We spent Christmas Eve in the East Bay this year, starting with a barbecue buffet lunch, topped off with ice cream sundaes at Fenton's.
 |
| All you can eat lunch still means leaving space for dessert at Fenton's. |
|
|
|
Come evening time, it was time for the annual luminaria lighting in our neighborhood. This was the first time we got to experience it. Several blocks are lined with candles in paper bags. People from all over the city come for a nighttime stroll. It's the first time I've lived somewhere where our block is part of the main attraction.
 |
| It's hard to capture this in a photo, but imagine all the sidewalks and streets lined with glowing paper bags. |
 |
| Here's the same spot with Thu, Kenji, and the elusive Tai. |
Finally, we came home to open gifts. Tai was extremely excited this year. I think the first gift he unwrapped was a book, and he screamed and ran to his room to flip through the book. "But wait Tai, there are more gifts," we told him.
He loved his books, and Cars and Toy Story gear, and all the gifts people gave to him. He was moving so fast all night, it was hard to get a picture of him!
 |
| Kenji filling out his Santa suit. |
 |
| Mommy happy with her boots. |
 |
| Tai carrying the Mack the Truck trailer that housed 15 new cars from the movie "Cars." |
What's Christmas without heading into the mad rush of Union Square for a little shopping and people watching? And of course, posing by the giant Christmas tree?
Faux figure skaters, Auntie Uyen and Tai.
We ended the day with a lovely carousel ride. Thank goodness Tai finally loves the merry-go-round!
Kenji says "Hello, Auntie Shalu!"
Maybe the next generation of college roomies.
Here's Carissa! What a cutie. Tai and Kenji paid a visit not too long after she was born.
Meanwhile, as the babies eat, sleep, and cry their way through the day, the older cousins are becoming good buddies.
