Trees, Cookies, and Cousins

Here's the much adored tree at Rockefeller Center. To beat the massive crowds, we went early in the morning while the rest of New York was hungover. Madi kept looking at the tree and saying "Wow!".
Do I know how to capture a moment or what? Madeline and Chas looking different directions.

Both looking at the camera now. Click.

To kick off the holidays we had Kayla and Kourtney (Madi's first cousins twice removed) over to decorate Christmas cookies. Kayla is quite a confectioners artiste.

Kourtney and Madi had a good time doing puzzles.

Then we had Lauren and Van visiting from Alabama. Van's adorable sister Suzy lives in Brooklyn. We had a great time with all of them. Van speaks fluent Cantonese and was able to use it in Chinatown. Lauren and Madi are cousins who are 21 years apart...but playtime knows no age...especially when your as good with kids as Lauren is.
After that Akayleighia (Madi's other cousin) and Brandon dropped by from Boston. Luckily they are already used to cold weather and were fearless adventurers in the city. Akayleighia also found her lost luggage --- a miracle on 31st street!

Over the (Delaware) River and Across the (GW) Bridge

We had a great time over the Thanksgiving holiday at the Grandmoore's.

Grandmum has an industrial sized rubber ducky.

G-Pop is reading from a book that Great Grandpa Moore used to read to him and his brothers when they were little. (That's Uncle Michael and Aunt Aminah behind him)

We celebrated Grandmum's birthday.

We all got up so we could boogie down to G-Pop's piano playing!

Then we spent the rest of the time just being grateful for loving family and friends near and far. Madeline is placing a personal call to Grandma and Grandpa Potter.