Hand Over the Icing!

After putting up the tree and toiling to get it straight, we invited an Israeli family over to help us decorate both the tree and some gingerbread and sugar cookies. The kids had never before put up or decorated a Christmas tree, and the tree, the lights, and the ornaments fascinated them.

Even more fun than decorating the tree was decorating the cookies in various designs of colored icing. The trees, bells, gingerbread men ("not my gumdrop buttons!!"), and snowmen cookies looked delectable dressed in the holiday colors. Requests for the green, yellow, red, and white icing were called out around the table in Hebrew and English. Each head was bent over a cookie, diligently crafting their works of art. The older kids were intent on making their cookies as intricate and creative as possible. The younger kids were intent on piling on as much frosting as possible so they could enjoy it later.