Ann was setting out the ingredients for gingerbread on the farm-table in the kitchen. Ann dried her hands on her apron as Matt entered the kitchen.<br/><br/>"Hello, Matt. Did ya have a nice nap? Would you like to help me bake gingerbread men cookies? I have all that we need. I need your strong hands to stir the batter."<br/><br/>She set a large bowl on the farm table. "I will help you if you need me to. We begin with measuring the flour, sugar, and I have icing in a piping bag."<br/><br/>The cook handed him graduated cups to dip in canisters and taper off with a butter knife.<br/><br/>---------------------<br/><br/>Kate opened boxes of ornaments and handed the colorful glass balls in the shapes of stars, trees, ice cycles, and snowflakes.<br/><br/>"You hang them on all sides of the tree any place you want. There are lots of ornaments and various colors. There is no particular order. Jasper, this decorating of the tree is easy. Just hang the ornaments by the ribbon over the limbs so they do not fall. Once the ornaments are on the tree the tinsel gets placed by draping the strands over the branches. I will show you."<br/><br/>Kate gave him a snowflake ornament with a red ribbon, "You hang it a few inches on the end of it's branch. Isn't that pretty?"