13th Annual Cookie & Ornament Exchange

I can't believe I've hosted an annual cookie exchange for thirteen years now!  I started it the year Hayley was born and for the most part the same friends have been coming back every year.  I also love to include at least one new friend every year (that was you Sherry!).  Sometimes this event can cause me a little stress and I never truly feel prepared for it, but every year after the party is over I'm always so glad that I've done it again... it's such a fun tradition and for me it marks the start of our Christmas Season.  Everyone bakes seven dozen cookies to share with each other and, wow, we had some delicious ones again this year. 



Here's a shot of the cookie table.





The talented and crafty Miss Megan made me my adorable chicken wire Christmas crown!



It was quite an agressive ornament exhange.  There was a lot of stealing this year!



Me, Lisa, Anna, and Jane taking a break after sampling all of the delicious cookies.





Megan, Tammy, Shannon, Stephanie, and Kathy... the old Des Moines neighbors.





I made a Spiced Molasses Ginger Cookie that I had gotten out of a Bon Appetit magazine years ago. They didn't win, but they did get some votes! Classic Christmas cookie.





Kathy made a gorgeous and delicious Key Lime White Chocolate Cookie.





Lisa made The Original Peppermint Blossoms... yummy and cute!





Darlene's healthy anti-oxidant loaded Dark Cocoa Kisses.





Stephanie's super good Carmelita's.






Mrs. Potter didn't have time to bake this year, so her contribution were the Keebler Iced Animal Crackers.

 

And the winning cookie this year is..... Gina's Chocolate Mudslide Cookies!



Tammy is our official 'vote counter' every year...



Here's the happy winner with her prize!

 


Group shot of everyone with their supercute ornaments!

 

Thanks for coming everyone!  Merry Christmas!

Want to check out the photos from last year's Cookie Party?  Click here.