Christmas is on its way, but for this family, there's one special holiday tradition that comes first: Mega Cookie Baking Day

It all begins early in the morning, a couple weeks before Christmas, when the family kitchen transforms into a mini cookie factory, and sweet, colorful treats begin piling up on the dining room table. The cookies are safe because there's one important rule all the holiday bakers must follow: "No eating cookies, no eating dough, and if you start whining, then out you go "

Throughout the day, Grandma, aunts, uncles, cousins, and family friend, Mary, bake and decorate twenty-nine different kinds of cookies...dozens, then hundreds...then THOUSANDS

At two o'clock the next morning, the last tray of cookies is pulled from the oven and set out to cool, and a final cookie count is made.

Only then do the sleepy bakers get to have a sample of their creations. The rest of the goodies will be shared with family, friends and neighbors.