Tung loves Christmas. It's filled with cozy fires in the hearth, presents, lots of time spent with family, and good-food overload, which pretty much sums up his favorite things in the world, not counting cars.
This year, we bought a real tree for our very first Christmas at our new house. We toted it home in reliable Lil' White.
Tung put up the ornaments after we got it into the tree stand and in its place in our living room.
Viola! Ze finished tree. Ooooh, sparkly.
The first dinner party was with Tung's family. Servin' up some pasta with chicken cooked in coconut juice...
...and a buche-de-noel from my mother.
Whoa, presents galore! And the Sen family's rat terrier, Ziggy.
"Which one is Ziggy's? Which one is Ziggy's?!"
Tung with his mom...
...Tung with his dad.
Tung's sister, Vi, with her boyfriend, James.
"Whatcha get, Tung, whatcha get?" It's a headset for audio and gaming from his dad!
Yup, once a writer, always a writer. Made even cooler with the digital-memory, Livescribe pen technology.
Next up, we had a dinner party for my family. Servin' up some "nuong vi" and "ca cuon." We cook pre-marinaded beef, calamari, shrimp, and onions on a hot griddle straight at the table, rolled in rice paper with fresh greens and vermicelli. Who needs a turkey or ham, anyway?
Posing with my parents.
My brother Johnny (left), his girlfriend Duong, and my other brother, David.
"Please help Gosey open present. Please, please open! Gosey been good all year--Gosey promises!"
"Oooh, oooh! New toy! Gosey is so happy!"
"Phew. Gosey is all tuckered out. Christmas is hard work."
