September Happenings
October 10, 2023
Brad's Business Trip to Japan & Korea
It's been quite sometime since Brad's been able to travel oversees with work, something he used to do regularly, so he really enjoyed his recent trip to Japan and Korea. Sima, his co-worker, was a good sport as he dragged her hither and thither with their rigorous schedule!
Merinda's Birthday
Now that Merinda is officially an adult, and basically living on her own, we said it was up to her to make her birthday everything she wanted it to be. Which she absolutely did by making a lunch date with good friend Austin Holt, who is attending BYU and lives just a few minuets from her.
Brad and I gave her a rice cooker (yeah, we're all about the practical gifts!)
All in all, I think Merinda had a great birthday as real adult!
Aubrey & Raul's Big Move
The day I flew home from Breck & Iris' Aubrey picked me up from the Cincinnati airport and filled me in on their moving plans for that evening.
Friends from church came to help load furniture and boxes from Aubrey & Raul's old basement apartment into the moving truck, and then from the moving truck into their new townhome, also located in Georgetown.
Aubrey's Birthday
Aubrey's birthday concluded with Rex helping Raul hang their big-screen TV!
Date Night
Chile Independence Day
Aubrey & Raul try to observe Chile's Independence Day every year, but due to pregnancy issues, stresses at work, and moving to a new place, they said there was no way they would have the time (nor energy) to celebrate it this year.
Luckily, Rex & Veronica said they would host Chilean Independence Day at their house, and make all the delicious Chilean baked foods with help from Molly and Wesley (and little Mason) who came down from Indiana for the weekend.
Brad helping out by holding Mason, but Mason not sure if he liked the idea.
Molly changed into a traditional Chilean dress, usually worn by Chilean women doing a traditional Chilean dance. A church member made the dress for Molly during her mission trip to Chile.
Crazy to think these kids would still be together after meeting in Chile all those years ago!
The empanadas turned out amazing!
The caramelized onions, fries, and Rex's seasoned steak (seriously the best ever!) were all ingredients for the chorrillana, which is a very popular dish in Chile.
I call it Chilean loaded fries, but basically chorrillana is a giant plate of french fries topped with fried onions, strips of seasoned beef, fried eggs, and olives.
Aubrey & Raul brought ingredients for the Completos, or Chilean hot dogs smothered in guacamole, tomatoes, and sometimes onions.
And of course watermelon, which I'm sure they also eat in Chile?!
Last but not least, dessert...Veronica made the best Berlins ever! Berlins are a popular Chilean dessert which are the equivalent of our jelly-filled donuts, only the Chilean version is more like a roll filled with custard or dulce de leche with powdered sugar on top. We filled our Berlins with vanilla pudding, chocolate pudding, and dulce de leche.
Veronica really outdid herself, in fact, all the Holts did an amazing job preparing an authentic Chilean Thanksgiving meal!
Brad finding his own entertainment...
Also, in the spirit of Chilean Independence Day, Rex played a video of people dancing the official Chilean traditional dance, but the only one who felt comfortable enough to dance along was Mason!😆
A wonderful time was had by all, and we're so grateful for the Holt family who made this Chilean Independence Day one to remember!