A Toddler Valentine Extravganza: Shortbread Cookies

Happy Early Valentine's Day!  We started celebrating early last weekend with a little get together with Thatkid's friends.  I've mentioned before that we try to get together every month with Thatkid's friends from his old school, and this month I thought it would be fun to have everyone over for some Valentine crafting.

I kind of went all out in setting the scene.  Just for fun.  With lots of pink, red, and hearts.

And of course, I loaded up the table with loads of sweet treats.  Because of BA's allergies, I made allergy-friendly recipes.  Like rice krispie treats (or as Thatkid says, rice krispie hearts).

 

And shortbread cookies.

I made a ton of short bread cookies.  Enough to package them up for the kids to take home.  And enough for Thatboy to take into work with him.  As I said, I made them because they're egg free, and BA has an egg allergy, but they're also incredibly easy and addictive.  So I laughed when Thatboy texted me asking for the recipe for his boss.  A recipe for shortbread cookies?  Coming right up.

Shortbread Cookies

3 sticks butter

1 cup sugar

3 1/2 cups flour

1/4 tsp salt

1. Preheat oven to 350.  Cream butter and sugar in an electric mixture.
2. Add flour and sugar and mix until dough comes together.  Shape into a disc and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
3. Roll out the dough and cut with cookie cutters.  Place on baking sheet and cook for 20-25 minutes.

For the adults, there was doughnuts, fritatta, and Swedish braided bread.

I set up a bunch of different projects for the kids to do.  Mostly involving stickers.  Lots and lots of stickers.

I made heart stamps out of toilet paper rolls.  This is how you know Thatkid loves me, because he thought these were so cool - and really?  toilet paper rolls.

Thatkid was most excited about making tissue paper stained glass hearts.

I cut out construction paper heart outlines and placed them on contact paper.  Then I let the kids loose with a bowl of cut up tissue paper.

 Once they had completed their masterpieces, another piece of contact paper went over top to seal the goodness inside, and the grownups cut the heart out.  The other big hit project wise was making their own Valentine mailboxes.

Did I mention I had lots and lots of stickers?

 After they tired of art, they ran around the house.  Then they ran around outside.  Before we knew it, it was lunch time.

 And after lunch there was more playing.  Eventually the inevitable toddler meltdowns began, and everyone packed up for home and naps.

Thatkid had such a good time playing with his friends and Valentining it up.  It's always fun to get together with these kids, and I especially enjoyed watching them celebrate the holidays.