Gingerbread houses, except not with gingerbread

Gingerbread houses, only these are made with cinnamon graham crackers

(already made, perforated, and not as heavy)

I am so "last minute:" last minute decision making, last minute dinner prep, last minute, "hey, let's make gingerbread houses!"

I had been planning a family night to make gingerbread(graham cracker) houses, so I'd been gathering the candy and graham crackers. Yesterday I got the frosting and another bag or two of candy, and talked to JoJo about making gingerbread houses. In my mind I was planning it all out and inviting family over to participate. However, I decided last minute (read above) that TODAY was going to be the day. Today at 4:30pm. So last minute.

Becca, Mary-Gail, and I stayed home from church today. Becca had been a little sick at school on Thursday, and Mary-Gail had thrown-up twice at school on Friday (she's all better now though). And I haven't been back to church since my surgery. So we all stayed home in our PJ's, and I think that's why I decided today we were going to make our gingerbread/graham cracker houses. Becca & Mary-Gail painted and colored while I frosted the graham crackers into place and put them in the cold garage to harden. Even though they had almost 4 hours to harden, the little roofs still collapsed. Boo-hoo!

Reese's house was the first to loose it's roof, but she didn't get flustered. Instead, she made an "adobe house" (her words) and kept on adding (and eating) candy. Reese also created a garage (of frosting and candy) next to her house.


This project was perfect for the perfectionist! Rebecca scrutinized over where to put each piece of candy.

Everyone had about the same amounts of the candies to use for decorating (and eating). It turns out licorice was Cy's favorite of the candies. He was the quickest to use it all up. I actually think he hid it inside his house (see the red licorice peeking out?)

Reese is seeking ideas from Gage's house. The building continues...

Gage started with a couple different designs, but ultimately settled on a house with surveillance cameras and barriers. Oh, it also had a driveway. Nice touch Gage.

This was Mary-Gail's happiest day! A day where we get to play with candy, decorate with candy, and eat CANDY. Whoo-Hoo! (Have I mentioned Mary-Gail had 2 cavities which were recently filled?) Mary-Gail's A-Framed house was quickly demolished and restructured in a straight line, providing more surface area to cover with candy. She's nobody's fool; that child is smart!

I helped Becca with the squeezable frosting and drew hearts all over her tin foil. She didn't want me to "mess up" her house.

Becca told me "Good job Momma"

Those silly Chrisman's!

Grandma Pink helped Bug with her house. Bug was eating the candy just as fast as Grandma could put it on the house!

Bug's house. Looks more like an over-decorated shed. I love that girl!


Pappy used his carpentry skills, design expertise, and patience as he created his and Grandma Pink's house

Ta-dah! Pappy built Grandma Pink the house of her dreams: "a one-bedroom bungalow with lots of natural light and a "breeze way" in the open rafters." Pappy even put a wreath on it to make it look homey.

More details of Grandma Pink's dream home: a licorice fence surrounds the perimeter; a licorice hedge leads up to the front door; hot tamales are "Spanish-inspired" tile shingles that edge the roof, with milk chocolate chips as accents; a giant lemon flavored licorice wreath hangs from the pitch of the roof, almost disguising the open rafters; and little red hots dot the walkway which is composed of fluffy white frosting. Pappy used a very broad color wheel to create his masterpiece. What a house!

Pappy said the two marshmallows standing up next to the home's entrance are him and Grandma, "welcoming everyone to their home." Awww, for cute!

(Just a few minutes later, Bug came along and ate the "Grandma" marshmallow!)