I want to wish everyone a very merry Christmas, or Happy Hanukkuh if that’s the case. Regardless of our political, religious, or personal convictions and beliefs, there is no debating what Christmas is all about. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Only over the past couple hundred years did we add in the Santa equation. There’s a saying that’s largely attributed to the Christian belief system, “Jesus is the reason for the season” Perhaps you’ve seen that around in print or heard it on the radio. The great thing about Christmas is that the saying isn’t subjective. It isn’t opinion. There is only one real, historical reason for the season, regardless of your religious beliefs. This Christmas I hope you enjoy your time with friends and family, and indeed remember the reason for this season.
Now, onto my bragging about my gingerbread house. Look at it. Gaze at it, but don’t look too closely or your retinas may burn (it happens). Take off your hat and bow your head to it. It’s quite a creation, don’t you think? So I got a little sloppy with the frosting, and my kids got a little candy happy while sticking the decorations on. It’s still pretty special.
This is the second year in a row that I’ve made a gingerbread house of epic proportions with my kids. Trust me, it’s more impressive in person. Actually, the picture makes it look kind of sad. Anyway, my mother in law used to come over and make one of those gingerbread house in a box things. Lame. I wanted to do better. Make it bigger. Add some eyebrow windows and flower boxes. Eyebrow windows. Shingle the roof. It all started on a Sunday morning a few weeks ago, and I had the entire structure built a mere 9 hours later. It weighs 16 pounds. The ingredients cost me $63. It’s two feet long and nearly 18 inches tall. Made entirely from scratch, made from only edible ingredients. No structural components other than home made gingerbread sheets, and home made royal icing. The shingles are small pieces of gingerbread that I cut with a utility knife. Merry Christmas, from the father of the year.