"Gingerbread" house fun!

We decided to finally try "gingerbread" houses tonight. Both big kids came home talking about it. Ella actually made gingerbread houses at preschool today and Aidan designed one in art class I guess. I have had the stuff sitting on the kitchen counter for like 2 weeks, but neither Aaron or I have ever made gingerbread houses before. We decided tonight was the night! And I keep putting "gingerbread" in quotes because we actually just made them out of graham crackers. Works for us!

Here Aaron is strategically cutting the crackers so we can easily assemble the houses. He wanted me to take a picture of his little house "kits".


We also added some upside down sugar cone ice cream cones. We thought they could be like a castle. I put what candies I had into a little dish in the middle of the table. but quickly just put some of each candy onto each child's tray. Much easier than reaching over their houses and getting frosting all over their shirts.

I thought this was a fun little series so made a collage. Livi patiently waiting for daddy to assemble her house. Found some candy or drip of frosting. Lick it off her finger - BUSTED! Cheese! What a little knucklehead.

All three kids LOVED this activity. I had to cut it off at the hour mark because it was 8:00 and time for bed. I loved that they loved it. We will have to start much sooner in the evening next time we try this project.

Olivia was very focused putting her candies on. I think it was like, 1 for the house, 1 for me, 1 for the house, 1 for me. :)

Pretty Ella Bear wanted me to put a frosting cross on the side closest to her so if Jesus saw her "gingerbread" house he would like it. :)

Aidan really liked the whole thing. He loved decorating and wanted help adding doors and everything.

As a side note, Sixer fell over on the counter while we were working. Aidan told me to go get my "special" gloves on so I could help Sixer sit back up. I did and then I told the kids that I had read somewhere that there was a special rule that on the last night Sixer is here this year, Christmas Eve, Sixer is allowed to get hugs from the children before they go to bed. Sixer will be able to keep his magic so he can still get back to the North Pole. The rule only applies to Christmas Eve so children and their elves can say goodbye until the next year. I wish I would have had a camera to capture how excited they all were at this prospect. LOVE IT!