The Gingerbread house is up, packing and luminaries

You may recall that last year's gingerbread house crashed before we were able to decorate it. This year, we had much better luck. Igor and I completed our first standing gingerbread house!

This year's gingerbread house was from a kit. I decided that I would construct the house and we would wait several hours before the decorating would begin.

Igor was very excited about decorating the gingerbread house.

I placed the frosting on the house and Igor decorated it. We had a great time putting it together.

My dear son has decided that he will pose for one or two nice pictures and then all the rest will be "funny". Here are the "funny" pictures with the completed house.

We leave in a few days and we aren't completely packed. I was sick, then Igor was sick..... we are feeling better now and I am planning to have all the packing done tomorrow. All the orphanage donations (clothing, diapers, wipes, vitamins, pain reliever and more) are packed in two extra large suitcases. They each weigh 43 pounds. I have Henry's clothes picked out and his diaper bag is ready to go. Rob and I will only pack 2 or 3 sets of clothing. I hope this will allow us to only take one more bag. Don't worry, the hotel has a inexpensive laundry service! We'll be wearing clean clothes daily.

Tonight our neighborhood will be a glow with luminaries in support of the Ronald McDonald House. 2008 is the 22nd year of the Light a Luminary project, which has provided over one million dollars in support of the Ronald McDonald House. This year after the lighting of the luminaries we'll attend a block party where we will enjoy hot chocolate and sugar cookies. YUM!

Tomorrow, Igor and I begin the annual Christmas cookie baking and decorating. I cannot wait!