Thanks you everyone. I am so glad we started that tradition. Its the best! We do have oodles of fun.

Molly- I ate mine that day and the next and all the candy was eaten except the candy canes. Boring. I am a true chocolate lover. And I love gumdrops! Dean hot glued his all on so I can't eat his. :(

Since I am feeling a little bit at a loss this year, I wanted to make a fun little tree. I wanted some sparkle and some boingy things. I was going to do red and green, but I knocked out the green things because it blended with the tree. Easy return! :) These are not arranged in the least on the tree I just brought them home and put them in the tree to see if there was possibilities and I think it will make me happy. Do I need wider ribbon? Do I need pom-pom yarn ball garland? Too much? I wanted polka dot balls and striped ribbon to add some funk!

Fun and festive, Parker! I love it! You are so creative!

Parker you are amazing🤗 I am totally stealing the gingerbread house idea once my grandkids are old enough…such a fun time for all!….and the memories are priceless! Parker I know this past year has been a struggle with lots of changes in your life..know I am always thinking of you❤️ I love the all red tree..it is full of love🎄🥰

Parker such a fun red tree. I love how our decor can help us to feel better when we are a bit down. Holding you in the light.

Thanks ladies- dsimber, Cubby, and Julie!❤️ the tree is not done at all- just buying stuff to see what works. The great thing about a pencil tree I don’t have to buy lots of stuff - but it still adds up. 🤪 I know now that I want stripes and polka dots in red and white and boings!🥰

Wider ribbon? Pom poms?

Those Gingerbread houses are amazing. Well done and the fun just jumps off the table!! I think you can’t overdo a Christmas tree so go for it. Love that striped red and white ribbon. I would add some textured ribbon like red velvet maybe 1-1/2” wide. It will be a favorite!!

Hi Parker:) I enjoy your annual family gingerbread house tradition! All of you are so creative. I will also steal this tradition when I have grandchildren:)

Tree looks like fun…go for it! Playtime…❤️🌹👠🧣🐞

I also love the gingerbread tradition!
I never made one my whole life until I had kids. Late in life at that!
We just do some gross pre boxed ones but the girls don’t care. They still have fun. But I’d love to have a little party for them like Parker’s style!

Who makes the gingerbread Parker?

I made them with my niece and nephew when they were young. They were from a box kit. They fell apart immediately! But we had fun anyway.

My grandkids do them from the box set pre-made . The Word on the street from my daughter-in-law is doing it from scratch is a real pain.

Back in 2022 I made the gingerbread houses out of graham crackers. I dreaded the day that I had to put them together cause they often would collapse or I would just break the crackers trying to cut them into triangles, but I did it and they never fell apart when we did the actual decorating. Whew!. I did the royal icing frosting to hold them together. Last year my daughter bought the kits and I was in heaven. So much easier and she did that again this year too. She buys them on clearance for the next year ahead- so this year they were three dollars apiece so it saves me that stress. And it gives us more room to decorate. Graham cracker houses are quite small.

This year I used hot glue and that was the best thing ever!
Below shows graham cracker houses. Still cute. 🥰

edited

Good tips, Parker! Fancy houses, even when small. (referring to the photo) Decorating the lot (yard) was a great idea to make room for added creativity. How old were your grandchildren when you started this tradition? When YS was 5 or 6, he made the graham cracker kind glued onto a milk carton at school. It didn't look like much, but he had fun. My granddaughter and I made and decorated gingerbread "men" when she was 7, and she loved every step. I don't know why we didn't do it again, as she loved to bake. I wonder if she would still enjoy it at 20?!

I do cookies with my grand daughter every year. I usually do them the last day of school before her Christmas break. She gets out at noon, and parents work til 5. It’s a nice way to spend the afternoon.

Merry Christmas to all!🎄⛄️🎄

Merry Christmas Parker!

Hoping you all had a wonderful Christmas, Parker! 🎄❤️

Merry Christmas to you Parker… Nice to see you dropping in on my thread occasionally. I’m not always great at mentioning people by name… But I do notice you! We had a white Christmas for the first time in about a decade. And thank you very much Santa, but you can keep snow to yourself for the rest of the winter… Ho ho ho.

Lia yet another Christmas card image you have there! We are just more more and more rain, but will get out today :).

Hi Parker 😊Haven’t heard from you in awhile … hoping all is well.

Hello Parker!

👋 thinking of you!😘

Missed you Parker!

Missing you. I think of you and your DH often. Sending love and prayers. ❤️

Good morning how’s friends! I’m in need for a little fun! I I went to HomeGoods – surprise surprise – and I saw these cute plates there. I thought maybe they would look cute in the plate holder for a centerpiece for Christmas. I already have some black and white in my kitchen in the black and white rug, and the McKenzie child’s teapot and salt and pepper shakers. What can I do with my kitchen? I had an extra wreath for my living room that was red and black so I put that on the wall and took out my picture, but I’m willing to do anything. I’m just posting a couple pictures for inspiration to see.
Thank you! Missed you all!

Here’s a close-up of the plates. I haven’t put my black checked ribbon on the topiaries by the sink yet and I could do that?

I didn't realize it was you Parker cuz your title is wrong I love those plates they would look good on your countertop

Parker! 🥰 I have missed you! love the black and white plates!i love adding pomegranates in a bowl or on a plate and you could replace th pe art just for the Holidays with Christmas themed art…it already looks super cute!

I’m not sure what you’re going for Julie? Pomegranates on counter in a bowl?
Can I use the wreath instead of a piece of art? Or were you saying the art on my shelf to buy a little Christmas picture?

Missed the place plate of pomegranates in picture

The plates are really charming! What room are you thinking of using them in? I think they look good on the table.

Really nice with the pomegranates! The wreath looks good on that wall I would find something else for the kitchen.

The black checked ribbon and then what are your other options for the kitchen? The plates would look good in there too but I like them in the dining room.

Here’s the the dining room. I still have to do the tree in the corner. I have to put in that striped ribbon and boungy things and some polkadot and striped balls, etc..

I put the original picture back up in the kitchen and I think it looks better. At least it has the black frame to pick up on what I’m doing. Does a toy work on the shelf? The pillow on the chair?

Parker, it is wonderful to see you here! Your changes always have a lot of charm. 🥰 (I've not yet begun. 🥴)

Good to see you, Parker! Your home is charming as ever!

I love the giant Santa picture in the dining room. How fun!

Parker, hi! I like the plates on the kitchen table-what if you just put a few pomegranates on one of the plates for a bit of red. Dining room looks great as is!

Whoops… that round table is in the kitchen! I thought that was the dining room. 🤦‍♀️ I’d forgotten you have the long table in the dining room.

Agree with KC… Plates on the round table. Wherever it happens to be located…

Did my fun little tree today. See above. My name shows again instead of numbers! .

Looks very festive! I love the use of the red and white stripes.

Your choices always read "happy" and "fun," Parker. Your grandchildren must love it. Will you be making your gingerbread houses soon?

We are making them next Saturday! Then after we make them, we are going to Pets Smart where we have appointments to get pictures with Santa. How fun is that?!

Parker-happy to see your place “decked” out for Christmas. Everything looks super fun and cute! Love your “fun tree”!

Hi Flo!! So good to be back! I always need help!! In more ways than one!

So so I, Parker! How kind does it take to make the gingerbread houses? I’d love to start that tradition this year, but older granddaughter will only be here for a few hours. Maybe this will need to be a tradition with the granddaughter who lives here so we can make a day of it, separate from Christmas, like you do. I know YS and DIL would really get into it( (unlike OS..) How blessed you are to have all your grandchildren nearby! 😇

Sorry for typos which I can’t change until I’m home with my laptop. Forgot my reading glasses today! 😬