I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! I know I did. I know it has been awhile since I last posted in December – sorry.  December just kind of got away from me with a busy work schedule and getting ready for Christmas.

Here is a recap of December – pictures to boot!

• Pictures of my trees – as  you can see they are tiny.  I was just too darn busy to get my big tree up and since my brother was hosting this year.  The ceramic tree, my Aunt painted in the 1960s.  I just love it!  The white reindeer around my tabletop tree – my Uncle made – a nice reminder of him (he passed away 5 years ago).

• Girls Day Out in NYC on 12/20 – we were total tourists.  Hit Bryant Park, Becco for dinner (I just love this place – I convinced the people next to us to order a bottle of wine – it is only $25 there – so my new friend Laura insisted I have a glass before we left :-)), Radio City, the TREE and a new place for a nightcap – Jack’s.

• While at Rockefeller Center – it was great watching everyone enjoying themselves, getting their pictures taken, the random Christmas carols being sung.  But the very special memory I will have is running into Nonna (a grandmother who drove in from Upstate NY to surprise her family who had just moved to NC and were homesick).  My friend and I kept her company until she got the word to surprise her family.  We had heard so much about what was going on – we just had to go with her.  We were a bit of a human shield to keep it a secret until the very last second.  It was just amazing!  I’m so glad I got to be a part of it.
• The Sunday before Christmas we had a family get together at my cousins.  It was so much fun.  Not everyone was able to make it but it was great to see everyone who was able to make it.  It was so great to catch up with everyone and especially great to see my cousin and his wife from OK.  We had a lot of laughs as usual.
• Last year my parents and I dusted off an old family tradition of Chinese food on Christmas Eve.  When I was a kid – it was take-out.  There is a place not too far from me where it is just easier to eat in for the 3 of us.  Always a good meal.  And in the tradition of A Christmas Story – my Dad had the duck! 🙂
• Christmas Day was Mass with my parents and then off to The Wisdom Diner in Bordentown for breakfast (we found it was open a few Christmases ago).  Later in the day we went off to my brother’s for gifts, appetizers and dinner.  It was fabulous.  He made this awesome beef tenderloin that just melted in your mouth!  Below is a picture of his Clark tree (tied down in lots of spots so it doesn’t fall over).  🙂
  

  Griswold family tree