The tradition is back! - Gingerbread Houses

After a year off, we are back!

Supplies!

 We bought this pre made houses at Ikea a few years back. We opened them and they were in perfect condition. We had two, one for Hollister and one for Hamilton.

 Serious business. He is reading the directions!

 After theirs were set and dried overnight, they decorated.

Hollister's (he made the snowman on his own)

 Hamilton's

CJ decided he was out this year. Bummer.

I made mine, decorated it and was done fairly quickly. My goal is just to keep it standing and not eat all the decorations and make myself sick. I tried incorporating some "cotton" for the upcoming bowl, but it's just a blob. Oh well.

Heavens only knows what this conversations includes.

 Maybe Hamilton is giving me ideas?

My finished house.

Go Aggies. (sad cotton, I know)

 Kendrick, well like always he starts strong and loses interest fast. Once again, an unfinished house.

And now, one week later... seriously people.... Trevor's house is complete.

Getting started... see, ONE WEEK AGO!!!!

 Building walls

 That date is wrong! It's a few hours behind... it is 12/31/2012 now!

 But, it is beautiful as always. He really is verfy creative.

We were out yesterday and bought, on great clearance, four houses for the boys next year. Yep, four this time. We think the older boys need some help. It was a mess, it was fun and I have been sweeping graham cracker crumbs all week.

Hope you enjoyed our attempt at art.

Take a look back at previous years:

2008

2009

2010

Happy New Year!

Christmas Day

Do you see all those presents? I am positive Santa came to the wrong house! This year we changed where our tree went. It didn't really fit though. We ended up leaving the top off. It's kind of funny, but it works! We liked having it in front of the window.

 Opening stockings stuffed with all kinds of good stuff!

 Hamilton got Mickey's farmhouse. This was his Santa gift.

 And this, we just couldn't resist.

 He has wanted this Batcave for a very long time. I think its his third one. (Read the following sentences dripping in sarcasm) Thankfully, Imaginex toys keeps coming out with various Batcaves. And thankfully, Hollister wants them all.

Very curious as to what this big box is for Kendrick.

 This is actually Kendrick's gaming chair from the big box. I think CJ has put one on his birthday wish list.

This was the only other thing that Hamilton asked for, a big boy bike. He loves it. Due to the cold weather we got for the holiday, he has yet to ride it outside, but is a whiz at riding it in the house.

I was noticing that I don't have good pictures or even that many. But we all had a great Christmas and got things we wanted and enjoyed spending time together. There's lots to organize now and lots to play with. Trevor and I actually bought each other the exact same gift. We each got the other a Keurig coffee maker. We each bought a coffee carousel for each other. I tell ya, great minds think alike.

Oh, and Kendrick got me a new microwave. I have had the same microwave since I lived in College Station. Yes, that is almost 10 years people!!! We rarely use a microwave. But when we do, those boys complain something fierce. But now, I have a new one to be installed. Anyone know a handyman that can do that for me?

Most of all, I enjoyed having four boys in my house all at the same time!

Creativity and Christmas

Here's the boys' finished plate from our trip to our favorite ceramic store.

Then of course, I had to finally make a few of the ideas I have "pinned" on Pinterest.  

New year, new teacher, new clock.

It's not what I envisioned, but I am a procrastinator and ended up keeping it simple. I like it though, for that reason.

Hamilton has two teachers and we also kept their gifts simple.

 Simple for Hamilton's friends.

 Yummy snowman!

Hollister's cuteness was a bit more involved. Easy, but lots of parts. His treat was the pieces to make snowmen: marshmallows, mini chocolate chips, pretzels, orange sprinkles, and junior mints.

 A cute note and Hollister signed every one of the bags. (19 total!)

 Hamilton got his creativity on too. An adorable ornament he made with his hand and painted for us.
When we opened it, he calls out, "That's me!" It was super cute.

I always do something homemade for my mom. I have a few options, and the procrastinator in me made this choice. I pinned it long ago. Those of you that know about Pinterest, know that what you find and what actually comes out when you make something, doesn't always match.

Enter perfectionist husband:

He saved the day and this what we gave my mom and dad. We love it so much, we are going to make one for ourselves as well!

And of course, we aren't done.

We started gingerbread houses on Christmas Eve. The boys and I are finished, but of course, Trevor is not. So I will start working on that post and if he finishes before the new year, you will see them.

Christmas Eve

In the past, Christmas Eve has always been  a big event in my family. The last few years have been different. Its what happens when families get bigger.

So, this year we spent Christmas Eve with my mom and dad and just our immediate family. It was truly enjoyable. All six of us piled in one car, which rarely happens. and spent a few hours in Harker Heights.

Another first, we had pizza for Christmas Eve lunch. Grandma knows what her grandsons like and they LOVED it. Plus, Grandpa ate with us at the table, which also hasn't happened in a long time.

Our visit was short and sweet, but it was very special to me.

Grandpa and the boys 

and with Grandma too....

All my boys

Things are different, but we are making memories with our family and I must say, this will be one they remember fondly. I know I will.

Rock Climbing Fun

As mentioned before, we spent the afternoon at Main Event in Austin. It's a fun arena! It has bowling, games, glow in the dark golf, laser tag, food, etc.. all in one place. We apparently have outgrown Chuck E. Cheese.

We have been there before and done a few things. On Saturday, we bowled, played games and tried something new, rock climbing. No, not real rocks, but you get the point.

Hollister was scared at first, but he did it with the help of his Daddy and Uncle Josh. Then, when they went to try some harder "rocks", he did it on his own. He was so proud of himself and we were so proud of him for trying something new.

WARNING... A LOT of pictures follow.... Don't say you weren't warned.

Special shoes help you climb.

Getting the straps on.

 Ready to go!

 This what little brothers do while they watch the older guys climb.

 Daddy and Uncle Josh climbing more challenging walls.

 On his own!

 He rang the bell ON HIS OWN!!!!

 Coming down....

He had such a GREAT time and of course, wants to go back. So, I imagine in the future we'll have more posts about this place!