Update: The Hansel and Gretel Effect

Shortly after we returned home from making our family gingerbread house I became concerned.  The kids kept asking when we would be eating it.  I can understand why they though that, but we assured them more times than I can count that it was just for decoration.  NOT for eating.  As these pictures demonstrate, the message didn't stick!

Exhibit A: Missing candy corn.

Exhibit B & C: Licked gumdrops and peanut butter cups.  

It's no longer a beautiful, though kid made, centerpiece, that's for sure!

GG's Cookies

Last year we were treated to GG's Giant Ginger Cookies at Christmastime.  It was a wonderful treat each day to pull out a big cookie from the tin in Florida.  This year, we're missing the pool and GG's cookies.  At Panera the other day Mia was shocked when her gingerbread man tasted like GG's cookies.  I decided it was time to pull out the recipe card and give them a try myself.  A huge molasses fan myself, I'm glad we did! 

I think the kids were worried and a bit skeptical as we whipped the sugar into the shortening.  They sure weren't looking like GG's cookies yet!

I was lucky to have such great taste testers.  They were even willing to try the sugar to make sure it was still good.  Phew!

Finally, when the dough was starting to look a little more like GG's, the actually believed we were making the same cookies.  Ben lost interest at about this point, so I now only had one taste tester to rely on.  Poor Mia. :)

They DID taste like GG's!  We did need to call GG quickly to double check that we were following the baking directions correctly, which we were.  My helper was an excellent sugar sprinkler and beater licker.  I was lucky she stuck around.

Yum.

Christmas Card Mayhem

Honestly, I almost didn't send out photo cards this year.  But as cards from friends started to pour in, I realized that I loved the cards as a way to keep in touch and a way to show the passing of time.  Even though it meant I was waiting until the last minute again, I decided to go ahead and try to get it all together. :)

As the kids get bigger, it gets harder, not easier, to get a good picture.  Theresa's blog is hosting a crazy holiday picture linky party, so I'll now be showing photos that would have only seen the recycle bin otherwise.  I'm glad though, because they made me laugh as I considered them more than just the photos on the cutting room floor.

The photo card winner this year was very impromptu.  I still wasn't sure that I was even going to order cards at this point.  The kids were getting ready to go see Sammy for her family's Christmas party.  Of course, this prompted the kids to want to pull out the clothes Nana made them for holiday gatherings.  Mia was sitting in the sunshine on the dining room floor when Sunny came up and sat perfectly next to her.  I grabbed my camera and started snapping...

 And then I realized I should call Ben over.  By that time, Mia had decided it was too bright and the dog needed sunglasses.  (She was right about the brightness!)

And then the dog ran away.  It was REALLY bright.

I finally realized it would be better if I pulled the shade on then dining room window.  However, all three were pretty much done having their pictures taken.

I guess the lesson is that you should always have the camera near-by.  You never know when the opportunity you didn't know you were waiting for will present itself!

Wordless Wednesday: Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Holiday Happenings

This week has been full of holiday cheer.  Not only did we go to decorate cookies with Mrs. Buist at the school, we also were VERY excited to go build a gingerbread house.  

We quickly realized just how seriously this event was taken in the candy isle at the local grocery.  Talk of trees, trunks, and roofing tiles made us a little wary of our building skills!  

We tried to get the kids to use patters and reason while decorating the house.  We failed.

Mia and Ben ate more candy that actually made it on the house.  Mia certainly was more into decorating, while Ben just enjoyed eating!  It was neat to see them interacting with their peers from school.  Ryan, just one table over, kept coming over for hugs, which in turn meant the twins had to run to his table too.  So cute!

While Ben wasn't really all that interested in decorating, he had opinions about how it should be done!

We'll see how this house survives at home!  The kids seem to think we're bringing home a candy lick!