On the eighth day of Christmas...

...my true love gave to me:

a Happy New Year!

paper crown courtesy of Christmas crackers

the rule is that you couldn't eat any of the gingerbread house unless you're wearing a crown

...aaaand a decimated gingerbread house!

for comparison: Before...

...and After!

It was good, too -- still soft enough that you didn't need to use your back teeth to bite it!  At first I was afraid the roof would collapse overnight, but it held!

We also took Grandma to visit the Basilica in DC.  I can't believe we'd never brought her before!  While she and Mr. Pickles toured the upper church, I took the rest of the crew to see the crypt.  Everything was decorated for Christmas, and it was just lovely.