Making a Gingerbread House

We bought one of those pre-made Gingerbread House kits this year. It looked like a fun activity until we had everything out and had started and then read the directions. We had to put the walls together with icing...then let it dry for at least an hour. We did that even though the kids were dying since they thought they'd get to decorate it right away. After the hour was up we put on the roof, then read that it said "Let dry for at least 2-3 hours." Seriously?? Needless to say we still tried to decorate it. It caved under the pressure. So...the kids decorated Gingerbread panels...walls, roof pieces, etc. They had a blast and it didn't matter that it wasn't a house in the end. Next year I'll get the house all together ahead of time. :)