Candy, candy everywhere!

Tis the season!  Time for gingerbread house decorating 2012.  For reasons that I can't remember, we didn't decorate a house last year.  But made a point to do one this year.  We gather at my aunt's house and get to work. 

We all take the easy way out.  Buy pre-assembled houses that come with the icing all done (no messy mixing needed!).  All that is needed is (extra) candy and a willing person to get messy.  We tried the house kits one year that come baked but not put together.  Yah.  Pain in the butt.  These are better. And while it's not "home baked"; who cares??  The kids want the candy, not the cookie house.  At least my kid is that way.

Here's most of the extra candy that we all donated to the gingerbread cause:

Hmmm, looks like I missed the OTHER end of the table because there was a lot more than that!

I wasn't sure how Punk was going to be.  In the past, she showed no interested or very limited interest in the house.  This year, she and I planned our decorating strategy.  What we wanted for a roof.  What other things she wanted to see on our house.  She wanted a chimney and we bought candy to make a chimney but we both forgot about it.  I took her to Walmart and spent a MINT on candy.  The cashier probably thought I was a bit late for Halloween for all the candy I bought.  LOL!  It's okay. We all shared.  She surprised me and was very excited to decorate and actually sat there with me and decorated.

Okay.  On with the show.

Here is Josh's house.  He is going to be a big brother TOMORROW!  I'm so excited!

he kept giving me "bug eyes" with his smile.  LOL!

And some of the others.  There were 2 other little boys there and then my 2 cousins and my aunt who all decorated a house.  Amelia and I shared one.  Next year, I will make my own.

And our creation:

Punk is eating a candy cane

By the time we were done, there was no rhyme or reason to the candy placement.  We just stuck it all on there.  Amelia and I added a candy sleigh to our side yard and everybody else followed suit.  It far from perfection but it was envisioned by my little girl and that's all that matters. 

We had a great time and hope to remember to make time and decorate again next year.

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Gingerbread House

We have a little holiday tradition among us cousins and we get together and decorate gingerbread houses.  Last year, Amelia stuck on 2 pieces of candy and was all done.  Here's the link to last year's house.  This year, she actually sat with me and we decorated together.  I came up with the chocolate tiled roof.  The rest of the house design was all her own.  Only thing I was in charge of was putting the icing where she wanted it.

Here's the front:

The back:

and one of the sides:

A few photos of the whole group's.  We are missing one.  One person had to leave before we snapped our photos.

Next year I'm going to do some research and get different candy supplies and possibly my own house.  I've seen a few out there and people are so creative!  I just like to be a copy cat. ;)

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Christmas Sweets

A few weekends ago, Punkie and I got together with my aunt and 2 cousins and we worked on gingerbread houses for some festive Christmas decorating. I know it's not even Turkey Day yet but honestly, it was the only weekend we had free since one of my cousins is heading off for a week-long cruise soon.

We used the Wilton kits because who really has the time and energy to actually bake the gingerbread to make the houses with? Not me! The kits are great too. They come ready to assemble with all kinds of candies and gum drops and a big bag of royal icing - just add water. I was in charge of "construction" and Amelia was in charge of the decorating. She did such a nice job. I helped a little but it was pretty much all her doing.

We also made the gingerbread tree.

Here's all 4 of the houses together.

Couple random pics of my Punkie Pie too. :)


Enjoy your day!

Jen :)