Caroling,Passing out Treats, and Gingerbread Deco!

Merry Christmas! We went Christmas caroling last night as a family to neighbors and friends. It was fun! I was busy making treats, and started with the things like candy first figuring it would last the longest. I think I will do simpler treats next time and nothing with nuts or peanut butter. I did not think about the allergies people may have until it was too late. My mom came over and helped decorate sugar cookies with the children while Merik and I went out. I absolutely loved the smiles on peoples faces. Some of the comments we got were we haven't had carolers in a long time. One person said it about brought him to tears. He was very touched. I think it is something that just doesn't get done very often anymore. Our children are somewhat afraid of dogs so that was the fun part. We had to keep Brandon behind us, or Baylee was held by Merik with a backache from holding her for so long. Most of our neighbors have dogs. We also took the opportunity to welcome some new neighbors to our "hood".
I remember when I was a child and mom used to make gingerbread houses for us to sell in front of the old Skaggs store, and my dad used to take them to work and sell them. It gave each of us some money so we could buy gifts for each other. She even made beautiful churches and an awesome lodge. She even would take the gingerbread out before it was fully cooked and the dough was still soft about 10-15 minutes before fully cooked and add crunched up lifesaver candies and put them in the hole she cut for the windows and it would make beautiful stained glass windows. When decorating it she would do crisscrosses on the stained glass to look like beautiful paned windows and drip icicles from the eves of the house at the end after covering the roofs in snow "frosting" and crushed candy or other candy. She also cut out tall doors for the churches and put rows of pews down and cut a hole in the bottom of the board it was on to put a light inside. This is a memory I will always cherish. I don't know if we have any pictures. I need to take my children to visit her and have her do a house with them. And oh did our house smell good, like good ol' gingerbread, yum! By the way Ragan, I love the gingerbread train decorating, it reminded me of my childhood.
I am very late at getting the family Christmas picture and letter out. Who knows if it will happen. I think it will. It will just be late. Happy Holidays!
With Our Love to You and Yours, The Edgels