new york new york

i am catching up on the wonderful month of december. the girls were lucky enough to take a girls trip sans kids for three days to ny. our husbands were such lovelys and didn't complain once.

we truly had the best time. we shopped til we dropped, and found boots gallore (that was the dominate purchase this trip). we went and saw the rockettes at radio city music hall and were all VERY satisfied. the production was marvelous, a definite must see. after the rockettes we headed to del friscos, an incredible steak house where we graced them with our presence from 10pm to 1am. THEY COULDN'T GET ENOUGH OF US (seriously)! We made good friends with our actor/waiter ben... he loved us, and we loved him. it was one of those time where you got in some good gut wrenching laughs that just feel so good!

it ended too soon. we will be back. natalie thank you for the hotel! she put us up at the waldorf, HELLO prime time! we had a blast.

just getting started, don't mind my hat, that was the 3rd one i bought, the others weren't cutting it.carmines... in my opinion a MUST in ny.  great food. great environment, HUGE portions to shareBOOOOTS, we shopped til we dropped!

rockettes group 1

rockettes group 2

dinner at del friscos

NYC AT ITS FINEST! can't wait until next year!

step back....

into time.

 Thanksgiving was truly amazing this year.  we joined the markoff's for thanksgiving at the cottage, and let me tell you.... it was magnificent.  it truly was as if you were at the first thanksgiving.  the ambiance and setting was gorgeous.  mary and natalie worked so hard, and it really showed.  the table alone was breathtaking.  as you can all tell you had your choice to dress up as a pilgram or an indian and after lunch we partook in some friendly competitions.

jack, naomi, natalie

the nicols

the first part of the day naomi was so somber.... after lunch something switched and she was having a blast, there was NO denying it, she was passing out LOOOONG kisses, squeeling, laughing, she shouldn't have been cuter, and was so happy being outside and playing with everyone

poor little guy doesn't know he is going to be Christmas dinner...sad.

the markoffs

in the horse coral watching the horse races between the pilgrams and indians

pawnee indian!  great costume johnny!

the bonds

after lunch

the amazing table, doesn't do it justice

somber manoni

little indian boys

inter racial marriage... the baby takes after me

naomi and jocelyn... indian babies

happy baby

natalie and Jocelyn, i loved this picture

the gorgeous place settings

the hansen boys and julia

finally, my man trying his hand at archery.  i think his arrow flew the fastest.....wowie!

doing what she does best.

it was so great to be surrounded with such wonderful family.  they truly made this thanksgiving unforgettable. 

ha ha ha ha.....

not sure how i feel about this, but i will see you January 4. please toughin up a bit this season.

ooh baby baby, b b b baby.

really what else is there to talk about?  i have so much fun with this little baby that i can't even stand it.  she is the highlight of my day and she is the BEST baby!  her naps are driving me crazy right now, two a day and they are both anywhere from an hour to an hour and half (sometimes less), that is not long enough.  i want two hours each nap, but she ain't givin it to me.  she does go to bed at 5:30pm and wake up at about 6:30 though, so i really cannot complain there.  either way she is so sweet and so fun.  i used to think this age would bug me, but wow this age is the absolute best. they are all great, but 6 months on has been a blast. 

naomi facts:

*loves little bunny foo foo

*she loves clapping

*she is OBSESSED, and i mean OBSESSED with food (sounds alot like me, woops)

*she loves her binkies and sleeps with three of them every night, one in her mouth, and one in each hand

*her favorite song is "tender shephard" she always stops what she is doing to listen

*15 pecentile in weight, 35 percentile in length, and 70 percentile in head circumference

*she says mama, and used to say dada, but hasn't for a while

*she is scooting all over the place and has for two months

*won't let me put her down

*loves to shake a bottle of tylenol pills when she gets her diaper changed

*loves to touch the crystal chandelier in her room after every afternoon nap, she reaches for it

*loves the movie finding nemo and grunts in the car if we don't turn it on for the princess

LOVE her, and when she claps it is so cute

the face only a mother could love.... BUT i get this every time i am a second delayed on her next bite, mouth and hands both clinched in anger.

her bath..... just thought this was cute

more halloween.

we partied at the Martinis home and had wonderful food and wonderful company.  After that the girls went to the Haunted Forest...again. lots of fun!  I am ready for the next holiday and the next party!

trunk or treat

i really couldn't wait to dress up my little lady this year. she origianally was going to wear a bunny costume that my mom made, but that was packed away in storage, and i don't have have the will power to look for it (so next year). in my brief costume hunt i came across this little get up and thought it was so cute! we decided to make a baby pirate gang so jessica and kelley got their little babies pirate costumes too. they were all so cute!

all four baby pirates!

i think...

My main goal is to get that stupid sandwich post out of my sight and to look at something a little more lovely...

and then on to waterford.....

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We went to this old civil war town in waterford, va. the whole town takes one weekend out of the year and completely dresses up as they would have back in the day. they put on a huge festival with food, shopping, street performers, and everyone is in costume. It is really fun to see. They have booths with all things handmade and it made for a great Saturday.

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chatting it up eating an apple bomb

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i loved this house.

this guy was cute playing that instrument and having his parrot (fake) talk to the kids


such charming homes. they are all original from the 1700. very cool to see