Pillsbury wanted to bless my little heart this year and provide my HEB with huge tubes of refrigerated gingerbread dough. Someone give Him some praise. I'm the worst baker of all time and this was even easy enough for me to use. So Jacks and I made some little gingerbread men together. Here they are, iced and ready to be sprinkled.
Oops, Mommy didn't realize that the Mister wouldn't know how to shake the bottle. He just turned it upside down over the one cookie and let the sprinkles pour out. Why I was not hovering over him at that moment baffles me. I was watching from several feet away as half the bottle landed on one little cookie. Also? Those little round ball sprinkles? They roll off the table and bounce all around the kitchen. Then they stick to your feet and travel onto other surfaces. Like rugs. Bad, bad sprinkles.
Trying to redistribute them a little.
Who needs a napkin when it comes to sprinkles and icing?
Our cookies got the Jackson Jones stamp of approval.
The fruit of our labor - gingerbread men and butterscotch haystacks.
A closer look at our cookies. Not the cutest ever, but they taste so good!
This is the lovely gingerbread house I bought in early November for Jackson and me to make together. I never could get up the nerve to attempt this project with him though. Somehow I just knew it would be too much for Pregnant Girl and Toddler Boy. So I made it by myself a couple nights ago.
Jackson was thrilled when he saw it. Although it has been torturous for him not to be able to eat the candy. Thankfully, I had enough foresight to save him a few of the gumdrops and Spree.
This is what our gingerbread house looked like when we got home from Second Baptist's "Kids' Crazy Christmas" show tonight. Hmmm, had there been a tornado in my home?
Termites maybe?
Would anyone like a naughty golden retriever for Christmas? Come on, it will get you in the mood to see "Marley and Me" on Christmas day! I knew better than to leave that tray of cookies out on the counter, so I hid it in the oven when we left. I never would have guessed that Jughead the Big Dumb White Beast would go for the house. Seriously. Who does that?
70 comments:
oh my goodness...talk about tidings of comfort and joy! thank you SO MUCH for tipping us off about the pre-made gingerbread dough. i didn't know it existed! genius!
i'll be going--no, RUNNING--to our local store tomorrow to pick some up! i've been searching for a good recipe online.
Now I remember why I haven't decorated any cookies with Jakson....
That is hilarious, Amanda! I love that last photo. Looks like you and Jackson had a great time. You are one smart mommy to skip the clothes for a decorating project like sprinkles and frosting. Kudos to you!
Seriously - You make me laugh out loud at work! My son is 14 months old this Christmas and I have started to really enjoy the traditions that have become a part of our little family. Baking day, I am going to have to add that one to the list. I love that you use the Pillsberry tubes. Blessings!
Amanda, I love reading your blog, but think this is the first time I've commented! I've been a stalker before:) I'm so glad to know there is premade gingerbread dough! I hate making it and it's my husbands fav. Don't know why I try...it's never going to be like his mom's! I also love the dog incident! Something that would have happened to me! Merry Christmas!
We're going to see Marley & Me on Christmas day! I can't WAIT!!! I read the book and loved it. The chapter "Dog Beach" nearly made me wet my pants I was laughing so hard.
Jackson's cookies are gorgeous! They look exactly like they should for an artist of his caliber.
I think Curtis did it when no one was looking!
This is the best!!
Girl I am with you on the pre-made. Leave the real thing to Melissa!! LOL
Another very entertaining and highly hilarious post! :-) We made the same gingerbread house, and it didn't turn out as cute because the kids helped...Oh, the self sacrifice that goes into parenting. (hee hee!) I have always thought it would be a good idea to have an adult only gingerbread house decorating party.
I HEAR YA LOUD & CLEAR ON THE ALL TOO OFTEN WILD & UNRULY BEHAVIOR BY OUR 4-LEGGED FAMILY MEMBERS! THEY DO ADD FUN & AFFECTION TO OUR DAYS AS WELL AS BEING APPOINTED TO US AS OUR 'PATIENT-EES' AS YOUR MOM MIGHT CALL THEM TO RAISE THE DAILY DO OR DIE BAR OF 'WALKING IN THE SPIRIT' SEVERAL NOTCHES!
I'D BE REMISS NOT TO ALSO SHARE A PEP TALK FROM MAX LUCADO'S 'UpWords' DEVOTION! WE THANK YOU GOD FOR OUR PETS WHO ARE HELPING US GROW IN GODLINESS!
Changing Our Nature
by Max Lucado, Dec. 12
My dog Molly and I aren't getting along. The problem is not her personality. A sweeter mutt you will not find. She sees every person as a friend and every day as a holiday. I have no problem with Molly's attitude. I have a problem with her habits.
Max and Molly eating scraps out of the trash. Licking dirty plates in the dishwasher. Dropping dead birds on our sidewalk and stealing bones from the neighbor's dog. Shameful! Molly rolls in the grass, chews on her paw, does her business in the wrong places, and, I'm embarrassed to admit, quenches her thirst in the toilet.
Now what kind of behavior is that?
Dog behavior, you reply. You are right. So right. Molly's problem is not a Molly problem. Molly has a dog problem. It is a dog's nature to do such things. And it is her nature that I wish to change. Not just her behavior, mind you. A canine obedience school can change what she does; I want to go deeper. I want to change who she is.
Here is my idea: a me-to-her transfusion. The deposit of a Max seed in Molly. I want to give her a kernel of human character. As it grew, would she not change? Her human nature would develop, and her dog nature would diminish. We would witness, not just a change of habits, but a change of essence. In time Molly would be less like Molly and more like me, sharing my disgust for trash snacking, potty slurping, and dish licking. She would have a new nature. Why, Denalyn might even let her eat at the table.
You think the plan is crazy? Then take it up with God. The idea is his.
What I would like to do with Molly, God does with us. He changes our nature from the inside out! "I will put a new way of thinking inside you. I will take out the stubborn hearts of stone from your bodies, and I will give you obedient hearts of flesh. I will put my Spirit inside you and help you live by my rules and carefully obey my laws" (Ezek. 36:26--27 NCV.).
God doesn't send us to obedience school to learn new habits; he sends us to the hospital to be given a new heart. Forget training; he gives transplants.
Do you understand what God has done? He has deposited a Christ seed in you. As it grows, you will change. It's not that sin has no more presence in your life, but rather that sin has no more power over your life. Temptation will pester you, but temptation will not master you. What hope this brings!
It's not up to you! Within you abides a budding power. Trust him!
"He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1:6 NIV.). God will do with you what I only dream of doing with Molly. Change you from the inside out. When he is finished, he'll even let you sit at his table.
Cast of Characters From
Next Door Savior
© (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006) Max Lucado
Looks like fun! Messy...but fun! We still need to have a baking day around here to make a few traditional favorites. (:
I have always wanted to attempt the Gingerbread house! But like you, I don't think me and the kiddos could do it without some MAJOR mess!! That is hilarious your dog got a hold of it!
This reminds me of the Christmas Eve that our chocolate lab, left on his own that night, was wooed by the plate of fudge that was stupidly left on the counter.
The plate was LICKED CLEAN and still sitting intact on the counter!
It was enough chocolate to kill the average dog, but not ol' iron gut Nick!
Well who knew about the gingerbread "tube??" Thanks. I'm not a baker either. Too much stress. What did you take before you started?? Totally kidding.
I think its all perfect. And, that hilarious Beckham is somethin' else.
Hugs,
Fran
Oh my gosh! So funny!
I miss Beckham, and his tail knocking me over.
Have you read Marley & Me? You need to.
Laughed out loud during your post--and i have a chocolate lab who would have certainly done the same thing. I've tried to raffle him off on my blog lately...the dogs were much easier to handle before kids don't you think? My dog is the highest-maintenance kid I have by a long shot!
That looks like so much fun! I can't wait to have a toddler to bake with me. I'm going solo today. :)
The gman house reminds me of that commercial where the roof on the gingerbread house gets eaten and the mom is taking a bath. Maybe Beckham could be the next star. :)
What fun memories. We were in the states last Christmas and I bought the Ginger Bread House kit for my nieces to make. They had so much fun.
I am laughing so hard at Jughead!! You crack me up! I love his smile. It reminds me of my Daisy. Maybe Daisy and Jughead can have a play date?!heehee
Jackson looks so cute w/ his sprinkles and your kitchen is so cute. :)
Merry Christmas!!
I'm glad my dog is little and can hardly reach the table. Other wise, I'd have some trouble! (He sure tries though. Poor short little guy.)
By the way, at least you actually have a toddler to blame the mess on. I am a super messy baker, and there's no kid to take the blame around here. :)
I am so glad I read this today... we are going to make our gingerbread house and my big white fluffy beast might've had some similar plans...
thanks for the warning. I had to call my 5 year old in to see the pics - he thought it was so funny!
amanda
Your cookies and haystacks look so cute and yummy!! Your gingerbread house looks (looked) :) great, too! But oh girl, I feel your pain about the gingerbread house, oh my, yes I do! The same thing happened to me last week!! I could NOT believe it. Here's a dramatic rendition of the tale: http://www.spicymagnolia.com/spicy_magnolia/2008/12/the-demise-of-the-gingerbread-house.html
Hope you have a wonderful Saturday!
I remember well the day I made myself a beautiful and delicious looking sandwich--got up to go get a napkin--got back to a completely empty plate and our chocolate lab licking his chops. They are so much fun though and they love you unconditionally. Thank you, Jesus!!! The cookies look great and the pictures are priceless!
that dog of yours! your sense of humor is humorous!
alli
The gingerbread house is perfect!
"fourth day hair" - ha! - now that i think about it, i think i'm experiencing some fourth day hair today :)
Way to go on the baking, domestic mama! I love the pic of your kitchen! And I might be making some butterscotch haystacks this year....
Sorry about your house! Ate least you got a picture of your artwork before he got to it.
And Jackson's sprinkles? Don't you know it's a kid's rule to dump so many sprinkles on a sugar cookie that you can barely taste the cookie?? HA HA He'll continue that for at least 6 more years. My daughter is 9 and she just brought home a sugar cookie for me with so much green frosting and sprinkles - it's funny!
We made the same gigerbread cookies and picked up the same gingerbread house kit at our local HEB a couple of weeks ago as well. (Don't you LOVE HEB!) My 3 year old daughter loved every minute of making both!
Loved all the pictures!! It doesn't get much more precious than that Jackson Jones. :-)
And that last picture of Beckham made me laugh out loud! Boy has no shame!
Too funny! This reminds me why we no longer have pets!
If Preston had the agility of a Golden Retriever he, too, would be all over that gingerbread house!
All I can say is, guess that's the way the cookie crumbles...
(bad pun!)
Merry Christmas!
Well, I think you could salvage your house...just put some white icing on the edge of the roof and pretend it's more snow......which here in Ontario, Canada we have an awful lot of right now! :0)
I laughed so hard when I saw that grin on his face... I love dogs!
How funny! We have a dachshund, so we are lucky in that she can not get on countertops. However, she camps out under the kids chairs (and my feet when I am cooking) to gobble up everything in sight.
Great job with everything, I need that haystack recipe again, I can not remember where you first posted it.
Have a great day!
Ha Ha Ha Ha HA!!! Beckham...tsk...tsk.
Ha Ha Ha Ha HA!!!
Enjoy your wonderful family, Amanda. I daresay you aren't listneing to this, but I know you are beautiful with four day old hair. You just are!
You can tell Jackson is THOUROUGHLY enjoying the cookies. And, a lot of sprinkles don't hurt, do they? Just makes that cookie unique!
Looks like a fun day. Hopefully your house smelled good, too, after all the baking!
Beckham loved it!
I'm so buying the gingerbread mix.
And I haven't attempted any cookie decorating or gingerbread houses with the boys, maybe next week! I do want some iced cookies.
Oh wow! The work of Beckham the wonder dog looks as good as a Mildred and Gertrude gingerbread house.
I am coveting a haystack. Those are so good. I might have to break down and make some.
LOL!!! The picture of your mischievious pup smiling is too funny!!! I'm laughing my head off over here! Such a great picture. Thanks for sharing. BTW, you did a great job with the gingerbread house -- very pretty -- too pretty to eat (too bad your pup didn't think so)!
I am so sorry about your gb house but man, it gave us a good laugh : ) I hope y'all are able to enjoy the rest of it before the pesky dog gets to it.
I love your post! What an amazing gingerbread house. Mine are always really crooked. The dog at the end cracked me up! Merry Christmas!
yeah for the Kids Crazy Christmas show! It's amazing, isn't it?!? We're going tonight...sweet Carson is making his debut as baby Jesus in the show! That scary part?? Chris and I have to be Mary and Joseph - yikes!
Beckham is cracking my up. Even his grin looks guilty. I bought a Gingerbread house to make with Tobey and we have yet to attempt it. It is sitting on top of the fridge and he points to it everyday.
Youre gingerbread house is still beautiful even after bekham did a little landscaping! I love that picture of him at the end. I think I need to make it my screensaver...it would give me a good laugh every day.
You make me laugh...
i love it.
Beckam's face was just priceless.
btw. we have the same slate floors.
Hahahaha ~~ that dog knew where the good stuff was!!! So funny. Wish I could say a dog ate mine and Dakota's chimney, but no it was us. He just had to try it (oh yeah he's 16) too funny.
Have a Blessed Lord's day,
Dawn
The tubs of gingerbread blessed my heart as well... we usually make the cookies together at school, but this year I was too busy and tired to make gingerbread with a class of 22 4 year olds and just lil ol' me. We tubbed it as well.
"Jughead the Big Dumb White Beast" seriously caused an OUTLOUD laugh! Not to mention THE priceless picture of The Jughead!
I had to come back and tell you that Erin just walked in the room and I showed him this post. He died laughing over Jughead too!
Another fun post, but I have to confess that the thing I noticed the most is how clean and white your dog's teeth are! We have a golden too, and her teeth are not like that.
I'm glad you are having such a wonderful Christmas season, despite the tornado that hit the gingerbread house.
Okay, so my brother and sisters and I attempted a gingerbread VILLAGE (4 houses and a tree) today with 6 little kids. Um, your post-dog house looks better than any of ours. Was yours pre-assembled? I will never buy one in 6 pieces again.
We DID have fun though. :)
I smiled out loud at the end of that post! HYSTERICAL.
Our sweet golden did the same thing to us one night when I was cooking dinner for company... I'd left 6 raw chicken breasts in a plate on the counter (to go answer the phone) and when I came back they were GONE.
My puppy friend stayed outside for several hours after that -- I was very afraid of what might come out of either end after eating it all!
Btw, LOOOOVE kid sprinkles!
At our house on Christmas Eve they're enough to put Santa in a diabetic coma.
(note: another way the golden child --aka the golden retriever-- helped out in the kitchen. Sprinkle recovery off the floor)
Oh my gosh, i just can't help but laugh my tail off at that crazy dog grin. She knows she did wrong, but look at that face!!!! I can't believe she cleared that entire tray of all the candy and part of the roof... sheesh!!
Aren't you glad you got pics of it intact?
Cute blog today girl!!!
Groove
This post made me laugh! My kitchen looked similar (except I love your tile) when we made homemade clay/ornaments last week. I was on the phone with my mom who said...do you have anything to decorate them with....like glitter and stuff? No, mom I don't happen to have any glitter on hand at the moment...and don't even think about bringing some over! lol With little girls I have leaned to step away from the glitter or you'll be finding it in the strangest places 6 months later. Glad you took pics...it didn't cross my mind when my kitchen was covered in flour.
Baking can be so wonderful and so stressful all at the same time. My biggest challenge is trying to stay happy and joyful from beginning to end, so that the kids will have warm memories in their heart from the tradition.
As for the ginger bread house-at least you have a great story to tell.
Oh my goodness...I just laughed out loud at that last picture! Beckham looks like he is smiling after eating the gingerbread house! Ha ha ha...
I have to say that it looked great though before he got it! And what fun Jackson had with the cookies..And I can amen you about those rolly polly sprinkles!
LOL I love the dog story. I am going to see Marley and Me, but it may be after Christmas as I am having surgery on December 23. :o) So, it is on my list to see! :o) I love the cookie memories as well! Hugs and Merry Christmas!!
It looks like you guys had a great time! My secret to the sprinkling is to do it at Nana's house so the sprinkles are all over HER floor ;) I read this post http://www.challies.com/archives/articles/quotes/things-vaguely-comprehended.php
at Tim Challies' blog today. I thought all of it was interesting but when I red teh last paragraph I totally thought of you, your gingerbread house and the pooch! Might explain a lot! Merry Christmas!
Jackson is just adorable, but I got to say that is one of the best smiling dog pics I have ever seen :)
Merry Christmas!!!
I love the picture of Beckham. I can almost hear his doggy thoughts and he seems to have such pride in himself.
Good think you got a picture of the house before he demolished it!
I have made several batches of Butterscotch Haystacks this year and I have been blessed! Everyone LOVES them! I was especially excited when I brought them to my parent's house and my mom told me my grandma used to make them and she had not had one in years. I think it brought back a sweet memory during a time when we miss her the most!
Amanda,
Speaking of not hovering - I left my 3-year old alone with scissors (kid ones) on Friday morning. She had ribbon and wanted to cut some like mommy. Fine - she can handles that. I came back a few minutes later and she had cut ALL her hair on both sides of her head! Cute little bob - GONE! Boy hair cut! It looks so bad. All I could do was walk away in tears. Everywhere I go, I feel like I need to put a sign around her neck that says "I cut my own hair." My older girls never did that and it didn't even cross my mind that she was give herself a haircut!
Cute cookies and house. Did the dog seriously smile like that himself?
Kris
You make me laugh Little Momma:), A for effort on the house even though it got eaten!:) The gingerbread men looked like fun, and the bad sprinkles crack me up! I'm sure fourth day hair with your family genetics is not so bad, homeless, you make me laugh:)
Love in CHRIST,
katiegfromtennessee
What a great post! I cannot believe you captured such a wacked out picture of your Jughead... loved it!
How fun is baking day! And all the better with premade dough!
Brooke did the same thing with the sprinkles. We even had a bottle that didn't have the "filter" on the top, so that lead to even more sprinkles on the floor.
That is too funny about the dog...ours never ceases to amaze me either.
Merry Christmas, friend!
That is so funny! That last picture of him "smiling" is too cute. Good job on the gingerbread house...I am impressed!
Awesome! Your cookies are great! And, the gingerbread house was adorable before it was eaten by Beckham. So funny!!
Oh, how funny! You poor thing. After all that work only to have a pooch nibble on your gingerbread house. Can't serve that to anyone or display it for it's beauty :( Good thing you took pictures before the demolition. It really was cute. You did a good job. I've never attempted to make one.
My granddaughter sprinkles cookies just like Jackson:)
Merry Christmas!
HAHAHA!!! Jackson looks so cute with those cookies!! You are such a good mom to let him do that. I kind of started hyperventalating imagining Ella with a bottle of sprinkles. :-)
And your ginger bread house turned out GREAT!
Love the pics especially the one of Beckham - LOL about the gingerbread house :)
Have a wonderful Christmas full of God's love, joy, peace and blessings
Kim
that is the best picture of a dog i've ever seen. ever.
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