Liles' Family Disneyland Friends!

Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts.  ~Janice Maeditere

Getting Together!

I wanted Mary to meet some old friends.  This group consists of folks I met when I danced at Disneyland every weekend.  Santiago and Renee were my bartenders at Catal and Javier managed the valet parking lot at Downtown Disney.  Our friendship goes back almost 20 years, before Santi and Renee were even married!

Mary knows Santi and Renee's wife but everyone one else will be new to her.

Mary and I decided to make it easy and we ordered a buffet from Taco Mesa. Evelia is bringing flan (this popular Mexican dessert has minimal ingredients and it's made with eggs, cream cheese, condensed & evaporated milk) and Vicky is bringing a surprise.

We will have other friends today including Vicky & Jim Bob Z. and Robin & Bob.  It should be an interesting day!

Renee
Renee and Santiago circa 2018 at the family Christmas Play!
(They were handsome devils; still are!)

Santi
...and the family! They have really grown up!

JAavier
Evelia & Javier (he is eight days older than Paul)

Friendship


We started off the day laughing!!!  Always a good thing.

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
We have eighteen place settings!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
Just in case, we brought out some of our Christmas  Tamales that we get from Vicky every year - They were a hit!!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
We had such a big order the little girl brought two loads to the car and told me to "get out of the rain, I'll do it!"   Wow, service with a smile!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
First to arrive and ALWAYS a welcome sight!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
Santiago always has a smile and a story to tell!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
We gathered and shared for a while before dinner began;
Mary made sure we had a load of goodies to nibble on!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
Scout has many new friends; he is wonderful with new people!
(He was convinced they all came just to scratch him!!)

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
...and if they stop scratching him, he lets them know!!!
(Notice his left paw)

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
The little boys were great!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
Be careful of his hot sauce!  It is loaded with fire!


Bob bailed us out; the ice machine was empty so he jumped
in the car and found a bag of ice!  He is our hero!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
Everyone dived in and food disappeared instantly.

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
Santiago had some bar tending tricks to show us!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
We made sure Evelia had a vegetarian meal - Just like she used to do for Sue!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
Here comes the magic!  Eye of newt; dragon wings; butterfly tongues and octopus bones!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
Ingredients must be applied at 184 shakes per second!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
Watch for the flames!

Did You Know? - Gaytán's Paseo will replace Catal and feature upscale cuisine inspired by his Mexican homeland and his training in French technique. Outside, Gaytán's Centrico replaces Uva Bar, focusing on small bites and premium drinks, including tequilas. Both locations will continue to be operated by Patina Group.


After twenty-five years, Catal is going to be replaced; I guess change is inevitable?

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
Robin thinks of everything; she brought games for the kids!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
Robin has known our guests for as long as I
have since she used to go to Disneyland with us many times a year

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
"Hint of newt, hint of something!"

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
Sure looks pretty!


Needless to say I went back for seconds and thirds!!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
Best flan we have ever had ... Emilia made magic happen!

Did You Know? - The Roman Empire is the true origin of this dessert. The word flan is the French equivalent of the Latin word fladon, which comes from the Old High German word "flado," meaning "flat cake." Flan was once a savory dish, usually made from fish or meat. Today, the dessert has evolved into something sweet.

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
Dang!  She caught me!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
Always a smile!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
Everyone gets to play!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
The afternoon was like musical chairs; everybody sat everywhere!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
The dessert table was a favorite.

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
Mary makes sure everyone was OK!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
Robin makes coffee for Santi's next creation!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
He is brewing up something good!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
We had a mess of food!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
All eyes on Santi!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
Should someone call 911???

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
"It's all in the hands!"

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
Whatever it was, was outstanding!!

Friendship

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
It was beginning to mist!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
Everything was stashed away!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
Watch out for these three!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
Just us!

Santiago, Renee, and Javier come to visit 12/30/2022
See, I was here all day!

Scout's friends
Scout asked if he could jave his friends over!!

Friendship