Trip to LA

Things you can't do during a Chicago February:

Soph really loved this top step:

We got to see all the LA Dukies at a picnic before we left for the airport. Everyone loved watching Soph goof around with Layla:

Pitaji's 89th Birthday in Milwaukee

As long as the weather cooperates, we try to go to Wisconsin to celebrate Pitaji's birthday every January. We love seeing all the Sanghas, but the trip is always a test of strength for us during the dry and sugar-free days of Just Say No January.

Bobby Singh. He will be raised a Badgers fan, but if I could just get him to become attached to this hat and/or color scheme ...

Buddies.

Kylie Kaur getting her giggle on.

The homemade cake we couldn't eat (though Kiran packed a few pieces for us to eat a couple days later in February!)

Christmas Trip to Denmark

Rupal and Flemming hosted us at their beautiful home in Denmark and treated us to a traditional Danish Christmas.  We spent a night in Copenhagen and then spent the remainder of our trip in Kolding for all of the family Christmas festivities.

Christmas Eve is the big day in Denmark.  That is when the candles on the tree are lit, Christmas songs are sung, the traditional Christmas dinner (Duck, caramelized potatoes, cabbage and rice pudding with almonds and cherry sauce) is cooked and eaten, and presents are exchanged.  The following day is Christmas lunch, which is a multi-hour affair with bread, a variety of fish courses, remoulade, rye bread, pate, cheeses, and lots of beer and snaps.  (Snaps are small shots that are taken throughout the meal following the toast of "skal!") Christina and Jonathan joined us on Christmas eve, and then we met Flemming's lovely extended family on his mom's side when they joined us for Christmas lunch. We didn't take too many pictures during the trip, but here are a few:

Exploring Copenhagen
The Christmas tree on City Hall Square:

Reindeer!

Walking through Tivoli Gardens (famous amusement park and garden):

Time for some shopping ... the prices of most things in Denmark tend to be on the jaw-dropping side for our American sensibilities, so it was only window shopping for us.

Picking up Christmas provisions at the fancy Copenhagen market.  If grocery shopping were televised on ESPN, Pranav and I would definitely watch.

These look like oils/vinegars, but I think they were liquors/liqueurs (which is why Pranav was particularly intrigued).

Fromage:

Outside the market:

So Euro.

Back in Kolding
Jonathan preparing to decorate the tree.  Before ...

... and after.  Note the real candles that will be lit on Christmas eve.

Rupal making Ebelskivers (stuffed spherical pancakes):

Beautiful view of the fjord from the dining room:

Out and about exploring Kolding:

Quick visit to Santa's house:

The table ready for Chef Flemming's masterful Christmas Eve feast. There was one exploding potato incident, but that only made the remaining potatoes that much more delicious.

Jonathan & Christina.   So much love.

Cheesy crostini appetizer:

Flemming was kind enough to insert some delish fish into the meal for me:

Time to light the candles ...

... and sing some carols.

After we opened presents, Jonathan immediately began trying out his new DJing device.

Looking legit.

Thanks for a wonderful Christmas, Mortensen family!

13th Annual VARP Cocktail Party

The traditional pre-party New Tokyo sushi spread for our helpers: 

A surprise pre-party visit from the Newmans! Newman, aka The Godfather, hosted Newmania for 10 years and is one of the Cocktail Party's biggest supporters.

Pool shark:

Pool shark conference:

You call always find these guys in a corner talking shop about education:

Friends from the Special Litigation Bureau:

Megan and Jabar, two of our biggest helpers.

Pranav and lots of lawyers:

Seeing double.  V and her family friends from KC:

Vijay and Nihal from Wash U.  Um, can you stand a little closer, guys?

Michigan Law friends:

Every Cocktail Party eventually devolves into bhangra.  Brrrruah!

Relaxing after realizing the party is a success: