gingerbread mania - year three!

first of all, a HUGE thank you to the H family for having us for their annual gingerbread house decorating party!  this is their third time to have this and i'm happy to say, we've been at all three.  i love starting and keeping traditions and i'm so glad that they have continued to have this super-fun and super-sugary party!  

here are all the kiddos with their houses.  W, O, A, I.  precious.  the houses are too! 

 it was hard to get them to sit still with their amazingly crafted home but they did good.  starting to get silly though!

 pics with mommas!  since most of them lost interest close to the end, WE were the ones working on the final touches.  we should be in the pics too. 

here is a beautiful pic of the yummy 'house decor' that we used.  W's momma had about 18 trays that looked just as beautiful.  i exaggerate, but she really knows what types of candy makes the very best house.  

me and bug-a-loo before getting started.

she's working on her master plan.  i'm only assisting.

erin and A. (loves!)

 jill and W. (presh chef hat!)

nicki and I.  (dar-ling!)

here we are around quittin' time!

bea-u-ti-ful don't you think??  i agree!

 nicki is so amazingly talented.  there were containers of fondant on the tables and we all said 'um, no way' but nicki jumped right in and made this incredible O for O.  she made an A for A and a 'space elephant' for W!  wowzers, nicki!!  and thank you!!!!

 we're trying to display the houses and get ready for a pics and they all starting picking…

 aren't they the best???

 time for snacks and decompressing play!! popcorn and cheese, please!!

and some iphone games.  educational ones, of course!

 larger than life candy canes.  

that were fought over.  

i got to read a star wars book to W.  i had to ask W if i was pronouncing things the right way.  'cause i have girls, you know.  

there were some really precious moments that i don't ever want to forget.  i've never read to W and that one small thing was very big for me.  i'm blessed to have such fun friends and the fact that their kiddos are the same age, just makes everything so much sweeter.  we always talk about how different the next gingerbread house decorating part will be.  i think all of the mommies agree, it's kinda hard to swallow. they'll be four….

thanks again to our christmas-y gingerbread-y sweet friends for having us!!  we love you!