Matt's Birthday Dinner

We were supposed to fly to Seattle to spend the long weekend with Matt's family, but our flights were cancelled and we could not get any other flights for two days due to the blizzards in our area. We were diasppointed to miss our trip, but made it up to Matt by taking him to Melting Pot for fondue. This was the first time in a week we were able to get out, and so we were celebrating in style. The road were finally passable today!We started with spinach artichoke cheese fondue, then for a main course had shrimp, chicken and filet mignon fondue, and then finished off with a flaming turtle chocolate fondue. It was fabulous! The kids were very lucky to go, as we don't usually take them to places this expensive.

Double Blizzard of 2010

This has been the snowiest winter on record in the Washington D.C. / Baltimore area. We had two blizzards in one week, with 38 inches of snow on February 5/6 and another 12 or more inches on Feb 9/10.


View from the garage after the first storm - this is my new Rav 4 (which would have been in the garage, except that we still had furniture and boxes in there from moving out to get new cartpet in the house).

View of the front door (please don't open it yet).

View from inside the front door.

Kirsten the snow princess.

The snow on the deck is almost as tall as Dalton.

"Let's make the most of this snow day!"

Digging out...

500 shovel fulls down, 300 or more to go...

The kids build a snow castle in the front yard.

The castle is well protected. Watch out for flying snowballs!

Kirsten as an Ancestor

The lead role in Mulan was double cast and when Kirsten was not playing Mulan she
played the lead ancestor watching over the Fa family.

Up in the clouds looking down on Mulan.

Celebrating Mulan's success at saving China.

For some reason Kirsten's mom thought it was great to be an ancestor.

Kirsten as Mulan

Kirsten played the lead role in her middle school production of "Mulan."

Trying to learn the admonitions.

Disappointing her father. Would she ever bring her family honor?

In need of a makeover before she sees the matchmaker.

Nervously waiting with the other maidens to see the matchmaker.

"When will my reflection show who I am inside?"

Her father is proud of her.

Disguised as a soldier to serve in her father's place.

Present. Ready for duty.

Training in the army camp.

Learning to "Be a Man"

Asking if they can use their brains and not just their brawn.

Dressing the soldiers up as girls to get them in the Emperor's palace.

"My baby is all grown up and saving China" - Mushu

Mulan cast

White Christmas

Matt and Dalton took advantage of the "White Christmas" and spent the afternoon outside.

They began with a friendly snowball fight.

Then decided to build a snow fort for protection.

Snow fort from the inside with ammunition ready.

Time for sledding.

"Wheee"

I don't want to go in yet. Let's build a snowman.

After enjoying much of the afternoon outside the boys came in to get dressed up. We went to the church for the baptism of a friend who was born on Christmas Day. He wanted to be baptized on his birthday. This was a nice reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. It was an opportunity for us to witness someone literally "Coming unto Christ," and reminding the rest of us to do the same.

Christmas Day

The kids woke up at 7:30 to see what Santa had brought them. I am not sure why they waited so long - I always remember getting up at about 5am.

They both thought that Santa was good to them.

We had a relaxing morning. After checking out the stockings we enjoyed the traditional breakfast of crepes and then opened gifts. We stopped in the middle to play games and enjoy our time together.

"Look what was in my stocking"

Opening gifts together. They helped each other open gifts and play with the games and toys.

Playing on Dalton's new educational "laptop."

"Just what I always wanted!!"

Christmas was good for the McGhie family this year.