California Christmas 2010

Ashley and I made our annual trip back to California for Christmas, and we had a great time. On Wednesday morning we flew in and her mom Melissa and her step-dad Dan picked us up and we drove straight down to Pasadera Country Club in Monterey to do our food tasting for our wedding in May. The food was awesome, and we can't wait to share that day with all of our friends. Here are some teaser pics of the venue.




View from the back, where the outdoor dance floor will be located.




I really like this photo with the country club in the background.







On Christmas Eve, I took my grandma to get her haircut, and while I waited for her to be done, I drove past the old house that my brother and used to live in in Los Gatos. We lived there for almost three years. Here's a photo of the house back in December of 2006.




Soon after I moved to San Angelo, Texas, my bro moved out of the Los Gatos house and it was torn down. Here is the same plot, four years later.





This bar in downtown Los Gatos called The Black Watch is home to the hugest kamakaze I've ever seen. One, and you're done.




This year on Christmas Eve, my mom hosted all of us over at her house for dinner. At 2:30 we all met at the cemetery to say hello to my dad and do our annual balloon release. My brother Scott and his wife Vida brought their two daughters, Lola and Camila. Here's Lola saying hello to Grandpa Tim.






After the cemetery, we loaded everyone up and we went to El Camino Hospital, another tradition we've done for almost 20 years. We all bring over trays of snacks, candy, and other goodies and put one in each waiting room on every floor and at some of the nurses stations to hopefully bring some holiday cheer to everyone's day. The best part, though, at the end of every floor, we take the balled-up aluminum foil and try to make a basket in the can adjacent to the elevator. Here's Scott attempting a shot. He won overall but we all had a great time.




After the hospital we all went back to my mom's house for dinner and some presents.




Ashley with Camila.





Camila hanging out nearby while we ate dinner.




My mom holding Camila while Lola opened a present from me and Ash.




Christmas Day was a rainy one. I woke up and went over to my brother's house to hand out for a little while before I went over to Ashley's mom's house. Lola and Scott were playing together throughout the afternoon.



Here's my brother's dog Biggs crushing his Christmas present. A new rawhide bone.




Even though it was raining, we found a small window where my brother and I could take Biggs and Lola on a walk to the park. Here's Biggs bringing back a chew toy.




Lola trying to figure out the umbrella.







Me trying to get Biggs to look at the camera, but he was too locked in on the chew toy.






Lola taking her turn throwing the toy to Biggs.







Time to head home because the rain was kicking up again.





I headed over to Ashley's mom and Dan's where we had an awesome fondue dinner and present exchange. We headed back home early Sunday morning because I had to work Sunday night. We had a great time and we look forward to an awesome 2011. Happy New Year!