Gingerbread Tea

A fun tradition when my children were in elementary school was  the 1st grade held a Gingerbread Tea each Christmas.  There were many different activities leading up to the tea  that were all about gingerbread. 

Each of the children made gingerbread houses using graham crackers and milk cartons. (Kara's is not pictured, I can not find a photo at the moment)  

They made gingerbread sweatshirts using a sponge stamp to wear in the concert,  and read their own gingerbread themed book.  Kyle chose to do his individual book about a gingerbread rhino.   Kristina's theme was a gingerbread monkey, and Kara's  a gingerbread kitten. 

They each  made felt gingerbread people, and decorated them with buttons, rick rack and ribbon.  I still have all 3 of  them, and now use them on my peppermint garland.

Kyle's class made ornaments with photos of themselves in the gingerbread shirts
 

They sang Christmas carols for all the parents who were there for the tea.  I was able to get the best view of Kara. I probably learned my lesson and got there very early after sitting farther back with the older two.  LOL!

Each of the classes wrote a class gingerbread book.  I am the proud owner of the  "The Gingerbread Monkey" (Kristina's class), "The Gingerbread Kitten" (Kyle's class, he must have had more girls in the class to  swing the vote) and the "The Gingerbread Elephant. (Kara's class)

All 3 of them have fond memories of their "Gingerbread Tea."  I just love this picture of Kyle and his para, Mrs. T.  He just has a look of joy on his face. 

While looking for the gingerbread tea photos, I came across this flashback photo.  The year that Kristina was in first grade, Kara was only 3.  We decided to make our own graham cracker gingerbread houses at home that year.  Here Kara is applying a ton of marshmallows and candy onto her house.  She has grown up so much!

We have not yet made a gingerbread house for this year. After going through these old gingerbread pictures, I am now really looking forward to it.