By Ginny Cooper McCarley / For the Reporter

ALABASTER-Approximately 40 kids and their parents gathered intently around their gingerbread houses at Albert L. Scott Library on Dec. 9, decorating the small cottages with sweeties, fruit loops, peppermints, santa candies and globs of icing.

“I like putting on the candies,” explained Abby Moore, age 8, who was decorating her first gingerbread house.

Mackenzie Baker, age 3, said putting on pink candies was her favorite part of decorating the house.

“I love candy,” she said. “I can’t wait to eat it.”

For Julie Littleton, who directs a few workshops at the library throughout the year, the best part of the event is seeing all of the unique creations.

“Even though they have the same materials, everybody’s house just looks so different,” Littleton said. “It’s just a lot of fun (for everyone) to come out and create.”

Two milk cartons glued together served as the base for the houses, and the children then used icing to “glue” graham crackers to the structure in order to create a small house. All of the milk cartons were donated by Barber’s Dairy for the event.

For Alli Claire Smith, age 8, the gingerbread house decorating party was a wonderful surprise.

“She’s been wanting to do this (decorate a gingerbread house) since Christmas was mentioned,” her mom, Shelli Smith, said. “We signed her up as a surprise.”

Alli Claire Smith said she was “so happy” when she realized she got to make a gingerbread house.

However, for Alli Claire Smith, the best part of the workshop comes at the very end, when everything is put together.

“I just can’t wait to eat my house,” she laughed.