December 20, 2008
top this, Uncle John!
Yesterday we made gingerbread houses, mostly to kill time while we waited for Santa to call us. I told my neighbor what we were up to when she stopped by to deliver the homemade baked goods she had spent all day yesterday assembling, and she said, “Look at you! I’m so impressed!”
“I bought kits, at Target,” I told her.
“Oh thank god,” she said, “I was starting to worry a little.”
I didn’t know how the gingerbread house assembly would go; there was a distinct possibility that at least one child would come unglued, either because the whole thing was too hard or because he had icing on his hands. But you know what? It was a lot of fun, and no one cried! Not even me!
Charlie ate most of his decorative icing, which was just disgusting. By the end of the project, he looked like a wee little vampire, with red stuff all over his face. Gross.
Henry really got into decorating his house; he figured out how to make icicles and spent a lot of time carefully adding them to the eaves. He also meticulously decorated the house’s little tree, with green icing and carefully placed candy balls. It was amazing.
Best of all, though, he got icing ALL OVER HIS HANDS and just licked it off. It’s a Christmas miracle.
Charlie’s house was more of a mess — one of his snowmen kept falling over, leading to some possibly inappropriate egg nog related jokes — but he had a huge time eating the icing and jabbering along in a sugar-induced frenzy of cuteness. And when he finished his snowmen, he held them up and said, “Look, Henry, they’re BROTHERS!”
I may have teared up a little at that. Possibly.
And then! just when we thought it couldn’t get ANY better! Santa called!!!
We put him on speakerphone, which was a whole big fun thing for the kids. They were amazed because he knew their names, and what they were doing in school, and what they wanted for Christmas. He told them about the elves and the reindeer and how cold it was at the North Pole. He laughed a lot and said, “Wonderful!” to all their crazy news about what they were up to.
We set up our call with Santa through Santa Speaking — you can read all about it here. But I will tell you this right now — that call from Santa easily bought us one more year of Christmas magic; Henry is just at the age where his friends are starting either to doubt Santa’s existence, or to know for a fact that he’s not real. And honestly, we’re not ready to give that up; we’re not ready for the kids to be so smart and worldly just yet.
This morning my kitchen smells like gingerbread, which is nice, even if it is completely inedible.
Posted by Susan @ 8:24 am • Henry&Charlie, good people
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December 20th, 2008 at 11:23 am, Anna Says:
That is so sweet!
BROTHERS! *Sniff, sniff*
December 20th, 2008 at 11:28 am, SoMo Says:
I love the icing pouring out from under the roof.
What a wonderful time it looks like you all had. Merry Christmas
December 20th, 2008 at 12:35 pm, exile on mom street Says:
Awww…Cuteness!
I plan to attempt cookie decorating with my little guy after his nap today.
I need those 2 hours of quiet to hype myself up for what is sure to be a horrifically messy undertaking…but a great Christmas memory.
December 20th, 2008 at 12:44 pm, Shannon Says:
Super sweet. In every way.
December 20th, 2008 at 4:44 pm, Sue @ My Party of 6 Says:
That is so sweet, I am teary. You have the cutest kids EVER! (And does the optician just LOVE your family?)
I was worried that the red stuff on Charlie’s mouth was from his encounter with Brock’s head. (I don’t see any hanging or sideways teeth either, so that is GOOD!)
Must get some gingerbread house kits. Although I guarantee it wouldn’t go as well at my house!
December 20th, 2008 at 5:21 pm, Dana Says:
I can’t believe you were so brave as to do this project with one of the boys wearing a WHITE shirt!
That is a great project though, it easily can become a fun annual tradition. Especially if they get to eat all the candy and gingerbread after Christmas…
December 20th, 2008 at 11:13 pm, slynnro Says:
Aaron and I bought those same kits last year, with far more disastrous results.
December 21st, 2008 at 1:41 pm, kat Says:
oh how fun! we were just chatting about how people found out that santa wasn’t real. i figured it out when my mom kept wanting me to go to bed super early like around 7. one girl i knew said her parents had these santa boots that they would put in the fireplace and then make “tracks” around the tree and outside in the snow. how fun that santa can actually call you! i love this idea.
December 21st, 2008 at 4:50 pm, Beyondpanic Says:
What do you mean Santa’s not real?
Also, what a wonerful day for you and your family! I miss those days so much!!
December 22nd, 2008 at 6:32 pm, mom101 Says:
You do not need a sugar-induced frenzy to appreciate that cuteness. Sounds like an absolutely perfect day.
December 23rd, 2008 at 11:27 am, Javamom Says:
Your boys are so adorable. Happy Christmas! I lurk here often…