Update on the home front

It has been just crazy busy around here since we came home. I will attempt to catch you up.

It started snowing on Christmas Eve and didn't stop until the day after Christmas. In total, I think we got something like 2 feet of snow. It was beautiful and it was very nice to just stay home and enjoy being a family although we missed the rest of the family that we normally see on the holidays. This year was magical for the girls. I think they both finally grasped the concept of Santa Claus and were tickled to open their gifts.
Michael enjoyed the day too. I think he was pleased and surprised at his gifts. He had been expecting to not get the large and expensive Lego set he had asked for because he does recognize how costly plane tickets and airfare to Russia is. He proclaimed it to be one of his best Christmases ever.
My adorable and very handsome nephew was born on January 3rd. He made his appearance in the wee hours and weighed 8 pounds and 8 ounces. His name is Alexander Michael. I didn't get to see him until he was 2 weeks old because I had strep the day he was born.

The kids went back to school on January 4th. The girls were excited but wanted to me drive them to school like Grandpa had done. They really love going to school. Michael was less enthusiastic about going to school but he is very enthusiastic about making a clock out of wood. He and Randy will be working on that today. He loves doing things with Randy and making things is also thrilling for him.

The girls and I are cleaning their room. It no longer has a crib and we have not put in a bunk bed yet but until we hear our court date we are not going to worry about that. Right now, I just want to be able to walk through their room without a shovel.