little máni joins the family

 We brought home a new addition to the family today and we are very excited to have a kitten in our midst once again.

We made a list of names but before we revealed our picks to each other we each got a turn scratching off one name that we didn't like. As a result everyone picked their second option and as it turned out, no one would scratch off the name they wrote down. 

in the halls of government

 Today we ventured over to the state capital and it was really quite amazing!

 I have never been there myself in the forty plus years of living in this great state but I sure was impressed with what we saw today.

 The girls had many questions, mostly: how do people get down on the floor of the court room and why did they build the dome so tall?

 Sophia was most impressed with the house of representatives gallery. 

 And we were all in awe with the governors reception room.

 I was glad that the girls did not ask me any questions regarding government.....

 ...not that I'm cynical. I'm just old.

back in the polar vortex

We left Minnesota last week grateful to be leaving before the big chill hit but nature decided to save the really cold weather for our return. The photo from above was from before we left. All the schools state wide were closed yesterday with wind chills in the -50 ranges and that continued through today. At least we can still look back on some of the good times had in Florida last week. 

the princesses return to the kingdom

ringing in 2014

 Today we rang in the new year with a bang while taking in the fireworks at Disney. 

It ended the same way, but everything in between was sheer magic 

tower of terror

Today we went to Hollywood Studios for the girls first ride on the Tower of Terror.

They were excited before the ride but as is evident in the photo below, the ride lived up to the terror. 

No more elevators for them.

down home christmas

 This Christmas was our first of many downstairs in our new addition and nothing the end said Anna  

 But it was extra special because Santa fixed the Ipad, huge teddy bears abound and fairy magic, obv.