Barrett & Jackson's Gingerbread House 4th Birthday

For the boys birthday this year we thought they were finally old enough to be trusted decorating gingerbread houses.  Jessica and I built houses out of graham crackers so all the boys had to do was decorate. 

I made each boy a cute apron and each boy had their own little spot. 

These three were so excited to see the garbage man. 

I didn't take any pictures of the food but we had a nice brunch (my favorite).  Breakfast casserole, hash brown casserole, muffins, sausage balls, pigs in a blanket and fruit.

Barrett was not all that interested in anything other than eating the candy.

Cruz and Cooper

The finished product.

I love this little tradition of celebrating the boys birthdays with a fun Christmas playdate.  It won't be long until they're all in school and want nothing to so with us. 

Gingerbread House competition

We had our annual gingerbread house competition Saturday night.  Patrick and I had a dinner for his work so we were late.  Everyone was pretty much done so I just decorated John's house.  It was not our best work.

This is the winner!  Created by my brother-in-law Clay.  A little backstory, when my little brother put a contract on his house we stopped by one Saturday afternoon.  The house is laid out a lot like ours.  After touring it my mom comes into the kitchen and says, "Well Maggie this house is just like yours but BETTER!".  So that became the joke all fall how John & Hope's house was just like ours but better.  So you can't read the little tags on Clay's creation the big nice one says John's house and the little shack says Maggie's house.  Pretty clever.

This is the one that John built and I decorated.

My older brother likes to use the gingerbread house competition as a political platform each year.

It was fun.  Barrett was tired and fussy so we didn't stay long.

I've been sentimental this week for sure.  Barrett will turn one on Christmas day and I can't believe it's already been a year.  All the Christmas things I did last year I was huge and had no idea how close I was to meeting my baby.  We didn't get to go to the Slovensky family party this week because Barrett didn't feel good and we didn't want to spread anything.  I was so sad we didn't get to go.  I remember being there last year.  Again, I was huge.  No one thought I'd make it to the new year much less my due date.  I remember thinking that this year when we went we'd have an almost one year old.  

And continuing our 25 days of Christmas outfits.

Day 19

Day 20

Day 21

Day 22

Day 23

5th Annual Gingerbread House Competition

Friday night we kicked off our fun old fashioned family Christmas with our annual gingerbread house competition.  You can read about years past here.  I'm not going to lie, I think we all peaked last year.  We were all excited to build our houses this year but it seemed that no one really prepared like they did last year.  Which resulted in us sitting at the table for what seemed like hours with no real progress.  We laughed a lot though and I guess that's all that really matters.  The kids had a ball and they did a great job this year.

 

This is the winner of the kids division.  Drew did a great job.  I'm not sure how many more years they're going to let him compete in the children's category.  I was excited for him to win! 

Porter built a hunting lodge complete with a duck blind and several dead ducks ( the m&ms).  At one point he did run up to my mom and demand that he needed her help building a garage with a four-wheeler and trailer.  Notice that didn't get built!  Mom said she wasn't a miracle worker.

I loved Ava's redneck house.  She did such a good job both building and decorating hers.  Most people excel at one or the other. 

Harper's princess castle should really have been in the adult category because I'm pretty sure all she did was add the blue sixlets.  Mom did pretty much all the rest of the work. 

Now to the adult category.

My big brother Patrick's interpretation of the economy.  He's so witty!

Leslie went the religious route with her gummy bear nativity.

John, oh John.  He had a great house but did not do one bit of decorating.  I think he could have won it with a strand or two of lights.

This was mine.  Not my best work.  This is what happens when I have no plan. I really have no words.

 

Hope's was the winner and rightfully so.  She did a great job with construction and decoration. 

Elizabeth came with a plan.  This is Denny Chimes.

And Clay's house.  I can' t remember the name of the house but it is a replica of a house close to where they live in Atlanta.  I'll have to ask him and update this later.

The whole neighborhood. 

 

Even though it wasn't our best work we all still had a lot of fun. 

4th Annual Gingerbread House Competition

Saturday night we all met at Mom & Dad's for the 4th annual gingerbread house competition.  This year the boys decided to get in on the action (they quickly realized it's not as easy as it looks).  This has become one of my favorite traditions!

Porter was so excited!

Harper just wanted to eat the candy!

Ava

Porter with his finished house.

We decided to give my parents their present early.  Their tv stopped working about a month ago and they've been watching a 19" all this time.  So we surprised them with a new tv.  They were thrilled. 

John and Hope working hard.

Drew was taking a break.

I think Elizabeth was praying for inspiration. 

The new tv.

Mom's new ornament.  Hallmark was starting a new 12 days of Christmas series this year so my sister got mom the first one.

My parents decided to add a level of difficulty to the competition this year.  We were given a bag with a coffee filter, a wine cork, a plastic spork or fork and and weird paper clip thing that we had to incorporate in our design.  It was tough. 

My design.  I was so excited with how it turned out. 

Ava's house with a pool!

My big brother gave up.

Drew's Christmas Luxury House.

Elizabeth's Christmas Campout.  Somehow she always manages to have an awesome house when she comes with no plan. 

John's 1997 Z17 Stepside.  His was really good!

Kristen's Santa Claus is coming to Town

Leslie's design called Porter's Chicken farm.

Drew and Porter's.  Porter had already started eating the candy off of his.

Clay's President's Mansion.

Hope's White Christmas in Dixie

Harper watching us play Wii

Patrick and Leslie and Hosea were exhausted.

It was such a fun night!  I always enjoy spending time with my family.  It's becoming harder and harder the older we get but I hope that we always make a point to spend this time together each year.