It was hard not to ask what Moonie was up to the other day, walking around with his toolkit.

“I’m building a house!” he shouted.

“You are? Out of what?”

He grinned and showed me.

“Oh,” I said, “I get it. A gingerbread house for Christmas. That sounds like–oh. Um, Moonie? Maybe you should save some of that candy for your house.”

To his credit, he looked a little sheepish.

I have to hand it to the little guy, though, he worked hard. Every time I looked up he was preparing the icing or hoisting up the gingerbread walls.

He put the roof together very, very carefully.

Then he started preparing his shrubs.

And he made a nice little walkway.

I checked in later, and he was patting his house into place.

Look how proud he is of his little log cabin!

His chimney was particularly adorable.

He had fun gathering up some yummy candy canes for decor.

They looked good on his house!

Aw, he was so proud of his work.

Looks great, little buddy.

Moonie?

What’s with all the drooling and tummy grumbling?

…Moonie?

Uh oh.

No, buddy, not the shrubs!

Oh dear, even the front steps are yummy.

The whole house seems pretty tasty.

Uh oh, there goes the cute chimney.

And the log cabin walls.

And the roof.

Boy, Moonie, it didn’t take you long to eat that house, did it?

Now he’s asking if we can build another one – this time with a hot tub.

Whatever you say, little dude.