It takes a Gingerbread village

The Sunday after Thanksgiving we had our annual Grandma Baker's gingerbread hoopla! I've been meaning to post these pictures ever since!  There was more imagination this year- some of it unintentional- than there has been in the past. We bake the gingerbread and assemble the houses/trains in advance so that all people have to do when they arrive is go crazy with decorating.

Here is a small sample of the village we created. I think in all there were 15 or 16 houses and three or four trains. We were all overly sticky by the end of night and no one was craving sugar. Trust me. What we didn't eat- we soaked in through our skin.

First off- Jessica's amazing creation! She was a pioneer in the Tudor style housing! Freaking genius! I'm quite upset that I didn't think of it first! D'oh!

Little Miss P also got in on the action helping her mama make a little train!

Next is Shayla's California Red Carpet event.

I *love* the roof tiles!

Toot Toot! Now arriving! Lisa and Jenna's Candy Express!

Also arriving at Station Sugar Shock is Dallin's engine- complete with coal car!

Michelle and Shea got creative with their igloo.

Don't let it fool you- there is a gingerbread house somewhere under all those smarshmallows.

I think a couple of the girls were doing a little California Dreamin' on this winter's day. Here is Macy's beach front property!

Complete with surfing Santa!

Now this part is actually kind of funny. I came with a plan for what I wanted to do with my house. I bought Boston Baked Beans because I wanted to "brick" my house.

I think the thing I like best though- is the candy coated sunflower seed lights on the tree. Awesome! (if I do say so myself).

Every year my sister, Kim makes a very similar house to match the decor in her living room.  She uses pink Frosted Mini Wheats to make her house look like it's thatched with straw (are you starting to sense a theme??? Bricks... Straw... what comes next?)

And this year (remember- this was all unplanned- it just turned out this way) Melanie decided to make a version of Eeyore's house. She even came armed with a little Eeyore to enhance her house.

Have you seen Eeyore's house? It's made of STICKS!!! So without talking to each other about it- we totally made the three little pig's houses! I would just like to point out though- that I ended up being Practical Pig- making my house of bricks. I am safe from any candy seeking wolves!

A couple more houses to go!  My poor dear mother spends the whole party mixing up glue for us all to use- she said she made three times more than we usually use. I guess we really wanted to make sure stuff got attached!  Because of time, she asked me to make a house for her to take to her neighbors so this is the one they got.

Dig the teeny candy cane garland!! Aren't they so stinkin cute???

I also thought I'd make one for my dear Auntie. She decorates her house in blue and white for Christmas- so she got a house that would fit in.

This has got to be one of my favorite traditions!  Thanks to everyone who came and made it the best- most drama-free event we've had yet! I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with next year!