Christmas Traditions

Most of us grow up with Christmas traditions, whether we aim to or not. For Richard, traditions are something he holds on to tightly. As for me, I'm not quite as sentimental...I love to change routines and create new memories. Together though, we've had one thing in common all of our lives - Christmas in Texas. 2012 was the first year that we spent Christmas in a different state. A little anxious and unsure of what to expect, we packed our December calendar full of Christmas fun! New York City really is a magical place to be and you know what the best part was? It snowed on Christmas Eve while walking back to our apartment from our taxi. Truly like being in a movie....

...and then we had to take the dogs outside in the snow and cold. Ha! Our dogs tend to not...well, they don't really move in wet weather. They just stand there, shaking and giving us the most pitiful look ever. We have to walk them one block East and find scaffolding to walk them under. Pampered!



Pickle and Sundae - our little reindeer!

The night before Christmas Eve wasn't quite filled with the cheer we'd expected. After a long night of aches, pains and other flu-like symptoms, we both landed in the doctor's office the morning of Christmas Eve. The doctor led us both back to the same exam room and we took turns being examined. I giggled out of exhaustion...we looked like little kids sitting in the exam room together on Christmas Eve. We tested negative for strep and the flu - however, were told we had viruses. Richard's had started a few days prior, so he was no longer contagious. However, I was to avoid the elderly, young kids and pregnant women - you know...what most of what the Upper East Side consists of. In high spirits though with Christmas, we attend church service that night and enjoyed BBQ with friends just before the snow started coming down! It was such a blessing having friends in the city to celebrate with!

Christmas Eve Service at Apostles Church
followed by BBQ at Brother Jimmy's in Union Square with friends!

Despite my self-induced NyQuil coma on Christmas Eve, I woke bright and early on Christmas morning excited about presents. It typically takes a good four to five times of poking, hitting and then yelling at Richard to get out of bed. However, I simply said "It's Christmas morning! I'm excited about presents!"....and we were up. Later than night after presents, phone calls, breakfast and a very long nap, we ventured out to Central Park where the rest of the city was exploring (or escaping from family in their tiny apartments) on Christmas Day! We were also one of the few lucky ticket holders for the opening of Les Miserables that night at AMC. Along with our friend Kelly, we pushed through the crowds and got a pretty good seat in the movie theater. The movie was fantastic and great way end Christmas Day!

Belvedere Castle in Central Park on Christmas Day

Living in New York City on Christmas would be a waste if we didn't attend Broadway shows! Richard has a slight...ok, large obsession with A Christmas Story. When I first saw it advertised, I knew we had to see it! Being such a huge fan of the movie - Richard was quick to point out all the lines that were changed, scenes that were altered or cheesy songs that were added. LOL Despite himself though, I think he really enjoyed it! Much to my excitement, Richard surprised me with tickets to see Scarlett Johansson (one of my favorite actresses of all time) in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof! The play was awesome. There are 0 scene changes in the 2 hr and 45 min play, but it was very intriguing and our seats were great!

Seeing Scarlett Johansson in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof on Broadway!

A Christmas Story The Musical on Broadway

Other fun Christmas festivities in New York City included...

Our Community Group's $0 present exchange!

Serving at Hope for New York's "Present Store" for those less fortunate.
We have never wrapped so many gifts in so little time!

Ice Skating in Central Park thanks to Capital One's Associate Holiday Party!

5th Avenue, Union Square Holiday Village, FAO Schwarz, & Saks Window Displays

And of course, THE TREE in Rockefeller!! You can get so close to it and it's guarded 24/7. Very cool Christmas in the big apple!

2 months post-Sandy, Learning kindness from a little girl that lost everything...

It's been almost two months since Hurricane Sandy hit and devastated the Northeast. It was very strange being in New York City while Sandy was approaching.  During the days leading up to the storm most seemed undisturbed by the news reports. Just like the rest of New York, we didn't miss a beat Saturday night and went to dinner and a haunted house. However, Sunday felt a little odd. News reports increased and batteries, bottled water and beer began flying off the shelves. The city's homeless changed their signs to react to the hurricane. Street conversation turned to the approaching storm...most talked about the overreaction and that last year it was nothing. Monday was calm, anxiety began to rise and most began to feel claustrophobic staying inside - especially when living in an apartment slightly larger than a closet. No more homeless individuals were on the streets, the city and nonprofits had picked everyone up. Public transition shut down. Then the realization hit... The realization that you are on an overcrowded island. Most have no car and with public transit being shut down, you really didn't have too many options if you had to grab your "go bag" and flee your apartment. When the howling and whistling noises started Monday night, the dogs went on a barking rampage...they were beyond confused. We live in a 3rd floor walk-up pre-war building next to the East River - our apartment is in-between two buildings...so you really can't see much of the outside world. Thankfully, we never lost power, so we were able to watch all news in real-time. Seeing how we live in the Upper East Side, we didn't feel threatened by flooding... we had no idea that the surges would impact the East River. That night, we didn't realize that the East River had come over FDR highway and onto our street until we heard an extremely loud noise in the middle of Sandy. So, logically, we went outside to see what was going on. Due to the water surge, we had an explosion on our street. Given that explosions were happening all around the city, no one could get through to 911. By the grace of God, a police officer happened to be on our street monitoring the surge and was able to call for help. The end of our building lost power. It was pretty crazy to see the highway we look at every day filled with traffic underwater...and the water rising toward your home. But we were fine - and only had minor inconveniences of having no cell service for a week and having to both work from home because our offices did not have power. We were completely fine.

The morning following Sandy, we walked 40 blocks south to lower-Manhattan. We couldn't stand to hear another news report and wanted to see with our own eyes. While lower-Manhattan did not receive even close to the amount of damage as the Far Rockways, Jersey and Staten Island, it was still eye-opening to see.... with no power, structural damage, trees in the streets, and limited transit, there was a lot of confusion... we saw an entire glass-enclosed bus stop shattered, areas underwater and a Manhattan that we did not recognize. Volunteer efforts and emergency efforts were hectic. People wanted to help, but couldn't physically reach the areas that needed the most help. If they could get there, they often didn't have the supplies needed.. Our news stations highlighted the worst and political debates continued...

To view photos we took the day after the storm in Lower Manhattan, visit:

Hurricane Sandy - Lower Manhattan

Now, almost two months after Sandy, relief efforts are still in full-force. Skilled-volunteers with appropriate equipment are being called to help...so many are displaced throughout the boroughs. So many have lost everything - their homes, neighborhoods, jobs and for kids, their normal routines, school and daily interactions with friends. Through my job, I had the opportunity to hear the stories from some of these kids that were displaced from the Far Rockaways and Staten Island through the Heart of America's Operation Buddy Packs program. We delivered backpacks to these kids that included necessities along with fun and educational items. While helping one little girl open up her backpack, I learned that she lost the life she knew in the Far Rockaways and was busy starting her new life in Manhattan with a school full of new kids and neighborhood she doesn't recognize. With each item she pulled from the bag, her eyes opened wide and her smiled became bigger. The little boy next to her was whining that she had two balls in her bag and he only had one. The little girl who lost everything happily handed over one of her balls.... she didn't even think twice...

A very Texas Christmas!

This is one of many firsts for us...not living in Texas at Christmas time. It was so good to kick off the Christmas season southern style...tex-mex, whatatburger, shorts weather, cars, suburbia, family, friends, kids and traditions. A whirlwind trip for sure, but we made the trek from NYC to Dallas followed by Lott, Tyler, Nacogdoches and Houston in 4 days and had a great time... a little loopy from lack of sleep, but who needs sleep anyway?

Twas three weeks before Christmas
and two NY transplants
headed homeward to Texas
to see uncles and aunts

and cousins and fathers
and mothers and such
with just 4 days to visit
it seemed like so much!

But we learned once again,
upon our flight reaching ground
that all time in Texas
just seems to slow down

We had wonderful visits
too many to track
we can't wait to repeat it
next time we come back!

Home sweet home in NYC... and by sweet, I mean it's Holiday Baking time! 

Things I will never accomplish in Zumba.

I love Zumba, but...

I'll never have the same amount of endorphins as every Zumba instructor I meet.

I'll never quite master the "booty" shake, spins, or high speed Salsa (crack salsa as I like to call it).

I'll never not run into the person beside me or shout during the routines... let's face it, I can't move and shout at the same time.

I also probably will never smile as instructed during the routine, because that just feels...silly.

And this is how tired Zumba made me...

[Photo compliments of my rabbit dog, Pickle]

I'm Thankful...

In the spirit of it being the last day of November, I'd like to share a list of things I'm thankful for...in no certain order.

• I'm thankful I'm no longer 11, 12 or 16....well, really any school-age for that matter. Awkward years.
• I'm thankful for wine, wogs by the East River (wog = walk / jog) and bananas.
• I'm thankful my dogs respond to Mugs, Muggins, Roo, Reuben, Pickle-Jean, Loo-Roo and other random names Richard and I have given Pickle and Sundae. I'm also thankful they have not forgotten their real names.
• I'm thankful for hardwood floors, internet, and being able to receive Facebook alerts on my phone. How else would I keep up with the latest drama of what's for dinner. These are important details.
• I'm thankful that Express and Lauren Conrad make it easy to select clothing, since I didn't inherit the style gene.
• I'm thankful for a husband that joins in crazy dreams with me...like traveling all 50 states, moving into a 450 square foot apartment and always accepting my detailed calendar invites that plan out our lives to the minute...and for the balance of my spur of the moment personality mixed with his logical thinking.
• I'm thankful for childhood, college and adult friends who have become my family. I'm thankful for coming from a large family and inheriting a second family, never a dull moment. And I'm thankful for the people who come in and out of my life in seasons.
• I'm thankful for cute office supplies, headsets and a work schedule that allows me flexibility.
• I'm thankful for a church I can walk to, a community group that understands what it means to be a displaced Texan living in the craziness of NYC and a God that always listens to me.

...and I'm very thankful for the opportunity to spend Christmas in NYC! Let the countdown begin! 

Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park 

Our first Thanksgiving in NYC!

Growing up in the South brought its fair share of Turkey Day traditions. As we sat around the dinner table with friends at our first Thanksgiving in NYC, we all reflected on various traditions growing up. My memories bring back an abundance of food, my mom's favorite dishes and leftovers! Richard's memories revolve around hunting and hot sauce wars (who can eat the hottest hot sauce, a tradition I have now joined). We both share memories of Dallas Cowboy games each Thanksgiving - a tradition that Richard will no doubt pass along to our kids.

Our first Thanksgiving in NYC was filled with...

gorgeous Central Park views...

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade fun...

our first Friendsgiving...

 Servin' up turkey with our community group at The Bowery Mission....

 our Thanksgiving house guest, Bella...

and lots of laughter...

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."

Psalm 107:1

Richard's Super Awesome 27th Birthday!

I can't believe Richard is 27...it's crazy to think we met when we were 18 years old. At 18, Richard had shaggy hair, glasses, lived in his white Skechers and never left home without his brown arm band. :) Friday night was kicked off with a birthday breakfast dinner (of course, Richard supervised...can't have me catching the kitchen on fire for a 4th time...we are past the charm). Over the weekend, we snuck away to visit states #44 and #45 - almost to 50 states! The weather was beyond perfect, and we were able to spend a ton of time outside with our little furry friends. We even found a Kohl's to buy our yearly addition to our Christmas village and a Dollar Tree to buy Christmas decor since we left everything in Texas! I know this may not sound exciting, but these stores are nowhere close to us now that we live in NYC - needed my suburb fix. :) On Sunday night, the Cowboys won - of course, in honor of Richard's birthday. Monday was a lazy day off. Birthday weekend = success!

Two things I love about the Northeast: 1) The Fall colors are amazing and so vibrant! 2) In a short car trip, we are able to hit so many states - it's not like driving the entire day across Texas!

Our weekend travel included driving across Connecticut, spending a day in Boston, MA and then spending the next day in Newport, RI (which I've added to my list of one of the most charming cities in the US). Check out the gorgeous Fall foliage!

Connecticut

Snow during the drive through CT

Massachusetts 

Cambridge, MA

Part of Harvard University: Cambridge, MA

Driving through Cambridge, MA

Boston Commons in Boston, MA

Boston Commons: Sundae and her frog

Boston commons - Pickle staring down a squirrel

Boston, MA: Boston Commons

Boston, MA: Boston Commons

UBurger in Boston!

Very tired after a fun day... :)

Rhode Island

Cliff Walk: Newport, Rhode Island

Beautiful day!

40 steps at the Cliff Walk

Family Photo! Newport, RI.

Bowen's Wharf

Bowen's Wharf: Shops, dining and pretty views

Bowen's Wharf

Ocean Drive (10 mile drive) in Newport, RI

Newport, RI