Is that snow?!

Nah, this is California. In California we celebrate 90+ degree weather during the holidays. Unless you live in the mountains then you get snowed in. Not sure what's the better option. My fab friend Robyn asked people to post their favorite holiday memory. Wonderful idea. I didn't realize I had a favorite memory until the question was asked. Immediately I thought of last year. But first here's an insight on my twisted family. It's a Montiel tradition to make My grandma (yes MY grandma) cry at every birthday, mothers day, Christmas basically any event that has to do with presents or cards the person to make my grandma cry (to the point where she can't talk) is crowned the "winner". Please note, I did label us as a twisted family. However, we don't go out of our way.

My grandma deserves it all.

Nobody really goes "out of their way" to outdo one another but it's always nice to see who/what touches my grandma to the extent of crying. Which most of the time is a card. Oh how my grandma loves cards. :) My grandma has a hard childhood which consisted of foster & orphan homes so she truly does appreciate any little gesture. I won a few years back with an awesome pair of concert tickets to Tony Bennett. Score Grandma! Now with that in mind we really don't attempt this with one another. That all changed last year...

As always my brothers Phillip Richard (Jeremy :( was away in Iraq) & my mom came over to spend Christmas Eve with Paul & I. We always open our presents on Christmas Eve. Everybody sits around in a circle & we take turns opening our gifts. I really hate it when everybody opens their gifts all at once. You miss the reaction! I'm all about the reaction. So as always Paul played Santa & handed Richard one of his gifts.

Myself, Richard & Phillip

Now Richard is beyond amazing. He truly is & I'm not just saying that because he's my brother. Well, not solely. He has so many amazing qualities. He's not selfish. In fact it goes beyond not selfish. He's very practical. If he doesn't "need" it he doesn't want it. Silly boy. It's like pulling teeth when asking him what he wants or if he wants anything at a store. He just shyly smiles & declines. So that of course makes me crazy. To add Richard has other amazing qualities. He plays the trombone (which by the way he taught himself to do) how, you ask. Well when he joined band the instructer asked what instrument he wanted to play & Richard chose the trombone. Why, the trombone? Because it was the only instrument he knew the name to. :/ Now he plays trombone solos. He also enjoys everything & anything that has to do with Science & Math. Once we were on our way to the Aquarium & he calculated how fast I needed to go in order for us to get there in a hour (98 mph). Crazy boy. To top off his obsessions is good ol' Zelda. Zelda has been in our family since the old school Nintendo system. Richard use to watch us play & when it came time for his turn he use to play with the controller upside down. I'm tellin' ya. The kid has talent. Ok I'm losing focus. So he has endless love for Zelda & all it's magical glory.

So every time a new Zelda game is released Paul & I faithfully visit the nearest game store & purchase it for Richard. So back to my favorite Christmas memory. Last year we were taking turns opening gifts & it was Richards turn. We wrapped the game inside a box so he had no clue that the game was inside. As soon as he realized it was the "new" Zelda he looked up with tears in his eyes & wrapped his arms around me & said, "oh wow THANK YOU!" It made everybody else tear up & comment on how touched he was at our gift! It was such an amazing moment.

Ahhhhh, the Montiel tradition lives on.

I can't wait to see what this year brings ;)