Countdown to Christmas: Day 6

A Gingerbread (kid) Masterpiece - mine was WAY cooler.

 Gingerbread Houses


I love making a Gingerbread House.  I have a problem though.  I don't like to share the making process.  I want it pretty like the one on the box or like a fancy-pants picture I saw online.  I want it to be Gingerbread House worthy of being on the cover of the Parade of Homes magazine.

The first year I made a house, I tried to let the kids help.  Tried.  In reality, I let them put some candies on very delicately, then moved fixed them when they were not looking and alternated between distracting the kids by shoveling candy at them so I could work and slapping their hands when they came too close. (Not literally slapping them, so calm down.)   I had a project.  I was focused.

Itchy totally posed for this picture

Two days after the immaculate Gingerbread House was complete, someone started getting twitchy fingers and the perfectly arranged shingles started disappearing.  Then some of the tree and next the pathway.  Finally, a whole chunk of icicle frosting and part of the roof was missing.  An ugly, crying, sad confession revealed my little vandal.  It was the same vandal that was snatching the candy canes off the Christmas tree and eating all but the j-hook parts.  I found a little nest of the discarded leftovers thoughtfully hidden in the back of the tree. At least 20.  *sigh*

Yeah, Scratchy posed for this one, too.

The next year I was much wiser.  I bought 3 Gingerbread House kits.  One for everybody. Yes, I buy kits.  I'm not Martha Stewart and having pre-cut pieces and measured icing means I can get down to business that much faster. So shut it.   I pre-built the houses for the boys, then let them frost, decorate and candy to their hearts content.  They LOVED it.  And I actually enjoyed it knowing I had my own mansion to prefect once theirs were underway.

And no twitchy fingers!  I think making their own made them understand the labor of love and not want to devour it's sweet goodness.  And I was still pumping them with leftover Halloween candy.

This year, I have not made a Gingerbread House.  I have not found the time to buy a kit and don't know when I'll have the time to make it.  Even though I am completely OCD about it, making it without the kids just isn't the same.  Maybe next year.