Our gingerbread house

This year, I thought I'd have a stab at making a gingerbread house ... they are a distinctly North American Christmas tradition and I thought Boo would enjoy the creation (she says its a 'bear house').

We used instructions and patterns available here and did it over a few days, dough one day, cutting/cooking the pieces the next, and then construction/decoration.  Now it does say clearly in the instructions that you need to allow 1 hour between sides and attaching the roof, and then at least an hour (preferably 8) before you begin decorating.  Waiting?  Us?  With a 2 year old?  It ain't gonna happen.  So we ploughed through, with the result that the sides are now sinking and I have them propped up with 2 juiceboxes in the hope of avoiding a complete roof slide.  Yup, we should have followed the instructions, but you try telling Boo that you can't finish it now.  Boo helped with sticking on the sweets, which she had helped choose (her choice being the gummi bears of course).

 

 

Next year I will:

• buy a greater variety of sweets, we had a bit of an overload of smarties


• buy a proper icing bag/nozzle, I used a plastic bag and it kept squidging all over my hands


• Follow the instructions and say we have to wait (maybe a 3 year old will be able to run with this)