Thanksgiving... and Gingerbread Houses!

Grandma Annette & Grandpa Justin came out to the hills the weekend before Thanksgiving for an extended visit, deer hunting and holiday shopping trip!! (you know who was doing the Christmas shopping!!) Since the Morrison Grandparents were going to be here a while, Grandma A came up with the idea of doing Gingerbread houses. Do you even have to ask? Yes, from scratch!

Thor remembered doing a gingerbread house when he was about 4... but Anika had never gotten to do one, especially not one whole house, just for herself!! Anika picked the regular house pattern, and Thor chose the "chalet" pattern... The baking went well... so Wednesday afternoon, we were ready to decorate!

I love having Grandma come to work on these projects... more helpful hands, more watchful eyes... works GREAT!! The kids LOVED the decorating part the best... and they hardly ate a single candy while they were working. Thor heard a few family secrets for Gingerbread house decorating (thanks Uncle Lance??!) so he filled his chimney with candy... to the TOP, then sealed it over with frosting so no daddy or grandpa's could "snitch" before the official "eating of the houses" begins (on Christmas day). This was all the decorating Miss Liv was allowed to do, but she loved giving her all!! This is Thor's finished chalet... and Anika's finished house!

I'm pretty sure this will be a tradition now... even if Grandma Annette isn't around! Good thing I got the recipe!

Thanksgiving Day was a lovely relaxing afternoon at Ted and Jan's in Hot Springs. (My brother and family.) Jan did the "big" dishes, we all helped with the sides and desserts. Dirk's parents were here to spend the holiday with the Moellers... rare shots of the big guy with his P's!
smiles....