Gingerbread Village

At the beginning of the week, the boys and I finally made our gingerbread houses. Actually, we ended up doing graham cracker houses, using the tutorial at Martha Stewart's site. I created a whole little village! (Click for gallery if you care to.)

Next year I might play a little more with miniature realism, but I really like the way these came out.

Setting up to decorate:

A pallet of candy.

My tiny elves, working away at their houses. This kept them busy for over an hour.

I found that by giving their houses a thick spackle of royal icing, that then they could just decorate by themselves -- whatever they pushed into the icing stuck right there.

So much fun! (Sparky's is on left, Max's on right.)

Grace's gloves are almost done! I've got 1/2 a ring finger, a pinkie and a thumb left to go, then all of the Christmas knitting is complete. That should be finished tonight before bed, and then tomorrow is baking. I've already got dough in the fridge for 2 different kinds of cookies all set to go.

I hope that you all have a merry Christmas!!