
Being New Year's Day 2012 (Can you believe it!?!) I thought I'd start out by sending wishes for a Happy New Year! We've enjoyed a quiet day starting off with church (pushed back to the 11:00 schedule - hooray! for not having to get up so early! - dismay! for the alteration to the nap schedule! - never know how it's going to go...), and rounding out with our first attempt at stay-at-home Chicken Tikka Masala. Both kids ate it up and though I don't think it is an absolute substitute for our favorite Indian Restaurant chicken tikka masala, the Cook's Illustrated recipe yielded about the closest thing I think we could get to it. The chicken tasted just right minus a tandoori oven - and the sauce, while not an exact replica, was delightfully tangy, the right consistency and color, and as I said, passed muster with the kids!

There's nothing like the happiness that exudes from children on Christmas Day! The thrill of Santa's visit done, gone, and all the goodies under the tree is so delightful to behold in the eyes of a child. My children, V in particular, was exultant! Her repeated exclamation "This is the Best Christmas Ever!" was followed by thank you's to each of her family and hugs and raptures. Even knowing she'd have to wait until after church for most of the excitement to begin didn't diminish the fun for her. One present was opened Christmas Eve, stockings were first to be dismantled once we were back home from church, and the presents were tapered throughout the day. I'd agree with her, this Christmas was lovely.

Here are a few of our photo memories. Or perhaps a lot of photos (for the Grandparents!). Wish I had video-taped a thing or two, but photos will have to suffice. Thank you, all of our loved ones, for your cards, gifts, and wishes sent our way!

















