Gingerbread House Decorating Party 2011

Saturday was our second Gingerbread House Decorating party.  I had a lot of fun last year and decided then that we would do it again this year.  Preparation began right after Thanksgiving and after the tree was up and the house was decorated.  Baylor was my willing assistant and could not have been cuter, for the most part!  He is going through some phase where it is too hot to wear a shirt and he is often shirtless!   And since we were making a lot of gingerbread dough he was usually covered in flour.  In a very cute way too!   

But he did help clean up the floor.

My friend Zakiya was down here for training in our office and I invited her over one night so she would not have to spend it alone in the hotel.  She helped Baylor with a batch of dough and he showed her how the sifter and noisy maker work.  She looked wonderful in my apron too.  She had a new shirt on and I did not want her to get it covered in flour or butter. 

We also made giant gingerbread men and Baylor enjoyed pressing the dough into the mold.  Notice is close concentration in making finger holes everywhere. 

We also made Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Balls for the party.  Too bad for my party goers I forgot to put them out!!! I remember on Sunday morning they were still in the fridge! 

Mom helped me to put the houses together on Friday night.  The hot sugar method works best for gluing them together but it is not very neat or forgiving.  We put together 9 houses and no one burnt a finger! 

Baylor has been making this straight smile for a while now and it is the same one my brother made at this age!  He may have an anonymous donor but my genes certainly came through. 

We made Rolo turtles too and we did remember to put them out. 

We made mac and cheese in one crock pot and meatballs in sauce in another.

Baylor loves to eat sprinkle cheese as he calls grated cheese.  It usually ends up on the floor though. 

The master of the hand mixer making pumpkin dip. 

Mom making mini pigs in a blanket. 

More sifting, this time of powdered sugar for the royal icing.

 I took a chance and invited a few more people than last year and we had a nice turn out. I had asked on the invitation that since it was being held from 11 to 5, please don't all show up at the same time, my small house cannot handle it. So at 11, no one was there and they all showed up at 1! 

But between 11 and 1 Baylor and Mom worked on his house together. He was using his magic breath to dry the icing really fast so the candy did not slide down too fast.   

I decorated small cut out cookie shapes and made decorated doors.  Then he became obsessed with the sprinkles and sugars. 

Here is his house on the front.  There is a cardinal, snowman and decorated door that I made and there is a bird house on the back side.  See the big drip of sugar going down the left of the house?  That is the not forgiving part of putting the houses together that way.  I love how the doors turned out though and they were gone really quickly when they were discovered.

Since everyone was there at once, we had to work in shifts.  Heather took Connor and Baylor outside and Cullen, Natalie and Vanessa worked at the table. 

Zakiya and Diane had never decorated a house before so they were there too.  Diane came for a visit from New Mexico for a few days and I was really glad she was able to come to the party and visit. 

She stayed until Lori got home from work too.  She really loves it out there and I am not sure when we will see her again.  She loved making the house.  So did Zakiya.  She was very precise and pattered and it turned out really nice. 

Heather and Connor worked together really on their house.  She left Brigid at home with John and we missed her but it was nice for Heather to be able to enjoy this with Connor.

This year I took photos of everyone with their house before they left. 

The McGraw family

The Hazels

Zakiya

Gavin

Robin

Mom, Diane and us.

Steph and I

Gavin, Baylor and Robin

Baylor 'monstering' to me!

I could not have done this partyer without my mom.  She was so wonderful helping me!  It was good to spend time with her and Baylor.  Too bad I forgot to turn on the flash for the photo! 

She decorated one of the extra houses and did a lovely thatched roof with shredded wheat.  I did that last year and I think it is my favorite roof! 

Lori felt left out so I made her a tool box to decorate. I pretty much forced her to do it Sunday after work and she is pretty worn out on Sundays after working three 12 hours days.  I don't think she really got into the spirit of it but I am glad she gave it a shot. 

Baylor and his house. 

My house.  This year I did a pretzel roof. 

It was a great party and I cannot wait to do it again next year.  Maybe I will be braver and invite more kids!  The crazier the better! 

Finally Made the Apple Pie Filling

We actually made this almost a month ago but I am finally getting around to writing something. But I am at work and cannot write much so I will let the pictures tell the story today. 

Happy Thanksgiving

I am sure if I went through my day it would sound familiar to many people.  Thanksgiving is food, family, friends, and being thankful for all. So here was my day.

Baylor heard the food processor going and had to help make the bacon herb butter. 

Yes, I said bacon and butter!  I found the frozen herbs in the garden this morning and they were quite crispy in the frost but still had their flavor left. 

 I cut the bottom away from the breast and roast them separately now.  It works better to get done at the same time without drying out the white meat.  I also brine it for 24 hours beforehand.  The butter goes under the skin of the breast and thighs.  The breast starts upside down and after an hour gets flipped to skin side up.  Don't ask why, I just follow the recipe.

I love my wool pumpkins! Baylor becomes obsessed with blowing out the candles but he could not reach this one so it was safe. 

Baylor wanted to do a craft and I had some leaves and acorns cut out so Grandma and Baylor worked together to glue them to paper.  He likes to use the glue stick but does not really get the concept of gluing two things together.  Grandma helped him get the glue side down.

And then they peeled potatoes. Mom peeled and sliced and Baylor put them in the water.

I did not take any photos of the finished bird other than when it was being carved.  Baylor helped Buddy by watching. 

He was a good helper!  Dinner was the basics, mashed potatoes (which is all Baylor ate), gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole, rolls, and jellied cranberry sauce.  We don't with Thanksgiving too much other than breaking down the turkey for roasting.  The Thatchers were not able to make because Anita is still recovering from her knee surgery. 

Baylor played outside twice today, did not nap and crashed on the couch around 6:00. He was a great helper for all us today and what I am most thankful for in my life.

Well, him and turkey.

A Turkey and some Pork

We stayed at home again this Sunday and I must say it is weird being home.  We did a Thanksgiving craft, the same one we did last year.  Baylor loved the glue stick and wanted to glue every piece of paper I would give him. 

The body is his foot print and three hands for the feathers.

And now for some pork stuffed with pork wrapped in pork. 

It is my contribution to the Thanksgiving meal at work and it is good thing when there is half a piece of pork left at the end of the day and plate full of turkey. 

Ok, this is the last party for Baylor. I promise.

I originally did not want any 'parties' for Baylor this year because I think we still have things from last year we still have not played with!  But one thing lead to another and I just needed to have a small cake and ice cream party with some kids for him.  I invited a few close friends with kids that Baylor plays with to share some ice cream cake.  I had a gift card to Cold*Stone to use so his red velvet with cake batter ice cream cake was nearly free!  But I thought we might need another so I picked up a chocolate peanut butter cake too!  Yum!!  Grandma and Buddy arrived while we were picking up the cake across the river.  Baylor fell asleep before we crossed back and that 20 minute nap to the house was the only one he had all day.  My cousin Heather brought Connor and Brigid, the neighbors Mandy, Natalie and Vanessa arrived next.  Megan and her sister Brittany came without Addy.  Megan said Addy was a hot mess that day and was not party ready!!  I completely understood that!  Once everyone was here we got down to business with the singing and candles! I was not looking at the photos and did not realized the sun was jacking up the picture! 

Baylor needed some help reaching the candles and Megan stepped in to help out. 

After cake and gifts, the kids went outside to play. It was a gorgeous sunny day and I love when he has someone to play with outside.  Usually that is my job and I don't fit on the slide very well!  Grandma Karen and Grandpa Ron stopped by also!  She bought him some really cute Christmas ornaments, birds and fish, and a new book.  He loved them.

After everyone left other that Mom and Dad, Baylor wanted to take a new bull dozer toy outside so I took the time to decorate the new branches on the deck and make the tomato cage trees.  It was really helpful having Mom and Dad there to help.  I have red poinsettias and white and blue snowflakes.  It is a bit too patriotic for this time of year and I will have to get some colored lights or at least some green lights.  This is on the deck and birds use to to land on before going to the feeders.  And it is a great place for lights! 

I took out the jack o'lantern lights and put up the snowman lights.  Between Mom and Dad and I we made the tomato cage trees.

I found them on Pinterst, which is my new addiction.  The stakes are there because Baylor will rip them out when I am not looking.  They cannot be seen when it is dark.

It is early for lights but like everyone else, things book up quickly this time of year and I needed to take advantage of having assistance!  But Christmas is coming fast and I want to be ready.