TreasuresInTerraCotta

December always seems to fly by without much time to upload pictures, sit in front of a computer or compose a complete sentence. Here are some snap shots highlighting a few of our December activities. Homemade Fruit Cake.  I love that stuff! The cousins ran in a 1 mile Jingle Trail Run.   Everyone has bells on their shoes and running the race is so happy! On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! After the kids race we cheered on the adults in the 5K.   Uncle Fran was the only runner this year, but the kids cheered him on from the infield.   Andrew and Calvin discovered how to make these tin can lanterns.   What could be better for a boy than a tin can, a nail and a hammer.   We did some water/volume experiments for school. All the boys helped make sugar cookie cut outs. Grandma and Grandpa came over and decorated with us. Kids doing decorating...heavy on the frosting...heavy on the sprinkles...Aweso...

Except for the books, that was poor planning on my part! Strawberries planted yesterday.  Basil planted on Monday.   But here's what it looks like when there is a little snow in the desert. He was cold and grumpy.  Perhaps because he didn't want to wear pants and had wet mittens.  We're not really outfitted for cold here in Sunny Arizona.  But that's ok because in two days it will be sunny and warm.    A little hot apple cider will make everything better.    This boy enjoys it all!

We took advantage of the crazy 20 degree low last night and made some ice sculptures. We've done this before , but we made the ice in the freezer and then hung them outside for the cold weather.  Last night it was cold enough to freeze solid outside.  We started with a muffin tin and dipped a length of string in each hole. And we used an old jello mold to make a wreath.    And we did a little experiment with water and salt water. This morning everything was frozen solid so we hung up our ice garland.  Isn't it pretty in the sun! Calvin tied up the wreath.  And we hung it on the fence. It's not snowy, just cold.  So we've been staying home and staying indoors with a few trips outside in the afternoon when the sun is shining and it is 40 degrees. Do you have any favorite cold weather activities?

Tyler and Calvin spent the week working on a Boy Scout Pinewood Derby car!! Math....with M&Ms! Truman showing off his two (almost 4) new upper teeth, and the drool to go with it! I love playing cards with my kids. Dairy Queen Candy Cane Blizzards!  Shared with Grandma and Grandpa on the coldest day of the week. So they had a fire!  And we made paper snowflakes. More of those big teeth.  They really change Truman's looks.  It kinda makes me sad. I think the teeth (combined with the warm fire) were making his cheeks so rosy.   I made this beautiful Carrot Soup with a Tomato relish.  So yummy and festive looking.  The recipe calls for Tomatillos to make the relish, but I didn't have any so I just used grape tomatoes.  It provides a crunchy, tart and spicy kick to the sweet and creamy soup.  yummy!  Today I took the boys bowling.  Because, you know, bowling is an especially Christmas-y activity!  I LOVE bowl...

I had to get in on the creativity, so once there was room in the freezer I pulled out the Bundt pan and made this beautiful ice wreath.  I set the pan in a sink of warm water for a couple minutes and it popped right out! I can't decide which side is prettier.  This is the flat side with the cranberries and oranges peaking out. This is the fluted side with all those beautiful ridges.  The cranberries seemed to fill in the bulge of each flute creating a beautiful red ring around the edge.