So... A few years ago I had the oh-so-bright idea to start a new Christmas tradition in our family. The family was almost all together in one place again, and the ex-school teacher in me thought it would be fun to get all of the cousins together and let them decorate Christmas cookies before the big day.
You see, I am the oldest of all of the cousins. We range in age from 31 down to 6, but as the oldest, I've always strived to be the cool one. I give awesome presents, plan cool parties, and take the kids on great outings (Sheena and Ariel can vouch for me on this :-). I thought my Christmas cookie decorating idea was one of my best ever, and I have to admit it is a huge hit. After four years, the question "When are we going to decorate Christmas cookies?" is still a prominent one in my aunt's house. But have you ever actually participated in a Christmas cookie decorating party with an already hyperactive almost 7-year-old?
The first year, she ate one cookie for every one she decorated and we didn't realize it until she was completely bouncing off the walls. Four years later, she didn't really eat the cookies (Thank God!). But she was already bouncing off the walls! After dropping several cookies on the floor during the frosting process, I told her that I had a great idea and asked her if she would be the "Sprinkle Master" and let me and her sister do the frosting.
My parents are now the proud owners of a lovely rug with many new and unusual colors (but I'm sure it would taste great!). And our family has divided up about 5 dozen Christmas cookies with about a half an inch of sprinkles on each one. We are now all fighting diabetic comas by trying to dilute the massive quantities of sugar sprinkles with tall glasses of milk. Needless to say, I won't be going to bed for a while. I am on somewhat of a massive sugar high. But it is worth it because once again, I have achieved "Cool Cousin" status.