Leftovers

What do you do with a large quantity of peppermint candy canes leftover from Christmas? 

The boys chopped them up into little pieces, added some cream - OK a lot of cream - and sugar. Put the mix in a very cold container, stir, and - voila! - peppermint candy cane ice cream!

Yum! 

Christmas eve

Santa Claus, friends, and family were all good to the boys this year. After a visit to church and eating a symbolic amount of Swedish Christmas food the boys were ready to rip paper! As you get older you forget the excitement of being a kid at Christmas. But it is a joy to watch it! 

Oh, yes.... and Johan did receive the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! 

Construction

Mathias and Johan both built ginger bread houses at daycare/school.  That didn't stop them from adding to the real estate empire at home with a third one.  This one was from IKEA and I'm not sure it would hold up to any kind of construction inspection. It's a lovely one room cottage worthy of any witch out there, complete with peppermint candy canes, M&Ms, and chewy candy. 

Merry Christmas

Just before Christmas, Johan got to visit with Santa. I'm sure Santa asked what he wanted for Christmas. I'm also sure the answer was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. If you were around in the 80s you may furl your brow and ask yourselves "TMNT, are they still around?!"  It turns out they are. And they're bigger than ever. At least in the 5 year-old demographic! 

Pre-school Christmas party

Johan's pre-school class had their Christmas party on a cold December morning. The kids spent the event decorating cookies, making 'puffy glue' snowmen (puffy glue is glue mixed with shaving foam), making play-dough candy canes, and decorating a ginger bread house.  In all it was slightly controlled chaos with a christmas theme. No doubt the kids had fun. 

Afterwards, I needed a nap. 

Ginger bread production

Mathias & Johan spent an afternoon making gingerbread critters and somewhat strange looking gingerbread boys.  The best part was the decorations afterward.  M&Ms were the decoration of choice. The boy with the square feet is my favorite. 

O Tannenbaum!

More than in any year past the boys were eager to help decorate the tree.  I had a hard time keeping up preparing ornaments for them to hang. True - some of the favorite branches became bit weighed down by a collection of attractions while others went bare. But with just a little bit of adjustment afterwards, the house is now ready for Christmas! 

The annual hunt

Just in time, before winter arrived in force, we made it out to nab a Christmas tree. 

We went to our 'usual' tree farm in Howard Lake where we have been for the past five years or so. They always have a good lineup. And they have cookies and hot cider waiting once you have cut down your tree and strapped it to your car! 

Gratitude

For Thanksgiving, Johan was thankful for his cats (as illustrated below). And we are thankful to have Johan! Happy Turkey day! 

Running cold

On the day of thanksgiving, Mathias and I ran the Turkey Trot 5K in our hometown. Ericka walked and Johan was wise enough to catch a ride with a friend in a double stroller. It was windy and cold. We both suffered through the race but we were pleased to have finished, even if we didn't win. That way you can eat your pumpkin pie guilt-free! 

Kicking off the holiday season

Ericka and the boys started the long Thanksgiving weekend by coming downtown to visit Santa Land at Macy's.  I don't think we have been there for a couple of years so the boys are a bit older than in previous visits. They were more intrigued now than in the past with all the moving parts of the displays and the humor built in, such as the mouse running across the floor in the Elf dining room. 

Then we went to the Yogurt Lab and enduged. Johan had Tiramisu ice cream with Froot Loops. How's that for a combo?!