Christmas in NM 2012

Christmas in New Mexico is something special.  The tradition of lighting faralitos (brown paper bags with sand and a candle lit, lining the streets) is just about my favorite thing in the world.  Going home to spend this time with loved ones is pretty great, too :-)

Mom's hand bell choir concert

Faralitos/luminarias (I know the difference, but people still can't seem to agree which one they are)

The traditions continues with dinner with the Pattons.  Each year we choose a country or a theme and make food from that culture.  This year was "Christmas in New England."  And, of course, the celebration would not be complete without Christmas Crackers.  This year Mom really went big and got ones with whistles; each person got a note and we attempted a caroling session... which, as you can imagine, was unsuccessful due to all the laughing.

The Annual Golden Peg Cribbage Tournament was on again, this time with new competition, team names, costumes, & personas.  Sean & Laura were DC Muggins, Tom & Page were Double-Double Trouble, Dan & I were Le Crib, Mom & George were the Bonito Bombers, and Rose & Dale the Moonshine Muggins.  Opening and Closing Ceremonies were conducted by Howard with more pomp than usual, and the winners were, once again, Howard and Mary, the King and Queen of Muggins.  Above you se the Golden Peg trophy next to Stinker the Skunk, who holds a list of skunked players in his paws.

Sledding with Dan's nephews

New Years with some fun-loving Venezuelans

Happy 2013!

 

Snowshoeing in the Valles Caldera

Love that NM sun!

Fire patterns on the trees

Festivus 1.0

For years we have been talking about having a Festivus party (If you don't know what this is, please watch Seinfeld episode "The Strike," classic for so many reasons) and this year we made it happen.  Festivus was Frank Costanza's answer to repudiate commercial holiday craziness and greed.  "It's a Festivus for the Rest of Us!"

Some background: 

Three years ago we joined a trivia league and immediately found we had a rival team, another group of fun-loving, smart 20-somethings looking for fun in Corvallis.  They introduced themselves to us by what we now affectionately refer to as the "throwing of the napkin," whereby one team bets they will beat the other team in the season's standing, a wager and inappropriate drawings are made, and the napkin is thrown at the other team.  A counter offer is then proffered (thrown back) and the deal is sealed.  Thus it began, the seasonal battle of Cheez Whizzez (us) versus Trivial Solution (them).  

Here is a photo of our prize the season (yes, the season *singular*) we beat Trivial Solution:

This past Fall 2012 season, one member of the Cheez Whizzez had what, at the time, seemed to be a brilliant idea: the losers must eat a whole jar of Cheez Whiz (ewe, gross).  Feeling sure that there was no way to lose this, the cocky Cheez Whizzez threw the napkin and the wager was made.  Not too many weeks later it became apparent that there was no way for CW to win the season, and they began to panic.  What they hoped was that Trivial Solution didn't realize that there were worse things than just plain old Cheez Whiz, there was both bacon-flavored and ranch-flavored Cheez Whiz.  What they didn't know was that this fear was small change compared to what they would have to face: a 12-oz jar was child's play.  

When all was said and done, the CW had lost pretty significantly to TS and it was time to make good on the bet.  We usually celebrate with a dinner party, lots of wine and whatever the "bet" was (an awkward dance, karaoke, etc.).  TS was to bring the Cheez Whiz to the party and CW were to consume it.  Never in our minds could we have imagined what showed up.  No, not the 12-oz jar of Cheez Whiz we were dreading, but this:

Yes, folks, 6.5 pounds of Cheez Whiz in a giant tin can.  This solid block of cheese-like plastic was so stuck to the bottom that we couldn't even get it out.  We had to stab holes in the bottom of the can to release it into the crock pot.  It took like an hour and a half to heat up.

Ryan, looking rightfully concerned

A proper Festivus celebration involves dinner and 3 things: an aluminum pole (instead of a Christmas Tree), the Airing of the Grievances (during which you tell all the people at dinner all the ways in which they've disappointed you throughout the year) and the Feats of Strength, which is essentially a wrestling match.  We took our own spin on these.

Feats of Strength: Twister!

A dance, post Airing of the Grievances

The Aluminum Pole

Perhaps you'll join us next year?!