Happy New Year . . . Finally!

Well yes, I am ashamed to admit it but it has been seven weeks since my last post (not a Catholic but totally sounds like a confession, doesn't it?!?).  This holiday season is truly a blur (thanks to some really good drugs - prescription of course - but back to subject). I will give you half a quick catch-up and then start fresh in 2013.

We ate turkey (fried by my husband and delicious), I took the girls to the So You Can Think You Can Dance show, and let me stop there for a minute. I have seen some of the best dancers perform, The Joffrey Ballet (with Ron Reagan, Jr., LOL!), Alvin Ailey, The London Royal Ballet, but the SYTYCD show was hands-down, one of the best I have ever seen!! The girls and I got into the TV show during the summer and it is the only show I have ever voted for . . . like ever! We loved Cyrus and was bummed when he lost but understood that Cheon was a better dancer. What we really loved was that they performed some dances from the show and some new ones. It was a nice evening with the girls and we are excited for the next season.

Right after that, the girls played hooky from school and we headed to NYC for our first NYC Christmas ever. We had the absolute best time and would love to make it an annual trip so here's a quick recap -

Saw our first Broadway show ever (mine included) and we chose Wicked.
It was fantastic and the fact that I was able to get a double wine made me love it even more!!

After the show we had to check out all the city lights.

Love the big ornaments!

The whole family at the famous Rockefeller Center tree.
It was big and beautiful (kind of like me?). 

Caitlin acting like Elf on the Macy's OLD escalator.
That store was SO crowded, we bought one ornament and got out.

Enjoying our first real holiday windows. They were truly worth it.

Of course, we HAD to visit One Direction World.
For those not in the know (which was me a couple of months ago)
One Direction is an all boy band put together by Simon Cowell.
My youngest has a major crush on Harry Styles,
one of the members, so here she is signing the wall at 1DW.

This was a window at Sak's. The whole display constantly turns so the snow globes
were always in motion. We all agreed they had the best windows
(and not just because I know someone who works there!).

Later that night, one of our gifts to the girls was the Z100 Jingle Ball Concert
The had an impressive line-up this year - One Direction, Taylor Swift, Olly Murs,
Cher Loyd, Ed Sheeran, The Wanted, Ne-Yo, B.O.B., Jason Mraz, Justin Beiber, and my
personal favorite FUN. It was the best way to see a lot of acts and hear all their hit songs.
Basically the band came out, sang their hits and they were gone.
I knew every song that was sung! 

Taylor Swift performing. We were super close to the stage but had the seats behind it.
I loved those seats as we were able to see everyone getting ready to go out and perform.

We met up with one of my husband's college buddies and his family for a great brunch
at Sarabeth's. The food was fantastic. We then all walked through the park and
watched the ice skaters and played on the rocks. A really nice was to spend the day.

After that, we met up with one of my husband's colleagues and his partner.
They were staying at the beautiful Dream hotel so we all had drinks
and then got to see Times Square from their room (the only balcony room in the entire hotel).
I will add that picture when we get it.
We left them and ran (practically) to Smith and Wollensky's for a great steak dinner.
We always have a great meal there.

We decided to see one more show before heading home and we chose Mamma Mia.
Now us getting from S&W was quite an adventure. NYC during the holidays is always busy.
The valet could not get us a cab but did get us a hired car. This driver was the
craziest driver I have ever ridden with. He went around an ambulance with it's lights on,
got into a yelling match with a traffic cop (according to him, no real power) and
got us to the theater on time! My heart is still racing!
The show was wonderful and you can't help but tap your toes and singalong!

One last stop with all the lights.

Once home, I was full steam for my youngest daughter's school's Winter Store. This has always been a favorite event of mine and will be my last one ever so I decided to be in charge of this year's. I had been busy shopping for the past year - I had a garage full of merchandise and couldn't wait to get rid of it!

I always tell everyone my Winter Store story so I will share with you - real quick - why it's important to me. During my oldest daughter's first year at Lakeview, she went shopping at the Winter Store and bought me a pink ring. My real wedding ring had been stolen a couple of years before (by a house painter) and we were saving up to buy me a new one. When I opened the ring, my daughter said it was because I was a great mommy and I deserved to have a wedding ring. I immediately burst into tears, put the ring on and did not take it off for at least a year. My finger turned green and some of the stones fell out but I still wore it.

Isn't it a beaute?

Well ok, that takes us to the middle of the month so I will stop here for right now! I am beat recapping and really need to go start taking down our Christmas. Yeah, I know it's the 7th, no judgement!

The second half of December to come but that is for another post!