we had our christmas. :)
new jammies….the kids loved theirs and i bought some for me too…thanks aunt jan for the gift card!!
family gifts… we give one gift for each of our kids to open that is for the whole family.
the sandwich maker is a HIT.
they were so excited about it.
the headphones are to stay attached to the desktop computer and no one is allowed to take them off.
this way there is always a pair of headphones when i say "turn the sound off your game" or "i don't want to hear your music turn it off please" and so now they can listen to their game and i keep my sanity.
sibling gifts….they each got each other little things this year with their own money.
that was really cute.
they got us gifts too.
annie made these personalized travel mugs for me and craig. i could not love them any more!!! they are perfect!
talby gave me these sweet birds.
and scott picked a starbucks gift card for me.
sean got me a neck massager pillow but i couldn't find it to take a picture.
i think one of the kids confiscated it already!
then we gave our gift to them.
we give ONE gift to each one of them.
we started this three years ago? i think.
it was to the point of ridiculous with all the gifts they were receiving.
we knew we could not control what others would do so we changed what we could do.
buying less.
they have ENOUGH already.
they have TOO MUCH already.
so they get one gift and they have been fine with that…it's just the way it is.
annie got a keyboard. (my friend suggested the headphones…best idea ever!)
talby got an iPod dock/clock.
scott wanted strength shoes….for basketball….muscle building shoes.
sean got a 3DS that we found a fabulous deal on.
and lauren got an iPod classic that we got through craigslist.
we don't get them whatever they want….but we try to get them something nice that would enjoy…
but that we can afford.
and we do not do gift cards.
or money.
it has helped cut back on the excess.
AND their stocking (gift bags) are filled with little goodies that are picked just for them…
like basketball socks, saxophone reeds, lipstick, squinky sets and candy.
we had a chirstmas dinner.
IN THE DINING ROOM.
craig made a ham…so good!!
i made cheesy potatoes and cream corn and fruit salad.
and cream puff for dessert.
we went to my parents house and had another BIG dinner there.
my mom made all the little girls matching fur vests…super cute!
17 people in one room opening gifts….chaos.
my dad had this shirt made for me.
🙂
he is so silly.
i LOVE IT!
and today
i am sitting in a quiet house because scott is at basketball with craig, sean and talby stayed with their grandma and aunt, annie is playing with our neighbor and lauren is asleep.
so i frosted cookies peacefully.
and i will make some gingersnaps now.
then we are onto craig's mom's for christmas there.
how is your holiday going?
everyone getting along?
Kristopher Diss - I didn’t know gumdrops and fish candy can make great shingles! The licorice twists certainly would ensure a water-free interior! Great and creative bonding experience with the kids!
crystal beutler - If you were to ask my kids about their favorite Christmas memory, this would be it — making gingerbread houses on Christmas Eve. We do it every year — except this year. This year it was about the Christmas lamp, and a hotel. 🙁 They were mad at me.
I’d have to say this is one of my favorite memories too — of my dad, and my grandma.
You can never go wrong with a gingerbread house.
Yours turned out really cool!
P.S. If you tend to burn things, try building houses out of sugar cubes. Super fun, but not as fun as gingerbread. 🙂
Three-generations.blogspot.com - OMG!!!! I love your gingerbread house!!! so bright and colorful!! the swedish fish are a cute touch! 🙂
Sharla - Love the snowmen too 🙂
Jessica Johnson - #1. i want a friend that makes gingerbread houses. #2. can’t WAIT to see you in just a few weeks!!!!
Kacy - Cute gingerbread house! I just wanted to say that I love your blog!!! You’ve inspired me to be crafter (is that a word?) with my kids and start my own blog (kacyseveryday.wordpress.com). Have a great new year!!
julie - merry (belated) christmas! for christmas dinner i made your chicken enchiladas and served your mom’s margaritas to the adults. for dessert i made pam’s delicious cheesecake. YUM-O! on new year’s eve i am making your artichoke dip and for the second year in a row, rainbow cake. i cannot wait! thanks for sharing all of your wonderful recipes in blogland!
Amy @ www.littleforalittlewhile.blogspot.com - That is one sweet gingerbread house! Beat ours for sure, although ours was decorated by a three year old, so that can be pretty sweet too 🙂 Great pics!
Ryanne - Talby is very talented. All of the things she creates seem to be very pleasing to the eye. Her crafts are always my favorites.
Ruth H. - If you tend to burn things, don’t feel bad. Every time I burn something, I think back to one of my all-time favorite movies, the original, black and white Sabrina (with Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart). There’s this line, where one of Sabrina’s fellow students at cooking school tells her in his charming french accent, “A woman who is happy in love, she burn the food. But, a woman who is unhappy in love, she forget to turn the oven on.” See? It’s all because you are happily in love! Congratulations!
Laura Phelps - this was the year I was going to make a huge gb house from scratch.
oh well.
next year maybe.
sean kills me.
love that kid.
Chrissy Boerman - i love how much candy you put on your house very festive
Lori Austin - Love the big house. Turned out so cute.
We did the graham cracker village. I actually hot glued the houses together and then gave each of my kiddos a ziploc full of icing to cover them with candy. Worked out great.
I can’t bake gingerbread either – just not happening.
Btw, I introduced a friend to your blog over Christmas break and she is now addicted. Your welcome. 😉
Happy New Year!
Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - Last year was the first year that I thought to make one with my girls. We bought a kit on super sale from Michaels and went to town. The girls loved it and were begging for one this year which we never got around to doing.
Then on Pinterest or a blog(cant remember which) I saw someone making one with their kids…an entire village actually using graham crackers! Yes, much smaller scale but way more likely to get made in this house:)
And I just have to comment how much I love all of your red bowls. Theyre so fun & festive! I have a set of red dishes from my grandmother(whom I never met) and theyre really special to me.
Valerie Ransom - I love that! So sweet. We made a tiny one with our 2 year old today – I had to resist the twitches that came from the insane icing amounts being dolloped on! It turned out great, though!
Alicia @ La Famille - so fun! i want to eat those swedish fish. bad!!
Leah - This looks awesome! Was hoping you’d have a gingerbread house post this winter. I did the same thing last week – that is bought the house pre-assembled and we decorated it. Here’s the post that chronicles our house: http://leahsthoughts.com/2011/12/23/the-house-that-sugar-built/
Trish - my mom made a gingerbread house replica of her big old house. it was so cool and so fun!
Holly - very cool!
Tere - I love this tradition. Would you share your camera setting for such bright pictures in your home. I’m assuming it was at night. Much thanks!!
karen gerstenberger - If I lived nearby, I would love to do that…but my kiddo is too old to participate. I’m glad that your three youngest still enjoyed it with you!
Happy New Year to you and your family!
happygirl - I’ve never done a gingerbread house. It looks like so much fun. I just can’t bake, so it’s never happened. LOVE the licorice roof. I’ve never seen those colors of licorice. 🙂
Terrie - Never made a Gingerbread house in my life…
I feel very deprived!!
Must do this with my Grandson one day!
Quin - Oh boy, Sean’s fish side is too funny… Looks like you guys had fun!