Amazing edible creations are on display at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina, but one has a special beginning in Rowan County.  Octoclaus, an octopus/Mrs. Claus mashup creation by Rockwell Elementary student Remy Quantz and Millbridge Elementary student Callie Caldwell placed in the top 10 of gingerbread creations in the youth (age 5-8) class of the National Gingerbread House Competition.

“Being a part of the National Gingerbread Competition was a bucket list item of mine, so I participated years ago.  I wanted to share my love of decorating gingerbread with Remy this year now that he’s old enough to enter the competition,” says Jenny Quantz, Remy’s mom and also an occupational therapist that serves Rowan-Salisbury students at Rockwell Elementary and Morgan Elementary.  “At least 80% of your creation has to be gingerbread and everything has to be edible, so it’s a lot of work to figure out what to use for each piece.”

Remy, Callie, and their mothers began planning their creation at the end of the summer, and then actually started building Octoclaus in early September.  Gingerbread entries must be submitted at the Omni Grove Park Inn the weekend before Thanksgiving, which gave the kids a full two months to create the large centerpiece, and then focus on the smaller octopuses around its base, each of which are participating in various Christmas activities.

“My favorite part was putting the sprinkles and smaller pieces on at the end, and the hat that we made out of a big Rice Krispie treat,” says Remy.  It’s easy to see how this masterpiece landed in the top 10 of their age group, with its whimsical colors and the fun way these two families put together their favorite things: beach trips and Christmastime.

Story by Sarah Cole, Rockwell Elementary School