This Is the House that Jack Ate

Building gingerbread houses is a long-standing tradition in our family. Each child gets to make his or her own house, and their personalities come shining through in the finished product every time.

Chloé's house looks exactly like the one in the demo picture, meticulously completed, as though a hundred tiny elves used laser levels to apply the frosting and nonpareils to her exacting standards.

Claire's end product shows an attempt to follow the directions which quickly gives way to creative impulses driven by a predictable onslaught of impatience. Cute and quirky.

Wynham's architectural approach leans toward Bauhaus as he, using the same cutout pieces as everyone else, creates a two-story townhouse complete with a triangular atrium entryway and a gingerbread man (the Gingerbread Man?!?) sunning himself in the rooftop garden.

Jack is willfully unclear on the subject. Why would anyone fiddle around on a plate for so long with something that tastes so good and was obviously meant to be eaten? I love the holidays, but not nearly as much as I love my kids... Merry Christmas!