Susie Wolding, the Ambassador of Fun at Carolina Traveler, shares her family’s favorite holiday traditions
Get ready, because they’re anything but ordinary. From frosting fiascos to dice mayhem and Yule Log photo shenanigans, it's clear that laughter is the best holiday tradition of all!
If you’ve ever wondered what a family holiday looks like when chaos, creativity, and a whole lot of frosting collide, then allow me to take you on a journey through our annual holiday traditions. Picture it: the kitchen transformed into a battlefield, dice flying in the air, and the occasional Yule Log photo that leaves everyone scratching their heads. No, it’s not your average holiday gathering. It’s our version of holiday mayhem, and believe me, it’s every bit as ridiculous as it sounds. So, buckle up, because this isn’t your typical Hallmark special—it’s a behind-the-scenes look at the wonderful disaster we call family tradition.
We're big fans of quirky Christmas cheer!
Nailed It: A Holiday Tradition in Frosting Fails
If there’s one thing my family does well, it’s leaning into chaos with frosting in hand. Every year, we gather for our version of the hilariously absurd baking competition show Nailed It, where contestants attempt to recreate ridiculous desserts with as much grace as a bull in a bakery. Except in our case, the desserts are sugar cookies, the medium is frosting, and the results are the stuff of comic legend.
The madness starts with my husband, the unofficial “Cookie Commissioner.” His pre-game ritual involves hours of internet sleuthing, armed with search terms like “Godzilla tropical Santa” or “pirate cats snowball.” What he unearths are images so bizarre they look like a fever dream brought to life—perfect fodder for our sugary showdown.
Nothing says “Christmas” like amphibians riding scooters!
Once the laughably impossible cookie designs are revealed, the scramble begins. Picture a small herd of family members lunging for frosting tubes, yelling for “more red!” or “who’s hoarding the black?” It’s like watching a group of amateur artists try to paint the Sistine Chapel while blindfolded—and timed.
The competition is fierce but friendly, with sibling rivalries and artistic egos clashing over the same limited supplies. As the minutes tick down, the kitchen turns into a scene straight out of a sitcom: frosting tubes jammed, cookies cracking under pressure, and at least one competitor breaking out a toothpick to salvage their masterpiece.
Our Christmas cookie creativity knows no limits
By the end of the round, we’ve turned out an assortment of edible creations that range from surprisingly competent to “what even is that?” The table becomes a gallery of hilarity, with cookies resembling everything from Picasso-esque reinterpretations of Santa to what can only be described as “a melted snowman fighting a sea monster.”
Sure, we crown a winner every year (often by default rather than skill), but the real joy comes from the belly laughs, the good-natured ribbing, and the shared experience of creating something wonderfully, gloriously imperfect. Because in our family, it’s not about nailing it. It’s about trying to nail it—and failing in the most spectacularly entertaining way.
7-11: The Game That Turns Family Into Frenemies
Ah, “7-11.” It’s not just a game; it’s a carefully orchestrated free-for-all where family bonds are tested, dice fly, and gag gifts shine brighter than the star on the tree.
The rules are simple but devilishly effective. Roll a seven or eleven, and you get to either snag a gift from the tempting pile in the middle of the table or, if you’re feeling particularly Grinchy, steal an already opened gift from someone else. Sounds harmless, right? Wrong.
The gifts are a mix of laugh-inducing gag items, half-useful gadgets (think Thighmasters or avocado slicers), and a sprinkling of treasures like chocolate boxes or gift cards—bait for the table’s vultures. Each family member, from my husband to my kids, my brother, and my sister, transforms into a cunning strategist when the timer starts ticking.
We set the clock for 15 to 20 minutes, and then the dice start flying—literally. Talented rollers hoard a mountain of bizarre loot but quickly lose their precious finds (looking at you, gift cards) to opportunistic relatives. Meanwhile, the less skilled die-throwers endure merciless taunts for their amateur efforts. And if you think this game doesn’t get physical, let me assure you, retrieving a rogue die from under the table mid-game is practically a contact sport.
As the clock winds down, the chaos amps up. Dice ricochet off the table, rolls become frantic, and the room fills with a cacophony of laughter, accusations, and the occasional sibling roast. The best gifts switch hands more times than a holiday fruitcake, while the not-so-desirable ones find a permanent home—unless, of course, there’s a prank involved.
(Speaking of pranks, Annie, remember that box of chocolates? Surprise! It was actually brussels sprouts wrapped in gold foil. Gotcha!)
When the timer hits zero, the madness ceases, and we’re left surveying the spoils: piles of oddities, a few coveted treasures, and the unmistakable glow of a family that’s had way too much fun turning dice and deception into a holiday tradition.
Yule Log Photos: Our Crackling Christmas Tradition
You’d think gathering around a roaring fire on Christmas Eve would be all nostalgic charm—think chestnuts roasting, Bing Crosby crooning, and warm cocoa by the hearth. But in our family, we take that sentiment, flip it upside down, and toss in a healthy dose of absurdity. That’s right: it’s Yule Log Photo time.
This holiday tradition, born from my husband’s wonderfully offbeat mind, started years ago when we realized our gas fireplace hadn’t been lit in ages, and a real wood-burning fire was out of the question. Enter the televised Yule Log—a crackling fireplace in glorious high definition, perfect for setting a festive mood (or, in our case, crafting a Christmas prank).
Yule Log TV – a holiday tradition open to everyone staying up late with us on Christmas Eve!
It began innocently enough, with selfies in front of the screen. We’d snap a quick photo and text it to family, pretending we were cozied up by a real fire. Some relatives were fooled, and that was all the encouragement we needed to take things to the next level.
Over the years, our Yule Log photos evolved into a spectacle. When the kids were small, we’d pose them (and occasionally the dog) in absurdly precarious positions “over” the flames, resulting in alarmed texts from unsuspecting relatives. As the variety of holiday-themed channels grew, so did our creativity. Suddenly, we weren’t just in front of a Yule Log—we were sipping cocoa in winter wonderlands, partying with virtual celebrities, and even braving a snowy alpine forest.
Holiday craziness culminates in front of the big screen on Christmas Eve. No elves were harmed for this photo.
And then there was Dave. One year, for reasons only he can explain, he appeared shirtless in front of a frosty mountain backdrop, looking like one of those crazy football fans who braves below-freezing temperatures in nothing but face paint and a foam finger. It was equal parts ridiculous and hilarious, earning a rightful place in the Yule Log Photo Hall of Fame.
Every year, the challenge grows: how can we upstage ourselves? With clever cropping, ridiculous costumes, and increasingly elaborate poses, our snapshots still manage to confuse family and friends at first glance. But that’s the joy of it—sharing a laugh, creating a memory, and turning a flickering TV screen into the warmest tradition we have.
Because in the end, it’s not really about the fire. It’s about the family gathered in front of it, laughing until tears roll down our faces, and making sure that wherever our loved ones are, they know they’re part of the fun.
It’s Not About Perfection—It’s About the Chaos, the Laughter, and the Memories We Make Along the Way
At the end of the day, it’s not about winning or creating the perfect cookie—or even rolling the most strategic dice. It’s about laughter. It’s about the mess. It’s about those moments that might seem absurd to outsiders but are, to us, the heart and soul of what makes our family… well, our family. These traditions, chaotic as they may be, are the glue that keeps us together—like frosting on a sugar cookie. And if we happen to make a mess along the way? Well, that’s just part of the fun. So here’s to another year of hilarity, pranks, and memories that are always, gloriously imperfect.
– Susie Wolding
