Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve Starbucks?

A moment. Just a moment.....Grace and T.J. suggested stopping at Starbucks. Well that was a first. After Christmas Eve mass! A teen adaptation of our traditional. Christmas Eve. Do you know what? It was a great idea. We sat and chatted...even a bit of bickering. ....Grace and T.J. After all, it's their job! And then. laughter and fun. And then, a drive through town and down by the beach to see the Christmas lights. We all talked and laughed and reminisced and talked some more....and drove home to have a nice dinner. Ahhhh Christmas!

You better watch out!

Yes! It was worth the wait. Hysterical photo shoot with Santa & Elves. Grace seems to be begging Santa or striking a deal!

Rejoice! For unto you a child is born...

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Toys are for children?

Lego store with Carey and Grace

Lego store at Rockefeller Center

Lego fun with Bryan, Carey and Grace

New York, New York

Grace, my niece Carey and her beau Brian waiting to see Santa at Macy's Herald Square. Lots of laughs!

ALWAYS stop to light a candle at St.Patrick's Cathedral....Lady Chapel, where mom and dad were married.

Thursday....Grace and I are off to N.Y.C.

S.F.A., N.Y.C.
Home sweet home....where mom and I worked forever! Always good to go home...

S.F.A. First Floor

Moments

The "way back I'm time" machine".....that's how this feels to this Christmas photo ....before 9:00a.m. church. Biff was behind me....T.J. and Grace in the wonderful glider we all shared each day. Click. Click. Photo. Seems like yesterday and click ....it's NOW! I'm grateful for the moments.

Jammies

Who could be cuter than sweet little children all cozied up in their jammies.......and at Christmastime! Not in our house these days. The sweet little teens are just acknowledging that it's just not the same as it used to be at Christmas. We were talking about that tonight at dinner...
T.J. remembered some of his gifts of Christmas past. Grace thinks we should rent a good Christmas movie since they don't get toys and games that used to have is busy all day. This seems to be a year of adjustment ...teens with great spirit and energy...who are realizing the changes of growing up. We all go through these changes together.

How many friends have discussed the joy of buying the infamous Little Tykes kitchen or little red wagon? We feel it too. These sweet children are older now...they have no desire for the kitchen.... certainly there is proof when you see the difficulty they have emptying the dishwasher. The little red wagon or bright red bike is steering more towards saving for a car someday.

These changes take some time. We can't hold on to the past....although we treasure those shiny red fire engine, baby doll days. TODAY, we can laugh with our teenagers and talk .....about how it used to be and the new ideas we have for our family Christmas' to come....we do have new ideas....Biff and I feel the changes too. We have good ideas and surprises....and planned outings as experiences that we will have together. After all, that's what we remember. It's not the stuff that matters.

Besides, we still have our new Christmas Jammies!

Got to the Board of Ed. mtg.tonight at 6P.M. Relieved to get there with time to spare....only to find out the mtg. was at 7:30 P.M. I returned at the scheduled time....after doing some quick errands....And listening to a great book o tape,"NEW YORK" by Edward Rutherford...a historical novel
I am loving it! Such an enjoyable to get in some extra "reading."

Daisy and Fitzy sleeping with quilts and blankets .....note Fitz is on her very long leash.....so she can't get to any midnight snacks!

Full moon. The night after the eclipse....stayed up and missed it!

So cold last night....waiting to see Dennis Leary! Freezing Biff!

Dennis Leary at our local bookstore...

At the bookstore to meet Dennis Leary....the comedian. Biff and I were freezing with all of the others who came out on this cold night to see him. The line was down the street! Fingers frozen!

The Farm

"The Farm" ..."a great place to spend a childhood," Biff told the folks who bought his family's house....

2010 A Christmas tree to remember

Christmas tree 2010?