Christmas is over and so is my effort to bake 14 batches of cookies in about 3-4 weeks; I'll probably never do that again.  However, I did reach it - and only once did I sit on the kitchen floor and cry - and that was after the last batch made.

Why do we (or maybe it's just me) push ourselves so hard to make things so great and perfect all the time and especially at the holidays.  I did the decorating, the shopping, the wrapping, the baking, the parties (though I didn't host any this year, thankfully).  Men don't do any of that.  It was Thanksgiving weekend when Mike came down and said "Okay, I'm ready for Christmas" - he only had to shop for me.  Why don't men feel the need to create these perfect moments - or at least realize that women have these needs and be willing to help out?

Okay, enough of the residual feelings still lingering.  Here are the next 7 batches of Christmas cookies that I made.

                                         (All 14 batches)

#69 Whipped Shortbread
School decided to do a cookie exchange for whoever wanted to sign up.  I figured, that's a good way to share me cookies and get another batch done.  26 people signed up.  Did you know you're supposed to make a dozen for each person in cookie exchanges?  I have never participated in a cookie exchange.  Fortunately my school decided to do a 1/2 dozen per person - that's still 13 dozen cookies I needed to make.  So I picked this batch that supposedly makes 16-18 dozen.  I figured I was safe, that I would for sure have enough.  Nope, it only made 12 1/2 dozen; I supplemented with some other cookies I made.  Then of course, because I gave 13 dozen cookies, I got 13 dozen back (all different kinds), but I just don't need that many cookies.  Most were donated to different places, Grandma's nursing home, neighbors, etc.
The cookie itself isn't bad (3 out of 5) - I kind of liked it more and more as an alternative to all the really sweet cookies and treats that the holidays bring.

#70 Eggnog Logs (12/19/12)
I don't have much to say about these, all the recipes are blending together.  I remember they weren't too hard to make, other than they were another cookie that had powdered sugar frosting drizzled on top.  Making powdered sugar frosting is messy.  It's been two weeks and my counters still feel gritty, and yes I have cleaned them a couple of times now.  I didn't like these cookies much, but a lot of my co-workers and other people really liked them - maybe it was the rum extract.

#71 Chocolate Mint Creme Cookies (12/19/12)
These were very good.  Two chocolate cookies with peppermint (powdered sugar) frosting in between them.  But I think I made the chocolate cookies too thick - would've been better if they were thin chocolate cookies with frosting in between, it was a very thick (and too rich) cookie to try and eat.

#72 Poinsettia Cookies (12/21/12)
Why is it my cookies are never as pretty as the picture in the book?  This was a bit of work to do.  Make a ball (after you've made the dough and dyed it red), snip the top of each ball in half 3/4 of the way down.  Cut each half into thirds, carefully spread the wedges apart to form flower petals.  Yes, that sounds like a lot of work, but it really wasn't too bad - I'd take these over any cookie cutter cookie.  Oh, and then place a cherry half in the center of each cookie.

#73 Chocolate Snowballs (12/21/12)
These were fantastic - right out of the oven.  It's basically a chocolate chip cookie ball rolled in powdered sugar.  After they cooled and stored, not as good.

#74 Chocolate Pecan Thumbprints (12/22/12)
Mike was very excited to try these.  Dough rolled in pecans, then baked, then topped with melted chocolate chips.  Melting chocolate chips in the microwave, though faster, just doesn't turn out as well as melting them on a stovetop.

#75 Surprise Sugar Stars (12/22/12)
These sound amazing, and most people who ate them within a day or two of being made, loved them.  I however did not try this cookie until almost a week after I made them - I was too sick of sugar and cookies and not in the Christmas spirit.  The cookie doesn't last well.  This cookie was a cookie cutter and sandwich cookie.  Roll out the dough, cut into stars - or in my case snowflakes because I haven't stolen a star cookie cutter yet : ) - put cherry pie filling onto each snowflake, top with another snowflake and press edges together.  Bake.  Let cool and top with powdered sugar frosting and sprinkles.  The cherry pie filling eventually makes the cookie bottom very soft.

So I'm throughly tired of making cookies.  I might even take one more week off.  Although I was thinking I should make some cookies for a former co-worker who helped me learn how to use my new camera and helped me figure out some stuff on my computer.  I should bake another batch I suppose.

However, I also realized earlier this week that I am six weeks away from giving birth and that has left me feeling overwhelmed and panicked - maybe I should be focusing on getting ready for that and not baking more cookies.

We'll see.