Bienvenidos a Texas y Mexico!

Another really long one...my apologies!

So I must say that the most highly anticipated part of my home stay was actually not at home at all...In fact, part of it wasn't even in the same country...

That's right, the part that I looked most forward to was my cousin Greg's wedding in El Paso, TX! Basically, a chance to be with family, be in a warm(er) place during break, and see my dad on an airplane!

I should start by briefly explaining our flight plans. Basically, a month or so before the day, we had nothing. Lots of research was done, but nothing was set in stone. So, one day, after some Skyping with the family, I decided to give it a go myself, finding quite the deal! A non-stop from O'Hare on great dates and times. Booked!

Alright, so the process of leaving home was very Schober family...things everywhere, triple checking everything, and packing WAY too much...But, nonetheless, and with the assistance of Helga, our "in flight navigator" (our GPS unit that my dad got from my Gramma), we got down to our Chicago hotel the night before the flight (snow had started, but things were alright...).

The next morning was the push to get to the airport on one of their shuttles. We managed to make it (eating barely nothing), however a certain engaged sister (shall remain nameless) accidentally forgot her ring in the bathroom...whoops! Back to the hotel for her...but, she did make it back in time to get checked in, and psyched out for the flight.

Now...the flight...let's just say that I think Jessi and I freaked each other out. I am very used to flying and usually am not affected by anything. Then I sat next to Jessi. Together, we thought that the turbulence during takeoff was sending us plummeting to our deaths...And let me just say that the one person who I thought was going to be the worst (Dad) was definitely asleep pre-takeoff...thank you Zanex.

But, needless to say, we arrived. Welcome to El Paso, Texas! Like nothing I have ever seen before (or at least remembering seeing). The landscape was incredible. Everything was the same sandy color. And the weather...phew. First day, pretty nice, but getting cooler as the day went on.

Getting our rental car was interesting as well. Seriously, it shouldn't have been...at all. But let's face it - some traces of the meds were still lingering with my dad, so things got fun. First off, who would have thought it a good idea to get a small car for 5 people and their luggage? Upgrade please! Second, insurance. When these people try to push insurance, and when your daughter who works in an insurance office both attempt to explain the near necessity of purchasing it, chances are tha you would go along with it. Not dad, though! He's a rebel! (we didn't really need it after the weekend was done, but still...its dangerous out there!)

So, again, Helga got us to our destination in a timely fashion - our amazing hotel, which was also the sight of the wedding reception. I honestly loved it. It was so nice, and had a great view of the city below (ok, that part is a little fudged, but in a nice room, things generally look nicer!). Oh, and we also received this sweet giftbag on arrival as a "Thank You" offering some local favorites (chip and salsa and even "Greg and Fernanda" Wedding Cookies). It felt like the Oscars!

After a little bit of exploring the hotel and relaxing, we decided that 4pm would be a good time to get something to eat (lunch? dinner?). Anyways, we found a very awesome, themey BBQ joint and had great food. Yumm... Then, we drove a bit but ended up back at the hotel to visit with the other family that flew down for the wedding as well (who, except for the wedding party's family, actually all ended up getting stuck in a variety of cities due to the inclement weather that fell during/after out flight...sorry guys!). But, we were basically dead from the long day, so bed came a'callin' pretty early.

Leading up to the wedding day, things were a little chaotic and confusing. Everyone had something that they had wanted to do, but with a lack of time and decision making skills, not much actually happened. I can say that we did get to check out the shopping scene (mostly the Walgreens a few blocks away and the Target/Barnes and Noble complex a few miles away), as well as this tram thing that Missy and Jessi suckered out of (seriously, much younger cousin wanted to go back up...c'mon!)...but anywho...

Wedding day, and much like us, we were running way late. But, somehow, we pulled it together (I honestly think that always happens, and I should just embrace it...it happens all the time, but somehow I am always surprised...that should change...). The ceremony was incredible. Jessi took feverish notes (but seriously...) and I stayed awake and even paid attention throughout the whole thing (do I hear a Win-Win?)!

Much like the ceremony, the reception was very amazing as well. So elegant, so fun! Before the doors were opened into the ballroom (it was like the anticipation before a Broadway show...if you can relate), there were appetizers, drinks, mingling, and even a Mariachi Band! How could it get better!? Umm...how about the dinner itself? Yea, that'll do it. Yummy food and great cake to follow (good luck trying to top this one, Jessi!). The night was capped off with great speeches, then music and dancing. What fun!!!

So, what would you do with a 16 person group in El Paso on a Sunday? How about boarder jumping? Okay!

Seriously, we went to Mexico...(and let me just defend myself by saying that the trolley company that took us was in fact called the "Boarder Jumpers" Trolley Company...). The system that this company runs on is kinda sketchy, but whatever, it was some of my families first time in Mexico, so it was fun. They basically drop you off at one of 5 (I think) stops, all of which are at shops which, surprise!, are owned by that company. But let's face it, we bought...way too much in fact... First stop, a cultural store, with pottery, statues, and sombreros...and that is exactly what my dad purchased (much like the thought process with my cardboard cutout, it was that "buy first, think where it will go second"). Then, we hit this amazing glass shop, where Jessi got a very sweet set of glasses and a pitcher, Missy got some statue/wall thing, and I bought a painting...do we even had room for this stuff? Eh, think about that later...

The next store was a leather goods store/distillery(?)...seriously, nice boots, belts, jackets, and bottles of cactus juice and Tequila. What more does one need!? Finally, we hit the market - the mecca for bargaining (which my dad and mom were surprisingly very good at). Somehow, with all of these stops, the 16 of us managed to stay together...well, en route the the market, the trolley was no where in sight, so some of us took taxis, and us younger ones began the 16 block walk (on the way, somehow the trolley drive observed that we were not local and picked us up...I wonder how he knew...?). As of course, leaving the market, we definitely were the last family to leave, with a short sprint out the the trolley, but we made it!

Getting back into the states was interesting...A very crowded bridge of cars and foot traffic, as well as vendors walking in and out of cars with the most recently pirated movies (seriously, Juno was out there, and that had just come out like 3 days before that...), and churros, and then there were the windshield washers that would just wash your car and then come to the window...a very different way...

Now, I know what some people think about the border - how do some many people cross illegally with the tight security? Well, let me run you through that...see, they weren't really caring about the passports that we carried (though they did remind my dad that it would probably be wise to sign his soon...), they just wanted to tax us on any alcohol that we were carrying. Oh, and they may have asked our nationality. So, basically, don't try to be ballsy and sprint over at night, just walk through security during the day, tell 'em you are American, and forget the alcohol in Mexico...case solved...

But, I digress about that...what I need to talk about, clearly, is food. Even with dinner plans, my family still hadn't experienced true Mexican food, so before leaving for our dinner plans, we walked to this restaurant that supposedly is Lance Armstrong's favorite (who knew?) for some appetizers. After taking forever, eating the delicious food, and cutting 30% off the bill, we then headed to our real dinner...at the Texas Cattleman's Ranch (something like that...). This place was...wow. Apparently it is a true working farm with over 500 seats for guests, and they have shops, and grounds to explore. We, however, got there too late to see the farm-ness as well as some of the shops, but it's too bad, because we were given an over two hour wait...joy (Seriously, with over 500 seats, and that long of a wait for 16...I hope the president was there or something...hey, maybe he was...).

But, somehow, we were seated in like 40 minutes, and the best part, and 2 tables of 8...kids and adults. Jessi, Missy, you're sitting with us kiddies! It was soooo much fun! Great times, AMAZING food (they have these steaks that come in sizes up to 5 pounds...so, we grilled (no pun intended) the waitress with questions like "How long does it take to cook?" "How many do you serve in a night?" "Did you come here alone?" (Ok, not that one...)...and wouldn't you know it, she had answers for them all, and stayed nice throughout the whole thing...she got a good tip!).

Arriving back to the hotel, the parents went down to the bar while us kids got together and played Cranium (yes, I packed that...I said that we brought way too much...).

Fun times all weekend had by all, but the next morning, it was time for us to head out...on New Year's Eve. And I thought that the weekend in El Paso was eventful...getting home is a whole other story...and post for that matter! Stay tuned!