MCBD

In our family we have a tradition at Christmastime. It is called mega cookie baking day or MCBD for short. I was trying to remember when it all started or when it all got out of hand. 

Growing up we always had cookies at home. Grandma lived with us and did most of the baking. At christmas I remember little round balls of dough wrapped around a cherry and other special cookies that were only baked at Christmas. She would have to put them in tins and hide them in her closet so we wouldn't eat them so fast. 

Then we grew up. My  sister was baking cookies at her home and i was baking cookies at mine. Sugar cookies in various shapes, spritz, pinwheels and so on and so on. 

We can't remember which year it happened but i decided to go out to Portland and help my sister bake. She had a lot of people she cared about and being on a thin budget a tin of cookies was the most economical gift she could give. 

And i needed a vacation from being a mom. I had 4 small kids at home. My mom would send me money for plane fare and I would go home. I would get rejuvenated, get my christmas shopping done and bake cookies. 

In talking to my sister we think things kind of got out of control about 1994. that is when we introduced video cameras.  We started getting organized if you can call it that. Rules were formed. No eating dough, no eating cookies and no whining.

We started counting. Maybe we could bake one cookie for each year that would be 1994 cookies.

In 2003 we baked 3080 cookies. 

Then one year my oldest daughter announced that she had enough money saved to pay her own way to MCBD and then it became a family affair. The cookie numbers increased. 2007 was our biggest year. 5344 cookies. Last year we baked 4901. We have been on TV and in the newspaper. My sister has been interviewed on the radio. Some years we try to get celebrities to come. Debbie (my sister) invited Rosie Odonald, and the Pillsbury doughboy. Katie (my youngest) wants to invite Paula Dean.

Each year is different. It has been pretty difficult to match schedules and come up with the money to go. Some years I felt it was totally impossible but we went anyway. I am glad we did. MCBD is a day my sister looks forward to and plans for all year. If you ask my kids what their favorite memory is it will be MCBD. 

Some years all of us go. Some years the boys stay home. Some years I stay home. 

Saturday is this years MCBD. Sadly I will not be going. But we will be represented well because my oldest daughter Nicki and her family will be there. Four generations working together. Even though mom is unable to understand or participate it is still 4 generations. I am sure the numbers will be lower this year. Less hands to help. But as my kids got older they realized it wasn't how many cookies we baked anymore, it was being together. It was creating family.

It hurts in a way not to go. But I really feel  that this is not my year. I don't know why, maybe Dave Ramsey has ruined me for life. Who knows. It is what it is.

But I will be baking cookies here. Maybe not this weekend but I will be baking. You are welcome to come join me. 

Because we don't just give cookies to our friends we give love and share a tradition.