Look Out Below!

At its biggest, the drift stood nearly six feet high.
Remember this big drift on my deck from the Christmas Eve snowstorm?

Two months later, it has been reduced to a single slab of ice. Yesterday, the girls decided there would be no more melting. Here is how it "went down."

'I Can't Breathe Now'

Emily presents Lauren with her birthday cake.

Happy Birthday, Lauren!

Julia helped make brownies to go along...

...with the birthday cake for Lauren.

Emily did the honors of delivering the cake to Lauren.

Lauren gets ready to blow out the candles.

Cake and ice cream hit the spot for the birthday girl.

Julia added a few sprinkles to hers.

Aunt Jean (left) and Veronica enjoyed the brownies, too.

Snowball Fight!

Olivia starts a snowball fight.

Life Around The Apartment

The guitar that my officiating friend Heidi Mingesz sent the girls.
They absolutely love it.
It's not always easy to live in an apartment when there's a foot of snow on the ground (and the clubhouse swimming pool is closed for the season). But the girls make the best of it by finding things to do.

In February, that means finding activities to do indoors (like crafts) or playing the new guitar that Dad's officiating friend, Heidi Mingesz, sent as a gift. There's plenty of strumming going on – in between playing the Wii or board games.

And when they remember to bring their snowsuits, all the snow that's fallen so far this year makes for a terrific playground in the courtyard. (As evidenced above by Lauren's early attempts to make a snowman.)


Oliva (left) and Julia enjoy the snow in the courtyard.

Olivia (left) and Julia work on thank you notes.

Julia (bottom) and Veronica have sat at this table on warmer days.

What A Nice Surprise

The girls receive a surprise package.