one of our planned activities at christmas was making a gingerbread house.  i don't remember if we were going to bake the house pieces ourselves, but once our trip was cut by a week, my mom just got a kit (from wilton, i think.)  it didn't get done until after christmas, but one day while my mom and i were out getting last minute things bought and finished, my sister and the kids made the house.  it also had a star cookie tree.  i think they did a really great job!  so pretty.