Home for the Holidays!

2012 was rather tough in lots of places, but it was absolutely brilliant to be home for the Christmas holiday... and now I'm in Chicago at my brother's for New Year's/Eve! The parents and sister had to be abroad for a humanitarian trip to the Philippines, so it was just my little brother and the puppy!

Look at my two handsome boys on Christmas morning!

The best things about being back at home were going to see my old friend Justin get married, meet a very special new baby, catch up with cousins, all of the food, and Champ!

Old friends, new fiancees, and a chance to be very merry for the bride & groom!

Silly-ness in the photo booth with the groom

My "To Eat List" was a bit more ridiculous this time than usual--- mainly because both the brother and I LOVE to eat (and have probably both gained too much weight this last semester) and because, we were both pretty tired (because we both work a bit too hard over the semester too!). There are the usual suspects on my List--- ahem, Chipotle---- but this time, we got to do a lot of proper Cleveland and Chicago eating too!

Chicago: Korean soup for breakfast! Yes.

Chicago: the legend-wait for it-derrrrrry Jim's fries. The Polish hotdog was also delicious, but I was too busy to take a photo. But this one, the brother took to make our baby sister super jelly.

Cleveland: I don't know if my face does that every time I have a Mitchell's shake, but this one was pumpkin spice flavoured and freaking gorgeous. 

Cleveland: The brother's Melt option: The Dude Abides. I had the buffalo chicken soup, which was awesome!

Chicago: Koreanised Chinese food- all of it.

Chicago: Breakfast at Eggsperience

Hashbrowns are very important to me... as is corned beef.

Cleveland: Burgers & porky fries at B-spot--- not pictured, my favourite milkshake (the chocolate espresso!)

Chicago: Wingstop after a showing of Les Miz. We preferred the lemon pepper & Louisiana rub. 

And I love, love, love Champ the pup! He's grown loads since I last saw him over summer and he's got this hilarious personality... Is it freaky that I think he's just like his mommy (our sister?).

Our little polar bear

Champ in zeeba camo!

Exile from the kitchen so that I could maintain some sense of sanity whilst cooking Christmas dinner.

Because otherwise, this happens. He can stare at you with those adorable eyes all day if he has to.

I told you so.

I wash; Brudder dries.

Noble pup!

I wish I had some photos of Baby Grace to share because she's super cute, but I was so busy cooing and being fed that I didn't have a chance!

I hope everyone's had a brilliant holiday too! :)