Palmettos and Pearls: nyc and a visit from the in-laws

It is has become a tradition for Richard and me to visit New York at Christmastime every year (either before or right after), and when we found out two of our best couple friends would be there last weekend, we jumped at the chance to join them. It was a really quick trip- up Saturday and back Sunday- in the midst of a crazy month, but we had a great time.

Richard and John in front of Macy's in festive Christmas attire- it's hard to see, but Richard's t-shirt says "don't stop believing" and has a picture of Santa

dinner at Sarabeth's- we met Will's friend, Caitlin, and loved our delicious lobster and corn hush puppies.

We saw the Rockettes with Meghanne and Caleb at Radio City...

and posed in front of the Rockefeller Center tree.

We window-shopped at Tiffany's...

and down Fifth Avenue

and enjoyed trying macarons straight from Paris (after standing in a long line to get them).

We finished up with dinner at John's Pizza with Jon and Amy and hopped on the bus back to DC.

We had only been back for a day when Richard's mom and dad came to visit us in Kensington. Since we are going on a cruise with my family for Christmas, they wanted to come before so that we could celebrate early with them. It was a lot of fun having them in town and showing them around, and I hated to see them leave this morning.

lights at Brookside Gardens

train display at the Brookside Conservatory

Richard and his mom with a gorgeous Birds of Paradise plant

Richard's parents had met several of our Walter Reed friends when they've visited in the past and at our wedding, so we hosted a few of them last night for coffee and dessert so that Mr. and Mrs. Webb could meet the new little ones.