
When Mom was here visiting we decorated our very first gingerbread house. Ever.

Everybody got a wall (or roof) and decorated it however they wanted.

Bopp decided to just take pictures.

Decorating gingerbread houses is pretty serious business.

See?

Ellen had the roof. It was a good strong roof and could handle a lot of decorating.

I've always felt a little wary of those gingerbread house kits you see in the stores, but no more.

Ten dollars and a trip to Costco got us a stable and sturdy house, a couple gingerbread men, and a tree, all of which were baked and assembled and made to look cute by someone other than me. Aaaand all the frosting and candies we could shellac on there.


And the bonus??
(I know, right? How could there be a bonus to that amazing deal?)

Even though we tried,

and tried...

and tried...
It wasn't exactly edible.

Turns out house's whose main adjective is 'sturdy' generally aren't also known for their deliciousness.

Which feels like a bummer for the children eyeing all that apparent goodness.

But not so bad for those who had a gingerbread man. Those were much tastier than sturdy.

Or for those assigned a tree to decorate. Those folks came out alright.

I kid! I shared some of my tree.

So we got to eat all the candy off (which everyone knows is the best part anyway) and left all the "gingerbread" behind.

Well...most of it.