80 Degree Christmas

I just got back from Paris, and I have LOTS of stories and pictures to share, but first, I'm going to finish up on my LA trip.

This Christmas was fabulous. I brought a huge suitcase full of presents for my family and I refused to let them have any until Christmas day. On Christmas Eve, I slept over at my cousin Michelle's after grubbing on soontofu (that looks strange huh? but how else do you say it in English?). Then the next day, we went to church service at TKC, but I got the time wrong and we were way late.

Back at my cousin's, my family started coming. My mom and my brother came from Fullerton. My cousin Julie and her husband Steve came from Redlands, and my sister Elaine came from LA. This year was a special Christmas since I came in from London and my cousin Julie just got married this past summer so we just got a new member to the family.


Our Christmas tree.


Also, my aunt just finished remodeling her house this year. Here's my aunt, the happy hostess.


And my uncle. I made them open Christmas crackers too.


The newlyweds...my cousin Julie and my cousin-in-law Dr. Steve.

My cousin John invited half the neighborhood over for a party. It was good, though, because we put them to work. While we had Christmas lunch, they cooked on the grill. We were shouting out the window "medium well" and "well done" and they'd come right up. After we had lunch, we opened all our presents.

I got...money from my mom and my aunt and uncle. A wallet from my cousin Julie. Perfume from my cousin Michelle. A sweater from my sister Elaine. I loved all my presents. And everyone loved mine since I have excellent taste.

After family time, my cousin John's friends all showed up and the block party started.


My cousin John (on the left in the striped shirt) and his homies around the fire in the backyard.


Cousin John and his homies sitting on their friend who passed out drunk on the couch.

Then me, Michelle, Julie, Steve, my aunt, and my uncle went to eat soontofu again. Afterwards, Michelle, my sister and some of the guys went to go watch Dreamgirls...but that turned out to be a funny situation so we didn't end up watching the movie. So we chilled at the house some more.

IT WAS A FABULOUS CHRISTMAS...even though it was 80 degrees outside. :)

Also wanted to note a few of my favorite LA things:

TARGET

Discount store like Walmart...but SOOO much better than Walmart. I went to Target like every day while I was home. I used to go to Target every day when I lived in LA. I love Target. The $1 have the best useless stuff. It's just bloody fantastic.

IN N OUT BURGER

Best burgers in the world. It's an only-in-California (and a couple in Arizona) burger chain that just ROCKS!

So that was my Christmas in Los Angeles. I had a lot of fun and I ate SOO much good food and bought a shitload of clothes. I really miss LA and my family, but at the same time, I'm really thankful I got the opportunity to travel and live abroad like this. Hope you all had as merry a Christmas.