This past Wednesday, Thom and I headed over to New Jersey to share a little Holiday Cheer with the Armstrongs. [Sorry for the crappy photos. Next time I’ll bring a real camera. Or at least use SteadyCam.]

Christine and Pat made some amazing cucumber salad, string beans and tomatoes, delicious latkes and even a yummy yule log.

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Brianne and Orla quality time.

Thankfully there was a convenient Shamwow! under the tree but it was no match for a full glass of red wine.

A spirited game of Apples to Apples.

Amy making her case for Greenpeace being violent. Or was it non violent?

After Mary Ellen basked in her win, Thom and I headed back to Brooklyn for a bit of fun with Matt and Jackie fueled by a Gin Fizz or three.

There may have been a full on reenactment of Spring Awakening in the Holland Tunnel.

Finally it was time to rest. And almost time for a whole new year. 2008 has been pretty damn good to us. hol

And I got my nails done for the occasion! The picture doesn’t really do it justice. We’re talking 4 different colors of polish. Festive, right?

[There are so many benefits to our neighborhood.]

Thom took this spooky picture of the tree. Doesn’t it look like a dollhouse?

Toy soldiers giving an a cappella concert in the lobby where I work. So bizarre and, yet, entertaining. They were actually quite good and totally into it. But I’m dying to know where they come from. Do you think they tour all the office buildings in the city? Do you think they are out of work actors?

(Please forgive the truly crappy picture. Stupid phone with no flash.)

Ornaments, originally uploaded by HeroProtagonist.

The “holidays” officially begin today. At least in my mind, where “holiday” really just equals “not being at work.”

I’m so excited for the food and relaxation that I’m having trouble focusing on the work that I actually do need to get done before I leave today. Too many shiny ornaments dancing in my head.

Hope everyone has a nice celebration of the end of the year. A year that has been for us - amazing, wonderful and life-changing.

If you haven’t met Dean Damon I feel sorry for you. He’s just one of the most amazing people on Earth. And one small part of that is the fact that he still sends us popcorn every year even though Haverly no longer lives with us.

If you ask me - Haverly got lucky in that department.

And damn proud.

Haverly’s mother, Linda, made these amazingly gorgeous stockings from scratch! I’m the doves and Thom is the partridge in the pear tree. I can’t wait to start filling them with treats.

We owe Linda one big huge “thank you.”

Jasper’s Xmas gift from Val & Tony is a bone bigger than him. We keep telling him he’s supposed to play with it but he still thinks it’s a bed.

We’ll take any excuse to celebrate around here. Maybe that’s why on December 1st we were out getting our tree. And naturally we recruited Ms. Damon - Queen of all things Christmas. Plus she’s just damn good at lifting heavy things.

Haverly picks the biggest tree she could find.
Putting the tree through the wrapping machine. (The iPhone’s camera malfunctions whenever it feels like it - boo.)

The tree finds a home.

Now we just need some ornaments - and presents!