Yesterday morning I made my usual trek to Kelly’s Bakery for coffee and a cinnamon roll. The trip was extra special because my sister-in-law Mary and our girls, Laura and Hannah, joined the breakfast party.

While we were there, we saw a notice that Kelly’s would be hosting a gingerbread-house-building party that very evening! It only cost $7 per house, which seemed very reasonable to me! If I were to try to make gingerbread houses myself, I would have to mix up the cookie dough, cut out the right shapes, make the icing, buy many different bags of candy, and then create all the mess of assembling the houses and THEN actually think about cleaning up after the project was over. Whew! The very thought makes me quake in my culinary boots.

After getting part-way through our day, I realized it would probably work out to take the children, so I called and made reservations for our party of five: Laura, Isaac, Luke, Amelia, and Hannah.

What fun we had! Kelly had thought of everything! The gingerbread was sturdy, there was plenty of icing, there was a dish of mixed candy for each creator, a cup of graham cereal “roof tiles”, and even a little dish of coconut for the “snow”.

We spent two hours there and the children worked so diligently on their houses. I loved watching them build and create and interact.

Our adventure was worth every penny. Actually, it was worth twice the price. Now that I’ve made gingerbread houses at Kelly’s, I know without a doubt I’ll never make them in my own house.

P.S. Would you like to see a photo album of our adventure? Check out my gallery!