Ho Ho Ho'ing About

As every year, the day after my birthday means the countdown to Christmas is officially T minus six…since the family was visiting, we launched ourselves into the full Christmas warp. Due to the incessant snowfalls, we seized the opportunity of a clear day and headed to mini-Asia, Richmond, for a shopping excursion. Here I had a delicious lunch of tonkatsu curry raisu.


Oh yum!

The mall also featured some ladies singing carols in bonnets and this lovely, giant tree. Oh, and lots of Asians.




View from my Papa’s perch in the food court.

On December 21, Jean made me my birthday dinner and guess what? I had tonkatsu again! Delicious work Jean!


As you can tell, I do love tonkatsu.

Two days later (now December 22), Marty, the Sisses and I ventured into downtown Vancouver amid the large snow banks to battle the crowds in the stores and have lunch.


View in the AM from my bedroom window.


View along Hwy #1.





Shopping was actually a fairly terrible experience that day, mostly due to the ridiculous amounts of slushy snow and water on every street corner, making crossing the street a dreaded experience. Sis flooded her UGG boots while I only flooded my All-Stars twice (thanks to those delightful little air holes near the sole.) While waiting at one particular corner, a city bus decided to give us a wash when he ripped by and sent a tidal wave of brown water towards our mostly-dry selves. Perfect. I thank the good Lord to this day that I had already stuffed my Prada bag inside my sister’s giant Mat & Nat hockey bag. Thank you Sis! I think I would have cried.

Christmas Eve brought more of that white powdery substance that plagues everyone’s images of a beauteous Christmas…





















At least work was cancelled.

Since the parents were staying at my Aunt’s house, we headed over there for a Christmas Eve dinner. The snow continued to fall and over-populate the region…soon they will form a small army and overtake us.






Wow!! So here we have (top to bottom): Stir-fried vegetables, simmered chicken, noodles, and chicken broth. All the makings of a belly-warming meal.

After the meal, we opened a few presents with my Aunt as she had to go to work in the evening…the Christmas excitement was building.




B was psyched.



Since I’m such an incredibly thoughtful person, I went about making a present for my Aunt since I couldn’t figure out what to buy for the person who buys absolutely everything she ever wants for herself. My idea this year was a photo collage of family photos, mostly those including my Grammy, who died earlier in the year. Needless to say, it was a success.



She had to leave for work shortly thereafter and the festivities were to continue at our abode, where the birthday tree had been loaded up with goods for some time now, begging to be opened.



After we got the Christmas tunes a-playing, the paper bags (aka stockings) were first up.


What loot!


B’s loot.


Marty making work of my wrapping job.

My big gift of the night was precisely what I thought it would be...


Ba ba da baaaa! Yes! Fashion designer Erin is well on her way now. All I need is a snappy name for the brand. How about something French like “Les Filles et Coup!” What. It needs work.


Here is Papa-san checking out his newest gift from Sis…


…and realizing it’s the same shirt he’s already wearing! What a Christmas surprise! He looks very cute and cuddly here. Aw.


Christmas goods from B.


Sweet MAC brushes from Sis.


Now what does this look mean? Well, it says, “Wow Erin, you bought me something for Christmas that I was watching on my eBay list! How did you get into my eBay account?”


B, excited by her Juicy bracelet from moi (wearing her biscuit earmuffs from moi.)

Hey where is the picture of Sis opening her Tiffany’s bracelet? AH! Here it is!


I'm the best sister. C'mon world, bring round that champagne and recognize the extravagance.

After the excitement and mess of gift wrapping exploded in my living room, we sat and chatted and munched the night away. Christmas morning arrived soon enough and, alas, what a snowy scene was to be observed.





Another day meant another gathering at my Aunts, this time with different food. We made a gingerbread house (my second of the season!) and this one turned out quite swimmingly indeed.



There goes another Christmas holiday. Thanks for all the songs, Mariah, NSYNC, Clay Aiken, Boney M and others. Thanks for all the pounds, Brookside chocolate-covered almonds. Thanks for all the smiles, retailers far and wide. And thanks for the memories, family and friends!