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And they did a really cool thing. My Godmother and her husband, I mean. They put an icon in the corner near the ceiling of the dining room. Before we ate we all stood facing it, and sang together, first "Christ is Risen" three times, and then the Our Father.

Is your Godmother Russian? I ask this because what you describe is typical for the Russian Orthodox. This is the way we "say grace".In my family (and also all of my friends who are also Russian and Orthodox) we always do this. I remember the first time my non-Russian brother-in-law experienced this at our house - he was quite impressed. Now (after 12 years of marriage to my sister) he's very used to it. : )

Xpuctoc Bockpece! (Hristos Voskresie!!)

Yes, standing and facing the icon in the dining room and praying before the meal is standard Russian practice. We've done it since our days as catechumens, just using the prayers from the Jordanville prayer book.

And during the Paschal season, singing Christ is risen X 3 either replaces or is added to the usual prayers. Same with the Nativity tropar during the 12 days of Christmas, Theophany tropar in the Theophany season, etc...

There are many traditions, though -- the main thing is to pray!