New Year's in LA

As we've done for the last few years, we spent New Year's in LA with Shweetie's family. Shweetie's bosses decided to close their office the week between Christmas and New Year's, so Shweetie and I drove down to LA a couple of days earlier than the flight we'd booked, so we could spend more time with friends and family down there, and so Shweetie could help his sister take care of some house stuff. His sister Salsa and her husband Chips had recently purchased a new single-family house and were having it renovated, and Shweetie was helping them with a lot of the design work and other construction-related details. They'd also just had their adorable baby less than a week before Christmas, so we were eager to meet him!

Baby Guacamole, born December 19, 2009


Sleepy Guacamole, who looks a lot like Uncle Shweetie


"I'm awake!"


"Why do you keep pointing that thing at me?"


Family portrait


Celebrating Shweetie's dad's birthday, with a mango cake and an adorably suspicious Guacamole


He's so tiny!


Cuddling up to Uncle Shweetie


Being fed by Uncle Shweetie


Wearing the jungle onesie we bought for him

Besides visiting with Shweetie's family, we also had lunch on New Year's Eve with Bear, whom we hadn't seen since April. He'd been wanting to take us to this place he really liked, called Break of Dawn, in Laguna Hills. It was YUMMY!

Beef Short Rib: Merlot Poached Eggs, Mushroom Ragu, Prickly Ash Pepper Jus


Duck: Braised Leg, Scallion Omelet and Toast, Butternut-Creamed Corn, Goji Berry Gastrique


French Toast Crème Brulée: Mexican Chocolate and Coconut Custard, Raisin and Cinnamon Brioche, Caramel-Chocolate Sauce

On New Year's Day, we had tea at Tea Station with Bluesky, who was recovering from another crazy quarter of grad school.

It's always blue skies with Bluesky!


Letting Bluesky take control of the camera

Our last day in Southern California, the Saturday after New Year's Day, we drove to The Americana mall in Glendale to have lunch with Cousin Ariel and her husband Phantom. We had brunch at Granville Café. The food was nothing to write home about, but it was so fun to visit with Ariel and Phantom, whom we hadn't seen since their wedding in April.

Village French Toast: Freshly Baked Brioche Bread Dipped in Housemade French Toast Batter, with a hint of Almond and Orange Zest


Village Breakfast: Two Scrambled Eggs, Breakfast Potatoes, and Linguisa Sausage