Monday, December 8, 2008

Cookie Exchange 2008

Welcome to my home and the 2008 ANNUAL COOKIE EXCHANGE...


This past Saturday was the big event! A great time was had by all. There was champagne and sparkling cider, appetizers and cookies. Oh the cookies. FABULOUS!!!



There were about 32 bakers who participated this year and everyone outdid themselves! I heard over and over how hard it was to make a decision. Good job everyone!!!

Pictured below is a sampling of the Best Tasting winners... (They were boxed up, sent home and half eaten by the time my camera got to them)!

AND THE WINNERS ARE... In the under 18 yr. old group: Best tasting chocolate was won by Jessica Melberg for her creamy and delicious chocolate fudge, also tied for first was Savannah Smith for her Red Velvet Cookies, Best Tasting Non-Chocolate went to Jenna Reed for her Peppermint Meltaways, Best Presentation and Best Recipe card both went to Faith Burton! Congratulations girls!!!

Faith, Hope, Hannah and Sam...


In the over 18 group the coveted wins went to: Best tasting chocolate - Shawna Danberg for her divine Toffee Bar Cookies , Best Tasting Non-Chocolate went to Natalie Anderson for her fabulous Carrot Cookies, there was a tie for Best Presentation - the deserving winners are Brittany Birnel and Julie Martin..., Julie also won for Best Recipe Card. Congratulaions everyone!!!


This is my mother-in-law Carolyn, and my niece Brittany who won for Best Presentation...


This is Julie who also won for best presentation and best recipe card...



more beautiful cookies...


Somewhere in this post I have to make a confession... things got so crazy I completely forgot about my camera! I have great before and after pictures, but not many during... I hope you can still get the idea...

What I do have are great pictures of what went on to make the cookie exchange so beautiful.
Meet my Mom and Aunt Susie, they came over and spent an afternoon decorating and putting together these beautiful boxes for everyone to take their cookies home in...


My husband and son climbed up and down this ladder many times. Blake told me that he's never getting married, it's too much work! I told him I'm training him for his future wife!


With the help of my husband, son, mom, aunt, niece Kelly, sister-in-law Debbie, father and mother-in-law, friends Natalie and Joe everything looked great and went off without a hitch. Thanks you guys!!!

The cookie exchange is a great way to start off the holiday season. Thanks for being a part of it...



I'll give you some of the winning recipes in my next post!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love seeing your home plus all the familiar faces and names. Why am I not there with all of you?! It looked like a wonderful time. Have a great holiday and hug your family for me.

karen p.

Kelly said...

Laurie!!! This was the most beautiful cookie exchange so far. I loved everything that you did! I can't believe how it all turned out, absolutely amazing! I know I wasn't able to be there but as an invited one...thank you so much for putting this together, thank you for opening your home and working your fingers to the bone to create an increable event! Great job! I love you, and next year unfortunately there will be no repeat winners...because i will win in every category! Ha!

littlebyrd said...

Laurie,
It looks so wonderful!!!!
I am so sorry I had to miss it. I am glad you all had a great time.

Chelsea said...

you did a great job this year Mom! Everything looked absolutely beautiful, and everyone had a great time. Waitta go : )

Love you,
Chels

Amy @ Living Locurto said...

I love the boxes! What a great idea:-)

Your house is beautiful.

Cindy@Cutepinkstuff said...

I had so much fun visiting the cookie exchange! Everything and everyone looks beautiful. Thanks for stopping by to see my vintage finds. I don't beat my rugs either!

Anonymous said...

Love the photos, your family - your home. Beauty, happiness and love just oooz out of them. I especially love you sneaking in the bunny ears behind your mom. And your mom and Aunt Susie's boxes age adorable!