Checklist

#1. See the tree

Check...definitely worth going again to see closer

#2. Send out Christmas cards

Check...thanks to a girl who could spend hours playing with stickers

#3. Make gingerbread houses.

Check...although I was lucky we were at least able to do one. Graham crackers ended up being a crumb-y way to do it

#4. Make orange rolls

CHECK! Rachel's class had a Family Feast on Monday as a part of their family/culture and traditions unit. I thought long and hard about what dish I could bring and I decided to try my Grandma's famous orange rolls since it's the one staple at every holiday meal. I was really nervous that they would turn out. But they rose okay, they looked good and then Jake put me to the test. I think he had at least 5 when they first came out. Success!!! I was super excited, and dancing all over the kitchen. It must be in the name :)
The feast was a lot of fun. Rachel is one of the only white American in her class. There's Mexican, Columbian, Phillipino, Chinese, Israeli, etc, etc. So there was some really fun food!

#5. Santaland at Macy's
Check. We went Wednesday morning before we left town. We had heard of long lines...like up to 3 hours, but we went right when it opened and walked right through! It was almost too fast. Enchanted forest, trains, dancing bears...very decorated and VERY FUN!

#6. Make it to Austin, Texas
Ch....eck. So those who know us know that we always have a story to tell when it comes to flying. So, you tell me, was it good, or bad:

• The good thing is that we decided to take a taxi with 3 kids and luggage
• The bad thing is that both kids got car sick in the stop and go of the city
  
• The good thing is that we fit all of our stuff (presents and all) in carry-ons
• The bad thing is that security almost ruined our Christmas as they searched through our bags and pulled out the "large electronics"
• The good thing is that we arrived in plenty of time
• The bad thing is that we had too much time
• The good thing is that we had a direct flight
• The bad thing is that we had a girl who had a cold/fever=extreme pressure in the ears and a boy who was still motion sick
• The good thing is that we had all our clothes, so we could change him...3 times. He couldn't even keep water down

We're here and enjoying family, the mild temperatures, and having Daddy around. Have a wonderful Christmas everybody!!!

Stuff you don't see everyday

Here's what we saw Sunday on our way home from church
And this morning Tommy got his rain boots and asked if it was raining. I told him to look out the window and that's when I noticed and pointed out that there was snow on the ground..."no that's not snow, that's just bird poop down dere."

Oh, the city life.

Santa and Window Walk

Santa and his sleigh :)
Our one stop shop for Christmas shopping, Target in New Jersey
No tears this year
Macy's windows


The tree. This is as close as we got, we were kind of done with crowds at this point.
We went to see some gingerbread houses that were designed after movies made in New York. This was my favorite one

Snow, it starts

Now I know I can't complain...with family and friends in Utah who have had their fair share of snow and freezing temperatures already and we only had flurries today, but winter has officially hit. I'm just not used to this! Yesterday it took my legs an hour to thaw from walking home from the subway after church. Crazy cold!! And I've been told this is nothing. I had hot apple cider for lunch, potato soup for dinner and hot chocolate for dessert :) And I'm looking into wool tights and thermal underwear...any other ideas?

Anyway, here's a few random pictures:

The cold is a lot easier to handle when there's no wind, but there is sometimes crazy wind in this city, especially where we live, being just off the Hudson river. This happened to Jake when he came out to interview for his internship 6 years ago. It's a common occurrence.On Saturday we went to a work party, where families were invited. Rachel and Lucy showed up in the same shirt. I couldn't stop laughing, it was too cute! This is the same family we did Thanksgiving with. We wish they lived closer.I really slacked on the picture taking this week. Sorry.