...good times with family...

I had a wonderful time in Santa Barabara with my family. It's weird being in a place where you are connected to such a HUGE family, but I like it! It's always a bit hard figuring out how I'm connected with certain people (see below). I especially enjoyed the time spent with my immediate aunts, uncles, and cousins.

<---- Here's one of my favorite things in my uncle's (used to be my grandparent's) house. THE STOVE! It looks just like Rachael Ray's. Can you imagine how many awesome dishes have been created with it? What an awesome piece of family history!




This is us at the fish market. I think we were all a little tired from the snoring fest the night before...but the desire for a good Filipino meal after we hit the fish market and the farmer's market got us up and going!






And this is the meal we shared. MMMmmm!!!













Here's a funny conversation I had with a cousin. Her name is Jennifer and she's actually Amy's co-worker! I never met her until this weekend.

(after figuring out how we are related)
Jennifer: So my grandfather and your grandfather are first cousins!
Me: I think so. (I'm really guessing at this point. They could have been second cousins!)
Jennifer: And you were born here? And you don't know Illocano? Do you eat Filipino dishes?
Me: Of course!
Jennifer: Do you know pinakbet? (Pinakbet is a very typical vegetable dish.)
Me: It's one of my favorites. I actually tried making it two weeks ago. (I really did!)
Jennifer: You did? Did you put bagoong in it? (Bagoong is a very popular pink shrimp paste. They say you aren't Filipino without it.)
Me: I did!
Jennifer: :whew: What a relief! You really ARE Filipino!