Saul and Chelsia: Over the Moon and Back: January 2015

My parents are currently living in New York, on Long Island to be exact. Being that New york is pretty much the midpoint (love me some Geometry jargon) between Spain and California it was pretty much the perfect pit stop on our way back to real life. Addie had arrived a couple days before us from Portland, OR and Josh and Ashly were getting a ride from their next door neighbor from Columbus on Christmas Eve. It was the first time my entire family had been together at the same time since right after the wedding in June 2013 so it was long over due! Saul and I were expecting New York to be super cold but it's almost the same climate as Madrid so we're actually pretty comfortable with the weather.

Typically my family goes to my grandparent's for Christmas but being that my parents are in New York for Christmas for the first time ever (and perhaps the last) we decided to celebrate it at their house. Josh, Saul, Ashly and I (we volunteered Addie to help too) decided we'd cook because we enjoy it and it was the first opportunity we've had to cook a full holiday dinner for people other than ourselves. Saul and I made a 22 lb. turkey, gravy, mac n' cheese, stuffing and double layer pumpkin cheesecake, Addie made the candied yams, Josh made the roast, a beef gravy and mashed potatoes, Ashly made sweet potato pie and boterkoek (a typical Dutch dessert that my Oma usually sends to us), and Mom made green beans because we forgot to make a veggie (oops!). Everything came out spectacular and we cooked enough for something like 20 people so that we'd have ample leftovers.

Mom making waffles, eggs, and bacon for Christmas morning breakfast

Saul's pro at making birds these days. :)

22lbs. of delicious[ness]

Cooks in the kitchen

Josh's mashed potatoes were bomb.com

Hubby carving the turkey

Tis true :)

It's a big responsibility

My dad has been off of work the whole week so we've all just been spending quality time hanging out. New York City is quite beautiful this time of year. We went and saw the tree at the Rockefeller Center which is massive! The rest of the buildings and streets are lit up beautifully as well. Saul and I also dragged the whole family into FAO Schwarz (the toy store in the movies Big and Home Alone 2) which was even more fun now that our little one is on the way.

Central Park

Awww

Rockefeller Center

The same Swarvoski star that's on top of the tree at Rockefeller Center

The Piano from "Big"

We found American Samoa on the puzzle globe

We all marathon watched American Ninja Warrior. Best.Show.Ever.

Ad and Saul in their matching shirts :)

We had kind of been planning on going to Times Square for New Years but everyone agreed that the combination of standing for such a long time and the cold weather would make for some unwanted discomfort. We all stayed home and watched American Ninja Warrior reruns (which we've all been obsessed with the last few days!), watched the final countdown and the ball drop, toasted with Martenelli's Apple Cider and banged pots and pans outside. It was super low key and probably the best way that a six month pregnant woman could spend New Year's Eve plus it was the seventh time I got to ring in the New Year with my sweet husband. Lucky number seven! :)

After New Years Josh finally found a Subaru that he loved in a sexy Charcoal color so Goldilocks is officially no mas. The last day Josh was in New York we all headed up to Oma's in Skaneatles. Of course the day we decided to go, a five-hour drive turned into ten due to road conditions. However, it was great to see Oma, Uncle Frank, Aunt Paulia, and Joel. Plus our baby girl got her second present (the first being the Moroccan Blanket we got her in Morocco), a really lovely crocheted jacket and hat that is still getting its' finishing touches. Anyways, Josh and Ashly are back in Ohio and we're back in Long Island. Snow is falling as I type this which just makes everything look so beautiful.We have a bit over a week left before real life starts again so we're just trying to get as much rest and relaxation in as possible while still trying to prep and get ready for all the business we're going to have to take care of when we're back in California. Even though entering the real world again is stressful, we're so very excited for 2015 and all it has to bring! :)