The Barnett family has a tradition of making gingerbread Christmas cookies. They were an integral part of the holiday fun at my grandparent's house.
We made a huge number of cookies each year some of which we hung on the Christmas tree as ornaments.
It was a multi-day process which involved many helping hands. My grandmother would make the cookie dough ahead of time then on Dec 22nd we would bake the cookies, Dec 23rd decorate them, and finally on Dec 24th hang the cookies on the tree.
Some of our favorite cookie shapes were designed by my grandfather and made into cutters. I still use one of the sets to make the cookies today and, of course, follow my grandmother's recipe to make the dough.
Here I am as a girl decorating cookies with my grandmother.
Years later my son, Peter, decorates his first cookies.
I was pregnant with my second son, Eric, the last year we decorated cookies at my grandparent's house.
We have continued the tradition at home.
We decorate the cookies with frosting in a rainbow of colors and lots of sprinkles.
The whole family enjoys the fun.
The cookies are beautiful and delicious.
