Gingerbread Houses

We had so much fun last year making gingerbread houses from a kit, that this year we decided to try homemade gingerbread.  My friend Linda shared with me a treasured book that her Grandma made for her with instructions, recipes and patterns.  Linda told me all her tips and basically walked me through it.  This is how they turned out!
Rolling out the dough:

Here are the baked pieces ready to put together:

Some scraps to taste:

And of course some pomegranates to munch on while we work:

Putting the pieces together was the part that stressed me out, but it was actually pretty easy.  I don't know why this photo turned sideways, but you get the idea:

And now the fun begins!

Hard at work:

Success!

And they're all so different!  Wes's house has playground equipment around the outside:

Clint's has a "zombie invasion" theme.  Part of his roof broke off due to extreme candy overload, but it still turned out really awesome:

Kori's house has a peppermint roof, a candy cane lamp post, and a Santa sleigh on top:

Mine is a simple little Christmas cottage:

Thanks to Linda for all your help and inspiration.  I think we have a new Christmas tradition!!