Involvement

This originally started as a self challenge. In 6th grade, I was part of a group that was going to make the Parthenon from edible art. Needless to say, we were all too ambitious and the project didn't go so well. I felt the need to redeem myself as an artist, and chose one of my favorite structures to build... "Monticello:" The home of Thomas Jefferson.

Upon planning my strategy to build this, my girlfriend's daughter had purchased one of those "gingerbread-home-in-a-box" kits, and the walls were broken, the glaze wouldn't hold the pieces together, and it totally frustrated her. Even worse, it was something she wanted to do for "Show and Tell."

Art should be fun, never frustrating, at her age!! So I wanted to show her that you don't need a kit to make a cookie house. If you have some imagination, creativity and a little perseverance, you can make one even better!

The house came out amazing and was quite a good size (taking up an entire lunch tray). It was 100% edible, and even educational! It went perfect with the "Presidents Book" I got her for Christmas! I even left pieces of it unfinished so she and others knew how I did it. I heard she took it to Show-and-Tell and the class absolutely loved it. That's how dreams are made, and I was so happy to turn this challenge into a gift! I don't think she'll ever forget it.

(a) Thomas Jefferson's Home

(b) Monticello Cookie Home

Always encourage and allow your children to build their imagination. Little activities
like this can make a world of difference in the development
of your children.

I truly feel that constructive individuals have much more
fun AND much more purpose
in life than destructive ones.