Girls just wanna have fun...

We were finally able to dig ourselves out and thaw out just a few days ago.  We're learning that the new house will need several mature trees in our back yard to help prevent the enormous, 3 foot drifts that develop in just hours during snow storms.  We now also know that we need to keep several gallons of gas on hand any given time as our driveway is much wider and longer than our previous home.  

Anyways, after the "Polar Vortex", we continued our fun.  My dad drove over for the day to go to the fishing show at Rock Financial.  Helaina saw it a perfect opportunity to bust out her new cowgirl boots from Uncle Nate.  The kids and I went with my dad for a few hours, and they had fun fishing in a pond, riding a simulator into Mars, and checking out all the big, fancy boats. 

The girls fun continued into the weekend as my best friends (well 2 out of the 3) drove from Indy to spend a "girls only" weekend together.  These days don't happen often, so I treasure every minute of my "alone time" with them!  So fun that Helaina was able to join in for a few hours at the ice skating rink!  And the biggest thank you to the husbands and Daddy's for making it all possible! You guys are truly the BEST!

Helaina and Auntie Katie...Helaina insisted that Katie and Megan style the dolls' hair in the beauty shop.  She's also one tough critic!

Helaina sure knows how to enjoy herself in any group setting.  On Sunday we attended Rola's baby shower and Helaina was quite the helper in opening all the baby gifts.

Reading books to her brother.

Celebrating Rana's 20th birthday with 20 birthday candles and a cake full of icing!

Hello 2014

Our days, and now weeks, post-Christmas have been just as wonderful as all the days leading up to that special day.  With how the holidays fell this year, I had about 2 weeks off from work which allowed us to visit Indiana for our last Christmas of the season.  The kids and I made an appearance at the annual "day after Christmas party" at the Snooks' home.  My cousin Jess celebrated and toasted her recent engagement to her new fiance, Aaron.  Their wedding will be in May of this year and then she'll be deploying with her new husband overseas for his Navy assignment.   

More presents at the Walter Christmas.  My parents (also known as Grama Claus) continue to host this Christmas that is known for games, gifts, and more games.  Such a fun day spent with family that we don't see often.

Helaina with her new cowboy boots from Uncle Nathan.

After a long visit in Indiana, we headed back to MI on New Year's Eve.  Thanks to Randy's parents, Randy and I enjoyed ringing in the New Year in downtown.  Here's a view from our suite at the Alumni Game of the Winter Classic at Comerica Park.

After the alumni game, we headed across the street to our next party at Cheli's.

Who doesn't love a game of beer Jenga?

And then the winter storm hit and continuing to make it's mark on our new year.  Snow, wind, more snow, cold temps, snow, it's brutal.  Thank goodness we have a helper...

and a snow blower with a helper!

So we've been stuck inside more than usual and this particular day our princess and our prince helped make banana bread.

Finally, a 30 degree day so we could go sledding!

And today, the Khoury girls and Helaina braved the snow and watched "The Little Mermaid" at the Marquis Theater in downtown Northville.