There’s something about baking Christmas cookies that slows everything down. The smell of butter, sugar, and vanilla drifting through the air feels like a warm hug from the past. Every year, no matter how busy the season gets, I find myself back in the kitchen, rolling dough, laughing at the mess, and remembering why I love this time of year. These moments — the soft music, the flour-covered counters, the slightly burned edges — they’re what I hold onto when life feels too fast. For me, baking Christmas cookies has become one of my favorite holiday baking traditions because it…