Gingerbread Houses

I bought gingerbread house kits at Target this year, after figuring out the year before that it was more expensive to have to buy all of the "stuff" separately.

Each girl had her own kit, and luckily it worked out so that we had a staggered start.  (I think we did it one Sunday afternoon after naps.)  Because it was kind of crazy chaos.  We had a few roof issues ... with roof panels sliding down.  And walls collapsing inward.  Luckily, the girls thought this was hysterical, though mom and dad were getting tired of waiting for the roof icing "glue" to dry.

Becca chose to add one decoration at a time ... that's why all of the gumdrops are clustered in one corner, and then the gumballs build on those, and then the candy cane pieces.

 Julie was so proud of hers.  Try to avert your eyes from the pantry mess in the background.

Emma looks so old here.

The finished products... from left to right, Emma, Rebecca, and Julie.  Oh, and also pretend that donut box isn't there, too.

We decided that if we do this next year, the kits were a good idea.  But icing "glue" is going to be replaced with hot glue.

Gingerbread Houses

We went up to the Grove Park Inn again this year to see the gingerbread houses.  Somehow, in the two years that we've gone, we've managed to pick a rainy day both times.

A family picture where everyone is looking at the camera!  We should've gotten that woman's phone number.

We looked at a few gingerbread houses, and then decided to head for lunch.  They've got a huge dining room that's about 6 floors up, and looks out at the Blue Ridge mountains.  Still a nice view, despite the rain.

Our waitress mentioned that there were gingerbread cookies in the dessert buffet, but we couldn't find them.  Someone on the wait staff overheard Julie asking me where the gingerbread men were, and said they might have some in the back.  He didn't come back, so we gave up.  A few minutes later, he showed up at our table with the gingerbread man.  And then we had to send him back for two more.  Our waitress also sent us home with 3 gingerbread men.  It's that kind of hotel.  You know, the one we couldn't actually stay at...

Emma went right for the head.

So happy to have her gingerbread man.

Winnie the Pooh

Tom and Jerry

Muppets Christmas Carol

Polar Express

They really weren't as interested in the gingerbread houses this year.  They acted like they were in a hurry, and we mostly just walked by them all.  The rocking chairs were a big draw again, though.

If you look, you can sort of see my reflection in the big silver ball.

They wanted me to take their picture.

December Daily: Dec 6, 7

Tuesday Dec 6 was just a normal work day.  I was in a class at work all day long, so it made my day to come home and find that the girls had made reindeer headbands.  Becca was still wearing hers.

December 7 was our big 'venture.  We went up to the Grove Park Inn in Asheville to see the gingerbread houses on display as part of the National Gingerbread House Competition.  I'd never been before, but it's something I've wanted to do for a long time.  Kind of had to wait until the girls could follow some basic instructions.

At first, they weren't terribly impressed.

At this point, they were more interested in the windows and grounds, and rocking chairs.

Love E's reflection in this one.

Beautiful, even if it rained all day long.

I liked the reindeer airplane.

We did go out onto a covered porch for a few minutes.  I can't imagine what the view must be like when it's not cloudy or raining, or in the fall.

I liked this one, too.

Of course Mickey Mouse was a crowd favorite, although Emma says that the one with the "baby bears and baby cupcakes" was her favorite, and Julie keeps talking about a "pink house."

We had fancy lunch in a huge dining room facing downtown Asheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains.  If only it weren't cloudy and rainy.

And some of us might have had a little bit of chocolate cake for dessert.

They had a sleigh set up in the giant fireplace.  Of course we had to pick up and pull on the reins.

Definitely a fun (hopefully new) tradition.  The girls said they had fun, and no one broke anything, although Emma made a mad dash for the giant Christmas tree in the main lobby and had both hands on a red glass ball the size of her head.  Clearly, it was time to leave.

In the car on the way home, before they completely passed out, they said that had fun.  But Becca told me "I scare to some of the people."  I told her I was, too.  And Julie told me, "I scare to some of the kids."  And I told her I was, too.