I have a cold. I am miserable, my throat hurts, and I am croaking when I talk. Martin also has a cold, he must have given it to me. The baby has a cold, Becky is just getting over a cold and Joe had a cold last week. I don't get to stop when I have a cold, because as many of you, there is no stopping for me. Fortunately, the baby slept quite awhile today, and I got to cat nap. Martin went on in to work, and as usual, I worried the whole time he was gone. Yesterday, cold and all, I decided that I would go ahead and make the gingerbread houses that we are going to decorate on Sunday night. I dragged out my Kitchen-aid mixer, and mixed up 4 batches of gingerbread all at once. I poured it into 2 large cookie sheets and baked it. When the first pan was ready, I got the big idea to turn it over onto foil while it was still hot so that I could cut out the gingerbread house parts. It didn't fall out evenly, but in huge clumps of hot, messed up gingerbread. Well, I thought I could use the smaller pieces for sides of houses, and that worked out pretty good. When the other pan came out, I left the gingerbread in it, and traced and cut out 2 perfect gingerbread houses. I set the house pieces up on the counter to dry out, and thought about trying again, as we have about 6-7 little ones coming to make gingerbread houses. I was just pooped, and the baby needed me, so I thought I would do it later that night. Becky came home from work and stopped to get the baby. I was at the dining room table, doing something, and she walked up and said: "Mom, these cookies are really good!" What cookies? Oh, no, not those cookies! "Precious", I said, "what cookies are you talking about?" "The ones on the counter with the funny shapes" she said. "DUMPLING", I said, "Do you mean the funny shapes that look like gingerbread house parts?" "Oh, is that what they are? I thought they looked unusual" said my daughter. Of course this happened to my hard work. I sat there at the table, and kept my cool, and then I got on the phone and texted each mama that was bringing a child on Sunday, and told them where they could find a gingerbread house kit, all inclusive. It is so much easier that way!

I still have to make the Christmas cookies, and if I don't, it will be the very first time in my 39 1/2 year marriage that I have not. Somehow, I will do it, I am not wired not abstenteeism when it comes to making Christmas cookies. I am just tired, and this cold is wearing me down. I still have a little time, no problem. Like I said, things have to be normal, and it would be very un-normal if I did not make the Christmas cookies this year. Martin needs to act like he didn't know I was going to make his favorite cookies, and then remark that he doesn't need any cookies. Just put them out for Santa. Somehow, they are always gone on Christmas morning, and since we got rid of the mouse we had, it points to Papa as to who enjoyed them. The regular list of cookies each year is: Spritz cookies, chocolate chip, peanut butter cup cookies, frosted sugar cut-out cookies and something with pecans. Then I make fudge: chocolate with and without walnuts, and jets, which are white candies made of nothing but powdered sugar and real butter. For Jaybird, I make potato candy and for everyone else, dipped pretzels, mini chocolate turtles and other stuff. So I need to get the lead out and get going! Christmas has to be normal this year- somehow