It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

With these sudden cold temps, it certainly FEELS like Christmas! Now it smells, sounds and looks like Christmas, too. :-)

Last Wednesday was Jessica's school choir holiday concert. Here they are singing Carol of the Bells, a WJHS tradition:



There's not much "video" here - it was too dark, but here they are again singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" at the local tree lighting:



Here they are singing "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas":



We also went on Saturday and cut down our Christmas tree:

I'm happy to say that almost all my holiday shopping and mailing is DONE! :) Here's this year's card:

I have also been busy baking Christmas cookies. Four kinds made so far! These are a family favorite from the Nestle site:

Chocolate-Studded Dream Cookies

Yields - 42 cookies (3 1/2 dozen)

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Baking Cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 2/3 cups (10-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® SWIRLED™ Semi-Sweet & Premier White Morsels, divided

COMBINE flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in 1 cup morsels. Drop by well-rounded teaspoon onto ungreased baking sheets. Top with remaining morsels (approx. 4 – 5 per cookie).BAKE at 325 degrees for 11 – 13 minutes or until cookies are puffed and centers are set. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

These are the best chocolate cookies ever!