Little people can make the traditional Christmas season gingerbread house OR we can get our “Jesus is the reason for the season” on and do a little something different: edible nativities.

The most difficult part is getting the empty shoe boxes with the removable lids so soon after Operation Christmas Child, but it can be done.

Line the lid with aluminum foil and plan to place the bottom over the masterpiece to keep the “hay” in place.

Here are the supplies:

Prepare the day before with connecting the stable using the graham crackers and the frosting onto the foil-lined shoebox lid using craft sticks.  Be generous with the frosting and it should harden well for the little people to continue to decorate without fear the thing will collapse.

Must-haves for decorating:  M&Ms (pop of color), pretzel sticks, animal crackers, and the Pepperidge Farm People cookies (found ours at Publix).  When all the decorating is finished, top it off with a good crunching of a Shredded Wheat bar over it all for hay.

Finished product:

“This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Luke 2:12