Rapp Happens

We make a gingerbread house every year.  Or a gingerbread something.  One year we made a nativity.  I'm going to let you in on a secret.  I LOATHE making gingerbread houses.  My husband LOVES making them, which is why I buy them in the first place.  To him, it isn't Christmas without being covered in sticky icing and wondering why the walls won't stand up. This year my mom gifted us with an A Frame gingerbread house from Trader Joe's.   I silently rolled my eyes while dreading the moment we would be making this deceptively easy confection.  But here's the thing, it wasn't deceptively easy.  It was ACTUALLY EASY (insert gasps).  This is now my favorite gingerbread house kit (which means that I will probably NEVER find it again).    Since I loved it so much I thought it would be fun to share it with you.  Pros, cons, and cute pictures. When you open the box this is what you see: I was surprised by how sim...

We, as a family, are GREAT roadtrippers.  Not to toot our own horns, but, TOOT TOOT.  As a matter of fact, we leave in 11 days for a 2200 mile round trip drive to PA.  Home of brotherly love, mild summers, NOT mild winters, and my FAVORITE in laws (seriously I really adore my sister in law and her family, not in a weird way though) You may not know me but my husband and I have 5 kids.  Yes, you read that right, FIVE.  Traveling by plane, train, or automobile takes careful planning, flexibility, and low expectations.  I kid you not.  I have found the downfall of many family activities to be over inflated expectations. Currently I am in the throws of travel plans and wanted to share some of my tips for getting *almost* everything you need in the vehicle, thus avoiding approximately 462,834,100 trips to target, dollar tree, walmart, and the random corner gas station. 1. MAKE A LIST , maybe 3, possibly 4. Make a list for each person that is travelin...