Ever since I was a child, gingerbread houses have been part of Christmas. However, with so many children they were rarely ever constructed of real gingerbread, but graham crackers instead. Still fun, and not nearly so devastating in the event of breakage. I have carried this tradition on with my own family, and what a fun workshop day it is! I love how everyone's house reflects a piece of his/her individual personality.
Adam's house began with lofty intentions that he didn't even begin to think through. He's the artist in the family, a master of creativity, but not one of pragmatism or efficiency. So, he began sawing his graham crackers into individual boards and started laying floor beams, trusses, and "framing" his two-story house. That lasted almost two hours, and when he still didn't have a single wall up (and the kids were hogging all the graham crackers), he went for the more traditional slap it up method, common in suburban neighborhoods. But he was the only one with a porch.
My house, had to be beautiful, balanced aesthetically, landscaped, and had to have storage out back.
Lyndsay's house had to be accessorized, so she built an open loft, with graham cracker furniture, a snowman in the front yard, and a mailbox.
Dylan, went for clean lines and exactness, as he is ever-watchful of justice and fairness in life.
Caitlin went for free-thinking and fashionable, with an open door. She's always welcoming.
Sean is not exactly a detail-oriented or tidy builder, but he gets his house up faster than anyone else, which leaves lots of time for eating the candy strewn along the table.
And, Aiden, having spent most of his life in Arizona, went with an adobe style house, neatly paved and cheerful.
In the end, I have a feeling the boys didn't care as much how their houses looked, as long as they held as much candy as the laws of graham cracker and royal icing physics allow. And their mom. ("Put half of that back, my friend.")
13 comments:
Hee hee...I can't wait to do this with Emma this year! Those are brilliant!
They all turned out so cute! I may venture forth to do this with my two. They'd get a kick out of it!
We love doing these, and I'm going to be getting the kids ready to do one soon. I think we'll do one, instead of three, and then eat it immediately!! :)
Too cute! I love the description you gave each. It went perfectly with how they all looked! I can't wait for our little gb house making festiviies. Josiah was sick last year during it, and he tends to be the one who's more creative with them. We usually only do one, but after seeing these, I think I'll plan for alteast Rylie and Alyssa to do their own.
ahhh hahahah. Those are awesome! I can't wait till the lil guys are..mature enough..to do their own! "put half of that back, my friend" ahhh hahahahah! I love it!
love it! I think that is a great tradition...maybe we~ll start that this year!
I SO need to do this with my kids again. It's be WAY too long. I love how each of your houses had a unique personality stamp on it. (Love the loft.)
We do this exact thing every year. Highlights from years past include Stonehenge (with Gummi Bear druids), the Provo Temple, and an Algonquin longhouse.
One year one of the boys got tired of houses and made an airplane as I recall.
All so cute -- thanks for the pictures.
Very cute! Every year I watch the Gingerbread House competition on Food Network and become inspired. Last week I was in Reno to watch a friend's show. Went to the casino early to grab some dinner and they were having a Gingerbread House contest. It was awesome! I like your method better, it's doable!
By the way -- the six finalists for the Best Husband in the World contest are posted on my blogspot. Please pop on over, read through them (they really are wonderful men), vote and then spread the word far and wide. Merry Christmas!
How fun!! I love Lyndsay's furniture!
We are in still in the process of making our's. It's taking a few days. I think next time, I'll make my own and let Ash and Bella share one. They're just not doing the neat and tidy thing.
Those are great! We did the same thing with the YW this year but we built Temples instead. We put them in groups of 6 and each had a unique personality too! FUN FUN!
ooooo I love love love this post. It says so much about each of the children. fabulously fun! Thanks for sharing it.
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