because white refined sugar is a definite trigger food for Josh. 

Needless to say...it was entertaining watching them. I also can't seem to ever turn off my 'therapist eyes.' As in, ooo...this will be really good for Josh's fine motor skills and hand strength. He'll have to push the cookie cutters down hard, pull the excess dough away from the cutters, etc. 

 oh yeah...Sam and I made snickerdoodles with the left over dough...

 this was during Sam's phase of not wanting to smile for pictures...she thought she was frowning.. ;)

 He's concentrating because his other hand is up to the side..he's always done this...

 Sam is concentrating because her tongue is sticking out :)-

 oh..and the sprinkles are not the artificial dye ones...they are made with veggie dyes and I found ours at Whole Foods!

 the chocolate glaze was just our Enjoy Life gfcf mini chocolate chips melted!

 they loved them because they were crunchy!!