A lasting tradition?

Last Sunday we participated in an invitation only event at the Columbia Tower...some fancy member only club in downtown Seattle (in the tallest building in the city).  Brett (and family) was invited to their annual Gingerbread House Brunch.  We went last year....the question is will we go next year?

While fun...here were the reasons we let out a sigh of relief upon exiting. 

1. It is nearly impossible to keep the candy from being consumed at a lightning fast rate, making the rest of the day a potential train wreck.
2. We don't dress our kids up fancy enough for an event like this (luckily we got Oli out of his sweat pants for the 2nd day this year...1st day in jeans EVER can be seen on our xmas card)
3. While meant to be social event for Brett's 40 Under 40 club, it is hard to socialize and participate with the kids at the same time.  Brett socialized and missed out on the kid interaction.

Step #1: Stand by gaudy xmas tree and take family photo.

Step #2: Eat the yummy brunch or as Oli did...make a smiley face out of his food. 

Pristine house just waiting to be decorated. 

It didn't take Julia but a moment to realize that she could eat all the candy.  We tried to maintain one rule, "once on the house, stays on the house".  Didn't have the foresight to realize that that rule is working wonders while now at home and staring at our gingerbread house during breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

Julia had as much fun as moving all candy from one bowl to another over and over again.  Maybe Brett is right...she has a bit of OCD in her.

Finished product....of the people sitting next to me.  Organized, cute, creative...if I had my way, our house would have those characteristics but instead I let the kids have full creative liberty.  While envious of the house next door, I was proud when I looked over and his kids had left and he was still working on his house all alone and my kids were still fully engaged making sure santa wouldn't fall off the roof. 

Our finished product, it all it's glory!

Last Step: take family photo by your gingerbread house and dart toward the exit before the sugar infused temper tantrums begin.