A Birthday and a Gingerbread adventure

 My birthday has come and gone.  Yet another year under my belt.  I didn't take a picture of myself this year, but I couldn't resist a pic or two of my delish dinner.  I opted to have dinner at home and we had NY strip steaks, potatoes and corn; and for dessert, a fantastically very chocolatey cheese cake.  Yum!  The Steak was a little more pink than I like it, but it was still tasty!

 Then, later that week, we decorated gingerbread houses.  I found a Watkins kit that had 4 little houses and I thought it would be perfect.  No battling who gets to decorate what and no need to have 8 hands trying to work on the same house. (I would be documenting with the camera, thus not 10 hands....)

 Turns out, it was perfect.  I helped the kids with the frosting pouch and Jon decorated the 4th house.  Everyone was happy!

 Must have: funny face pictures.  Check!

 We found out as we started that we had to let the built houses "set up" so we took baths while we gave them (not quite enough) time.  Worked out great.  After we decorated, it was off to bed.

 Jon wouldn't look at the camera and Brooklyn can't figure out how to smile without making her eyes as open as possible....

 I had to prove I was there.....

 See Open WIDE!!!

 And, the finished goodies.  Not bad!  They did start to fall apart sooner than we'd hoped but it's all good.  They still taste yummy!

Finally, Des Moines actually had a snow storm this week!  We got 10 inches overnight between Wedensday and Thursday.  School cancelled and most things shut down right behind it.  The kids were dying to go out on Thursday but thanks to 40 mph wind gusts, I was mean enough to make them stay in.  Finally, on Friday, they could go out and they were all smiles!  I love winter.  I love snow.  I say we need another few storms just like that one! 

....Well, maybe minus the me-sliding-through-a-stop-light part, 'cause that kinda freaked me out.  No worries, the cross traffic saw that I couldn't stop and waited for me... Phew!