April 28, 2007
-
Xmas 2006
Merry Christmas 2006 everybody!
Yes, of course, it’s almost five months late, but better late than later.
On the 17th of Decemeber, the ‘rents Tom and I went down to the Met.
And heard a great philosopher of art give a talk (I can’t quite remember his name, but he seemed smart enough.
A pretty dope museum if you ask me, that Met.
Five days later, the party really started, when my older brother Luis Jose arrived. And of course, we both recorded ourselves recording ourselves.
The whole fam finally came together for the first time in a long time.
Which obviously led to hamming it up for the drunk cam.
Look at these two lookers.
Why don’t we add the youngest of the first batch to finish off the original triad? Oh yes, we can all strike a pose.
Then LJ went a bit over dramatic proclaiming his unworthiness to my blogging self, but we all know he’s fully worthy.
Which then began the real reason for the gathering, the tree decorating. Which I only have this picture of somehow? Whatever, you get the picture.
Then I went off to work on these.
It’s my Xmas gifts to everybody.
Don’t they look nice under the tree?
I thought they looked very nice.
The younger set gets together to ham it up for the camera.
Oh wait, now we’re really hamming it up.
And so, we skip ahead, right to Xmas eve, where I helped mash some potatos.
While my dad set out all the delicious yummyness.
And Luis Jo came out of nowhere.
But seriously folks, we all helped out.
Then gathered round the table.
And dined some delicious food.
At which point the kids all went out to see Curse Of The Golden flower, which did not live up to my expectations.
Don’t you just love New York on Xmas?
Upon returning home at 2am, we found Santa’s helpers still awake.
And after not enough sleep, we finally reached the official day. Merry Christmas, everyone! Don’t I look like I’m just having he time of my life?
But forget about me, take a look at that beautiful tree.
It wasn’t until I had grown up a bit, that I realized what a blessing the Stephens’ Xmas were, with an abounding overflowing bounty of materialistic goods. I took it for granted, as a kid, thinking that multiple gifts for all seven of us was just the norm, even when the harsh reality of third world poverty lay just outside the walls. I took it for granted that my Russian immigrant grandfather worked himself to death to fight his way out of the squalor, an accomplishment none of his 3 siblings matched. I took it for granted that my father took that ball, and out of his 4 siblings, kept the work ethic, dedication, and business savvy of his father to not squander away the hard-earned wealth, but actually made it grow to allow me the life of privilege that I have lived. These days, though I still love me my gifts, I try to remember what it took to get them under that tree. I can’t help seeing them in a new more somber light, not my right, but the miracle of humongous sacrifices made by the recent lineage.
Anyways, we all came together with some breakfast.
And the gift opening began. I got a very apropos air freshener.
Tom got a much needed snare.
Dad and Karen got art and philosophy action figures.
Caitlin got this dope coat.
But not to be outdone, she also received a gift from herself, santa.
Then I decided to give everyone my gift.
Which stopped things for a bit, as everyone perused the pages. I made an iphoto book of most of my Dad’s art (more on it in a bit, because these are just printouts, the actual books didn’t come until later).
But I think I hit a slam dunk and everyone loved them, especially the man himself, who took a bit of time to look upon his oeuvre, slim nods of approval slipping out from time to time.
Then Karen opened up Jenna’s gift to the family, Cranium, which we have yet to use, but which will be incredible when we finally do.
Then I got my new soccer ball from Luis Jo.
The first three seasons of Seinfeld… it was about time.
And the first season of the amazing race.
Caitlin got some cool shawls.
I got Infinite Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind.
Dad got a super grill.
More clothes for the girls.
I got a NY transit map shower curtain. Who’s getting lost now, huh? Not me.
Dad got a laptop desk.
Luis Jo models his new coat.
I model my new coat and hat.
Michael Chabon’s new novella.
The Post Secret book, which is pretty awesome.
And a new large SD card.
Then LJ got up to give a little speech.
He wanted to personally ask each one of us what we should give him for Xmas. I had to play soccer with him. (Which i did without a camera, which was very unlike me, but it was a quite fun pick up game with some colombians at Riverside Park).
Caitlin models her new shiny coat.
Or is it Phoebe’s coat? Maybe be it belongs to both of them.
Dad gets a new hat too, plus an El Greco book.
I get a cool turtle neck.
Check out these awesome mom jeans.
Which brings us to the main event, my new Canon Rebel XTi. Yes, I took the plunge and got an dSLR to bust out some good large pictures.
Dad was so excited by his coat, he did a little dance.
What a wonderful Xmas. Thanks for everything fam.
Doesn’t my new map fit right in?
Now, Xmas in the Stephens household has always meant double fete-ing. We start the day with the regular activities, but we end the night with Luis Jo’s birthday. Yes, I was born on Halloween, and LJ on Xmas. So we all headed out.
For some family style Italian.
With all of us gathered round.
Celebrating Luis Jose’s solar circumnavigation.
We then went home, where he got a bunch of gifts, like this Cate tie from me. HBD LJ!
Then next day, my gifts finally arrived.
Don’t they look fucking awesome!
You know the artist himself loves them. Don’t you wish you could see the art yourself? Well now you can, because as a secret birthday present, I have made a website, but shhhhhh, don’t tell him yet please. It’s a surprise.
Hamming it up with sunglasses.
Never seems to get old.
Now where was Jenna in all of this, you might ask?
Well, she was busy, cause her family was in town, having their own Xmas. So we had a bit of familial convergence.
And we hosted the Warnecke’s at the Stephens’.
Look at us all just lunching it out.
Don’t the brothers Nathan and Greg just look like they’re having the best time?
Of course we showed off my dad’s art book, which they all enjoyed.
Then took the whole family’s picture. Aren’t they just the cutest Arizonian’s you ever did see?
That night, I cracked open my new camera for the first time, and damn if the picture quality isn’t just the bomb.
I mean, look at how cute my cutie looks.
The next day, on our way out of a movie, we heard the news that James had passed away. Rest in piece, James.
Then the day after that, Jenna’s parents took me out to a cute little thai place that gave you rose straws.
Then we went for a nice walk passed the fetus woman in midtown.
Through central park.
Where Jenna finally said good-bye.
That night we all fed off the heat at the hearth of the computer, with special guests Louie and his girlfriend Lily.
We watched this silly shoes video and laughed.
Then gathered ourselves.
For a delicious Saigon Grill feast.
The next day, before yet another movie, we swashbuckled at Phoebe’s.
Where no one could dethrone my dad, even with his age. Maybe that’s because he was a Fencing Olympian in Munich ’72.
Two days after that I made out with this tuba.
Just kidding, we went out to the village vanguard to see some good jazz, on Tommy’s suggestion, and that was the only pict I could get inside.
Then on our search for a restroom, Caitlin couldn’t keep her hands to herself.
Thus we had one of the last full groupings of the fam.
As LJ left the next day (just look at that juicy SLR shot).
And Caitlin was off soon after that, too her semester abroad in London.
So we had a nice steak dinner.
Well, that just about round’s it up. Merry Xmas 2006 everyone!
