Holiday Cheer!

Sorry for blurry iPhone photo.  Here's Lily Grace looking too cute at violin practice.   

Getting ready for her class to lead prayer service

Bob Elf makes his first visit and does a little decorating.

Enjoys a little milk

And dances with a  nutcracker

The decorations have been hung

Lunch at Rockefeller Center

On the ice at Rockefeller Center

Holiday window displays

Harry Winston Jewelers Holiday Decorations

The 5th Avenue Apple Store-located right by FAO Schwarz how convenient

At Dylan's with a Lily candy bar 

Inside St. Patrick's Cathedral 

Lily Grace LOVED riding in the taxi because it meant sitting by mom and dad in a real seat.   

Outside the Lincoln Center

This year she chose a musical nutcracker

By days end on Saturday, Lily Grace thought she should get in on the taxi hailing.  Oh!  For the record this taxi did stop.  Matt was on his game at this point. ha!

Chrysler Building at Night

This is how you look on the train ride home after a busy two days.

Our family nativity

If you thought you could just stop by for a quick update, think again.  Only 10 days in to December and we have been very busy with holiday activities and having lots of fun.  So sit back and settle in because here goes a mega run down.  
To ring in some holiday cheer, we've been enjoying the strum of a violin.  Lily Grace became very interested in music over the summer at VBS.  She recently took two trial lessons in both piano and violin.  Violin won out and she  has been enjoying classes and even practicing.  She takes it pretty seriously.  She looks adorable playing and tries really hard.  She has a wonderful teacher and looks forward to each week's lesson.  
Next up for  her was a program.  Each class at her school takes turns leading a Friday prayer service and mass.  Lily Grace's class focused on the nativity and preparing our hearts for the season.  It was really sweet and she did a great job with her speaking part.  
The decorations have been hung but of course in a new house and place this year. I adore our new house all decorated.  It's warm and cozy and just brings a smile to my face.  I will say, there is something pretty magical about the season around here.  The town looks like something off of a postcard with all the woods and town charm.  You won't find all the commercialism, just a lot of traditional decorations, a town Christmas trees adorning the local Green and again, charm.  You can also count on the cold weather to create some ambiance as well. Maybe a little too much ambiance for me- ha!
Bob our elf has returned and did so on Molly's birthday.  She turned two years old.  She and Lily Grace are enjoying running around the house each morning to see where Bob is and what he may have done or left behind.  He arrived on our chandelier which he generously decorated.  Lily Grace's favorite Bob antic was when he dressed in a tutu and danced with one of her nutcrackers to wish her well on our recent trip into the city.
This year our annual visit to see the Nutcracker took us to the city to watch the New York City Ballet perform.  We had an AMAZING time. We actually took the train in on Friday morning and spent the night so we could enjoy a little extra holiday fun.  We visited Rockefeller Center and fulfilled Lily Grace's wishes, to see the big tree and go ice skating.  It was beautiful and so much fun even though it was misting rain the whole time.  I have to admit, I was a little giddy seeing the big tree and rink that until now, I had only seen on t.v.  Before skating, we enjoyed a wonderful lunch at the Rock Center cafe where we sat by the class windows and had  a full view of skaters on the rink.  After lunch, Lily Grace and Matt took a few spins of their own.  She never stopped smiling and I had the best time watching them.  
Once we were completely frozen we were off to our next stop. FAO Schwarz where Lily Grace took a turn on the Big Piano.  From there we went to Dylan's Candy store, 3 floors of candy to be exact.  
We had been told to be sure and stroll 5th Avenue at night to enjoy the lights and we did just that.  Oh my gracious, they were amazing!  The decorations all over the city were just larger than life, but my favorite was Harry Winston.  I love how they decorated with what looked like diamond jewelry all around the store face.  Needless to say, I only saw it from the outside.  Oh well!  
Lily Grace loved the store window displays at Lord  & Taylor and Bloomingdales.  I couldn't even begin to explain how over the top and fun they were.  
On our way back to the hotel, it was starting to rain and we were all tired so Matt set about to hail a taxi.  Have mercy! Lily Grace and I laughed so hard.  I'll just say, we ended up walking back to the hotel.  He ended the day with about a 0-6 success rate. 
After a restful night and delicious breakfast (again, all the food could truly be a post on its own) we hailed a taxi and attended mass to celebrate the Immaculate Conception at St. Patrick's cathedral.  It was beautiful to say the least.  
Thankfully, Matt's taxi skills improved on Saturday. His success rate was about 4-4.  We
After church we hit a couple of more shops, enjoyed a fabulous lunch and then made our way to the ballet.  
 After the Nutcracker, we made our way to Grand Central and headed for home.  
Sunday after church we enjoyed a little bit of holiday cheer around the house.  Lily Grace had some family homework.  We were to create our own nativity using a shoebox.  The work was to be done  mostly by Lily Grace but as a family.  We had so much fun doing this and several laughs.  It made for a pretty special afternoon.  Now taking a look at the finished product, I know what you are all thinking.  The answer is no.  We will not be selling kits so that you too can create your own replica.  HA! HA!
Hope all of you are enjoying some holiday cheer!

Thanksgiving

Lily Grace came home from school wearing this hilariously cute turkey leg headband. 

She also got her hands messy helping out with the homemade dressing.  

We spent an afternoon down by the water and enjoyed a visit from Gran as well.

New England Welcome!

I love this picture of our house last night as the snow was falling. It reminds me of a Thomas Kinkade painting. 

Early Morning

I truly think this dog could run around in this all day.

Cute! 

Why yes...those are snow pants!  In Memphis, snow pants would  have meant about 3 layers.  HA!

Mother Nature has certainly been providing  us with a New England welcome since we arrived.  We've enjoyed a mild summer (in a Southerner's book), beautiful Fall, our first hurricane and now our first Nor'easter.  The last two occurred within a week and a half.  I mean really, what else?
The  high winds very cold high winds started yesterday and brought with them a rain and snow mix and by the afternoon it was all snow falling.  Again, it is COOOLLLLDDD!  We woke this morning to several inches of snow and I will say, it's beautiful and not like the wet stuff that Memphis would occasionally see, it's fluffy and well in Molly's eyes, down right perfect.  That dog is loving it!  Thank the Lord our house has a breezeway for her to dry off before coming in.  
Lily Grace is pretty excited about it too and just had to have a little time to play in it before school this morning.  That's right!!!!  *SCHOOL*  I am slowly getting use to how life goes on when this happens here.  Honestly, this would have shut things down in Memphis a good two days.  Not here, no Lily Grace got a 90 minute delay but will be off to school in a bit.  Now about that, let me just say that I am scared to death about driving in this stuff.  Yes, they are equipped for this type of weather as snow is nothing new around here.  The plows have been all over and cleared much of the road while I slept, but the fact remains, I'm not sure I'm equipped.  Have mercy!  Again, back in the south a light dusting would come with pleas to stay off the road but again, different area and different way of life.  I  must say it's a wonderful change, but doesn't make me fear skidding into the ditch any less.  (Could make for an interesting post though and just wait for my post on my first time with the Snow Blower when Matt is out of town. -Ha! Honestly, that thought is so not funny.) But I  must carry on.  I mean hey, it's my Target day and let's face it, what could keep you from that?  

Picture Day

Today is Picture Day at school.  I couldn't resist taking my own pictures before leaving home this morning.  So sweet!

Surrounded by Love

Friday I celebrated my birthday. (I see no benefit in sharing the number associated with this day.) Matt and Lily Grace had already given me my gift early, a large painting I had been wanting for the dining room.  

Lily Grace LOVES birthdays.  She could care less if it's hers or not.  She gets especially excited when Matt or I are celebrating a birthday.  She was out of school all last week due to the weather.  On Thursday she asked me what I would like for my birthday.  I reminded her that she and daddy had given me my gift early and he would  be taking Friday off and we would all spend the day together.  She then goes on to tell me that I need something to unwrap and asks me again what I would like.  I'm bustling about cleaning the house and respond that, "being surrounded by your love is the best gift in the world" and with that I continue my cleaning.  

Lily Grace shouts, " I have it!  Mom, stay out of the playroom please."  I'm not paying much attention, but notice that she has worked away in there at her table for several hours and then comes and asks if she can call Matt at the office because she needs to see if he has a small box that he can bring home to her.  

Once Matt arrives home, she declares the box he's brought home "perfect" and enlist his help after dinner.  

Those two huddle up in the guest room after dinner for almost an hour.  Once they emerge the end result is a wrapped box and the sweetest little girl carrying several red hearts with a couple of notepad papers with rooms written on them.  She starts by hanging up two red hearts in my bedroom per her notes and then moves about the house with Matt as her tape dispenser.  How sweet!!!  She has made these red hearts and hung them as decorations to greet me when I wake on my birthday she says.  She melted me right then and there.  

Friday morning, I wake to a little voice shouting Happy Birthday as she climbs into my bed with her box in hand.  When I open this box, I find in it the sweetest handmade card along with SEVERAL hand traced and cut hearts.  And then she says to me, "Well, you said you liked to be surrounded by my love."  I MELTED!!!  It's these gifts and moments that mean the whole world to me.  What a special gift from a most special girl.  

I am so blessed, humbled, gracious, thankful and yes completely surrounded by LOVE from both my heavenly father and the most amazing husband and daughter.  What an amazing gift my Lord has shared with me.  

Thank you so much Lily Grace and Matt!  I had a wonderful birthday.  I love you both very much!

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.  

1 Corinthians 13:13

High Winds and Halloween

Being surrounded by large colorful trees is awesome.  The clean up of all the leaves, well that's another story.  We spent the day before the storm trying to clear away as many as we could to avoid stopping up drains etc..  Now that the storm has passed our efforts look pointless.  

Some of us found other ways of working with the leaves.  I will have to give it to this girl..she loves to rake.  Let's see how long that last.

Poor Molly didn't stand a chance and gladly accepted the piling on of leaves.

You know how just before a large storm you see on the news all these nuts who feel the need to go down to the water and see if anything is happening and you think to yourself, why?  I'm sad to say that we were those nuts on Sunday afternoon.  I'm still wondering why???

On Monday morning as things started picking up several of the animals were out feeding in our yard.

Blessed that this is our only damage

Living in New England is providing Matt with a whole new skill set.  He now owns a chainsaw and can even use it.  Ha!  Just kidding Matt.

Doc McStuffins: Source

       The Doc is In                        

Lily Grace and Lucy having fun trick or treating

I've lived in the south my whole life and only once do I remember a tornado coming within very close proximity to where I lived.  I've lived in CT for just under 5 months and I have lived through a big hurricane.  Nonetheless, we made it through and are so blessed to say that we never even lost our power. We were a part of the only 11% to do so.  Blessed is an understatement as so many people sit with their homes flooded, in the dark and buried under trees.    Please continue to keep all of those people in your prayers.  
I won't lie....it was very scary.  Matt and I really had no idea how to even prepare.  It wasn't until just before the storm that Matt informed me that if we lost power, we also lost water because we are on a well.  We did the usual things like make sure anything that could fly about the yard was put away, filled the tubs, bought cases of water, brought the mattresses downstairs to make it through the night and just watched, prayed and found ways to keep ourselves entertained while we waited.  Again, blessed, blessed, blessed considering the only damage we suffered was the splitting of one of our large trees in the back.  
The next morning brought about the sounds of chainsaws, neighbors calling and helping out neighbors and even a little bit of sunshine now and again.  I  must say, we live in the best little area as people are so helpful and thoughtful around us. We even enjoyed a cookout with neighbors up the street Tuesday evening while Matt and Mike cut up a tree that fell on their back porch, barely missing their home.
The kids have been out of school all week and are scheduled to return on Monday.  I am happy to say for Lily Grace's sake and at least for all the kids in the surrounding neighborhood that Trick or Treating survived the weather.  On a side note about Trick or Treating around here- even after a hurricane, they really do it up.  I can't tell you the number of houses with sound affects, luminaries everywhere and even our next door neighbor with a R.I.P. fog machine filling up his cove.  Lily Grace had the best time meeting up with her friend Lucy who lives just a walk through the woods.  
This year Lily Grace asked to be Disney's Doc McStuffins.  Doc is an adorable character who's stuffed animals come to life in her presence and help her in giving care to all sick and broken toys.  It really is very cute.  It's also a very new character so there is no costume out for her.  It took a good month or two to locate different articles of this outfit to piece together a costume.  She looked adorable I must say!  It was so cold that she had to bundle up and at each house insisted that Matt take her jacket off so when she went up to the door they would know who she was.  A few minutes in, she tripped and fell and after getting up only wanted to know if she still looked good and like Doc.  Funny!!!  This girl takes the costume serious. (like she might be denied a treat from someone if she didn't look like Doc because they would surely know- ha!)
Thanks to everyone who has called, text and emailed.  We are fine and truly appreciate your thoughts and prayers.  I happen to think this Southern family of three held our own pretty well in our first hurricane.  Now let's see what the snow brings this year.  We miss you all bunches!