Nick on the Slopes

 Nick hit the slopes big yesterday -- 15" of new powder!

Front flip is a first!

Christmas Season

What a day to get in the Christmas spirit!

Love this snowy view from the Peloton. (Taylor Swift ride with Ally Love!)

However, I forgot we don't wear mocs when the parking lots are slushy.

I decorated for Christmas today 

(credit to the ladies who hang the garland on the banister and mantle).

Such a festive day to decorate with the snow outside and 

Mannheim Steamroller and holiday essential oils inside.

When I left to New York at the beginning of this month, I asked Dan to take the Halloween skeletons off the porch and down to the storage room. They didn't quite make it all the way to the back.

 

Pumpkins for the Deer

Nick and I hauled the pumpkins behind the fence in the backyard for the deer.

It was Wyseguide's recommendation. We'll see if they like them!

So excited for my first snow this season, setting the mood for Christmas.

I'm also smiling because I had my ears cleaned today.

Let's just say, they needed it. And the PA even showed me what he removed,

which was so, so satisfying! 

Church, BarneyGreengrass, Home. The Music Man. And Emi!

 I didn't pack church clothes, so I wore pants to church today.

I was about to say that's a first, but remembered when we toured Fordham 

we went to church before our tour and was wearing jeans.

So that's a second.

I was thrilled to see an old friend, Tory Perry, and she remembered me! 

Even remembered we lived on 81st Street and we had a nice, brief catch-up.

I look forward to reconnecting when we spend more time there.

After church, the boys and I packed up. Dan is staying one more night because he flies to Chicago tomorrow.

Michael and Dan picked up bagel sandwiches and latkes at Barney Greengrass,

we ate at their apartment and then it was time to say goodbye.

While we travelled home, 

Dan, Courtney, Michael, Rhonda and Bob went to The Music Man.

Dan LOVED it (of course -- it's SO MUCH FUN!)

When we arrived back in Utah, Nick said "it's good to be home." I agree.

Chris said he loved being with everyone and noticed how trips together are even more special when you live away from home. I treasure the time I get with my kids. 

We missed Marty, Lizzie and Emi, but I've got photos from their Thanksgiving in Minnesota with Peter & Alex and their new baby and Lizzie's parents:

Intrepid, Union Sq Christmas Market, Shopping, A Beautiful Noise, Juniors

Slept in today until Noon! 

Chris and Nick found a bagel place and picked up breakfast/lunch.

We met up with Michael and Courtney to visit the Intrepid Museum.

Courtney took the boys the first fall she lived in New York and

Nick really wanted to go last year but we didn't have time.

We all loved it and even found some places they didn't see last time.

Nick: Where did they sleep and eat? Surely it's here somewhere. 

It was.

Nick and Chris debating who's the better looking. 

The G-Force Simulator!

We had time to walk the Union Square Christmas Market before dinner

then met Petersens at Rosa Mexicana nearby. 

After dinner we had a few minutes for some last minute shopping at Zara,

then to Times Square for "A Beautiful Noise,"

the musical about the life of Neil Diamond.

We all loved it!

And yes, afterwards Chris and Nick talked us into late-night dessert at Junior's.  

 

Massage, Angelina's, Christmas Market, Shopping in SoHo, Christmas Movie

Through my thick fog of a sugar coma, I managed to peel my eyes open and get out of bed at 9:30 a.m.

Dan and I had massage appointments at Corey's favorite Thai massage place on 5th Avenue through an inconspicuous door rendered nearly invisible by the fancy stores on either side. You stepped into the standard metal gray elevator, but when the doors opened we were in a lovely candle-lit spa--

a wonderful oasis amongst all the commotion in that part of town. 

Our couple's massage was fantastic. I am also very bruised. 

If you go, I recommend soft-medium firmness.

But that being said, I'm definitely going back!

We got home just in time to get ready to join everyone for brunch. 

Angelina's of Paris has a New York location with a similar menu:

 Orange juice, hot chocolate, a basket of croissants and pan de chocolat, 

eggs benedict (or ham & egg croissant), and fruit or a crepe for dessert.

They don't take reservations, but we only had to wait 15 minutes. 

So delicious!

Courtney, Michael, Rhonda and Bob were on one table in the back. 

Me, Dan, Chris and Nick were on another.

Christopher had some great conversation questions at our table:

1) If you got a tattoo, what kind would you get and where?

2) What is one of your greatest fears?

Afterward we walked through the Bryant Park Christmas Market.

Bob, Rhonda & Becca ran into friends (the Carmel marching band was in the parade!)

so the boys stayed entertained watching the World Cup while waiting.

Tonight we did some Black Friday shopping in SoHo. 

We started out all together in GU. But soon everyone was finding different stores that appealed to them.

Courtney and I had luck in GU and Everlane. And browsed a bookstore, vintage store and a couple others.

Dan, Nick, Chris and Michael found jackets and pants in Arcteryx, Nike and NorthFace.

Rhonda & Becca had fun in a vintage clothing store. And I think we lost Bob!

Our group went back uptown to drop off our bags at Courtney's apartment. 

It was late -- like 9:00 already.

But the boys were dying to eat at Gaonnuri Korean BBQ all the way back downtown, so...

they went there and Courtney and I had Chinese at a local spot, 

then kicked up our feet back at home and watched a Lindsay Lohan Christmas movie and ate ice cream and kettle corn. It was perfect. 

(Earlier in the evening we got a glimpse of the New Year's Eve ball in Times Square!)

Thanksgiving Service, Parade, Feast, Cowboys, Puzzles, Empire State Building, Serendipity

Courtney & Michael signed up to help make food bags on Thanksgiving morning organized by three community churches -- a couple of Jewish synagogues, the West side Presbyterian church and the LDS stake. In the Rabbi's words, "We organize it and the LDS staff it."

I loved starting the morning with service. 

And was thankful that Chris and Nick also wanted to come in spite of the early hour.

The church was 70th and Central Park West so we saw the start of the parade. 

We assembled 1800 food bags with 10 types of beans, rice, couscous and bullion. 

I calculated each bag would make 100 meals (servings of soup). 

Giant pallets of boxes of beans at 9:00...

Empty by 11:00

Assembled and ready to take to the distribution location.

The project took from 9 - 11, and if you hurried to the street you could see the tail end of the parade.

Everyone went back to their homes and hotels for a rest before Thanksgiving lunch at Maison Pickle

Maison Pickle is so good! 

Nick wants to go back to Carmines next year because it has a more festive atmosphere.

(Decorated for Christmas). He also thinks the food may be better, but he is remembering incorrectly.

We loved having the Brands join us as well as Mary Ellen and JD (and Taylor and Cole)

I'm thinking this will be a Christmas card photo for this year.

After dinner we all went home for another rest then met up to watch the last half of the 

Cowboys game at our hotel, eat snacks and work on a puzzle.

Literally the best part of Thanksgiving.

The game ended about 8:00, but we hung out until 9:00 working on the puzzle, waiting for the perfect time to head to the Empire State Building -- late enough when there aren't any crowds,

but before the last elevator to the top at 10:15. We timed it perfectly.

If you recall, last year half our group got stuck in the elevator for twenty minutes

and we were given ten free passes to come back another time. 

We were a teeny bit worried they may not honor them a whole year later. But they did with no questions asked, AND even through in an extra free ticket to cover our group since we had eleven! So cool! And this time no one got stuck.

Cuties!

Somehow, at 11:00 at night, Christopher and Nicholas convinced us to go to Serendipity.

So we ended our Thanksgiving feasting with giant sundaes and french fries.

Taylor and Cole have to go home tomorrow, so we really packed in their last day with everything!