A new addition to the gingerbread creations

I will have to admit that Laura was right in that I couldn't actually not make a gingerbread house if everyone else was making one. Although I am glad I wasn't trying it with everyone else or I would have been too stressed. Monday as I was cleaning up and putting stuff away I knew there was enough gingerbread left for a small project. I had found these cute carousel figures at the dollar store and decided I may as well go ahead and make my own especially as I kept wanting to add little details to everyone else's. lol. So I made a carousel, ticket sales house and concession stand. The trees in the back are for sale as Christmas trees (but there is no sign for that). This is how I justified a summer scene at Christmas.

Our Annual Gingerbread Creations 2008

This past weekend was our annual gingerbread fest. This year we had Laura, Teresa, Tonia, Grandma Ruth and Rosie. I didn't do my own house but had a hand in all of them. I made at least 7 double batches of frosting, three and a half batches of gingerbread, 5 batches of window and water syrup, did lots of shopping for supplies (the best places were the dollar store and Winco's). We used 14 pounds of powdered sugar, approximately 30 cups of flour, 4+ dozen eggs, two pounds of yogurt, 1 bottle of corn syrup, two boxes of vanilla wafers, 1 box of ice cream cones, and a large bag of chocolate covered rocks... just to name a few of our ingredients.

Our newest family member Rosie Stiltz joined us this year for her first gingerbread house. She was the first one done and didn't need much help. Her house featured a fence made from yogurt covered pretzels and a pond with a bench beside it. She actually had more added to it after this picture was taken. Her roof was made from licorice.

Grandma Ruth made this beautiful Christmas tree with lots of color and sparkles.

Reuben dropped by to check out Laura's progress. Laura made a lake house complete with lake, fish and dock.

Teresa made the Turtle River Inn with a covered bridge and River

Tonia's colonial mansion or plantation house . She ended up with a fallen tree in her yard by morning but quickly replaced it with a friendly snowman. Flexibility is a key ingredient in gingerbread houses!

I got to help with David more since I wasn't making my own house this year.

Check out Tonia's blog for more pictures.