fine holiday fun

Before I left for the great midwest, we had another holiday party at work. And Jane got me these awesome antlers!

Jane and I had the best holiday (Christmas) outfits at the party (by far)!

Tak also took me to the Cirque du Soleil show Ovo. It was soooo awesome! Unfortunately I couldn't take photos inside.

When I got to MN, Alena and I were reunited in Mankato. And we played Big Buck Hunter II.

I also reunited with CALLUM!!

And watched Logan ride the carousel at the River Hills Mall.

Callum and Sada taught me all about eating snow.

They are experts.

Mmmmm ... cold.

Ooh, look at Brother's Christmas tree!

Tak came to Minnesota!
And we toured the Schell's brewery in New Ulm (obvs).

Nobody else showed up, so we got a private tour from our tour guide Dick. He sounded like a real Minnesotan. Tak is now working on his accent. So far he can say, "oh, I suppose" and "awesome."

The grounds at the brewery were beautiful. And they had peacocks!

At the end we got unlimited samples. Whoa.

We also met a bunch of friends (two tables!) at Pagliai's for dinner. And it was deeeeeelicious.

And then we went to Dutler's (Sunset) with Jenny and Mac D!

(I couldn't pick just one photo of Jenny for the blog.)

My homegirls/8th grade crew: Rose, Mary, MacKenzie, Jenny, me

My mom and I took Tak on a driving tour of Mankato. The buffalo was stop numero uno.

And this giant pile of dirty snow was stop number two. We rounded out the tour with a trip to Culvers.

I also took Tak to Minneopa. I hadn't been there in forever and it was pretty neat.

The frozen falls.

Tak was all about throwing chunks of snow into the water. He loves winter.

Callum also took us sledding! Look at us in our winter gear.

Callum and Sada got a new inner tube for Christmas from Grandpa Randy. It was SO FAST!

Tak and I took this awesome blue sled. And bit it.

On our last day in MN, we had adventures in the cities with my mom. It began with "A Christmas Carol" at the Guthrie, which was excellent.

Precious moments on the endless bridge.

BFF time.

We also visited the Walker, had deluxe dinner and got ice cream at Sebastian Joe's. Then it was back to CA. Bye bye, MN!

chrishmos time is herrrrrre (almost)!

All,

I'm headed midwest-ward December 21-30. And as a super-special-double-christmas-partytime bonus, Tak will be in MN December 26-30! So mark your calendars, if you haven't already.

Love,
Rachel

other activities of note

Alena and I went to the nail salon for mani-pedi's! And we got to sit in these massage chairs for what seemed like (and may have actually been) hours. Talk about luxury.

I got sparkly red polish (for xmas) and Alena got gold. So, we just HAD to do some hand poses.

Ooooh, aaaaahhh.

I also took the obligatory foot picture. I had a serious debate about whether to post this or whether it was just too much feet for my comfort level, but ultimately, I felt the need to document the whole mani-PEDI experience. So, here you have it.

Next up: Nick's birthday!

Our friend Nick (center) is back from the East coast, just in time for us to welcome him into his mid-twenties! He got a lot of beer for his birthday (see?).

While at Nick's, we also ventured into the rain to admire his parents' deck (that Tak built).

They have quite the view.

Nick also has this exceedingly chill cat (pictured with Lizzie).

aaaaaaaaaaahahahahaha
pets with costumes/props kill me. hahahahaha.

The end.

viva las vegas

Last weekend my friends and I went to Vegas and I took an assortment of photos!
This is the Venetian, where I lost my first dollar.

My homegirls (Cat, Lizzie, Robyn) playing the slots

Ooh, Dragon Crystal!

Me and Whoopie
(wax, sadly)

We went to the Cirque du Soleil show Ka and it was incredible. I sneakily took this photo of the side set.

This was my favorite game. Obvs.

We got these jumbo Eiffel Tower drinks in Paris!

And had a shades party.

This was a fun-kay mall we visited. I think it was called city center?

Bellagio smile

If Lizzie and Robyn and I were in a band, I would want this to be our album cover. (Also, check out this huge tub in our hotel room!)

We had color coordinated outfits for our night on the town!

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

I came across this today, and felt compelled to pass it on to you. I love Christmas! Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. "Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. "Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.' "Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus? "VIRGINIA O'HANLON. "115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET." VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world. You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

The Johnsons

The Johnsons were in town for Thanksgiving, and luckily we overlapped for an evening here. So, I went to meet them in SF for dinner and fun was had by all.

And the restaurant (Cliff House) was right on the beach!

with hills on the other side

such a lovely evening

What a fun bunch of Minnesotans!

Thanks again Clark & April!

worksies

After my Thanksgiving extravaganza, it was back to work. Luckily, my office is full of holiday cheer ... well, it is now that I decorated and brought Snowed In to listen to!

Here's the view from my cubicle again. Looks like fall here finally. Just in time for the holidays.

Ooh, look at those lights! That garland! Ooh, aahh.
(Also my very messy desk.)

Today was the holiday party for law school staff. It was at the Bancroft Hotel and it was swanky. PLUS, I got to work at the kiddie craft table making ornaments and frosting cookies!

ColoradoTurkeyPartyTime

I spend last week visiting the fam in Colorful Colorado, the Centennial State (and just discovered those nicknames via google).

I spent a couple of days visiting Allie in Boulder. And as a bonus, her b/f Nate was there too! AND we went to the Celestial Seasonings tea factory!

These tea samples were our tickets.

And we got to wear these fun hair nets on the tour. Nate also scored a beard net. Lucky guy.

After the tour, we booked it back to Allie's for lasagna and craft night with Al's friend Rebecca and her parents. The food was DELICIOUS, the company was great and the crafts were amazing!

We made holiday stockings, xmas tree bulbs and sequined disco balls (not pictured)!

After crafting late into the night, we got up extra early to maximize party time with Dad, Grandpa and Anna Lou in Colorado Springs!

3 generations of Harmeseseses on our morning walk

Allie and I also discovered this fist-pumping pride Santa at Karen's house. (Btw, Karen also hosted us for a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner and post-Thanksgiving lunch!)

This is the view from Karen's back yard. Dannnnnnng.

While Grandpa and Dad put up outside lights, Allie and I decked out the tree. Luckily we also discovered Anna Lou's holiday sweaters and put them on for inspiration.

Yay for family!