second Christmas

Due to high airline prices during Christmastime, our California family decided to come out for a visit a few weeks after Christmas instead. While some traditions were not the same since it wasn't really Christmas, others we just couldn't do without. For example: the Rodrigues family Christmas is all about the pie. It seems like every year we try to out-do the last. And this year definitely took the cake pie. Nana made a total 17 pies. No, that is not a typo. Seventeen was definitely more than our typical one-pie-per-person rationing. Each one was different so you never got bored of trying new flavors. I even branched out a little and tried butterscotch. I do not like butterscotch at all. But throw it in a pie crust and add a nice brown-sugary taste and it's not half bad. Life is full of surprises.

Aside from eating our weight in pie, other activities included building "Alice in Wonderland" themed snow creatures (first inspired by a mushroom), finishing the most difficult and frustrating puzzle in the world, and playing lots of games like "Things," "Cribbage," "Wackee Six" and "Phase 10."

But I'd have to say that the best part of the reunion was our family talent show which is shown below. As you can hear in the background, I couldn't stop laughing. This was definitely a side of my dad that I had never seen before! The acts are listed below in order. . . Enjoy!!

We are so talented.