Anatomy of a holiday card

Happy holidays to you! Hopefully you've received our holiday card for 2007. Here's a look at how we arrived at the end result.

First, you have to have a backdrop. Now seems like a good time to put up the Christmas tree.

Next, it's time to place the flash.

"So, is that OK?"

Then, it's time to find the right place to sit.

Practice with our "stunt double" Star Ledger. Don't want to take the Boston Globe out until just the right minute.

OK, here's our first try. This actually might work. Matt, where's your hat? And hey wait, there's a front page AND a sports page that we can use.

So we'll try this with two sections.

Any minute now.

Almost there. Just a little bit lower.

Are we done yet?

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the final result.

And oh yeah....

Go Pats!

Go Sox!

and Go Celtics!

Now this is a backup band!

Last Sunday, Matt and I went to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark to see the Boston Pops Esplenade Orchestra. For obvious reasons, Matt has seen the Boston Pops on several occasions, but I have not. After me asking numerous questions about the Pops and conductor Keith Lockhart while watching them on TV on the Fourth of July, Matt decided that I should see them for myself.

The concert was delayed an hour because the musicians had one heck of a time getting out of Boston due to the weather. But thanks to Amtrak, they all made it. And it was worth the wait.

What a wonderful time we had. The music was awesome. They had a men's singing group -- Cantus -- with them as well. And yes, at the end of the concert, we sang along with the Boston Pops.

This very well may become a new holiday tradition.

Hibachi, sake, and cupcakes

Tuesday was Matt's birthday. So we celebrated with ...

hibachi...
sake...
and cupcakes.