Happy New Year!

We had another fun and final week of break ringing in the new year. We tried broadening our ethnic palate by using a groupon at two different restaurants. On Saturday we tried Peruvian food at Mama Irma's. It was SO good! Even the kids ate some. And on Monday night we went to China Bistro. We brought Michael and Maddie along too because we knew it would be too much food for us. It was yummy too. We've decided we need to work with the kids on their restaurant manners though! Not too surprising considering how little we go out, especially to nice sit down restaurants. 

On Tuesday we celebrated New Year's Eve with the kids at home. We (meaning me and the kids, Brian watched and videoed) had a dance party! It was actually so much fun! I forgot how much I like dancing with my kids... it'd been a while due to the big belly I recently fashioned. At 7:30 we rang in the new year by banging pots and pans and setting off some party poppers. The kids thought it was awesome. We repeated the process, countdown, banging and all probably 10 times before they headed to bed! Once they were asleep we used our Face Time monitor and went to the Jenk's house to play games with friends. It was us, Jenk's, Wilson's and Peirini's. We played Telestrations and Charoodles and ate yummy food. It was a fun night with lots of laughter!

Since we stayed up way too late partying, we spent most of New Year's Day taking naps. We did pull ourselves together by dinnertime and went over to the Kirkwood's. Chris made us a delicious meal and we had a great time visiting and sharing our holiday stories. The kids had a blast playing with Claire like always. The rest of the week was low key with the usual playing inside, laundry, and running a few errands. 

On Saturday I took Maybrie on a birthday date to You Are The Potter. It is a fun place in Greenwood where you pick a piece of pottery and paint it. Then they cook it in the kiln and you pick it up a week later. Maybrie loves art, so when I saw the groupon I knew it would be the perfect outing for her. Maybrie picked a tiara piggy bank and insisted I paint one that says smile for Thomas. Then I took her to Orange Leaf for frozen yogurt. She loved picking flavors and toppings. It was definitely a successful afternoon. We had a good time!

On Sunday the big storm hit. Church was cancelled and I don't think it stopped snowing all day. We got 12 inches and it is beautiful! We loved watching it snow from inside our cozy home. Maybrie asked if we could celebrate her birthday a day early, so we made her cake and opened presents that night. She chose chocolate cake with strawberry frosting. And Maybrie made sure Snow White made an appearance (I put it on her cake when she turned 3, and she's insisted on it every year since.)! We gave her Rapunzel and Flynn Rider dolls and Candyland. I'm not sure who is more excited about the dolls, Maybrie or Thomas! They've had fun playing with them together. Today we played Candyland too many times to count! 

Today school was cancelled (and is tomorrow too) because the temperatures dropped to -11 which feels like -48 with the wind chill factor! I have never been in such cold, it's crazy! At night we have to leave our faucets dripping so the pipes don't freeze. Brian has also covered the kids windows in sleeping bags and blankets to block the draft. We are very grateful to have food and heat to keep us safe and warm inside. Tomorrow will be another inside day with subzero temperatures. They say this is the coldest it's been since the 1970's. Brrrr!!!

  

 DANCE PARTY!!!

 Happy New Year!!!

 

 The kids both wanted Ezra to lay down and take a picture with them in their beds.

Goodbye 2013... Hello 2014!

Birthday Date

 

I LOVE this picture of the three of them watching football! So funny! The Colts won! I actually enjoyed the game... look at what this town (and a football loving husband) have done to me! Since when do I enjoy, let alone watch, a Pro football game?!

 I can't believe we have a 5 year old!

 Thomas enjoyed the cake!

 Brian borrowed Michael Daetwyler's ski's and took a turn around the neighborhood! They also threw boiling cups of water up to see how quickly it froze. Funny boys! Brian was like a little kid with excitement about it.

 In this picture you can see how the wind is blowing the snow like sand. Crazy!

So pretty!