happy New Year 2009!!!!

I met with friends at the Thames River (on Waterloo Bridge) to start the new year with a few fireworks. The night was cold, yet we managed to keep warm dancing about and singing along to the music playing at the event. 

The fireworks were spectacular, but the highlight of the night for me was being with such good friends. What a great start to 2009! 

After the firework were over and I said a goodbye to my friends, I started my way to the train station to get back home. After two hour of making my way through a mass of people, I was back at my flat. It was totally worth it to spend the new year with friends. I had a blast!! 

2009 is going to be an awesome year!

Christmas in Luton

I thought it was going to be a tough time being away from home for the holidays. Come to find out I have a "Luton family" that made sure I had a holiday filled with smiles and laughs.

I made it to Luton on the 23rd of December. Roma and Neil's home was warm as always and beautifully decorated. The first evening was spent relaxing with some great classic movies.

 

On Christmas Eve me and my friends went out and spent time together before everyone had to split up for holiday with families. I saw friends I hadn't seen in awhile and also met several new people that day. I had a great time relaxing and talking with everyone. We played pool, air hockey, a game of bowling and even had a few runs on the bumper cars before the day was over!!

I spent Christmas afternoon with Roma and her family and the evening with Neil's family. They were all so very kind and even had gifts for me.  We all played some really great holiday games throughout the day and ate LOTS of amazing food! 

 

On the next day,Boxing day, I spent the afternoon with Willow and his family. I really enjoyed talking with his family. His father was very interested in taking another trip to the US and asked many questions about Texas. 

I ate Christmas pudding, sometimes called plum pudding, for the first time and found it quite delicious!  Willow actually made the pudding almost a year ago for the event. It is tradition to make them weeks, even months before the actual holiday. The aging is what gives it its rich taste. They then poor a bit of Brandy over it and light it on fire before serving with custard or rich cream. 

The top of Willow's family tree...

..Later in the evening we made our way to another friend's home and played games for the remainder of the night. We played Bingo, which was a bit different than I am used to, but just as fun nonetheless! We also played an online trivia game that was so much fun...such a riot!! 

Neil and Roma gave me my very own coffee mug, which is there whenever I come to visit! Knowing I have a place to go to whilst so far away from home, The best gift! 

I love you and Happy Holidays "Luton family"!!!

An exciting birthday present this year!

I found out about a week before my birthday that my cousin and my best friend in the whole wide world, is having a baby. I am so excited for her and her husband Josh! 

I am in London, so I won't be able to see her during this time, which makes me sad. I will have to rely on an occasional phone call and images she will send me. I spent a few minuted with her on the phone yesterday and it was so nice to hear her voice and know that she is doing well. She told me she thinks the baby is a girl, but I think it will be a boy, maybe even twins. Regardless, I am looking forward to hearing all about it in the months to come!!! 

I love you Lisa!!!!!!! 

My mom is the best!!!!!!!!

I received a package today; a birthday present from my mom. She sent me an insane amount of pasta and pasta sauce, along with grated parmesan cheese, garlic, spices and a garlic press!! I know it cost her more to send it than what the contents were worth, but the idea behind it was so awesome! I keep telling her I miss her spaghetti, so she sent me stuff to make it!! My mom is the best mom in the entire world. 

I was also able to chat with her on yahoo messenger for awhile. Each year she tells me the story of how I came into this world and all of the trouble the doctors and nurses went through to get me here. It was a tough time for both of us. My mother had pneumonia and they had to take me cesarian section. My mother lost a great deal of blood and at one point, had to be brought back to life. She speaks of all this with such love and warmth for me, that I can't help but smile each time I hear it. Regardless of how much trouble it was she you can hear in her voice that she would do it all over again if she had to. I never get tired of hearing the story! Ever!! 

Some people never hear "I love you" or get hugs from their loved ones. I am so grateful to have grown up in a home with such love, patience, warmth and understanding. 

I am a lucky woman indeed.  

Christmas time at Trafalgar Square