2012: That's a wrap!

I can't think of a better way that I could have spent the end of the 2012 - with my family.  With our nanny going home to Bolivia for three weeks over Christmas, instead of hiring a temporary babysitter, Frank & I decided to coordinate our work schedules so we could watch Frankie.  The week leading up to Christmas was filled with a Christmas breakfast at our house with friends, multiple cookie exchanges, touring Christmas lights, Winter Wonderland at Market Common in Clarendon, shopping and fun with Frankie...at his gym classes, at the park, at the library...

Early on the morning of Friday, 12/21, we scooped up Frankie from his crib and plunked him in his car seat and headed to Long Island.  That evening, Frank and I took the train into the city along with Laura, Jon, Uncle Mike, Aunt Dale and Dad for dinner and to catch the Rockettes 85th Christmas Spectacular Celebration.  On Saturday, the Garone's celebrated Christmas with dinner at the Milleridge Inn - complete with carolers that we actually recognized from the last time we were there about 10 years ago - and gift opening back at Grammy & Grampa's. 

 

Because we were spending 5 days in NY, we were actually able to relax - on Sunday we even went to the park with Frankie, Kate & Emma!  Although, I think Frank would prefer to forget that part of the trip - or maybe he did. :) (While playing tag with the girls, he ran smack into one of the bars at the playground and ended up on his back!  Poor guy!) 

 

Frank's parents hosted Christmas Eve, where the kids got a special visit from Santa!  We opened gifts at Frank's parents on Christmas morning, had dinner at Danielle's and dessert at my grandparents.  The next morning, the car was packed with fresh bagels (and Christmas gifts) and we were off for another 8 hour (urgh!) trip home.

 

I cherished the next few days with my boys at home - we went to the US Botanic Gardens to check out their amazing Christmas display.  Frankie could have spent all day there watching the trains.  I could have spent much longer there...It was really something else!  We walked around DC, oooh'ed and ahhh'ed at the National Christmas tree, spent New Years Eve with good friends - I loved every minute of it.

Watching the trains at the US Botanic Gardens

To cap off our Christmas season, we spent the weekend of January 5th in Winchester for Christmas with my Mom, Andy, Laura and Jon.  More delicious food, holiday memories and overly generous gifts.  We are blessed. 

With Frankie's recent birthday and Christmas, Frank & I have been discussing how we can instill gratitude in Frankie.  Our family and friends are so generous and we are worried that Frankie will become inundated with more stuff than he can use - or worse - appreciate.  As he gets older, we will work hard to stress the true meaning of Christmas and the spirit of giving.

What a wonderful end to 2012!