Gingbread House Tradition

I was saying yesterday how much fun I had shopping for decorations for our annual Gingerbread House get together.

I highly suggest you start a tradition like this of your own. We always have ours the Saturday after Thanksgiving, that way it is not too busy into the holiday season yet, it is on the same day every year so participants remember to keep their calendar free for the day. Everybody who participates not only ends up with a great centerpiece type decoration for their house to last the whole holiday season but the memories we create last a lifetime. I really get the feeling that EVERYBODY looks forward to it every year. One of my major motivators was that I also wanted a family get together to celebrate the holiday where the center of the action wasn't about gifts at all, but being together as a family.

Other reasons why I love our tradition is because it's a day fun for everyone. The kids don't have to be all dressed up and uncomfortable and nobody has to worry about buying the perfect gift. We all bring a finger food to share so I don't even have to fight with my kids to eat their veggies like at usual family gatherings. We usually have everybody put their houses together before they get to the event because we found that they last better when they get to set for a day or so before decorating them. We all bring enough decorations for our own houses and a little extra to share in case somebody just loves our idea but doesn't have any for their house. My event started out with just the immediate family but within a few years we were enjoying it so much that I now borrow the local fire department so we can invite all we want. Last year we probably had 50 people.


It turns out that the people you figure won't enjoy it so much...the dads or the not so crafty, tend to get really into it and create some of the most beautiful houses.  


Today I went all out on decorations so that when the little kids walk in they will feel like it's magical.
I can't wait to see the look on their faces....and their houses too of course.