gun fights and laundry rescues keep us warm

Before it got bitterly cold, we had some playdates. Here's my gun-toting Artist chasing some guys down with a tractor.
Then they had a shootout at a friend's house. Only Dash survived.


El Toro and I went on a double date last Friday. Our friends bestowed us with a gift card/date for Christmas! (He didn't wear that GAME ON shirt to the restaurant. Heh.)
My little lad is very thankful for all the extra food. When I get cold, I cook like crazy.
Don't his eyes look dark in the pictures?? Weird. He has very blue eyes.

Yesterday we made homemade chicken pot pie, cinnamon rolls, dinner rolls, and chocolate chip cookies after school (or you can call it home ec/ extra math!)

He loves to wear this broken half of a fireman's hat on his head. It makes him look like a baby Frankenstein.
It pays to help Mommy cook!
We've been doing quite a bit of costume play, too. These brave little dudes are on their way to put out a fire.
And I reinstated "station time." They need some structured activities to keep us all from going crazy when we can't get outside. I love to watch my batman baby do lacing shapes!! His fine motor skills amaze me. He'll be put to work making me jewelry pretty soon!!
Nature Man balked yesterday when I asked for his spelling book. Can't say I blame him. It's just not his cup of tea... so I had the boys do word puzzles and letter squares instead. I'm such a book learner, like the Artist, and it's tough sometimes for me to remember the more hands-on stuff that the boys love.

What do you do on these ridiculously cold days?? I can't stand being cold. I mean, I reeeeaaaalllly do NOT like the cold. Not even a tiny bit.

However, I'm learning to appreciate my time at home more. I've also been crafting A LOT in the evenings. The Artist helps me design things, and the boys help me paint on modge podge. It's a family affair.