Sugar and Spice and everything nice

It's Christmas time again and for Linda and I that means BAKING!  Every year we put together goodie boxes for 15 (or more) friends.  We spend 2 days baking and 1 day packaging ... and that's what we've been up to for the past 3 days. 

Linda (of course!) chooses time-intensive goodies -- "otherwise they wouldn't be special!"  And for this year's boxes we needed 930 portions!  (By the way, I just added that up.  If I'd done that beforehand I probably would have found the adventure way more intimidating!)  This is what that much baking looks like:

The plastic containers have at least 3 layers of goodies each!

Our boxes have three layers, too:

We fill the boxes "assembly-line" style.  Anthony helped by putting in the dividers!

  

The finished boxes:

Recipients this year, get to nibble on Fudge, Rice Krispie Bites, Cream mints, Coffee Meringues, Chocolate Swirl Toffee, Peanut Butter Balls, and Rum Balls.

I decided, too, over the last 3 days that Linda is amazing!  She hauled two little boys in to town every day, baked all day, kept the boys occupied, happy and fed.  She even managed to fit in a Christmas appearance at Grandma Pilats' school and an obstetrical appointment.  Did I mention that she did all of this while being 5 months' pregnant?! 

And if that wasn't enough, she whipped up some gingerbread and slapped together a gingerbread box for Anthony to decorate:

 

It may not win any competition, but Anthony thinks, "It's beautful, Oma!"

So, another year of Christmas baking completed.  Tomorrow and Sunday we'll deliver the treats -- that's always fun!

P.S.  If I don't smell something sweet for a few days, that's just fine!!