The end of the year brings the mad dash for my fellow employees to try and take some time off for the holidays, so I am off for three days this week. Nothing like taking time off to do last minute shopping for the holidays!  However, I also volunteered to help out the Skyline Elementary 3rd Grade for a day putting together gingerbread houses.

I was told by Mrs. Tonya Edgar, a 3rd grade teacher, that the tradition of making gingerbread houses goes back at least 15 years, if not more. Students created their masterpieces with seven graham crackers, frosting and a paper plate. These were the foundation of the gingerbread homes that 80 students made.

Along with the foundation, kids could use candy canes, red hots, peppermint candy, hard candy, M&M's, chocolate chips, gumdrops, marshmallows, Skittles, licorice, Starburst, Hershey Kisses, sprinkles, Gummy Lifesavers, powdered sugar and more.

About 10 parents came to volunteer to help the kids, which meant everything from setting up to cleaning up, and one brave person made the frosting for all 80 kids.

It was a lot of fun to help bring some cheer to the kids and assist with the kids in making sure the gingerbread house stayed together.  I even helped one girl put her gingerbread house back together after it fell just as she was putting the finishing touches on it.

I think volunteering time is important, and if you can do it with your kids, all the better.  There were several moms and dads volunteering at the event, and without them, I don't think the hour and a half given to complete the gingerbread houses would have been enough.

I think this was the holiday cheer I needed to get back into the holiday spirit, and I'm sure the teachers needed that lift too with this being the first day of new security at Skyline Elementary.

A big thanks and thumbs up goes to Mrs. Kelly McFatrich, principal at Skyline Elementary, and all the 3rd Grade Teachers for putting this event on for the kids; Mrs. Patricia Ferolito, Mrs. Kathy Garrison, Mrs. Tonya Edgar and Mrs. Sonya Schnicker.

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