Christmas Cookie Exchange

Who else believes "better late than never"?  I am a proud member of that club, and it is with that in mind that I want to tell you about our Christmas Cookie Exchange. We all need a nice dose of holiday spirit around mid-January, anyway, right?

The party, Cookies and Cocoa, was really just a chance for friends to get together during the holidays and share some fabulous cookies and conversation.  I ordered the invitations from Tiny Prints and asked each guest to bring 2 dozen of their favorite cookies.

"This year, you'll have the perfect plate for Santa."

Check out the amazing variety we had at the party:

• Marissa brought Reese's Brownies and Chocolate Buckeyes
• Kristin brought Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
• Tam, Amber, and Audrey brought adorable Sugar Cookies
• Anieta brought Pecan Tassies - I had never had these, and oh my - they were awesome.
• Kara brought the cutest Gingerbread Men I've ever seen (They looked like Gingy from Shrek with assorted facial expressions! Thanks to Sam for the assist!)
• Joni brought Peanut Blossoms
• Christine brought Chocolate Peppermint cookies
• Jessica brought Sugar cookies with white chocolate and candy canes
• Jayme brought Chocolate Chip (and Braylon!)
• Jenny brought M & M (and Billy and the girls, who have to come in next time!)
• Megan brought Rolo-Covered Pretzels
• Kim brought Red Velvet and White Chocolate cookies (and Emmett!)
• Rachel S. brought Iced Sugar Cookies in all kinds of cute shapes - gorgeous
• Rachel P. brought something delicious (I lost the tag) and something handsome (Will, who was amazingly well-behaved and seemed so mature!)
• Mom brought beautiful Russian teacakes, which became the centerpiece and I can't believe I don't have a picture of it!
• Allison sent Reindeer Cake Pops - adorable.
• Ingrid brought Oreo-Stuffed Chocoate Chip Cookies - yum!

Have you ever seen something cuter?  Allison Walden - that girl is something else, I tell you.

Everyone unloaded their cookies onto my trays, and then we walked around and collected 2 dozen assorted cookies and pieces of candy.  People wrapped up their goodies, and had a tray of yummy snacks for their own holiday parties...or Santa!

Miss Anieta was our first guest and she brought delicious pecan tarts AND an amazing gift for Beckett - it was a customized Ford F150 with "Hild Landscaping" on the side, pulling a trailer and John Deere tractor just like Shonn's!  It was so cute. Joe customized it for him.  They are great friends!

These are the treats I made before the guests arrived. The candy was a product of my day with GG and Mom.  The cookies were recipies I found on allrecipies.com - some kind of mint chocolate cookie and spicy gingerbread.  Dips, crackers, and nuts finished the snacks.

When people arrived, they completed a cookie card that described the cookies they brought.  On their way out, they got two cookie cutters tied with Christmas ribbon and a gift tag as their favors.  Our little elf, Chip, greeted them at the door.

Lots of kids were able to come, which made it so much fun!  Here, Beckett and Ava play with the piano. (And Ava's face.)



Some of the Christmas decor! I also had wreaths hung on each door (again, no picture - grr).



The best part of the party: The people!

Baby Emmett - Such a cutie.

The Nativity table...with some Gingerbread men, Pecan Chew (my fave), and some other goodies. For Christmas this year, Janis bought us another part of our nativity scene - the animals and shepherds!

Grammy and Beckett.

After the party, Beckett, Tam, and the girls, and I changed into our PJs and hung out!

A Beckett Sandwich!

The party started at 2 and everyone was on their way home or to other gatherings by 4.  It was a really great time to catch up with everyone, laugh, and enjoy some yummy holiday treats.  Although I had never done a cookie exhange before, it was a relatively easy party to host, too, because: 1) I had my mom to help set up (love her!); and 2) everyone brought the goodies!

I hope to make this an annual tradition.  Thanks to everyone for a great day!  (As for the belated holiday cheer, I kinda wish I had some of those cookies today...)