Our New Years Eve Tradition...A Few Days Late

In preparation of this year's New Years Eve, we planned, we took action, and we eagerly awaited the time when the big ball dropped, because in our family, that's when the destruction can begin. Last year we began a new tradition. This year we decided to keep it.

Too bad the weather didn't allow us to do anything on New Years Eve.

Of course, it wasn't just the cold, but we had wind. Our little town is famous for the wind storms we get here. Those two things kept us inside while we waited for the new year to arrive. This created a slight dilemma. When were we going to destroy the kid's gingerbread prison?

Turns out, we were able to attack it last night.

It got dark, we hauled out the gingerbread structure and the pyrotechnics and had the kids battle the edible building. Now, had we been able to find fireworks that actually blew up the gingerbread prison, that would have been a lot of fun, but no--we had to use these Victory Swords. They were fun and the kids enjoyed wielding them.

Next year, we'll be more prepared, and hopefully, we can do it on New Years Eve. Wish us luck!

Gave Kids The Resources...And They Built A Gingerbread Jail

Last year our family began a new tradition--we let the kids build a structure made of gingerbread for Christmas and on New Years Eve, we use fireworks to blow it up.

What a blast!

Last year we had a lot of fun both in the construction and deconstruction of the edible building. So, we made plans to do it again. We bought all the construction materials--graham crackers for the walls, floors, and ceiling, chocolate snowmen, candy canes, licorice, M&Ms, Nerds, gummy bears, and a big chocolate Santa for the accents. Christmas afternoon we dumped them all on the counter and let the kids go to town.

The first thing they realized was many of the graham crackers were cracked. Any dream of a multi-storied building was dashed. But because our kids are resourceful, they quickly decided on another type of building they could build.

They chose to construct a prison.

Yeah...a prison.

I'm not sure why they came up with that, but, hey--you raise your kids then turn them loose.

They found enough undamaged pieces to build a guard tower. They also gave Santa red M&Ms for eyes and shackled him up in black licorice, to make sure he won't escape the graham prison in which he's held.

Last year, the kids built a castle. They built it so well the fireworks we used didn't do too much damage. This year's structure presents another pyrotechnical issue. Short of putting the entire thing atop some gunpowder, I don't know how much damage the gingerbread prison will sustain.

Still, we'll try. We'll learn from this year's edition, and endeavor to make next year's holiday food-building experience even better.

Gingerbread House...Try Gingerbread Castle!

Our kids have tried, over the past couple of years, to build a gingerbread house at Christmas. We normally buy one of those kits with everything included. I'm sure some kits are better than others, but the ones we got turned out to be less than stellar. 

Beginning last year, my wife suggested something new--use graham crackers in place of gingerbread. This year the kids decided to go for broke.

When it was all said and done, we got the lowdown on the structure. It's a castle, complete with a king (gingerbread man on the right--I think--with a jellybean for a crown...), and a queen (gingerbread woman on the left, also with a jellybean crown...), and all the subjects below (the line of gummy bears on the next level...).

On the back there's aquatic animal gummies complete with lobster and dolphins. It's quite a thing to see. I told the kids they'll need to up their game for next year. I suggested they make our house. We'll see what happens.

Not Gingerbread Houses...Graham Cracker Cottages

Does your family assemble gingerbread houses at Christmas? For years we've attempted to make that one of our family Christmas traditions, but it's one of those things that if we forgot about it, or missed it one year, I don't believe we'd be all too upset. At least, I'm sure I wouldn't--maybe the kids would miss it.

Personally, I don't much enjoy it because once they're done, they don't look too appetizing. I suppose when they're being built, an assembler can snack as they go. That wouldn't be too bad. But when it's a finished product, and especially if it's been sitting for any length of time, the longer it sits, the less I want to eat it, even though it's edible architecture. 

My wife came across something she thought would be fun for everyone. Instead of baking gingerbread or buying a kit, she just picked up some packages of graham crackers, some M&Ms, some gummy bears, and some homemade icing and went to town. I was doing a show so I didn't get to build with everyone else, but I did get a look at the finished products.

I thought they were adorable. My youngest explained some of the less obvious details found in the structures, like several had gummy people either building, or holding up important sections of the cottage. My daughter built a LDS temple complete with an Angel Moroni and visitors outside. My oldest built also built a cottage with a pitched roof and he even added a chimney.

Everyone agreed they had a lot of fun, which is the main point of the activity, after all. I don't know if this will become an annual event in our little cottage, but I'd like to think it will. I guess we'll find out next year.