Cookies + Code

Our days have been full. It is December, after all. And while I'd like to think I've got this season nailed down to a science, I seem to flail every year. I thought to simplify the 2013 holiday season and play my get-out-of-jail-free card by skipping the holiday card mailing, but this strategic move offered minimal relief. We've still been gleaning fruit from friend's trees, canning for gifts, socializing with friends and family, exploring local open space, celebrating birthdays, learning to read, daydreaming, designing, cooking comfort food, experimenting with new interests, on and on and on...

I've yet to do much Christmas shopping. :-/

Yesterday was another big winter weekend day as we did our annual cookie decorating party with good friends in our old neighborhood.

Former neighbors, and good friends for life, the mid-western contingency always provides the best treats -- and they rarely involve any added heat. Here they are shaking-up some Puppy Chow.

After every last piece of dough was baked, iced, sprinkled and plated, the kids sample the leftovers and fuel-up on sugar before we all set out to make our deliveries.

Because it's all about giving.

From one party to the next, we regrouped at our (former) next-door-neighbor's house so we could get on board with the Hour of Code movement taking place this week. Having absolutely nothing to do with the holidays, this will definately go down as a highlight of our season! Why they planned this Week of Code during the holidays, I have no idea, but we pulled it off and all parties loved it! Simple, easy and fun to do. Please take a moment to explore the movement to get our kids coding by visiting code.org.

P. stepped-up and prepped the kids about what we planned on doing with them. He engaged them first with an inspirational discussion, followed by some of the videos available on the website. He was awesome - a born teacher! We stopped for a quick lunch before breaking-out the laptops and P. got us up to speed on what he's been doing within our school district to bring robotics to our elementary school kids. Thank gawd for enthusiastic citizens like him who make our communities what they are. Our future depends on the brilliance, sacrifice and dedication of parents like him.

And then it was time to code! Between the five kids that were actually able to navigate the online lessons, 495 lines of code were written in less than an hour!