December

The final month of 2009 starts with a trip to Malibu, where Tara's cousin, Elisabeth, marries Mr. Todd Constantine.

The trip begins with a smooth, non-stop flight on Virgin Airlines.  Tara and James are immediate fans.  Upon arriving in Los Angeles, they hit an In-N-Out Burger, and Tara goes for the gold, ordering her very first burger, "Animal Style."  They pick up Tara's dad and his girlfriend, Lynne, who come in on a later flight, and they all head over to the Renaissance Mariott Hotel, where the rest of the family is gathering for the big event.

Dad and Lynne relaxing at the rehearsal lunch

Although the weather is unseasonably cool, the weekend is a blast.  The hotel is wonderful, the wedding venue, Calamigos Ranch, is stunning, and being in the company of family once again is the best part of all.  Dad wrote a song for the ceremony that James and Tara accompany him on.  This photo shows us rehearsing in the parking lot of the hotel...

  And he also sings a song that he wrote almost thirty years ago for his brother Rob's wedding (Elisabeth's father!) Grampa Jack performs the blessing at the end and brings the house (and the tears) down. 

Tara and James have to admit that it's a lot less stressful attending a party than throwing one.

Dad, Tara and Grampa 

Pretty awesome, huh?

It is a great party, and this scene performed by the "Spaceballs" table is a testament to the fact.  Go Spaceballs!

Tara and James come back to New York, ready to tackle packing (MOVING!!!), baking (CHRISTMAS COOKIES!!!), shopping (GIFTS FOR SO MANY PEOPLE!!!), and working (MONEY FOR ALL OF IT!!!) 

Tara makes 50lbs of peppermint bark for Michele and John's 120-person staff at the hospital.  James works long hours at Nunu, both in the store and at the Union Square Holiday Market.  He wears three pairs of pants and lives on hot chocolate. 

Michele and John adopt a sweet older dog from the Berkshire Humane Society.  His name is Cyd.  His head is enormous, and so is his heart.   They gave him the best present ever...a home.

Tara travels to Natick, Massachusetts with her Dad and the high school speech team that he has been coaching.  It's a trip down memory lane as well as a great time hanging with the Pop.

James and Tara package up about forty boxes of cookies as gifts for friends, deliver them to all their NY peeps and then hit the road to spend the holidays with their families. 

Nothing says "Happy Holidays" like a hatchet.

James' sister, Amanda and her fiance, Chad.

Barry Family Christmas...

Dinah, currently training for the U.S. Open in Women's Singles, takes a break from her busy schedule to join Tara and James for the holidays.  She showers us with gifts-James receives a diamond encrusted guitar pick and a 24-karat bathrobe is bestowed upon Tara.

Christmas at Tara's Mom's house is rowdy, naturally.  Here's Michele dancing in her new velvet jacket...

Everyone is spoiled as usual.  By the end of Christmas night, the yule log is long since burned out, the remains of the roast beast dinner sit patiently wrapped in foil for the midnight snacker, and James, true to holiday form, becomes the target of many prank photos.  And so...

To all of our wonderful family and friends,

Thank you for your patience and for letting us share 2009 with you.

Let 2010 be a year (well, now about 11 1/2 months) full of happiness, joy, and peace...

to share with everyone you know.

Much love always,

Tara, James and Dinah