Yum.  Isn't that a cute house?  And isn't he adorable?  He looks so proud.  My grrs made those milk carton-based houses in kindergarten, but by the time they made it home, they were too hard and icky to eat.

One year when the kids were young, I bought a gingerbread house kit at the corner bakery.  We were spending Christmas Eve at Grandma's and I knew the kids would be bored out of their gourds, at least until it was time to open presents -- and that I'd answer the question about when we'd open presents about 10,000 an hour unless they had something to do.  I brought the kit, a container of frosting, a large tray, and lots of candy trims.  We "built" the house and the kids and their cousins decorated it while grown-ups watched football, prepared the meal, and gabbed.  After dinner, the house was gobbled up for dessert, along with pie.  It was great way to occupy the kids and an activity I recommend highly for such gatherings.

We attended Aison's final high school Christmas concert last night.  The production on the whole was not as smooth as usual, but the kids were amazing.  It's the first time I recall a standing ovation.  Ai performed with the concert choir as well as a madrigal (participation in that last one was especially for me, she said).  The finale was "Oh Holy Night" with all the choirs -- the concert choir and a few others on stage, and the mixed and freshman choruses around the perimeter of the auditorium. Beautiful!  I had tears in my eyes.

I giggled to myself earlier, as they sang part of "Bring A Torch Jeanette Isabella" in a medley.  My twin sisters sang that song in a fourth grade Christmas concert and I'll bet they both still know the words.  I know they both still know the words!!  We all still know the words of the school song from that grade school, too!