For days Paul has been very excited because Christmas is getting closer and closer. He constantly asks his mom how many more nights he has to sleep until it's finally time. He still has to be a little patient. "Will you help me later with the cookie baking?", Paul's mom asks at breakfast. "Oh yes, oh yes!", Paul immediately exclaims. "I want to cut out the cookies and decorate them!" Paul's mom smiles. The simple cut-out cookies with colorful decorations are Paul's favorite cookies.

Shortly afterwards Paul's mom has already prepared and rolled out the dough - and then Paul is finally allowed to help. Diligently he cuts out one cookie after another - in all sorts of shapes: stars, hearts, flowers, moons and many more. No sooner is the first tray in the oven than a wonderful aroma spreads through the kitchen. "Mmm, yummy!", Paul cries, "I want to try a cookie as soon as they're ready!" Full of anticipation he watches the sweet baked goods in the oven. "But first they have to cool a little so you don't burn your fingers and your tongue," his mom says, "then you can have a little taste." All day Paul and his mom are busy rolling out dough, cutting out shapes and decorating the finished cookies.

In the meantime Paul's dad has already brought the Christmas tree in from outside and set it up in the living room. First he puts up a long string of lights with large candles and then he hangs many different glass baubles on the tree: big and small, red and gold. Finally he fastens a Christmas garland made of paper that Paul made at kindergarten a few days ago especially for Christmas. Satisfied, Paul's dad looks at the beautifully decorated tree.

Then he closes the living room door behind him and, to be safe, sticks a piece of tape over the keyhole so Paul can't sneak a peek and discover the tree, because it is a surprise for Christmas Eve. In the evening Paul crawls wearily into his bed. Baking cookies is quite tiring, but it's also a lot of fun. Soon Mom comes to give him a goodnight kiss. Oh, if only it would finally snow, Paul thinks as his eyes slowly begin to close. Then he could finally go sledding and build a snowman. He yawns one more big time, then he is already asleep. And outside, suddenly very fine, soft snowflakes fall onto the windowsill. At first few and then more and more ...