Decorate a Gingerbread House and Tree - Countdown to Christmas - Day 9

On the ninth day of our Countdown to Christmas, Sophia and Olivia had classes and lessons at the homeschool co-op for most of the day. When they came home in the afternoon, we did the following:

Activities

Sophia's completed gingerbread house.

Sophia decorated a gingerbread house and Olivia built and decorated a gingerbread tree.

Olivia's completed gingerbread tree.

This is something they have been looking forward to doing since the first of December.

Olivia putting frosting on one of the star cookies.

Each year the girls decorate the same item: Sophia always does a house and Olivia always does a tree.

Sophia decorating a gingerbread house.

They are now able to do the decorating on their own.

Olivia eating some frosting and sprinkles.

The girls spent quite a bit of time this year decorating the house and tree.

Sophia carefully applying the frosting and decorations 

to the side of the house.

They were both very happy with how their creations turned out.

Olivia with her decorated gingerbread tree by the Christmas tree.

Olivia finished decorating her tree before Sophia finished the house. That was fine...Sophia was content adding lots of detail to her house this year.

Adding candy decorations to one side of the house.

This year, Sophia also had a couple of gingerbread people and a small tree to decorate.

One side of the finished gingerbread house.

We've tried the gingerbread houses where there are all the pieces for it and we assemble it with frosting. That doesn't work out too well for us.

The other side of the gingerbread house.

The kits that have the items already built seem to be the best. Although the gingerbread trees don't come assembled, they only involve stacking which is easy. House assembly, on the other hand, was frustrating when the frosting didn't hold the sides together.

Close-up of the roof of Sophia's gingerbread house.

While we were in the living room, we turned around to see that Cooper had climbed on the chair and was eating the sprinkles and other candy treats off the table. Just what he needs: more sugar and energy.

Cooper doing something he shouldn't be doing.

We put the gingerbread tree and house where we knew it would be safe: behind the child gate...out of reach of Cooper and Montague.

Sophia holding her decorated gingerbread house.

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Advent Reading

Luke 1:30-33 - She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.

"He will be great, be called ‘Son of the Highest.’ The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; He will rule Jacob’s house forever — no end, ever, to his kingdom.”

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Christmas Joke

What do sheep say to each other at Christmas time?

A hand-embroidered sheep I made.

(Merry Christmas to ewe!)

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Christmas Fact

We learned about mistletoe:

The Scandinavians thought of mistletoe as a peaceful and harmonious plant. They linked Frigg, their goddess of love, with mistletoe.

The combination of these two schools of thought brought about the custom of kissing under the mistletoe. Those who kissed beneath the mistletoe were thought to have happiness and good luck the next year.