Gingerbread houseapalooza

We've had a family tradition of making

gingerbread houses the week before Christmas

at our house for the last, oh I don't know,

too many years now. Each year I think to myself-

I'm not going to stress myself out trying

to make homemade houses this year!

But someone always brings up the

question- when are we making houses?

So, of course, if someone really is

excited about making the dang things,

I'll make them. And I'm always glad I do :)

We had a heck of a group make them this

year! All my kids (but one whom I won't

name, since she moved away to Iowa-

but if you look at her blog, you can

see she's carried on the tradition!

With amazing houses of their own

I might add :)

 As you can see- our gingerbread is 

really good! Good enough to eat

as Will is demonstrating.

He tried a little bit of everything

in front of him!

Our official food tester :)

 When we weren't looking- Mags

grabbed the spatula out of the frosting

bowl and started licking it!

The frostings pretty decent too :)

(Mallory thought it smelled bad while it

was mixing. She asked me if it smelled 

bad because it wasn't finished cooking yet. 

When I let her taste it, she thought

it smelled okay then :)

 Some of our finished products-

Lisa and kids-

Mal did almost all the decorating by

herself! I hope you can see the 

cheddar bunnies in the windows :)

We raided the pantry to get the 

decorating goodies.

As soon as the picture was taken-

Mal ate all the candies off one side

of the house! (I love being a grandma!!

eat all the candy you want!

It's Christmas :)

 Here is Sierra's house. 

Each year she picks a different 

holiday theme to decorate her house.

A few years ago she did a white trash

trailer house, last year was a farm.

This year she picked to do a jail house.

What says Christmas more than

bars on the window?

 In the front is the "inmate" with

a ball and chain attached to his leg.

The back is protected by the guards

with pretzel guns.

Can't wait to see what next years theme is.

 Brad, Ash and Mags did the most colorful

house! See their black snowman on the side?

He has a big red nose :)

Isn't is amazing that Brad can't look

like a normal boy?

 Look how cute Tommy and Sophie's house is.

And how very symetrical it is too :)

Tommy did the chimney and smoke that's coming

out. Then he just bugged the heck out of Sophie

the rest of the time. See her cute pink snowman

with dreadlocks? You should have seen what

Tommy tried to put on the snowman's head!

We'll hope this marriage lasts :)

 Here's Mags with his tongue out again!

When they were leaving and he was giving

Grammy a kiss goodbye- this is what he 

looked like too, only aimed at Grammy's face.

Maybe a little too much sugar? hehehehe

 Here is Eddie throughout the whole house

making party. Doesn't he look enthused? 

We had a blast and I'm glad we once again

made houses. But I don't know if I'll

do it again next year!! ;)

 Just a bonus story-

Because of a crazy fluke and an

ancestor who looked to his families future-

Eddie, all his siblings and their spouses 

have burial plots

by each other. 10 spots. 

Eddie is demonstrating

below where his plot is. a little creep you say?

I agree! Plus knowing and seeing where 

I will someday

be "laid to rest" is MORE than a bit creepy!

But he does look cute, eh?

 And this picture is for Kira-

look how cute Mallory is on Santa's lap :)

Merry Christmas 

all my dear friends

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo