Ending January with COLD weather and EXCITEMENT

We have had no school for the past 4 days due to some crazy Polar Vortex that settled over us.  -30 temps with windchill temps -56 Monday-Thursday after 7" of snow fell Sunday-Monday.  It finally warmed up today to 0.  And we got another 1" of snow.  HaHa!  All of us are going stir crazy and are ready to head back to some normalcy.  Despite this awful cold weather, Emily took her drivers test this morning and passed with flying colors!  Another licensed driver in the Salfer house!  Temps were at -21 with windchill at -40.  

January was mostly filled with gymnastics meets and practices, and the normal family comings and goings.  At JI the kids started what was to be Catholic Schools Week this week with only two days of CSW fun (Sunday kick off and tomorrow, Friday "world traveler day" and a field trip to the cities to watch a play).  The breakfast on Sunday was once again yummy.  Brian worked in the kitchen for only one shift this year and I helped out with the book fair.  Natalie sang with the choir at mass and Lauren helped bring up gifts at offertory.  Granpa and Grandma Salfer, and Grandpa Tom and Grandma Elaine made it as well to celebrate with us.  After the breakfast, before the 7" of snow, we played dominos and did alot of laughing!

Caitlin on bars

Caitlin on Vault

Emily on Vault

Emily on beam

Rachel Vaulting (she will add beam and bars soon!)

  

Catholic Schools Week

Lauren and Pascal bring up gifts 

Lillian is THREE!

And just like that our babe is THREE!  She has grown up so much since Christmas-eating better, sleeping better and decided out of the blue to potty train herself-#1 and #2!  She also wants to dress herself and pretty much do anything "by myself".  Independent and then some!  Just need to get rid of that NUK though!  For her birthday she didn't get to choose her favorite meal, however she does like tomato bisque soup which I chose and Caitlin made her birthday Kitty Cake ,vanilla with sprinkles.  She had two parties, a joint party with Lauren with grandpa and grandma Salfer and Moore because the Moore's are heading to AZ for 2 months, and then on her actual birthday her Godparents Jeff and Sharon and kids came over.  Not sure why we didn't get pictures of them!!!  Lilly had a great two days though!  

Sweet 16 for Emily Rae

We didn't get to celebrate Emily's bday in the morning with donuts due to her commitment to weight lifting at school at 6:15am!!!  I don't' think I'd be doing that on my bday, but she seems to enjoy it and I applaud her motivation.  We decided as a family to celebrate family birthday's we (I) would make the persons favorite meal and their choice of birthday dessert.  Emily gave me two ideas for her bday cakes and had me choose which one and surprise her.  Ichose to make her the layered crepe cake.  It was well worth the 3 hours it took to make and assemble!  Brian wowed with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and the girls decorated and made a bday sign.  Emily got to spend the day with her friends at school, which doesn't always happen given her birth date.  She came home with some really nice, thoughtful gifts from her friends.  Now that she's 16 she is anxiously awaiting to take her drivers road test.  Hoping that goes well and she passes!