After a very fun-filled and exhausting December, we were torn between being oh so thankful we didn’t have to pack all of our gifts and warm clothing into suitcases and head to the airport and oh so heartbroken to miss being with everyone in Kansas. We did our best to fill our Christmas weekend with lots of sweet family fun here in New York with the help of good friends who were here, too.  On Christmas Eve (my favorite day of the year) we took Huck to see the charming “Arthur Christmas” movie followed by some delicious lunch with one of our all-time favorite friends Shana, who is usually far away this time of year!  She then joined us as we traipsed all over Christmas Town and looked at the beautiful decorations and trees and lights and tourists.  We ended our time together at the Times Square Marriott Marquis where we enjoyed some Christmas Eve cheer before bidding adieu and heading back uptown for some good old fashioned gift opening and Midwest Skyping before sadly saying goodbye to our elf-on-the-shelf Dixen that no one even believes in anymore (he has to return to Santa on Christmas Eve which is actually Troy’s sock drawer) and going to bed. On Christmas morning we each found exciting surprises from Santa (my red tea kettle!) before walking down the street counting menorahs on our way to a brief church service alongside the paper crane Christmas tree.  We spent the afternoon playing with our toys and then joined our neighborhood friends for a delightful Christmas night gathering wherein I almost beat all the children and dads at Perfection.  (Darn that seven year old Jacob and his 37 seconds!)

Now back to playing with our toys.  (Like this MacBook Pro, for instance, and our brand new flat screen TV.  When did we get so fancy?!)

Happy Christmas Break!