NYE 2008

So once again we rang in the New Year at our downtown "luxury" apartment. This year there were more than 20 people who joined us for some fireworks and yummy food. Unlike last year, when we prepared a 5-course sit down meal, we thought we'd be a bit more casual and had a Mexican buffet. After a few days of recovery from the whirlwind Christmas, we were ready to cook again.

We- tamarind pork carnitas - cooked in the crock pot for 2 days (a huge hit!)
- home made chile rejellenos - we even baked the chiles
- black bean chile
- home made tomatillo salsa
- cole slaw
- Mexican wedding cookies
- flan brulee (okay creme brulee)

Plus most everyone brought yummy side dishes, appetisers and desserts.

We had a great time rushing in the new year with lots of friends, including Wendy & Shawn, Joy, Pat, Bill, Michael and Holly, Paul and Lynda, Rob and Andrea, Bud and Shannon, Friend and Jenny, and a few more guests. This will be our last year in the high rise living, which is a good thing because the new Infinity Tower is starting to block our view of the fireworks. We did get to see some of the tall ones from our balcony, but they weren't nearly as good as last year.

We're looking forward to moving to a new flat on 5th Ave. and Lake Street. It's a really cute neighborhood that's close to Laurel Village and all the Clement Street restaurants. While somewhat cozy, we'll definitely had much more room to move around. While they call it a 2 bedroom, we'll keep the 2nd as a formal dining room, plus there's a small office / nursery (we hope), and a large kitchen and laundry room. We'll be on the ground floor that opens up to a beautiful garden with a huge lemon tree (more lemon merengue pie!) - I'm told the current tenants live out there. We'll move on Feb 2nd. Hopefully this time the movers will actually show up! It should be a much more convenient place for people to visit (plus we can close off the living room with comfy pull out for overnight guests' privacy).

Christmas 2007

So we had a lovely Christmas this year down in Southern California with Eric's family. While at times it was quite difficult with Adrienne gone and there was a huge void in our celebrations. However, we did a good job celebrating with the family. As with my first meeting of the Legrand family in Christmas '05, there were many celebrations. The first night (Saturday) was dinner with Ron and Diana, brother Michael and his fiancee Kate, Eric's Godfamily the Bafferts as well as Eric's Aunt Nancy and Ken. We had pork, lamb, Adrienne's risotto, veggies, and creme brulee for dessert.

On Sunday we were joined by Patrice, the Jenkins, Eric's Aunt Judy and Uncle Jack, Ken and Nancy, and now 93-year-old great Uncle John. Before dinner we all went to Adrienne's grave and left flowers on her new headstone, which is quite lovely. Tina gave a very touching prayer and we all had a good cry. After that we drove over to the Snoopy House in Costa Mesa (Snoopy and friends have taken over this house for over 20 years I think - so cute - next year I'll take pictures). Then we went home and enjoyed a lovely Prime rib, potatoes, jellow salad, and several pies (including my first stab at a lemon merengue - which was a hit).

On Monday morning we had the Legrand traditional Christmas quiche and opened gifts. As always there were lots of them. Michael and Kate had to leave for Modesto for Christmas with her family mid-day. Then we went to church and had Eric's friend's Mike and Nari with 2 1/2 year-old Max over for some leftovers. The next day we went over to Ron and Diana's friends the Olsens to watch their two children open gifts. Kids these days are so reserved with the whole gift opening process - I would have been done in 10 minutes, but these kids open the gifts, and start playing with them and you have to encourage them to open more. How times have changed.

After that, I made another dessert (a flourless chocolate cake) and then we left for San Diego for Christmas with Eric's cousins Josh and Beth and several of their family. We were able to snag a quick visit visit with my friends Michael and Kristen from DC, who were visiting Michael's parents who live just 5 blocks away from Josh and Beth's house. Small world! Josh and Beth fixed a lovely traditional SD Christmas - Mexican food - that included the most delicious tamales made made by their house keeper Maria. YUM!

On Wednesday, saw "Enchanted" (cute flick) at Downtown Disney, visited with Uncle John, looked at Ron and Diana's construction site in Garden Grove and flew home that evening. After all those celebrations we were exhausted and all we wanted to do for 2 days was sleep!