Lunch with Logan...

Today was the first day of Catholic Schools Week.  It was also the day the parents were invited to have lunch with their 3rd and 4th graders.  Maren and I were lucky enough to eat lunch with our 4th grader (Logan) and a 3rd grader (Lilli).  Fun times!

Logan and Lil...

Super Bowl Village in Indy...

While our team did not make it to the Super Bowl this year (or even the post-season), we couldn't be more excited that our hometown is hosting the big game!  Today we decided to drive over to Indy to check it all out.  It was so awesome--so great to see the Circle City done up so well.  The girls had a blast checking out all the NFL Indycars.  Of course we went straight to the Bears car, but they couldn't resist taking some pictures of the Giants car for Uncle Mike!  After that we ate lunch at our favorite...CPK!  We're so glad Indy has one again.  Then we walked around Super Bowl Village on Georgia.  The girls got to see Kicking Daisies performing too.  We even ran into some old friends and neighbors ; )  It was all very cool--well worth the two hour drive!

Getting ready for a fun day in Indy...

 

Monument Circle...

Indycars on Meridian...

Go Bears!

Giant fan--of Uncle Mike...

At California Pizza Kitchen...

Super Bowl Village...

Kicking Daisies...

Maren...

Carsyn...

Stopping traffic ; )...

Jersey Boys...

Tonight Barry and I went downtown to see the Broadway touring production of Jersey Boys.  I cannot believe this was my first time seeing this show!  It was so good.  I loved it...loved the music!  If you haven't seen it (or even if you have), go see it!

*p.s.  turn up the volume on your computer...

Friday Fashion Show...

Actually, it was just an out-of-uniform day...but, that's about the same thing--right?  It's so funny how much the kids enjoy it, while the parents and teachers despise it.  Oh well, it's not everyday.

Before school...

Logan's Science Fair Project...

Fourth grade is the year for participation in the science fair.  While Logan was excited about taking on the task, it proved to be a big time-consumer.  She worked on it (on and off) for almost three weeks.  She tested crayon quality to determine if more expensive crayons (crayola) colored better than non-name brands.  Her project turned out great.  In fact, she earned an A on it as well as a Superior Ribbon from the judges!  I'm just glad it's all over ; )

Carsyn testing the crayons...

Maren also helped...

Logan and her science fair project...

143 Years of Young's...

We always love going to Young's Dairy...especially when it's their birthday, and they roll back the prices!  The girls really enjoyed their waffle bowls filled with their favorite flavors.  Yum!

Logan...

Carsyn...

Maren...

They all scream for ice cream...

MLK...

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

Girls' Weekend...

The girls just had a super-fun girls' weekend.  We found out that our friends who moved back to northern Virgina last summer, were traveling back to Ohio for the weekend.  The girls were beyond thrilled.  We decided to invite a couple of other friends over too, so it was more of a reunion.  There were eight girls here...and they all had a blast.  After all that girlie fun, we headed to 5:30 Mass.  Poor Barry (who is normally accompanied by only five females) was the lone guy with eight girls in our pew.  After church we went out for pizza, and then had a movie night and sleepover.  The girls really did not want to say good bye this morning when Ame'lie and Claire had to leave for the long drive back to Virginia.  But, we were so glad they came!

Megan, Logan, Ame'lie, and Meghan... 

Marie, Carsyn, Maren, and Claire...

 

Eight girls = lots of giggling...

BFF's reunited...

After Mass...

At Marion's Pizza...

Ame'lie and Logan...

Carsyn and Claire...

This afternoon Carsyn and I met a couple of her friends and their moms to shop for First Communion dresses.  The girls had so much fun trying on dresses and looking at themselves in the mirror ; ).

Rois, Carsyn, and Sam...

Some Snow...

This sure has been a crazy winter so far.  We had a little bit of snow over night, but (disappointingly to the girls) not enough for a snow day or delay.  While I hate the cold and snow (and would ideally live in San Diego where it's 75 and sunny year-round), it seems very weird to have such a mild January.

Waiting for the bus--you can kind of see the snow...

Not Much of a Weekend...

It's another dull drill weekend...yuck! We barely left the house this weekend, except to go to church yesterday.  But, it gave us time to work on Logan's science fair project, and get the Christmas decorations put away.
 

The girls before Mass...

Epiphany Parties...

Both Maren's and Carsyn's classes celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany with parties today.  Maren made a star ornament, decorated and ate at star-shaped treat, went on a star hunt, and enjoyed a visit from the Three Wisemen.  After a super-fast lunch, she was able to come back to school and party like second-grader ; ).  Carsyn created a crown, made a gift for new babies in the parish, and ate King Cupcakes.  So fun!

 

First Day of School in 2012...

I really hated getting up this morning.  It's been so nice getting to sleep in, but it's also nice to have a little quiet time to myself once the girls get on the bus ; )  Back to our normal school-day routine...

Ready to go back to school...

Happy New Year!

2011 was a great year!  We have had a lot of terrific memories, but of course we are hoping 2012 will be just as good (or better).  Last night we had a blast ringing in the new year.  We went over to our friends' house to celebrate.  It's perfect because the girls have their friends, and we have ours--what a great group!  This was the first time, in a long time, that the girls stayed up until midnight.  They were watching New Year's Rockin' Eve like it was the most wonderful thing they had ever seen...as if it doesn't occur every year ; ).  It was also very cool to them to see Times Square, and know that they were just there days ago.  After the ball dropped, we had a (very loud) dance party until well-after 1 AM.  The girls didn't want to leave.  Logan told me she could have stayed up, dancing all night.  Thank you guys for such an awesome evening!  Thank you, Mr. Tony for never letting my glass be empty; and thank you, Barry for being my designated driver!  Happy New Year!

The girls before Mass...

 

Logan and Lil...

 

Getting ready...

 

What a fun bunch...

 

Counting down...

 

Happy 2012!

 

Love these ladies...

Hangin' out with Mr. D...

 

My date for the evening ; )...