Adventures at the Christmas Tree Farm

Ozzie loved our helper Anthony

We couldn't keep up with him

Hope you had as much fun picking out your tree as we did!

Preschool

Call me the worst mom ever but I forgot to post pictures of Ozzie's first day of preschool. Better late than never!

Oscar and I decided to enroll Ozzie in a cooperative preschool so that I can be involved in the class. Yes I have some control issues. Ozzie is a summer baby, so he will always be the youngest in his class. We figured starting him out one day a week at two will help. So far we love it!

First day of preschool- he was a little excited!

Finger painting on the second day of school. I was in another room doing my assigned duty (we have assigned jobs in coop school) and came back to find Ozzie like this. I think he got more paint on himself than on his art project. I should take a picture of it and post it here- it's pretty funny. 

Working From Home

We love it when Oscar gets to work from home. Ozzie wants to be just like Daddy.

A very important phone call

Love the headset!

Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

I tried a new cinnamon roll recipe last weekend. They were ooey, gooey and delicious- just like a cinnamon roll should be. 

Click HERE for the recipe from my Mom's group recipe blog. Yet another reason I love this group!

I did make one adjustment to reduce my guilt level, I substituted half of the flour with whole wheat pastry flour. They still turned out great and were not dry from the whole wheat flour.

This may be a new Christmas morning tradition.

Movember Mustache

As I mentioned earlier, Oscar and a few of his co-workers grew out their mustaches during the month of November for mens cancer awareness.

My thoughts? Thank God tomorrow is December 1st!!! Here is a photo that the company photographer took of all the participants.

A Walk to the Mailbox

Later in the day we decided to huff it down the street to the mailbox in the snow. It gave us an excuse to try out Ozzie's sled that we bought last year when it did not snow. He's already outgrown it but it worked on our long (sarcasm) walk to the mailbox.

Snow!

We had our first snow of the season this November. It was also Ozzie's first real snow experience, last year we didn't get any snow and the year before he was just a little munchkin.Oscar got snowed in from work and the two of them played in the snow all day long!

Throwing snow balls!

Making a snow man

Snow angels!

HELP!

Whoops!

Hooray for snow!

p.s. please excuse my husband's mustache. He decided to join "Mouvember Moustache" with a local radio station for mens cancer awareness. December can't get here soon enough!!!

Almond Sherry Cake

Everyone has one, that special dish that confirms it is the holiday season, mine is my Aunt Lori's Almond Sherry Cake. Although I could argue that it is also the sinfully delicious eggnog latte but since Starbucks adds it to their menu earlier every year, I'll stick with the cake.

It is my Dad's favorite cake and I make it for him every year on his birthday (which is around Thanksgiving) and on Christmas. So the first bite of Almond Sherry Cake always commences the holidays for me.

Another great thing about this cake is that it starts with box cake and you add ingredients. It is semi-home cooking at it's best.

Aunt Lori's Almond Sherry Cake
Ingredients:
1 box yellow cake mix
4 large eggs
3/4 c cream sherry
3/4 c coconut or vegetable oil (I prefer virgin coconut oil when baking)
1 package instant vanilla pudding
1 teaspoon nutmeg
Streusel filling (recipe follows)
Toasted almond slices

Streusel Filling:
1/3 c packed brown sugar
1/4 c flour
3 T firm butter
1 - 2 t cinnamon
3/4 c almond slices (optional if you have nut allergies)
Mix together with a pastry knife until crumbly

Sherry Glaze:
2 c sifted powdered sugar
1/3 c melted butter
1 t cream sherry (can substitute 1/2 t ground cinnamon if you prefer alcohol free glaze).
Stir in 1 to 2 t milk until glaze is desired consistency

Directions:
Grease and flour 10" bundt pan and set aside.
Combine cake mix, eggs, sherry, oil, pudding mix and nutmeg.
Mix at low speed for 1 min scrapping bowl constantly.
Mix for 3 more minutes at medium speed scrapping bowl occasionally.
Pour 1/2 batter into prepared pan.
Sprinkle evenly with streusel filling.
Pour remaining batter.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes or until cake springs back when touched. I also use the toothpick method.
Cool on wire rack 15 minutes.
Brush with sherry glaze and garnish with toasted almonds (optional).

Yum!

Thankful

I absolutely love these Thanksgiving printables from Silverbox Creative Studio. I have already finished my Thanksgiving crafts this year but have this bookmarked for next year. Love the paperchain!

Real Airplanes

As I mentioned earlier, two exhibits we enjoyed at the Museum of Flight were Air Force One from Nixon and Kennedy's presidencies and the British Airways Concorde.

Both planes were parked outside the museum and we were able to walk through them. Of course we did everything we weren't supposed to do. Ozzie sat on, touched and climbed up every thing he could, especially if it was labeled, "please don't touch". At least he enjoyed this part of the museum.

Walking across the sky bridge to the real planes.