One of our absolutely favorite Christmas traditions is the decorating of our annual gingerbread house! For more years than we can count at this point, the ever-generous and thoughtful Kearneys in WV have sent us a home-made gingerbread kit, complete with freshly-baked gingerbread pieces, icing mix, and all the candies we need to decorate our house (and a few extras to snack on while we're decorating!). As you will see from our kids faces, they are SO excited to receive the gingerbread house each year.... I sometimes think they spend more time looking out the front window for the mailman carrying their gingerbread box than they spend looking up the chimney for Santa!This year, our assigned responsibilities were:
Tim: General Contractor. In charge of construction. including both the building facility itself, as well as exterior sidewalks.
Kara: Family Photographer. In charge of photographing construction, and also making icicles that hang off the roof.
Christopher and John: Each was given his own side of the roof to decorate as he pleased.
Anna: Anna's self-proclaimed job was to lick the candy before we put it on the house. Ick.
So I present to you now...
HOW TO BUILD A GINGERBREAD HOUSE
by the Family Barnette
Step 1. Receive box. Open it.
2. Take out all the pieces and assort.
3. Construct the house using royal icing that Mommy made. PERFECT consistency this year: just the right ratio of icing mix to water. 
4. Begin decorating!!!
Below is shown Christopher's side of the gingerbread house. Being an exceptionally "organized" child, Christopher chose to go with the "less is more" philosophy of embelishment. He said, "Rows and columns, Mom. Rows and columns."
THANK YOU KEARNEYS!!!!!!!
4. Begin decorating!!!
Below is shown Christopher's side of the gingerbread house. Being an exceptionally "organized" child, Christopher chose to go with the "less is more" philosophy of embelishment. He said, "Rows and columns, Mom. Rows and columns."John's side is shown at the top of the page.
THANK YOU KEARNEYS!!!!!!!