So the Advent Tree has been a great success! We've cut, glued, glittered and baked our way to Christmas-and with less than a week to go all we have left are holiday stories, visits and A LOT of wrapping for mom & dad. I am still planning the Christmas menu and can't decided between ham or prime rib. I am tempted to go completely off tradition and make a special pasta since I have been working my way through Giada's Family Dinners. Jack's vote is for marshmallow snowmen. A tradition from my own childhood that I plan on reinstating, though tweeking a bit, is crab for Christmas Eve dinner. When I was little, we ALWAYS spent Christmas Eve at my Grandma Claire's with TONS of cracked crab. I remember those dinners fondly, and would not mind carrying it over exactly the same, BUT Adam thinks cracking crab is, "too much work for what you get," and since his hands are getting a workout in school-I guess I can cut him a break. We will have crab cakes instead.
I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and if I don't make it back-a wonderful New Year!

PS
Jack DID get a haircut. It was an ugly sight and I fear he will NEVER allow his head to be touched again. He misses his, "tall hair," and I have to say, I think it looked better than what we left the salon with. I am slowly and carefully working on cleaning it up while he sleeps.