Presley's Favorite Cookies

I decided to do a test run for the cookies we want to serve at Presley's second birthday party this year. I know, I know...her birthday isn't for 4 more months, but there is so much prep work that goes into that big day. So, I thought it would be fun if Presley and I practiced making some cookies together.

The theme for her birthday this year is going to be "Lemonade & Sunshine". I got the idea from a lemonade and sunshine party I saw on another blog. It seemed so sweet and just perfect for an August birthday party!
So, I found a recipe for lemonade cookies and got all the ingredients together. I was so excited to try this recipe out, but I had to wait for Presley to wake up from her nap because I really wanted her to help me make them.

I'm playing with the idea of putting all the ingredients in mason jars to give away as party favors. Not sure yet if that's what I want to do, but it's kind of cute.

Presley got a super cute apron from Aunt Kiki for Easter. Doesn't she look so cute??? Mama's little assistant ready to help.
(Click here to see the last post I wrote about Presley baking with me. It was back in September 2010 and I can't believe how different she is now. She's growing up so fast!)

Stirring the cookie dough.

My sweet little baby cakes!

Time to enjoy the fruits of our labor...the best lemon cookies you have ever tasted.

Presley thoroughly enjoyed eating her cookie!

These cookies were definitely a hit and will be made again very soon!

Here's the recipe for these AMAZING cookies:

Layer the following ingredients into a clean, dry, quart-sized mason jar:

½ cup powdered lemonade flavored drink mix

¾ cup sugar

1 1/2 C. vanilla baking chips

1 ¾ cups flour

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon baking powder

Recipe:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Empty contents of jar into large mixing bowl. Add 1/2 C. melted butter. Add one egg and one teaspoon vanilla. Mix thoroughly with hands. Drop one-inch balls, slightly flattened, onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Cool slightly on cookie sheet then transfer to cooling rack. Makes approximately four dozen cookies.

First Report Card!

Presley had her first gymnastics evaluation and we got a report card telling us how well she's doing. I can't believe everything she has learned in the last 2 months. She is doing so well and I'm continually impressed with how quickly she learns new things.

All the checks in the middle column means that she's close to mastering that skill, all the checks on the far right mean she can do that skill on her own. So far, on her own, she can: roll, hold her back and bottom off the floor using only her palms and feet, walk forward, backward, and sideways on the balance beam, bear crawl on the high beam, hang on the bars for at least 5 counts, do a tuck and hold it, jump off the trap and land on both feet, and hop 3 times in a row.
She is doing so well in gymnastics and I love watching her learn all these new skills.

Is it May or November???

This is what Presley wore on Monday, May 2nd. We had been wearing shorts and t-shirts everyday for the last month, but we got a late cold front in and the temperatures were in the 40s!!! I think someone forgot to tell weather that it's supposed to be warm in May. Thank goodness we hadn't put our winter clothes away just yet.

Presley and I decided to make the most of this unseasonably cold weather and went to HEB to get everything for a big pot of stew. It was fun pretending that it was fall for a few days, but the temperatures are expected to be in the 90s again by the end of the week. Hopefully this will be our last picture in long sleeve and pants for a few months.

Easter 2011

We had so much fun celebrating Presley's second Easter this year! The Easter Bunny brought her a basket filled with chocolates, coloring books, a new yellow dress, 3 pairs of personalized embroidered big girl panties (we are hoping to be able to wear them without a diaper by the end of the summer...more on that later), and two fun new books.

We decided to go to the 7:00am mass on Easter morning, so we had to wake Presley up at 6:00am to get dressed. She normally sleeps until 8:00am, so this was really early for her. We took our very sleepy little girl to the kitchen so she could see her Easter basket for the first time!

After church, we had family and friends over for lunch. Presley had so much fun running around and playing with her cousins.

Sweet little Presley playing outside in her Easter dress.

Here's a group shot of our family and friends who joined us on Easter Sunday. It was such a great day!