Christmas at Cookie's House

BY CAROLYN DRINKARD

Angie Dunnam believes that every act of love lives on forever. You see, Angie is a grandmother to three young boys, who are the joys of her life. The boys call her “Cookie” and spending time with them is like Christmas all year long for Angie! In fact, when Christmas comes, she doesn’t ask for much, because she knows she already has the greatest gifts she could ever receive.

Angie Dunnam lives in the small farming community of New Prospect, between Chilton and Coffeeville, Alabama. She is married to Glenn Dunnam, a contractor and pastor of New Prospect Baptist Church. The couple have two children, who have blessed them with three grandsons.

The boys refer to the Dunnam home as “Cookie’s house,” because Angie has created special areas just for their entertainment. In one bedroom, she has a “book nook,” filled with books, carefully selected for each grandson’s interests. In the sunroom, Glenn and Clayton (the oldest grandson) have built a teepee for the kids to hang out and play. In her kitchen, Angie keeps a small oval table with a battery-operated train to entertain the boys while she cooks. In the middle of that table is a candy oasis, packed with the boys’ favorite goodies. “Cookie’s house” is a child’s delight with treats in many places, all right at the eye levels of three little boys.

Angie Dunnam’s home is “grandkid” friendly. In her kitchen, a table holds a train set and a “goodie depot” so the boys can play and snack while Angie cooks.

Clayton Paul helps his brother, Raylon Hadley, to put whipped topping on his Christmas train. Raylon then decorates with M&Ms, sprinkles and other candies.

“I was ‘raising’ my kids,” she laughed, “but these are my grands, so I can sugar ‘em up and send ‘em home!” Outside, Angie has created “fun stations” throughout the yard. In one area, she has a dinosaur garden; in another, “CRC Farm” (for Clayton, Raylon and Canaan); and in still another, a “Mud Kitchen,” where the boys can “cook” with real mud.

“Little boys are supposed to get dirty,” she laughed. “When they come to my house, I want them to enjoy their visit and remember the things they did with me. That’s why I keep plenty of things to entertain them.”

When Christmas rolls around, however, Angie Dunnam transforms into “Cookie - in overdrive!” In January, she starts her yearlong quest to gather and screenshot hundreds of fun, simple, low-cost ideas for her boys’ Christmas surprises. Right after Thanksgiving, Cookie and the boys go to work, creating a magical Christmas wonderland!

Cookie’s Christmas trees are always masterpieces, and she keeps her plans a secret until her big reveal! Last year, her tree had a “Super Hero” theme, with blue lights, red balls and matching stars. Hanging on the branches were masks of Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Hulk and Batman. Beneath, she had placed a replica of Gotham City, complete with standing characters for the boys to sit and play.

This year, she has used a woodlands theme with forest animals galore. The boys are avid outdoorsmen, so she has transformed her sunroom into a huge forest, filled with animals and seasonal decorations. Her tree, however, was the real surprise! For the first time, Angie used a live tree that Glenn had cut for her. She took the top of a discarded plastic tree and attached it to look like a beaver had chewed the top off, causing it to collapse to the side. Sitting beneath the tree, looking smugly at his artistry was an adorable beaver! Her grands loved it!

Three generations of the Dunnam family enjoy their Christmas traditions together. Glenn Dunnam reads the Bible, and the family celebrates the birth of Christ. (L to R) Clayton Hadley, Candice Hadley, Angie Dunnam, Glenn Dunnam, Clayton Paul, Raylon Hadley, Corwren Dunnam, Christopher Dunnam, and Canaan Dunnam.

The boys helped Cookie create these reindeer treats for a Christmas event. They fit her forest theme, and the boys decorated them.

Many of Angie’s fun times revolve around preparing Christmas food together. The boys make snow globe cookies, snowman bark, Cookie Monster cupcakes with Oreo mouths, reindeer out of pretzels and M&Ms, snowmen out of marshmallows (to dip in their hot chocolate) and much more. One of their annual projects is putting together a graham cracker Choo-Choo train. First, Cookie makes the basic frame, and then each grandson decorates his own car. Their masterpieces become part of Cookie’s annual Christmas decor.

Holiday breakfasts at Cookie’s house are very special. The boys decorate their pancakes and waffles to look like Santa, using whipped cream and fruit, and Cookie prepares exactly what they like.

“I love to see the smiles on their faces,” she said proudly. “They’re so grateful for anything.”

Christmas gifts are another special thrill, but Cookie goes a step farther. She surprises the boys by stacking all their gifts together to create special holiday characters, like snowmen, reindeer or Santas. The boys never know what to expect, because no two years are ever the same, and Cookie keeps everything a secret until it is time to unwrap their gifts!

“The wonder in their eyes amazes me!” she added. “They love all of this!”

Decorating Cookie’s home is another holiday tradition for the boys. This year, Angie had pre-cut the pieces, so the boys could easily create snowmen on all her doors. They also fashioned woodland art pieces by painting their feet, stepping onto paper and then adding antlers for their personal reindeer pictures, which now adorn Cookie’s walls. Another seasonal project was pinecone trees in Styrofoam cups, which the boys decorated with their own special touches. They also made snow from baking soda and conditioner and then created their own snowmen.

“I want them to use their imaginations and learn at the same time,” she smiled, “but I always learn more from them than they do from me!”

Angie Dunnam believes that her grandsons should touch and handle Christmas decorations that are special to her. For example, she has two Nativities that the boys put out each year. She has always allowed them to play with each character, and she has shared Bible stories, so that each child truly understands the birth of Jesus. She also allows the boys to set up her gingerbread houses on a lower cabinet, where they can play with each one.

On Christmas Eve, the Dunnam family carries on a special tradition, started many years ago. Glenn reads the Christmas story, and together, the family prays and talks about the true meaning of Christmas. Afterward, family members enjoy a special birthday cake, baked just for Jesus by Cookie and the boys. Being together, sharing good times and making special memories are most important to this family, because these moments will become the stories that the boys pass on to their own children.

“I believe every child needs at least one person in their life who thinks the sun rises, and the moon sets with them!” Cookie said. “I want to be that person to my grandsons!”

Angie Dunnam gives selflessly of herself to bring happiness to others. She is a devoted grandmother whose unconditional love shows three little boys the real meaning of Christmas.

Gifts for the Dunnam grands were hidden inside these cute snowmen.