a buttery start to our weekend

Our house smells like butter. I never knew this was possible, but after experiencing it firsthand, I can say with certainty, that it can happen.

Perhaps it has something to do with the massive amount of baking that had been going on here over the last 24 hours.

We started with Spring-themed sugar cookies last night, continued with Mondel Bread and Pear-Walnut Tart (these two are desserts that I am bringing to our Easter celebration tomorrow) today and (yes, there's actually more to come!) will finish off tonight with our annual tradition of making Resurrection Cookies (these are more about meaning and less about taste...).
For those of you who have never baked with three young children alongside, let me tell you, it is one big adventure. It is wonderful, gooey, funny, encouraging, innocent and fun and everyone ends up with flour on their noses (somehow...)!

It is amazing to see how seriously and carefully my 23-month-old is with a rolling pin, cookie cutter AND alas, the finished product- the cookie (or in his words, the "DUKIE"!!).

These are just a few of the shapes we used. My favorite is the lamb. Oh, and there was a big debate between the older pair about whether a certain cookie cutter was the shape of an umbrella or a mushroom. I let them both be right (although I really believe that it was an umbrella, but a mushroom is good too as they naturally grow during this soggy sort of weather).

Decorating- I completely surrendered my control over this portion of the cookie-making process this year. I gave them the small knives, icing, the dusting sugar and the colored sugar and let them create whatever they felt like.

We ended up with bright blue butterflies, soft green rabbits and lots of yellow ducklings.

Again, cookie making is serious business. As Maria Montessori said, "A child's work is PLAY".

Our (well, their) masterpieces! I especially like how you can't really tell which shapes are which after being smothered in icing and sugar!

I would like to say that this was a candid shot, but I think that it's safe to say that we officially have a budding actress on our hands (like anyone who knows our family well doesn't already know this!!!). Sophia has been posing for pictures every time I take out my camera. They do make for great shots!

You have to hand it to her- she is perfectly posed and really looks like she is just about to bite into her cookie. If we ever decide to go into business baking cookies, then I think we have our photo for the front of the package!

I hope that your Easter weekend is turning out to be as sweet as our...