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!  

February Catch Up

Gloria bought me a garden gnome with a solar light for Christmas. He survived the snow to light our way.  

Roxie has a sock, again.  

A beautiful way to start the day 

and end it. 

Another day, another sock. 

A bully treat for our one year anniversary with Roxie. 

Our first cuddle on a cold Saturday morning.  She was confused but she took to us right away.  She was happy for the love and we were happy to have her to love.  A year later, I cannot imagine our house without her.  She is a good girl and a sweet potato.  

A sweet potato who has a sock fetish.  She always brings them to me to show me. Then I get a treat and we trade.  

Bob and I had to go to NJ for a team building trip to the corporate office.  Almost 14 years with RB and it was the first time I had to go.  I drove and Bob rode with me which worked out fine.  We had dinner at a hibachi place and the show was fun.  They flipped food at people with they do not do at Tokyo Diner.  I waved him off, I don't need smacked in the face with a shrimp or sake!  

Alex's birthday was this week and he got to wear the dragon mask.  They don't do that at Tokyo Diner either!  

Grimm took refuge under Jake's table. I don't think Jake even knew Grimm was down there.  

Roxie has a sock 

Winter has the best sunsets. 

Roxie had a yearly appointment, where we found out she was up to 56 lbs.  The vet would like her to lose at least five pounds before the end of the year.  Not sure how the potato is going to do that but we will work on it. 

We made it to the dog park, early, when there are less other dogs around.  They all had a good time.  

We made pizza for dinner.  Jake too, likes pizza.  

Saturday nights I let Baylor stay up late, past when I go to sleep.  I find him sleeping on couches more than I do beds.  

We went to Heather's to celebrate Connor's birthday.  She made an ice cream cake and it went all wonky when she unmolded it.  But it looked fine and no one noticed.  

Bobby arrived and I send the obligatory photo to Jamie and Laura.  

Roxie kisses are good kisses.  

Some critter is in the clematis or was once and Jake was ready to pounce it is showed itself again.  

Baylor loves chocolate covered strawberries and so we made them to take to his school party.  He had fun helping me.  

We practiced the craft I was bringing, sponge painted hearts.  

The dogs sat well with their scarves on for Valentine's day photos.  

One of our dog park friend's was in a bad car accident that caused a brain injury.  A couple of other friends and I were sending her photos, well wishes, and some pampering items to help cheer her up while she recovered.

We had a lovely weekend with Cullen and Lochlan while Julie and Amy had a weekend away.  The boys had a lot of fun together and I had a lot of fun with them.  

 Lochlan spent a lot of time with me and part of it we spent making a birthday cake for Amy.  Lochlan did really well working the mixer, sifting, and stirring.   

We also painted for his mom's.  

The aconites show up so early and it is a sure sign spring is coming!  

Saturday night we made pizzas for supper.  The boys each got to make their own pizza with their choice of toppings.  I helped with the stretching the dough and for the most part the boys all made their own. 

Of course I kept Julie and Amy update to date on their boys so they would not be worried about them.  

For breakfast we made Canadian beaver tails. Again, the boys got to help out rolling dough. 

Fried dough is delicious covered in cinnamon sugar.

Baylor and Cullen even helped with the frying.  

I think they enjoyed their breakfast.  

We dipped some more strawberries for lunch.  But I had more help this time. 

I had the boys sing Happy Birthday for Amy, they were less than enthused but made it through.  

Lochlan and I frosted the cake, it was a lot of fun!  We had a nice Sunday Supper with a Canadian Theme. I made poutine and Chinese Pie for lunch.  And cake of course for dessert.  

She is so pretty, in her stocky, blocky way.  

More snow, not too much. Enough to make it pretty.  

Jake has the red football.  Who loves the red football?  Roxie does.  She is too afraid of Jake to steal it from him though.  

Baylor in his glory on top of a huge snowpile.  He loves snow!! 

Jake warming himself on his perch.  

Roxie, at the same time, relaxing on her perch.  They have different ideas of comfort.