Christmas 2015

This year we thought celebrating Christmas with our families would be much easier since we're back in the states.  While we certainly feel closer with a smaller time zone difference and no more international phone calls, the travel distance is still pretty significant, especially if you have to factor in layovers and indirect flights.  Now I know why they call it the red-eye!

San Fran --> Atlanta --> Fort Myers

Fort Myers --> Minneapolis (!) --> Hartford

Hartford --> Atlanta --> San Fran

Our first destination was sunny Florida, where my parents were vacationing.  My brother and his girlfriend also came in from Chicago, and it was really nice getting to catch up and enjoy the warm weather. My favorite part was visiting Marco Island and swimming in the gulf, while watching dolphins jump in the distance.  That, and all the early-bird specials and happy hours...

I think they're happy we're back  :)

 Marco Island

I'll take beaches over snow any day!

Gotta watch out for those heaps of gators...

After spending time in Florida with my family, our next stop was to Connecticut to visit Ryan's side.  Strangely we had a layover in Minneapolis to get there - but on the upside it provided us enough time to enjoy an American reuben sandwich for dinner.   Hadn't had one of those in a long time.

Christmas morning in CT we opened presents with Ryan's family and my favorite little elves:

...and then in the afternoon we went to auntie Patty's famous annual party.  I was having so much fun I forgot to take a family photo...so here's the best i've got.  Nice table, right? But seriously, this is what Christmas at Patty's is all about - lots of great food, wine...and more food...and fun times spent catching up with all our cousins, aunts and uncles, and of course, Grandma! 

Most importantly the Yankee Swap is where we all end up with some ridiculous gift.  Like this fantastic headlamp.  Thanks Kevin for sharing your prize with me!

And of course someone had to bring the smack-yourself-with-whipped-cream-in-the-face game...

Soon after Christmas it was time to fly back to San Fran.  It was nice being able to enjoy some extra days off to relax and unwind after the trip.  Coco was also very happy to see us, and she appeared a bit more plump.  Apparently while we were away she developed a 5pm addiction to her favorite treats: catisfactions.  The woman taking care of her while we were away must have given her a bunch of treats at the same time every day, because she was meowing for treats like crazy at the same time each day after we got home!

In our free time we decided to support our local hockey team by going to a San Jose Sharks game.  First time i've ever seen a shark zamboni!

And then for New Year's Eve we also decided to support our local costume shop, and bought some viking costumes for a theme party in downtown San Fran.   Luckily viking gear keeps you pretty warm...

Hagar and Helga!

After New Year's, when we were back in Mountain View, we decided to take a bike ride around town and explore a bit.  We discovered the Steven's Creek trail, which goes past the NASA Ames research center, Shoreline Amphitheater, Linkedin and the Googleplex.  I love Google's gigantic T-Rex skeleton...because why not?

Looking forward to summer concerts!