TACKLE Christmas Cookies

I am not known for my cooking or baking, but on the annual Christmas Cookie Day, our kitchen is a popular place to visit. It doesn't matter who you are,  if you have a hand, you will decorate the baked goods at our house. 

Throughout the years, this traditional day of mess has allowed toddlers to be artists and teens to become relaxed and fun - again. 

The kids enjoy decorating, eating and giving the cookies as gifts.  Christmas was only one week away and the teens were getting worried the event would not happen.

After a long day of decorating the house, the thought of starting another day long project was not appealing to me.  I decided to lolly gag in the morning and gradually work my way to the grocery store for supplies.  I was shocked when three teens contacted me before 11:00 am on a Sunday to scold me for not having the ovens humming.  I snapped out of my holiday funk and jumped into the spirit of Christmas.

Come mixer, and decorator, and sorter and packer.  And taster, and stealer, and secret dog feeder.  We all had a job and worked as a team.

Anyone that participated, received a promised plate of packed cookies.  It was a holiday tradition for over 30 years.  Only one year was skipped and the youngest child still has not forgiven me for that cop out.

Think about all those silly things we do every year for this big day called Christmas.  You never realize how special these annual events are until you do not do them.

His Santa cookie is perfect!

Three hundred cookies later with flour on the ceiling and egg dried on the dog's fur, we have one more memory.  Laughter from decorating disasters, dancing to the old Christmas songs, and good old conversation between parents and teens.

The only one suffering is the poor dog with a small tummy ache (too many cookies),  thanks to the secret dog feeder of the group.  

TACKLE South Carolina Family Vacations

You will love South Carolina! The Palmetto State won our vote as the place for our second home over 5 years ago.

Our southern paradise, Surfside Beach, is in south Myrtle Beach.  Highlights include an affordable pier home with a view of the ocean, no mosquitoes, mild winters and a golf cart ride to the old fashioned downtown. "Just down the road" is a fishing pier with live music, an oceanfront cafe and bar and pristine beaches to swim and surf.

The locals welcome tourists and outsiders. They will come visit "for a while", wave and say "Howdy" and recommend their favorite Calabash style restaurant.

Fishing, crabbing, boating and eating are all favorite pastimes, especially in nearby Murrell's Inlet's Marsh Walk. Ten minutes away, "y'all" can enjoy the nightlife at Broadway on the Beach with shows, music and shopping. If you are "fixin" for the 4th of July experience of a lifetime, go to the beach and experience a war zone display of fireworks.

Our family members unite in the Lowcountry by car or by the cute, nearby airport. My city slicker daughter, a designer in Manhattan, even loves this place. Last week she plopped on the sleeper sofa and gushed, "this place just feels good".

We all need a getaway where the family can reconnect and make new memories.
Visit this website for more great ideas in South Carolina: http://www.discoversouthcarolina.com/
Reasonably priced rentals and houses:
http://www.rose-real-estate.com/