The Fighter's

We are on staycation!  But we decided to break it up with a mini road trip.  One of the great things about living where we live - easy access to beautiful Michigan.  The five of us plus Grandma and Grandpa drove North just a few hours to Frankenmuth, Michigan - and it was great!  Kicked the day off with a hearty German lunch at the Bavarian Inn, followed by a long stroll up and down the street through a doll shop, candy stores, coffee shops, cheese shops - we had a beautiful day for walking.  After that we took the girls on a carriage ride - let me tell you - they thought it was magical.  Gleamed ear to ear...I think they felt like princesses.  I loved it too.  The town was fantastic - such a fun place to take kids and go and relax.  After that we went to Bronner's (the worlds largest Christmas store).  On the way home we stopped in artsy, adorable, quaint Ann Arbor (yes - I'm a brainwashed OSU fan...but still LOVE Ann Arbor) for pizza at The Cottage Inn.  It was a fantastic da

This is what happens to Grandpa when he's stuck in between his four and six year old granddaughters for a two hour road trip, in the back of a minivan....

Southview Cougars that is.  I was a lucky girl and got to hang out with two of my best friends from high school today.  My friend Lindsay was in from California so I picked her up from her mom's house (like the good old days...except this time I was driving a mini-van instead of a Geo Tracker with lighting stripes on the side and had three kids in the back).  We trekked up to Haneen's house - and I seriously had such a great time with them.  Lots of catching up while the kids played and some great Lebanese food (thanks Tarek!).  I love these girls - we have so many great memories together - and I just love who they have become.  Seriously beautiful ladies.  Just wish we all lived closer!!  Looking forward to July when we'll be together again for a wedding (where maybe we'll bust out some of our old cheerleading moves...or...maybe not...or maybe):-)

This is how we found Kate sleeping tonight...hello Kitty mask and all.  

Christmas was magical for the girls!  It was so much fun to watch their eyes light up (proof in the pictures!).  Visiting with family, super food (except for my Christmas Eve potatoes) and an abundance of laziness and just being...all of which was so very needed!  Joy was in the house ( despite a Christmas morning diagnosis of strep throat and shot in the toosh for me....bet you never got that for Christmas!). Opening Grammy's presents!  She got them the beautiful Christmas Eve dresses in the following pictures - girls are SO much fun to dress up.  Poor Doug.   Fake grumpy face prompted by Doug.  They then show their true feelings:-)   I think they're just a weensy bit excited!  The girls love their Grammy!  And Grandma and "pee-paw" (as Olivia calls him) too!   Cookies, milk and carrots (need to make it well rounded, right?) set out for Santa...   Setting out water and carrots for the reindeer.  The bucket ended up on the roof on Christmas day...silly reindeer!