Gingerbread magic

Gingerbread houses!  Gingerbread houses!  I have been wanting to make gingerbread house with the kids since I was pregnant with N.  I fantasized about it, I plotted, I looked longingly at the kits at the stores.  But, I never made it happen.  

Why?   Why.  Well, let's be honest, while I'm crafty in my imagination sometimes my execution leaves a lot to be desired.    And the houses on the boxes looked "easy enough" but I knew my house would never look like what was on the picture and yes, rationally I knew it didn't need to, but still and all... there was an intimidation factor.  And also, I know the person who created This (OUT OF GINGERBREAD!):

by Laura Widner

 so you know, I may have had over exaggerated  expectations about what a gingerbread house should/could look like.

AND there's the idea of the mess.    Now, you wouldn't know it to look at my house some days, but I'm really not a fan of messes.  Or rather maybe I am a fan of the mess, I'm just not a fan of the clean up. So, when I heard that the fabulous Laura Widner aka Pastrygirl was offering a gingerbread house class I was intrigued.  Someone (again the fabulous Pastrygirl, who you should totally check out, if you haven't!) would make the pieces to the houses,  provide all the accoutramant AND take care of clean up?  I was all over it.  Signed us up and away we went.

We divided up into teams. Boys and girls.  And I think it worked out.  Although, I must confess that I thought L and I would have a simple house.  She likes details and I thought our house would be "cute".   Um... well, "Cute" is one way to describe it.   CANDY APOCALYPSE is another way...

Ms L, really wanted to load on the decorations.  My favorite detail, you cannot see in this photo (which is adorable, if I do say so myself!)  is a piece of red licorice which falls down one side. I thought it was just more decoration  nope "it's an emergency rope for getting out in case of fire, or flood or hurricane"  (must be the daughter of an stage manager!)

I love the house Patrick and N created.  Simple and sweet.  And they did it together.   From the icicles to the walkway, their house says "home".  N decided they would make it a seaside cottage and he asked Laura to help him sort out blue MnMs for the water, and wafers for the sand.   I just love they way my children's imaginations take flight every chance they get.

  

We had such a good time, we asked if we could pre-register for next year's class!   (And maybe after the holidays I'll tell you what happens when children eat too much frosting... but that's for another story!)

Happy Holidays~