Annual Gingerbread House Championships of the World!

Hi everyone! I apologize for yet another late posting. Not like I need to update every second, but still. Hubby and I were just reeling from the semester, and we are finally starting to find a rhythm again. (BTW- I got 4th in the spelling bee when I was a kid because of "rhythm" grrrr) Aaron graduated college, and to top it off, got a 4.0 this last semester! I am so proud of him! He pulled several all-nighters and worked his tush. I also MIRACULOUSLY got a 4.0 this semester. My first one! So Aaron is now working for Apple, and I have been at home selling things on Craigslist. It is practically my job at the moment!

That's all for another post though, because we had our annual Gingerbread House Championships of the World at my mom's house about a week before Christmas. Guests and partners were as follows: Diann and Annie; Major and Barbie; Marcia and Kristina; Pat and Aaron; Andre' and Jack; Nick and Sarah (Me). We had to come up with a theme and represent it with our houses. We had an hour and a half to complete and could only use the candy available and what came in our boxes of gingerbread makings. The teams put their heads together, in quiet whispers and darting eyes, and the gun went off!

Annie and Diann raced and grabbed all of the marshmallows!

Kristina and Marcia grabbed the gummy bears and Neccos!

Barbie and Major grabbed, well, everything!

Aaron and Pat grabbed the coconut, Nilla wafers, and a beer!

Nick and I grabbed the Hershey's bars and Big Marshmallows!!

Jack and Andre sat talking!

We competed for a strenuous hour and a half. No one could tell what the other theme was. There was icing and coconut and candy and sick bellies (from snacking on said candy)! It was brutal! The timer went off, and the themes were.....

The Hospital!!! (Made by Sydney's two grandma's, Annie and Diann)

Details: a "welcome Sydney" sign, Sarah pregnant with baby waiting for Aaron to arrive at the hospital, and a custom helicopter. *Special props to Annie and Diann for not only participating in the competition, but making ALL of the icing for construction during the competition.*

The Wizard of OZ! (Made by Kristina and Marcia)

Details: perfectly hatched roof, munchkins, the wicked witch under the house with the red shoes, and a yellow brick road.

A Castle Under Siege! (Made by Barbie and Major)

Details: a drawbridge, two lookout towers, a shot-in-the-face-with-a-pretzel-arrow gummy bear, jousters, and a bleeding out warrior.

A Brewery! (Made by Pat and Aaron)

Details: "inflatable" beer sign, keg, barrels of hops and other miscellaneous machinery, roof sign, and bundles and bundles of ready-to-ship bottled beer.

The White House! (Made by Nick and Yours Truly)

Details: signature marshmallow pillars, fountain, oval office, and an american flag.

Giza! (Made by Andre' and Jack)

Details: Custom crafted Sphynx, two pyramids (possibly with tombs inside :O ), and a true to life mirage of a palm tree.

Last year's winners were Jack and Barbie.

And this year's award goes to......

The Brewery!!!

Congratulations Pat and Aaron on successfully replicating the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.

I hope you enjoyed our competition. I can't wait for next year's........