the one about our gingerbread house fiasco

We had a terrible gingerbread house tragedy this year. About a week before Christmas, Quayd was invited to go with Brayden and Brennen to make gingerbread houses at their grandma ReAnn's house. I had to buy him a kit and a few other things. Quayd LOVES ReAnn. She is kind of his adopted grandma. He was so excited to be invited. ReAnn picked him up after school and he was still gone when Brett and I got home from work that evening. We decided to take advantage and do a little Christmas shopping. We took Brett's car, so mine was in the driveway. When Quayd came home, he saw my car and thought I must be home, so he came home with his project that he worked so hard on. He got scared that nobody was home and somehow, he dropped his gingerbread house and, you guessed it... it shattered. He ran to my brothers house crying and Uncle Brandon settled him down, then brought him back to clean it up. Shortly after that, we got a phone call learning all about the terrible event. Quayd was seriously devastated! It broke our hearts, so we bought another kit, and hurried home to help him make another. (Not without stopping at Cafe Rio first!) I needed to hide some stuff and wrap some other stuff, so I couldn't help. Darn. ;) Anyway, dear old dad stepped in and saved the day. They did a great job, and with no help from control-freak OCD mom!!! I guess I will let them do it alone from now on!!!

the one about our gingerbread house

Brett was in SLC for some work training for a couple of days, until tonight. Well, last night, Gleneita stopped in to say hi to Quayd and I. I was just throwing some dinner together so we invited her to stay and eat. We had one of our favorites, which is one of her favorites, too. Macaroni and tomato juice. Weird, I know. It is one of the wierd things that Quayd and I love to have when Brett is gone. Brett is super picky and very difficult to feed. Anyway, Gleneita was thrilled. Then we got talking about cookies, and I told her about one of my VERY FAVORITE cookies ever. They have peanut butter in them, and Brett despises peanut butter, so it is another one that Quayd and I love when Brett is gone. Gleneita thought they sounded good, I had the stuff to make them, so we just made a batch. Then we ate a good share of them while visiting and laughing! I had also promised Quayd we would make a gingerbread house. I bought one of those kits from Wal-Mart because he had wanted one so badly. If you know Gleneita, you know that she is not very crafty. Bless her heart! (you can say anything about anybody as long as you end it with, "Bless her heart.") Anyway, we talked her into staying and helping us. We seriously had so much fun. Us girls had no patience for the dang thing, so when I was trying to hold it together and she was trying to spread royal icing, she suggested a glue gun. WHO KNEW?!?!?!? Guess what? It totally worked. We knew we weren't going to eat the nasty thing anyway, so why not!?!?! It was funny. I broke out the glue gun and we got all of the walls together, then turned Quayd loose on the decorating. He did great, I think. He wanted a "Q" for Quayd on one roof panel and a "C" for Christmas on the other. Then he loaded it up with all sorts of candies. It was probably a "had to be there" evening, but it was such a blast. I love my mother-in-law so much. I know it sounds weird, and I am not even sucking up thinking she might read this. Trust me, she couldn't find this thing on the internet if you paid her!!! she is not very computer savy. But seriously, I love her to death. I am so happy when she just pops in. She is great!

Here are a few pictures of our fun adventure!




Oh, and since I brought it up, here is the recipe for the best cookies EVER!!!! And don't try to make them for Christmas, because I already am. Ne Ner Ne Ner. And look, they are even cute!
Chocolate Kiss Peanut Blossoms

sift together:
1 3/4 cup flour 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp. baking soda
cream together:
1/2 c shortening 1/2 c peanut butter
mix both together, and gradually add:
1/2 c sugar 1/2 c packed brown sugar
creaming well, add:
1 unbeaten egg 2 tbsp. milk 1 tsp vanilla

beat everything well. shape into round balls and roll in sugar. place on baking sheet and bake at 375* for 8 minutes. remove from oven and place an unwrapped Hershey's Kiss in the center. press gently.

Seriously these rock! be sure to let them cool well before stacking them, because even thought you don't bake the kiss, it gets crazy hot and takes a long time to cool completely. but they sure are good to eat when they aren't totally cooled!!! let me know if you try it and what you think.