The Macs

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

cousins + candy...lots of candy

Last night when I was putting Levi to bed, I told him that when he woke up his cousins were going to come over and we were going to decorate gingerbread houses. He was so excited that his cousins were coming over.

I don't think he had any idea what decorating gingerbread houses meant. But he sure was excited when he saw all the candy the next morning.

I hot glued the gingerbread (grahm cracker) houses together the night before. Messy projects with little people always go so much better when you are prepared. I learned that from teaching kindergartners.

Levi helped me set everything out on the table. And then we had to wait for his cousins to arrive. Man, waiting is hard. Especially when candy is involved. I kept catching those little hands of his reaching into the candy bowls.

I tried to get a picture of Levi with his two cousins before they got all messy. This is the best we got. Ellie tried so hard to get the boys to cooperate and smile. :)

Ellie did such a good job helping Levi. When I watch her with him, it gives me a glimpse into what it might be like if Levi's big sister were here. Always watching to make sure he is doing things right and helping him...sometimes bossing him around and putting him into a headlock to try to get him to smile for pictures. :) Maybe that is how Cora would have been too!

I was surprised that the gingerbread houses kept Levi's attention.

But he was very intent on spreading his frosting...all over his house and all over himself.

Of course they had to taste some too. Tripp really liked the frosting.

When the houses were frosted we had to take a break and play with Griffin.

My kids are well loved by their cousins.

Back to work. Now it's time for the fun part. Candy.

They all worked so hard to decorate their houses.

I am pretty sure a certain little boy ate 500 pieces of candy for every one piece he put on his house. I have never seen him consume so much sugar. Every time I looked over, his mouth was packed full like a chipmunk. Can you say sugar high?

And here are our finished houses...

Griffin (made by Mama)

I was sitting next to Tripp and every once in awhile he would look over at my house and say, "Good job, Jess!" or "That's good!" His kind words were so good for my gingerbread house building self-esteem. :)

Levi

Tripp

Ellie

And even when we were finished, ever so often a little hand would sneak back into the kitchen for more candy off of his house. It was such a fun project...but it is a good thing we don't have that much candy around here every day!

25 Comments:

Blogger Jessica said...

Adorable!
Merry Christmas!

December 22, 2011 at 2:51 AM  
Blogger Crown + Castle said...

You're such a good mom! What a fun project!

December 22, 2011 at 4:43 AM  
Blogger Surrounded-By-Boys said...

I love it! And I LOVE that you include the cousins in many things! I think the cousins will grow up to be very close and I just can't think of anything better than that! I still cherish all the fun times my cousins and I had as children!

December 22, 2011 at 5:56 AM  
Blogger Kelly said...

What fun! My sisters live really close so all our kids are the best of friends and I love it! In fact, they'll all be here today for our annual cookie decorating party :)

December 22, 2011 at 8:04 AM  
Blogger The Bowens said...

The picture with Levi's cheeks full of candy is priceless! So adorable! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

December 22, 2011 at 8:29 AM  
Anonymous Loren's Aunt Janet said...

What great pictures, it's so great to see Ellie and Tripp. We met them at Loren and Anne's house when we went to visit and they are such a joy! I hope someday when we are there we'll get to meet your adorable boys also!

December 22, 2011 at 8:32 AM  
Anonymous Sarah @ This Farm Family's Life said...

Love these! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

December 22, 2011 at 9:31 AM  
Blogger Lindsay said...

What a wonderful and cute idea! I love how much candy Levi snuck.

Lindsay
My Life as a Fifth Grade Teacher

December 22, 2011 at 10:31 AM  
Blogger Amanda M. said...

My kids {and their cousins} make gingerbread houses with their grandma every year. Such a fun family tradition!

December 22, 2011 at 11:38 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

SO cute!...what a fun project! Cousins are the best. :) Happy Holidays!

December 22, 2011 at 11:51 AM  
Blogger The Hershberger Home said...

oh this made me laugh. I looked at this with Christian on my lap..and got lots of feedback. "oh..look another little boy. Oh look a barn! oh..a baby. Oh I like it." So good job with the gingerbread houses..they look like lots of fun!

December 22, 2011 at 11:54 AM  
Anonymous LauraD said...

What a precious Christmas tradition that will forever be in their memories! Love it!

December 22, 2011 at 12:41 PM  
Blogger deyoungsters said...

love this! I will have to try with our little cousins next year. and that picture of Levi with this little cheeks stuffed with candy almost made me cry it was so adorable... that must sound crazy! :)... but it gives me a glimpse of what my little one-year old chipmunk will be doing in a year! merry christmas!!

December 22, 2011 at 12:56 PM  
Blogger Allison said...

What a sweet group of cousins they are!

December 22, 2011 at 2:05 PM  
Blogger The Mershawn's said...

That is hilarious. Your houses looked awesome...that was some impressive graham cracker building. We also made houses with our kids & my 2 year old was the EXACT same way. He was drooling red & green. Which was niiiice. His sister was concerned, but it all worked out. Oh candy...you can really stress a mama out. Lol Thanks for sharing those cuties...

December 22, 2011 at 4:49 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Awe how darling! They did such a great job. I really like your little candy dishes too. Merry Christmas Macs!!

December 22, 2011 at 7:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You know what I love ~ I love that you talk about Cora all the time. She is a part of your life and you don't hide your love and mentions of her. Thank you. Thank you for giving me courage to grieve.

December 22, 2011 at 7:46 PM  
Blogger Nancy said...

They are all such PRECIOUS children!
Merry Christmas to your family!

December 22, 2011 at 9:59 PM  
Blogger Maisie said...

We do gingerbread houses every year and its so fun to see how they change from year to year. Since there are 8 cousins in our family, it gets even messier!

December 22, 2011 at 10:09 PM  
Blogger Melissa said...

I just made gingerbread houses with my kindergarten class and you are so right-prepare in advance to avoid disaster!!!
I think kindergarten teachers think differently than other people. :o)
Your boys are so adorable! I hope you have a very merry Christmas!

December 23, 2011 at 8:08 AM  
Anonymous Melanie Martini said...

LOVE how Levi's pudgy little hand gets in the pictures (with a piece of candy). :-) Such sweet children! Thanks for sharing your pictures. Merry Christmas!

December 23, 2011 at 9:37 AM  
Blogger Rachel said...

What sweet pictures! Thanks so much for having them over! They absolutely loved it...and are still sneaking the candy off their houses :)

December 23, 2011 at 11:11 AM  
Blogger Auntie EM said...

The sugar high's are in abundance this year. What a fun activity. I wish you, your hubby, your cute boys and all your a wonderful Christmas and a most happy and blessed new year. May the love of your friends and family and the love the Savior brings into our lives bring you peace, joy, and love always.

December 24, 2011 at 5:14 PM  
Blogger Momma H said...

Love seeing that chubby little hand with more candy in route to a chubby little mouth. Levi is just darling!!
And so is Griffin, of course. You and Joel make beautiful kiddos.

December 26, 2011 at 5:39 PM  
Blogger ABBY said...

I love this idea, looks like such a fun time for the little ones. I may do this next year! :)

December 29, 2011 at 1:01 PM  

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