70's Disco & Noche Buena

I'm going to be honest: It does not feel like Christmas.

I think it has a lot to do with the weather we're experiencing (with me linking weathers to seasons innately), or the fact that we're traveling and have this unsettled mind set. Needless to say, the holidays were in full effect here in Australia! As much as I'm missing out at home right now, tending to my bar (since I'm the designated bartender) at a local Fortes residence where we normally host our family Christmas parties, spending time with cousins home from college, reconnecting with loved ones, watching movies the day after Christmas, spending the gift exchange at William's house with all our friends and all the delicious food, I don't regret it too much because know there will be many to come. =)

We spent the holidays with my family and their community of friends, jumping from one party to another. The first was themed a 70's disco party and we sure kept the theme! It was comedic to see so many people dressed up. What a fun idea during the holidays to set a theme, instead of wearing red, green and white.

Our dresses we bought the day of from Vinnies, a local thrift shop.
Each of our dresses were 6 bucks.

Anton

My cousin, Anna and her husband, Christian

I'm always fascinated at how comfortable I feel at any Filipino party. Everyone is genuinely welcoming and always has those key characteristics you can easily assign to one of your own family members within an instant. It's actually been quite some time since we've heard the accent so it was definitely refreshing both in the cultural and comedic sense. Hehe.

Lara and I ate about 20 lbs of food and stared in awe at this colossal piece of meat on a stick (you'll see it in the pictures below). Apparently, in Australia this is the thing here during large parties like this and in the states we have lechon. Something new for us, I suppose.

Here are some pictures from the partaaay:

This guy was the life of the party! He's one of those people we question whether he has children or not since he was such a character at the 70's disco party (i.e. random bursts of body rolling, thunderous laughter and yelling out of jokes), answer: he does.

Adult musical chairs

The adults also had a gift exchange where some gifts were more suggestive than others.
This is my cousin's little gift and my cousin's husband got a pleather whip, no photo taken.

My family in Australia

Our next stop was at another friend's house, they call this the Noche Buena dinner since it is held annually at midnight. More food, more Filipinos and more drinking. Mmmmhmmm.

These crowns were from our holiday poppers

This is what I'm talking about... that meat on a stick.

Our meat on a stick cook, Brian

Although I didn't feel the holiday spirit this year, it was still an awesome experience to be abroad (and in the heat). Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!!