Gingerbread House Party 2019

December 1st fell on Sunday and worked as the date for the Gingerbread house party.  It also started with the first day of the Advent Calendar.  

I bought a gnome and red truck cookie cutter this year and experimented with the decorating.  While I a pretty good with houses, I am not as good decorating cookies.  The whole flooding, leveling thing is not something I have a lot of practice with.  But I think this time I got the frosting at the right 20 second consistency and the cookies turned out they way the should be.  

Sadly, we had four cancels, all for different reason but enough friends and family were able to make it and decorate their houses.  Heather Nelson came with a plan and had fun making her plan come true.  She cut small gumdrops in half vertically and used them as 'stones' on the sides of her house.  Ryder was tired and when he was done with his house, he was just done.  Greeva and Kartikey each worked on a house.  Kartikay had no plan and just stuck on whatever he could reach. Greeva worked a long time on her patterns.  And she made us chai before she left!! 

Heather, Connor, who is now taller than me, and Brigid had a lot of detail and when Brigid needed help, I pulled up a chair and helped out figure out her next plan.  I worked on my house off and on when there was room at the table. 

Jake and Roxie helped too. Mostly by bumping elbows and cleaning up dropped sprinkles.

Jake was giving out lots of love too.  He is a loving dog, when he is not trying to break your nose giving your a hello kiss. 

Mom got to make a house this year as well. Heather challenged her to make it crazy, colorful, and out of her comfort zone.  That started Mom out a bit stressed but she figured out what to do.  

Jake loves to share the love seat with everyone.  

Meme was able to be at the party too this year and made her first house.  

 Connor's house in progress.  

Brigid's house, she made her own sleigh.  

My house, I added lights inside and a gnome and red truck.  

Greeva sent me the photos she took of me during the party.  It is weird seeing me in photos!

Monday we had the neigthbor girls over to decorate houses we had left over.,  Baylor started one, he put the circle pretzels and rocks on the roof and then said I could finish it.  So I did!  

Merry Christmas

Meme, Pap, and Jason came over Christmas Eve and Baylor treated them to a concert before dinner.  He was working on Jingle Bells and I am so happy he is not shy about playing in front of his family.  He rocks, sways, and kicks for dramatic effect when he is playing.  I love watching him play.  

We had a nice Christmas Eve dinner together and then settled down for our long winter's nap! 

Actually, they settled down in the living room and I went into the kitchen to make cinnamon rolls for breakfast.  I love baking and yeast breads!  

I took over the room in the basement for wrapping gifts and watching TV.  Roxie usually is where I am and so is Baylor.  We were all down there watching Christmas Eve TV.  

 After Baylor was asleep, Santa delivered the gifts to our house.  It really looks like he cut back this year!! Or not, even though that was the plan. 

Early to bed, early to rise.  But my camera does not flip selfies so the mug reads backwards!! 

Baylor was up pretty early and we did not wait for the grandparents.  Christmas is best when enjoyed with children but we do not keep him waiting for everyone to wake up.  He bumped his stocking first and sorted through the goodies.  

Roxie did pretty good for her first Christmas with us.  She did not sneak off with any candy.  Now, if there were socks in there then it would have been game on!  

Trying on his neck scarf. 

He finished the Diary of A Wimpy Kid books so Santa brought him the movies. 

It was a very buffalo plaid Christmas with a robe, slippers, hat and sheets.  

The rest of us received gifts as well.  Though not as many. 

While we were opening gifts, the cinnamon rolls were baking.  So delicious!  

Snapchatting with Jason. 

Two hams were needed to feed everyone.  

Dad was my kitchen assistant, he helped make the Brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes, and carved the hams. 

Practicing with the selfie stick. 

The family photo. 

Roxie got a new red football and was very happy with it all day.  

Meme, Pap and Jason stayed until after lunch and then headed home.  We were super happy they were able to make it though it was hard at times.  It was the first time they have been at the house since Dave died.  

Mom and Dad stayed a little longer.  Mom and I did some dishes together.  I usually like to do my dishes in the morning, but after a holiday meal, there are too many to leave until morning. So we got a sink full done and loaded what we could into the dishwasher.    

We were at the table talking over dessert and Roxie gave Buddy some lovins'.   

Then Jake got jealous and decided he needed some lovins' as well.  Dad is not used to big dogs giving him kisses!  

After Meme left I lite the candle on the alter.  There is a new photo there now.  

Roxie is my good potato, she will sleep whenever and for as long as she can.  She only has short bursts of energy unlike Jake who can get excited at a tiny sound down the street.  

A little side by side of Baylor at 13 months and 10 years.  Still happy for Christmas.  

I love Snapchat filters but Baylor only likes them if they do not give him pretty eyelashes!   

This is Jake.  He likes to chew on things.  

This is a six pack of toilet paper that Jake choose to chew on.  

Since Baylor was off school and I cannot take off of work the last week of the year, Baylor went to Kartikey's for a few days.  They had to go to the Dr's office when Greeva had an appointment. And they played with the kid table!! 

One of my coworkers gave me a bag of shirts for my dogs and we tried them all on Roxie and Jake.  She was a patient model and Jake only fit into one shirt but it was very appropriate for him. 

We had dinner with Laura and Adam on the Saturday after Christmas and exchanged gifts.  They are doing ok after all that has happened and Adam was very happy to see Baylor again.  They played hide and seek and one time we could not find Adam, he was under a bed but was in the back in the dark and we could not see him when we looked.  He stayed super quiet also, where as Baylor would be making calls for hints on where to find him.  

Sunday we had Christmas with the Hazel's.  Our first one since the divorce.  

I brought the stocking/water bottle game for the kids to play.  They really enjoyed it as well!  

We took a few family photos. 

And I sent a few pictures to Jamie and Laura letting them know Bobby made it to the family Christmas party.  Both of them were thrilled to see him there.  Both of them were teasing Heather over the summer that she should hook up with Bob, but little did we all know that she already had!