A Gingerbread Lesson...by Kate

 This past weekend, Kate and I bought a gingerbread house kit at Target to attempt.  It was tough to let go of my desire to make it symmetrical and "nice" and let Kate do most of the decorating.  After one wall collapsed, I was ready to quit.  Especially since the roof fell in and we were almost out of the icing that put it all together, but Kate really wanted to make it and in the end, why not?  So, my kid taught me a great lesson and we now have a gingerbread house that she thinks is the most beautiful house created and it makes my heart smile to hear her say (repeatedly), "Mama, we did a great job.  Thank you."  Yes, my sweets, we did. 

Martha the fish is now residing on the island because her bay window view is too cold.  We put the house next to her to dry and she really likes it, too!

By the way, today would have been my (great) aunt Betty's 90th birthday.  Always a tough day/time because Christmas was my aunt Betty.  Good thing my kid loves Christmas and will keep it alive.  She loves looking at the ornaments and hearing the stories of each one; lucky for me that most were my aunt Betty's and so I can think of her with each story.