ANOTHER DECEMBER TO REMEMBER - Part Deux*

*Sorry it's so late.

As has become the family tradition, Christmas dinner was hosted by Major Dad and DLG.  MD is an amazing cook, and the menu for the day was equally amazing!  In addition to a ham and prime rib, Linda and I added turkey with dressing and gravy.  The table was so heavily laden with food that there was barely room for plates and silverware!  I think everyone had a wonderful time!  It was especially nice that Fr. Deo and Seminarian Mark were able to join us for the dinner.  All in all, Christmas was awesome!

Just two days after Christmas we got to celebrate once again! This time it was H2FGFNW's (hereafter referred to as DIL3) birthday.  Having already done the cupcake routine twice this month, we opted to go back to the Chantilly Berry Cake from Whole Foods.  As always, a delicious hit!

Mid-week MD/DLG and family went to H-town to visit H1/DIL1 for New Years, as is their annual custom.  Rumor has it that much fun was had and copious amounts of fireworks were set off!  Since Notre Dame Seminary was shut down for the holidays we invited Mark to spend a few days with us, which he did.  For New Year's Eve, Linda and I, Mark, H2 and DIL3 strolled up to the levee to watch the New Orleans fireworks.  Although overcast, the fireworks show was still quite a display!  We all had a great time, and welcomed the New Year with no hangovers (mostly).

As with much of the rest of the country we are having a very mild winter, with temperatures running in the upper seventies, then dropping down to near 30, then back to the 70s again.  Great cold/flu weather!!  Wishing everyone the happiest and most prosperous New Year!!!

ANOTHER DECEMBER TO REMEMBER - Part One

Decembers are always a busy time of year for most everyone.  I sometimes think that we take it to a whole new level!!

December started off with a Linda's birthday present, a trip to the Covington Christmas Extravaganza (craft fair) on Friday, December 2.  It's an annual event for us made special this year because not only did H2FGFNW go, but H2 came along, as well!!  It was a beautiful, cool, sunny day and everyone had a good time.


The day after the craft fair Linda and I went to Drago's for her birthday dinner.  It was, as usual, pretty awesome!  We had charbroiled oysters as an appetizer, then jumbo lobsters for dinner.  And to top it off, we were able to park right next to the front door, and were seated immediately, both of which are a rare occurrence on a Saturday night at the Metairie location!!  The only slight glitch was the darkness in the dining room.  Linda ended up forgetting her jacket, so we had to pass by on Monday to pick it up.  That Sunday we tried a little different approach to the traditional birthday cake, an assortment of cupcakes from the Cupcake Factory.  Yummm!!!

H1's birthday was the following weekend.  We spent that weekend wishing he and DIL1 were back in New Orleans.  :-(

The third weekend marked my birthday which we celebrated with dinner at O'Brien's Grill on the Westbank.  It is an "a la carte" style steak restaurant that was an amazing dining experience, made more so by Angelle, who booked our reservation for us, then worked that evening as our server.  She was great! The food was great!  The evening was great!  Once again we did the cupcakes with the rest of the family as the birthday cake.

Thursday before Christmas we finally put up our tree.  Feeling like a change, this year it was an all angels tree, decorated entirely with angel ornaments.  It came out pretty well, I think.  I had no idea we had so many angel ornaments!!

More to come!!!