Japan Time!: Christmas at Home

My vacation home to California for Christmas break was truly amazing. Amazing amazing. I could easily make a blog about each and every separate day, but instead, I'm just going to give a happy nod to my time at home. I was at home in Southern California from December 22 through January 5th. And I wish I would have stayed an extra week. It wasn't long enough.

From the 22nd through the 27th, was mostly family time for me. My parents left on a cruise on the 27th, so I had to milk every last drop out of the time before they left. The first thing that I did upon being picked up at the airport was go through the Del Taco drive-thru and then make a stop at my grandmas house (dad's side). That was cool because my grandma's house was the last place I stopped before leaving for the JET program.

Del Taco was not good for my stomach. At all. But mmmmmm.

Day 1- Watched the latest (at the time) episode of Doctor Who with my dad. Saw Avatar. Spend time with family.

Day 2- Did last minute Christmas shopping with my mom. Spent most of my "fun money" at Costco to bring back stuff for my Japanese co-workers and students. Went to my best friend's husband's birthday party.

Day 3-Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve is held for my dad's side of the family at our house.

Day 4- Christmas Day. Christmas Day is held at my grandma's house for my mom's side of the family. The picture below is from Christmas day.

Day 5- Saw the Blind Side with my mom. More Shopping. Caught up with my Vietnam buddies during the night. Love you Diane, Kristy, Noah!

Day 6- ... okay. I really could go through every day. I remember everything clearly.

But lets just say every single day was full of excitement for me. I spent a lot of time with my sister because I was her babysitter while my parents were on the cruise. She's 15 so not really a babysitter. But an eye-keeper person. So I dragged her wherever I could so she wouldn't get into trouble.

It was really really nice to see my best friend's new baby, and hold Leena in my arms. Baby Leena is amazing and sooooo little. How are babies so little?

It was really nice to spend New Year's Eve Night with Jamie. I had a wonderful time being at a church on that night, not drinking or being crazy. Just pure fun the way fun is meant to be had.

I'm happy that I got to spend a lot of time with Julie, the most rad gal L.A. has ever known!!

I'm really happy that we had a Young Democrats reunion, and ate Vietnamese food in Little Saigon. Oh, how I miss little Saigon, and its inhabitants like Jamison. :)

This is much more than a nod. But I gotta thank everyone. Everyone! It was nice seeing you Will and Garrett even though I thought Sherlock Holmes sucked.

Thank you to everyone who came to my New Year's Day party! You are all very talented people, I found out. Still can't beat my sister playing the Piano backwards. hehe.

Some people I wish I got to see an extra time... Like Diana and Devina.

And some people I missed completely and I'm sad, but we'll see each-other next time, like Steph. Other people I couldn't see because they moved out of SoCal. Poo on that.

It was great to go visit my old store. I miss my store! But it seems like its in very capable hands...thanks Jim and Carlos!

Wow I could definitely go on for a long long while. Thanks for all the memories guys. Home is where the heart is...and that is in Sunny California. :)