family time

on sunday afternoon, it snowed! it snowed enough that stores closed down and commerce was shut down for an afternoon. everything outside was snowy/icy, depending on your elevation. it was great! and it only lasted for a day, so we didn't get stir crazy being trapped together. the day before that, our power went out for about 4 hours because of a fatty windstorm. so without power, which means no internet, tv, etc, we grabbed flashlights and played 13 and texas hold 'em (but not for real money, just...uh...pride). it was pretty amusing.

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i've been home for a week, and i've just been hanging out with my family, cooking, running errands, shopping. now, people know i have much love for target. i have been to target almost everyday since i've been home. even i am almost getting sick of going there. almost. it's been to get random things for my mom like band-aids, lotion, cleaning supplies (since christmas is at our house this year), storage containers (for mike who's finished UO and has officially moved back home), and other household goodies. i think the reason that i'm almost sick of going there is because of the quantity of other people there. it's just a handful of shopping days before christmas and people are savages. i much prefer my target time when it's not as crowded.

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my parents haven't really cooked at home in years. since we've been out of the house for the last few years, my parents just eat out all the time. but now that we're home for break/permanently, my parents find it a hassle to figure out where to eat all the time for all meals. so, they've gone back to cooking at home. this has been great for me, because i get to eat well, and learn how to make it. the only downside is my mom's constant declaration about how i chop stuff so slowly that when i have my own children, they will starve before i finish prepping. hey, i can't help it if i'm careful and ultra-paranoid about slicing off much-needed fingers with sharp knives. better safe than sorry. while we've been cooking, which has become a family thing - i help chop/cook, mom supervises, dad makes some stuff, mike and andy set the table and wash dishes - other extended family has been busy making things too. my aunt made a bunch of bao zi and my family had eaten all except one. i woke up one morning and realized that there were two left from the day before and i hadn't yet had one. i ran downstairs and grabbed the last one and ate it before my dad woke up and got to it. my dad, whom i like to call "father" just because i find it amusing, will eat whatever is lying around, and if you don't label it, he'll just take it. it's a survival contest here.