swearing in

Yesterday Jason was sworn in and can now officially practice law in the state of NY.  I keep posting these "It's official"  (he is done with school, he graduated, he took the bar, he started work, he passed the bar) posts but I believe this will be the last of the officials.  His signature on his work email has read "Law Clerk" but today he gets to change it to "Associate" and call himself an attorney! 

He was sworn in at the Appellate court house on 25th and Madison and the courtroom was stunning.  All the furnishings were a rich mahogany with gold platted moldings throughout and a green stain glass dome in the ceiling.  After my jury duty experience I was worried the courtroom would be similar to the civil courtrooms I was in but it was nothing like that.  I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside the courtroom but I was able to find this one from google images.

He was sworn in with 101 new attorneys so it was a little crowded and I was able to snag a seat on the front row so I could see him.  Just imagine 100 young men and women dressed in their suits, standing in a beautiful court room, all raising their right arms and swearing to be good, honest attorneys.  It was quite the sight and I was so proud that my husband was one of them.  After the swearing in the judge shared a few remarks, quoting Job and his patience and ending with a few words from Bob Dylan.

May your hands always be busy

May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young

100 skills everyone should master

It being the new year, for the first time, I have sat down and put a lot of thought into my 2010 resolutions.  I have made family goals, personal goals, work goals, and things I want to do goals.  Many have posted their lists, which is very brave, but I have chosen to keep mine to myself.  However, I saw this list of 100 skills everyone should master on Design Mom from Kirtsy and thought I would share it.  I love them all; some are obvious, some are practical, some are funny, and some really made me think about what I want to accomplish in my life.  Just thought I would pass it on to help you think about what skills you want to master in the new decade.

christmas

We had a wonderful time in Utah this year for Christmas.  I went home a little early and spent time with friends and family and Jason flew home and surprised his family the day before Christmas eve - it was a Christmas Miracle!  We enjoyed going back and forth between families and it was so nice to visit with everyone.

We met our new nephew, Dylan, while we were home and he was the best baby.  We all fought over who got to hold him next while Shae kept us entertained.  She showed us her dollies, we colored, and she even busted out the tutu and showed us her dance routine to Lady Gaga.  She became my little buddy while we were home and it was sad to have to say goodbye.  She's getting older and remembers us now and she hadn't forgotten me from when she came out to see us.  She is the best little story teller and once she starts talking she doesn't stop.  But our favorite was the excitement of Santa coming.  We got out my dad's sleigh bells and told her that Prancer left them behind and she believed every word.

I only took pictures on Christmas Eve of Shae and Dylan in their Christmas pj's.

It was so nice seeing everyone while we were in UT and we are so sorry if we missed seeing you.

Shae cheesing it

Jason and baby Dylan

Santa's little helper and his little elf

welcome 2010

First off, let me say that I finally have an iPhone and a New York number and I am very excited about it. Jason, on the other hand, isn't loving all of the time I am devoting to my new little friend. Seriously, I didn't know what I was missing.

After the craziness of traveling over the holidays we decided to take it easy and have a low key New Years. We have been dying to see Avatar and since Lincoln Center has the only Imax in the city, almost every show was sold out but the time that overlapped the new year. So while millions were crowded in Times Square freezing, we were enjoying a little 3D on the big screen. I don't even know how to describe Avatar, so I'm not going to try, but I loved it! And I loved Jason in his HUGE 3D glasses. And I love the camerabag app, too.

After the movie we hurried home and went straight to bed so we could be up bright and early the next morning to catch the first bus to Boston. We were very excited about our hotel. A few years ago we went to Boston and stayed at the Intercontinental and since then Jason hasn't stopped talking about how amazing it was. You see, each room has a huge soaking tub that you can slide open the glass windows that separate the bathroom from the bedroom and see the flat screen. This way he could do his two favorite things, soak and watch TV, all at the same time.

So we made it to Boston, did a lot of soaking, walking up and down the quaint little snow covered streets and eating fresh seafood. We have always wanted to go to one of those authentic seafood places where you tie on the bib and crack some crab and that's exactly what we got at the Barking Crab. It was quite the experience, and I would like to point out that I am a much better cracker than Jason, I can crack my crabs and pull out the meat in one whole piece in half the time that he can:)

We had a great time in Boston, it snowed most of the time and the wind was wicked but we were happy. We are strong believers in eating the local cuisine so that is just what we do. When in Philly we eat cheese steaks, when in NY we eat pizza and when in Boston we eat clam chowda! And a we both agreed that there is nothing better than a bowl of Boston clam chowder in a homemade sourdough bread bowl on a snowy New England afternoon. Happy New Year!!

a night with the girls

We had a great time in UT for Christmas this year.  I flew out on Friday and met my beautiful high school friends in SLC for a girls night out.  It was so good to chat about the good old days and talk about our lives and families and how much they've changed.  Two of them have children and it is still so crazy to me that they are mothers.  I've always known them as silly single girls but it only took me a minute to realize we are no longer in high school.  It's funny to think that at one point our lives revolved completely around each other and now our lives are completely separate - a side from the one night a year we get together and completely forget about our husbands and children and go back to our high school days:)

The next morning we went and visited our friend Julie and her lovely family.  She and her husband had breakfast on the table and once again it was so neat to see her interacting with her kids and how amazing she is as a mother.  Her 1 month old, Austin, was so precious and her 3 year old, Brooklynn, was very excited to tell us what she was going to get from Santa.  It was so nice to get together with old friends and I am so grateful for all of the memories we have shared.

The rest of Christmas and New Years to follow.