Home for the Holidays - Part 2 (Christmas)

I slept at my sister's house on Christmas Eve. Before the kids went to bed, Brianna wrote a letter to Santa for her and her brothers and left cookies and milk by the tree. We got up and the morning and opened all the presents under the tree.

All ready for Santa

Nilay, Brianna, and Nikesh ready to open presents!!!

Then all of the family came to my sister's house for dinner. We had a Mexican feast!!! The grandparents wanted to get all the kids presents so they got University of Michigan pillow pets for the 16 kids. As you can see from them opening them, they were a hit!

The pillow pet grandSANTAS!

Opening presents

University of Michigan Pillow Pet (Go Blue!!!)

Grandparents and kids!!!

The dads making a break with the presents!

Home for the Holidays - Part 1 (Christmas Eve)

Christmas Eve started off with a visit to a very quiet University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor. We were the only souls walking around since everyone was gone for the holidays. Sonali, Alisha, Jenn, Sanay and I walk to the Diag where we walked AROUND but not on the "M." None of us wanted to fail our first blue book! 

Then we walked over to my favorite place on campus...the Law Quad. It was a quick trip but it was nice to be on campus, next time I hope to visit at a livelier time. Then we headed over to my cousin's house for Christmas Eve dinner. 

Before dinner they put together some "Minute to Win It" games for the family to play. Everyone had a great time playing and spectating! There was a game where you use a balloon to blow a row of cups off the table in a minute, another was to shake your booty until all the bells in the box fall out before your opponent, and the old classic "Pin-the-Nose on the Reindeer."

Watch that cup fly off the table!

The spectators cheering during the games! 

Getting ready for Pin-the-Nose

Trying to pin the nose on the reindeer just right

Who was the winner???

Preparing for the next challenge... 

The bells are ready. Get ready to shake your tiny booties!!!

The fallen bells

Then we had an Indian fest followed by an exchange of Secret Santa presents. The presents consisted of making an ornament and something bought. All the presents were great! 

Dinner time! 

Beautiful ornament

Visit my blog later this week to see what the Patel family did for Christmas...

Cupcakes!!!

If you know me, you know that I love cupcakes. Here are some pictures of the cupcakes that I made last month. The first two are Chocolate Velvet cupcakes that Viha and I made for Gopi's birthday. The second two are Pumpkin Ginger cupcakes that I made for Christmas dinner at my sister's place. Hope you like how they were decorated! I was quite proud of how they looked!!! :)

Side note: I just got a photo editing program and these are the first pictures I've played around with editing. I hope I made them look better. Also, I hope to start posting my India pictures next week so stay tuned!!!

Lincoln Park ZOOLIGHTS!!!

Last week I went to see the Lincoln Park Zoolights with Dhruva. We were like little kids seeing lights for the first time. There were so many lights and I couldn't help having a huge grin on my face while I was looking at them. If you have a chance, go see the festive lights before they are gone. 

Check out the photos Dhruva took on her blog: http://twoonenine.blogspot.com/. 

2011 Holiday Train!!!

Last Saturday, Viha and I rode the 2011 Holiday Train in Chicago. It was the most fun I've had on the Chicago El!!! We went to the Red line Grand stop to catch the train but it was a bit off schedule so Viha was passing her time playing Words with Friends on her phone. Then the train came and we saw Santa ride past us. This train is the Chicago El all dressed up for Christmas. Every cart is decorated inside and out and there is a sleigh in the middle of the train with Christmas trees, reindeers, and even a live Santa. We got on the train and took it to the Lake stop on the Red line in search of some hot chocolate. We got off the train, climbed the stairs, and ended up at the Macy's holiday window displays. Then we crossed the street to get some hot chocolate and cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery which recently opened up in Chicago. It was a fun and festive Saturday afternoon!!!

Words with Friends

Happy Holidays!

The prettiest El train ever!!!

Santa!!!

Little boy admiring the Macy's holiday windows 

Outside of Macy's

My snowman cupcake and hot chocolate

Jayen's First Christmas!

So Jayen is celebrating his first Christmas this year! Check him out as he is all geared up for the holiday season. Jayen, I hope Santa brings you lots of presents this year!

Stay tuned for more holiday postings this week! Happy holidays everyone!

Meher Dance Company - 2011 Winter Dance Recital

I was asked by my friend Gopi Engineer, who's a fabulous dance instructor, to take pictures of her dance company's 2011 Winter Recital. The performances were great and you could see the enthusiasm of all her students (young and old) in their faces as they danced. Congratulations to all the performers!!!

For more photos from the show and information about classes, visit Meher Dance Company's Facebook page.