Last Saturday we put up the tree.  Today we begin the Christmas cookies.

I have now a seven year-old tradition of making Christmas cookies to distribute to friends and family; that's right, I began the tradition the first year Anna was born, when she was just a newborn.  I didn't just make a batch of sugar cookies, either.  I made at least four or five kinds, some of which I have made every year since.  Every year I add a new one, but sometimes I retire other kinds for a season.  Sometimes particular kinds will be made depending on who is coming over.  

I love making cookies.  I always make too many, I always do too much at once, and it's always a fantastic mess.  There is always one point--and it's my favorite--when every surface in the house is overflowing with rows and rows of sugary sweets.  It's such a moment of plenty and wonder, and it never fails to make me feel warm and full and happy.  It's even more fun now that Anna can help.  In other years I've had helpers in friends and family, but it's always largely my thing.  I put the Christmas music on, clear the counters, and dive in.  

Today will just be a wading in.  I'm making a lasagna in tandem, because cryslea and husband are coming over for dinner.  I'm also making, for the first time, marshmallows, which was Anna's pick for cookie/candy of the day.  I might make standard old chocolate chip cookies, too; these I doubt will make it until Christmas Day, but it's still cookies made during the holiday season.  They count.

This will be the first year I get to make Christmas cookies with Donna, which means I will be thinking often of Brooke with love and deep affection, because she gave her to me.  Last year I was still fighting with the ten year old not-Kitchenaid mixer with very broken beaters.

I also wrote this morning, using a new system.  It's been hell this week to get to it, and it's starting to bother me--never mind that just last week I was going to take a break during December.  To honor that, though, and just random chance, I made my own set of cards for writing.  There are six: one each for the three projects I have going, one that says "rest," one that says "new," and one that says nothing, which is there to keep me from never making any decisions on my own.  Today "new" came up, and for thirty minutes I wrote my first ever children's story, something I wanted to write for Anna for a long time but never have.  I'm completely charmed with it now, and I hope to be able to finish it later today or tomorrow.

So this is my Saturday update.  I wrote, and now I will shower, and then there will be cookies.  Lots and lots of cookies.  And lasagna.