Merry Christmas!!!

We had Christmas day brunch with my dad, Dyah and my setengah brothers.

Janet and 3 year old Peyton.

The brunch at the Darmawangsa was fancy. Really fancy.  Ridiculousness fancy.  So fancy that I had caviar left on my plate and no bellini,  so I left it.  I left the caviar so I could get new caviar.  If that doesn't make me a big shot rapper, I don't know what does.

 

It's raspberry jello but he has an oscar in his future for pretending to be drunk.

We haven't mentioned the part about our luggage being ...um... non-available.  That's how I ended up in this appropriately festive shirt.

With Eric (age 7)...Sorry, 7 and 1/2 I was just informed (by Eric).

Dad and Dyah.

The buffet is so big you need a map.  I honestly walked around 3 times before I got out of the "Jakarta room."  Then I walked around 38 more times.  The more you walk, the more you can eat.  It's all about the consumption to cost ratio and maximizing consumption!!!!!!

 Oysters, Pate, Shrimp, Lobster, Crab and Salmon.

I stopped at 11 oysters since I'm allergic.  If I only do 5 at a time I get an itchy face and my throat starts to tighten.  So after 5, I had to space my oysters apart so that I could survive and keep eating the rest of the plethora of scrumptious food.

Prawns, scallops, clams, baby lobster and crab.

Wagu beef wrapped asparagus.

 Fois Gras.

Wheel 'o' parmigiana.

The library that we want in our home.

They will grind and brew coffee to order.

Sushi.  One of my favorite things in the world.  To common-place for this buffet.  I had none of it!

Pate

This fish just likes to chill and watch you.  Get it?  Chill.  He is on a huge block of ice!

Sometimes you want oysters.  Then you want prawns and baby lobster.  Then you think... fois gras would really put a bow on this whole plate.  So you do it!!!

Champagne or wine?  Sure, I'll have it all.

Eventually they ate all the deserts.  Really, all. Then promptly fell into a sugar coma afterwards.  First, they had to play Nintendo DS while they digested the chocolate fondue covered marshmallows.  All 14 of the mallows.

Ahhh. I've had enough lobster and fois gras.  I'll settle for lamb and oysters if that's the only darn thing available! 

Delicious!

Sweaty Santa

MERRY CHRISTMAS

We needed a Santa for the Christmas Fair, and the beard just looked natural.

 

Every one wanted their picture with me including staff and their infants.  Anyone who isn't currently pregnant at our school, has a 1 year old.

These are two of the many toddler Santas.

My Assistant Teacher Ms Ha.

 This is the little sister of a girl I have in Math club, she and I have met a few times.  She was never quite sure if I was in a costume or not and had no idea who I was. She followed me around and petted my beard for about 2 hours.

Some of my 5th graders.

A co-worker who couldn't resist getting his picture taken.

The balloon animal guy copied my outfit.  I asked for a picture with him, he went rogue and hugged a little more enthusiastically than I am used to with strangers.

Janet and our friends were smart enough to sign up for hallway duty.  I don't see a hallway anywhere!

The Christmas Fair was on December 15th.  Everyone has warned us of the freezing horror that is Hanoi in winter.  Well the 85 degree weather was lovely, hot even.  A great day to dry laundry  out by the lake.

 A great day to prepare the lotus grids to hold the plants in place while they grow.

Construction is an on going thing everywhere you turn.

Selling corn by the lake.

Fishing on a narrow man-made dirt wall to separate the large lake from a small fishing/lotus pond.

50 feet from our door.  I have only one question.  How did he get to the perch without going swimming?

These weren't at the market before; snout otter clams.  All of my prices have been cut in half or more at the market.  It has paid off to go to the same people for the same things.

If you want fajitas but can't find tortillas, just throw it on a bun, delicious!

Merry Christmas from the Wrensen's!!!  Have a great time no matter where in the world you are. :)

Love,
Jeff and Janet