Happy New Year!!

Well, folks, it's been about 3+ months since our last post. Sorry! William and I enjoyed a quiet holiday season at home in Chicago this year, an unusual choice for us. We usually like to jet-set somewhere. We were, however, taken care of and well-fed during the holidays. Our friends took good care of us. We celebrated Thanksgiving with actual turkey thanks to Malora. Seeing as I never will cook turkey just for the two of us, we can go a year or two without tasting the yummy bird. Malora (and Martha) and her visiting family welcomed us to dinner which was delicious. Malora and Charlie not only got to host her family for Thanksgiving in their new condo, but they also did Christmas with Charlie's clan too! It's been a busy year for them. We spent Christmas day with Margaret and Doug (yes, Margaret of the wonderful food blog - see link below). The dinner was amazing. I'd never had risotto and now I don't think even a fine restaurant could do it justice. I may have to visit Margaret more often, just for her cooking...even in Dallas. Thanks to Doug as well who braved to cold to bbq a leg of lamb for dinner. It was a great time. Prior to Christmas, Margaret also had a Tamale Making Party. (She truly has cultivated the better parts of being of Mexican descent. I should have mastered the food and not the language!) It was a lot of fun and provided ample supplies of tamales to all. William was the most excited I've seen him about food in a long time. He spread masa and took direction from Margaret with more dedication than anyone else! New Year's was spent at the McNally abode, also a new purchase. Malora, Charlie, Will, and I braved the last winter storm of 2007 and drove out to the burbs (we saw a few cars in the ditch on the way-bless William for getting a 4-wheel drive monster). We started in on the wine (the cheap, sweet white stuff for Charlie and I) and chatted up to, through, and after a delicious multi-cultural dinner. :) We rounded off the night with some darts and pool (the beginnings of Mark's manly den) and stayed the night to sleep off the wine and the worst of the snow.

The new year brought an quick trip to NY to catch up with Ofelia, Armando, and Alonso. We spent a few days there during some bitterly cold weather. However, it was nice to see them and tour NY. We ate some sumptuous food and caught a Broadway show, Wicked. We left them to return to work here at home and let them free to see all the museums they so desired. What else would a museum exhibit designer want to do in NY??

Will and I are both back at work. I am teaching one new and one old class which makes lesson planning a bit easier. My computer lab responsabilities were passed to a colleague, so that leaves me time to plan and make tests for this new class which also has a completely new textbook. It's a bit of work, but hey, I'd rather be challenged than bored. :)

The family is well. Will's mom just got back from a month long trip to India. My family in Canada was visited by our cousin and his family from Mexico. They made the complete rounds to see everyone! I don't even do that in one trip! The girls saw snow for the first time, learned to ski, when to a hockey game, went toboganning, etc. Mom and Dad were delighted to have company over the holidays and my brothers were happy to see family from Mexico which does not happen that often up north.

Well, for those of you we didn't see over the holidays, let's remedy that soon. :) Of all the crazy toasts we made on New Year's, I pass on wishes for good health, good travels, and good meals with friends to all of you!

(Pics of our antics are on Flikr)