Installing an air conditioning unit on a gingerbread house is a bit unusual, unless the builder is 11-year-old Teagan Saner, who nabbed the Outstanding Use of Decorations Award at the Second Annual Gingerbread House Class at the Dog Hill Bistro.

Nine children from 3-11 years old took part in the competition Saturday from 3:30-5 p.m. when they put their creative talents to build their grandest gingerbread house, even though most were eating their construction materials as they worked.

"The houses came out awesome," said Kathy Logan, Dog Hill Bistro owner and organizer of the event. Logan went from table to table giving hints and encouraging the little construction workers, who spent a little over an hour on their houses before "building inspectors" Cliff Allred, Eric Meckler and Steve Seilhymer judged the houses. Each child received a special certificate and a prize for their work. Allred brought an angle tool to the judging and Seilhymer used a square to check the gingerbread house specs. Judges spent about 20 minutes going from house to house, querying the kids on their work.

The event was once again co-sponsored by Mountain West Clothing, which donated the prizes, and McGowan Grocery, which donated the candy for the houses, which were about 12 inches tall, nearly six inches long and just over four inches wide. The cost was $10, which covered all the materials. Logan made the gingerbread prior to the contest and the kids had a large assortment of candies to use for their houses. Josiah Nestor, 3, won the Outstanding Use of Gumdrops. His sister, Ginger, 5, took the Outstanding Access For Santa Award.

Logan said they went with a different way to make the walls and roof stick together. Last year, they used a mixture of egg whites, sugar and water, which took so long to dry that some of the houses collapsed. This year they went with melted sugar, which adhered almost immediately, said Logan, whose husband Todd helped deliver building materials to the kids. Leena and Ashlynn Meckler, aka Elf 1 and Elf 2, also helped hand out candy and with the heating of the sugar.

The kids had more decorative yards this year, according to Logan. Cooper Spurr, 6, won the Outstanding Shrubbery Certificate and Taylor Saner, 9, nabbed the Outstanding Curb Appeal Award. Kendall Spurr, 4, nabbed the Outstanding Doorknobs Certificate. Jace Russell, 4, didn't put any doors on his house and took the Outstanding Secret Entrance Award. His 6-year-old sister, Emmy Russell, was awarded the Outstanding Shingles Certificate. Lilly Riddle, 3, had the Outstanding Chimney Award.

All of the materials were edible and nearly all of the kids – and some adults – sampled the house parts during construction. The houses will be on display at Mountain West Clothing for a week.

"I think the kids were really creative this year. There were some really great houses," said Logan, who plans to put it on again next year.

Ed Moreth

HOUSE ATTACK – Lilly Riddle, 3, takes a quick bite out of her gingerbread house at the Dog Hill Bistro. Lilly won the Outstanding Chimney Award.

She said the adults were so interested in helping their children at last year's gingerbread event that she scheduled one for adults only on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. However, people need to call Kathy Logan at 826-3562 in order for her to bake enough gingerbread.