Winnipeg Dunton's: Christmas 2011-The Gingerbread House

Well this year was our first Christmas away from home and it was not easy in fact the whole year has been a bit bumpy and I am happy to be moving onto 2012. Having said that it the first time in 5 years that we haven't spent the holidays moving or in the hospital.

2006-We moved from the condo in London to our first house in London on December 23rd.
2007-Isabella was born Christmas Day
2008-In hospital with Isabella Christmas morning with a fever of 104 (we also had a power outage and a car that wouldn't start that morning)
2009-Moved to Wasaga the middle of November just 11 days after Madeline was born.
2010 Moved to Winnipeg December 30

It makes me tired just reading it. I missed everyone dearly but spending the time off in our pjs, eating, drinking, playing and just enjoying doing nothing was exactly what we needed this year.

The absence of family was made easier with an early Christmas visit from Gamma and PopPop. They were here only for 4 days but we managed to go get a Christmas tree, decorate it, make a gingerbread house or two, have a turkey dinner, exchange some gifts, played some UNO and candy land as well as a few minor house repairs. First off the Gingerbread House.

This year I wanted to make my own ginger bread house. I made the dough and the icing. I used a store bought house as a stencil (and a back up just in case).

As you can see by all the bowls in front of Joseph and Isabella we are well stocked with decorating treats for the houses.

The kids are anxiously waiting for the icing to harden just a bit more.

While they wait for the houses to harden they start decorating cookies.

As well as sampling cookies.

Isabella's cookie is a piece of art.

Joseph tackled the store bought gingerbread house with help from PopPop.

I tackled the homemade version with the help of PopPop, Jeremy and several canned goods. I made have made my pieces a bit too heavy. The roof was crushing the rest of the house.