Christmas and New Years in One Night

I've been visiting my bud Darla for a few days, finishing up my whirlwind tour of Illinois. Today she invited me to join her family's celebration of Christmas (late because there was an ice storm in Illinois last week) and then go out to dinner for New Years.

I felt very welcome and had a wonderful time with her lively Italian family.

Somehow Santa seemed to have found me, as there were lots of presents for me too under their tree. I'm now supplied with an abundance of chocolates! It was fun watching her obviously close family kid and joke with each other. After the exchange of gifts, we all piled into their father's Cadillac (a tight fit with 6 of us) and drove to downtown Chicago to an authentic Italian restaurant. Our dinner was fabulous, and the ambiance festive.

Above on the far right is Darla's dad, John, with his wife, Darla's mom, Phyllis. Next, from right to left, is Darla's sister-in-law, Lisa, with Darla next, then her brother, Darren, and then myself. Below is Darla and I in front of her family's tree.

It was a great day, and a good end to 2008.

Happy New Year Everyone!!

Winter Break

It's the Winter Break. I have a few weeks off from school. I'm using the time to catch up with my friends and family. I'm at the home of my sister and her family for a couple days. We are making REAL Texas Chili, to include the jalpenos and Corona. All we are missing is rattlesnake, or armadillo meat! My sis has her whole livingroom decorated with a Texan theme. She may be living in Illinois right now, but she wants to return to Texas some day. Here we are posing in front of her newest gift from our other sister, who still lives in Texas.

I've a new camera, to take good pictures next week when I go to Peru. My little gift to myself!