A Fun New Twist on an Old Kids Party Game

I randomly saw a picture of this online and decided that I had to try it when the time was right. Well, with all this Christmas partying going on, I found the opportunity and I just can't wait!

A dear friend helped me put it together and purchase all the goodies. Here's how we did it:

We used one entire roll of Scotch brand packing tape, 38.2 yards to be exact, and started taping the toys and candy together to form this giant ball:



We included prizes that wouldn't be ruined when ripping off the tape:

• Toy trucks, cars, and tractors
• Hair accessories
• Candy Canes
• Erasers
• Sunglasses
• Magic Washcloths
• Jumping Frogs
• Play-Doh
• Stacking Crayons (with plastic shell)
• Necklaces
• Festive Flexible Straws
• Flashlights
• Toy boats
• Rubber Duckies
• Wacky Balls
• Glow Sticks
• Wind-up Toys
• Candy on a Ring 
• And in the center: Silly String! 

 How to Play:

You'll need music (several songs).
Have the kids sit in a circle.
When the music is playing, the kids should pass the ball around.
When the music stops, whoever has the ball may unravel as many prizes as he or she can!
When the music starts, have an adult nearby to cut the tape, fold the end (so the next kid can find it), and discard the trash.
Keep going until the ball is gone!

 
What I love about this is that the kids can see all the prizes, but they can't tell which ones they'll be able to get. It makes me want to be a kid again. :-)

If you try it sometime, come back and tell me how it went. Thanks!

Melt-In-Your-Mouth Sugar Cookies

My mom has made these cookies every year at Christmas for as long as I can remember and I can't tell you how fun it is to make them for my family now. They are so soft and sweet and delicious!

Ingredients: 

1 cup sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 egg
2 heaping teaspoons vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 heaping teaspoon cream of tartar

Directions: 

1. Mix sugar, butter, egg and vanilla.
2. Stir in remaining ingredients.
3. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour.
4. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
5. Shape dough into 1 inch balls and place about 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. (photos below)
6. Flatten each ball with the bottom of a glass dipped in granulated sugar. Sprinkle with colored sugar if desired.
7. Bake for 8-10 minutes (I bake mine for about 7 minutes).

 The dough should be firm when you take it out of the refrigerator.

 The bottom of the glass is dipped in sugar.

 Press gently, not too hard.

 We like to add festive and colorful sugars, too. :-)

 When they look like this, take them out of the oven and place on a cooling rack. They are fragile, so be careful not to let them crumble as you take them off the cookie sheet.


And enjoy!
Merry Christmas!