A very imperfect Christmas

[tayana]

I was piping icing for M's gingerbread house and thinking, "My mom would be irritated over how childish it looks."  She'd always been going to make one of these with him, but never did.  I've never done it before either.  So here are some photos, sans roof, of the very imperfect gingerbread house and our equally imperfect Christmas tree.

I wasn't sure how to put the pics in the post, so here's a link.

http://tayana.blogspot.com/2007/12/few-christmas-pics.html

[tayana]

And one more, this is our dog and rat.

http://tayana.blogspot.com/2007/12/hammy-and-dunken.html

[lighter]

I'm doing a gingerbread project at my youngest dd's school on Friday.  Little baby milk cartons covered in graham crackers, dont'cha know, lol?

Last year.... I went to my the 6yo's school to work on larger milk cartons covered in graham crackers.

It was interesting to see the parents take over basically, come up with what you would consider 'perfect' gingerbread houses.'

There was one perfect wife on display, some perfect pec muscles (not on display) lots of perfectly dressed children.....

 covered in icing.

My daughter had a LOT of fun... I do know that.   

She'd met her own personal goal, you see... to get ALL THE CANDY ALLOTTED TO HER ON THE HOUSE.

Looked to both of us that she'd WON.  ::nodding::  Her effort's photo was NOT represented in the schools yearbook, lol.

This year, as last year, my job is to hand my child whatever she asks for, (sous chef to her CHEF) make suggestions for sticking it ON in a sturdy fashion then praise her creativity....

I though M's house looked absolutely perfect, btw. 

[gratitude28]

I am not a rat fan (I've got the rats without tails lol), but I have to say he is adorable. Is he still a baby? Your dog is gorgeous. Is he a Boston Terrier? How sweet.
As for the gingerbread house... It's not what it looks like, it's the act of doing it togehter. Just have fun with it. We made Frankenhouses last year, but it was so much fun.
Love, Beth

[seasons]

Thanks for sharing the real beauty of christmas.
((( tayana and Michael )))



seasons

[tayana]

Lighter, in the past my mother always intervened so that things looked perfect and they weren't a "waste of money."  The gingerbread kit was $8.  I had to buy more icing because we didn't have enough, and I had so much fun last night trying to get the thing together.  He's had a lot of fund making it, even if it doesn't look like the picture on the box.

Beth, the rat is actually a dwarf hamster, and she's just about full grown.  She might get a little bigger, but  not much.  The dog is a Boston.  We call him brat dog.

Here's a couple more pics:

http://tayana.blogspot.com/2007/12/more-pictures.html

That's from our trip to the lake where both dog and kid had to come home and be de-mudded.  My mother would have been horrified. 

[teartracks]

tayana,

The photos are precious.  Did you read my post about our first Christmas tree?  Your son's eyes are probably popping the way mine did when my mom put up that tree.  Giving love and making good memories...it doesn't get much better than that. 

tt

[tayana]

TT, he picked out and put up the tree by himself mostly.  It's the first time he's ever gotten to do most of the decorating himself.  I remember last year at Christmas I'd bought this snowflake garland, and I was trying to get it on the tree (my parents have a 7 foot tree).  My mom was criticizing the way the garland looked while I was trying to get it on.  I got mad and yanked it all off, and then she said, "Is that any way to act?"  Then she stormed off.

Putting up the tree this year was very different.  Very peaceful.  No fights.  No "Oh you need more stuff here."  No, it doesn't have a lot of ornaments, but it looks fine.  I'm afraid the picture doesn't capture the "glow" from the lights though.  I kept trying to get that, and it didn't work.

[teartracks]

t,

I'm happy for you.  The tree is beautiful.  Your son did a great job.  The gingerbread house is darling.

tt

[tayana]

I'm going to attempt to put the roof on it tonight.  Last night putting the sides together I had icing on me, on the table, on the fruit bowl in the middle of the table, on the gingerbread, etc.

It was a mess.

I like our sad little tree (we call it that), and I'm actually looking forward to a holiday.  This will be the first year M gets to open his Christmas presents as soon as he gets up, in his pajamas, without looking nice for the camera.  We're going to open presents as soon as he's up.  Even if that's at 3 am.  Of course, I might have only been in bed for an hour, but we're going to do it.

[lighter]

Christmas morning at your house sounds very relaxed, warm and enjoyable, Tay. 

Enjoy this first Christmas in your new home..... on to better days for you and M.

[Hopalong]

That is just about the most wonderful gingerbread house I've ever laid eyes on.

 


((((((((((((((((((((Tay and Michael)))))))))))))))))))))

Hops

[tayana]

Hee, hee, Hops.  It is pretty cute.  I'm going to put the roof on tonight.  Wonder how much of a mess that'll be?   

[JanetLG]

Tayana,

The gingerbread house is perfect, the tree is perfect, M is perfect, and your pets are perfect...because they're YOURS.  You can appreciate them, just as they are (without your mother's interference).

Janet

[lighter]

I didn't see the tree when I peeked at the G house.

I gotta tell ya.... my heart about stopped.

It looks a lot like the trees I had as a happy child.... blue ornaments and all: )