Gingerbread House Activity: A Real Mom’s Do’s and Don’ts

I’ll be honest. I don’t have a great track record with gingerbread houses. I fail. Consistently. Last year I swore I’d have Lenny do them next time. Again. But, I forgot. Again. And I forged into dangerous territory with my kids.

I mentioned this on Facebook, and it got some interesting discussion going. Apparently I’m not the only Scrooge when it comes to this most frustrating wonderful holiday tradition.

The good news is, I’ve put together a list of Do’s and Don’ts for all of you considering getting crafty this season. (Now let’s hope I remember. And, hey, why not pin it so you remember to keep it real too…)

DO NOT:
…worry that going to Costco — where they sell pre-made houses to decorate — the week of (or after) Thanksgiving might be slightly inconvenient. (Or act surprised when you go there the second week of December and they laugh at you for asking if they still have any in stock.)

DO:
…pick up a bottle of wine while you’re there. Oh, and leave the kids at home. Then make no mention of the fact you have one (or 3) in your possession until you’re absolutely ready to begin.

DO NOT:
…go into this thinking it will be a magical holiday experience for you and the kids. (Based on my experiences — yes, plural — the frosting isn’t the only thing that doesn’t bond.)

DO:
…consider having a glue gun on hand in case your frosting fails you. (While I, personally, prefer to go through multiple rounds of failure instead, many people suggested this approach to me.)

DO NOT:
…start the project a couple hours after your house was cleaned. (Especially if you’re lucky enough to have a professional cleaner…who won’t be back until after Christmas.)

DO:
…plan to stick to the floor for a week following the fun. (Seems I’m not very good at cleaning, either.)

DO NOT:
…put the simple-to-build-with-frosting-you-have-to-knead-and-patiently-wait-for-it-to-dry house together with a curious audience next to you.

DO:
…have friends over to distract the curious audience while you do the basic assembly and candy opening. Bonus: Company keeps you everyone on their best behavior.

DO NOT:
…assume the candy provided is purely decorative and that there’s more than enough.

DO:
…buy some extra goodies to make your house — and the entire experience — a bit more fun.

DO NOT:
…use this as inspiration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DO:
…use this as inspiration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, what did I miss? Share your do’s and don’ts!