Sam's visit

Sam came down to California for a week to go scuba diving with some friends. It was fun to see him while he was down here and to meet his friend, Jiwan. We drove up to Tilden Park in the Berkeley hills behind campus. It's a gorgeous park and a fun place to catch up and talk.

It was a beautiful Sunday to have some family time in the park.

We also went to campus for a while to show Sam around and to talk to him about going to graduate school.

We had a good time together. I wish we got to see him more often.

Bowling and Ice cream

Sam, Jiwan, Keith and I also went bowling. We went with some friends of ours from church who were also celebrating graduations and finishing the school year. I haven't been bowling in a very long time. I was pretty sure I was going to bowl a 40, but I ended up doing fine. I was no competition for our friend who bowled a 178, but I didn't embarrass myself either.

Unless, of course, you count this picture. I was in a celebratory mood anyway because I had just finished writing three term papers, but I was extra happy in this shot because I was on my way to bowling a turkey (three strikes in a row).

It was nice to go out with Keith and friends and relax after weeks of solitary confinement with my laptop writing papers.

No celebration is complete without ice cream, so we went to the best ice cream place in town. My ice cream was incredible and as big as my head.

I think everybody had a great time.

Losing Our Minds II

In response to LaDawn's story and her and Brooklynn feeling like they're losing their minds, I would like to submit a similar story. Actually, it's Keith's story. But he doesn't blog, so I'll tell it for him. As evidence, I submit exhibit A:

I woke up on Saturday morning and went to the fridge to get some milk for my cereal, only to find... the ice cream! Keith had made a milkshake the night before and put the ice cream in the wrong place. I died laughing. I guess our minds are a little shot after writing so many papers. I can't wait until summer vacation. I think we're a little low on brain power right now and can be considered dangerous to ourselves and others - not to mention innocent ice cream. I'll be sure not to operate any heavy machinery until this is over.

Good work, Professor!

In Keith's defense (from the story above), he has been strategically saving his brain for the things that really matter most. A good example of this is the Tort reform panel that he got roped into participating in a little while ago. These flyers were posted all over the law school advertising his presentation:

This is only the first of many times I expect to see Keith's name advertised as a headline keynote speaker. I just hope it isn't always accompanied by such goofy graphics. :)


Keith was recruited to be on this panel to present the things he learned as a research assistant at UW on a (now famous) book about tort reform. The other person on this panel was a history professor. The moderater was the Dean of Keith's PhD program.

The history professor spoke first, for about 20 minutes, and presented the background and history of torts in the american judicial system. Then Keith got up to present the current state of affairs and discussed the way in which the media shapes public opinion by the way they report the cases and therefore create the buzz stories that everyone tells (like the McDonalds coffee case). Keith had the audience enthralled. He spoke for about an hour and, seriously, all eyes were on him the whole time and people were taking notes. It was awesome. I wanted to take a picture of Keith lecturing because he looked so confident and powerful and "right" up there on the stage lecturing from the podium, but I held back because I was sure that it would embarrass him. I really think Keith has found the right profession. He was born to do this. I think everyone there learned a lot.

I'm not the only one who thought this. A lot of people thanked Keith afterwards and told him what a great job he did. But the best compliment was when the Dean of his program congratulated Keith afterward and said, "That was a helluva lecture, Keith!" Later on he told me that he thinks Keith is ready to start teaching tomorrow he's so good. I couldn't agree more. I'm really proud of him.

Motorcycle trip to San Fran

It's the time of the semester when paper deadlines are looming and I start to get my end-of-the-semester eye twitch. I've been working all week on a paper I have to present on Tuesday (the first of three I'll write in the next few weeks). I got a little over-stressed for so early in the process, so Keith and I decided to take advantage of the first sunny day in a month and take a motorcycle ride to San Francisco for dinner. It was a beautiful night, but much colder than I had expected. We decided to go to my favorite SF restaurant, The Cliff House. We got there at 6:30 and was told it would be a 45 minute wait. We took our restaurant pager and went out to the beach to take some pictures to pass the time...

It was really pretty but (obviously) pretty windy. I'm lovin' my hair in this pic. It's a throw back to my old '80s bangs. Anyway, after 20 minutes or so I'm frozen and am sure they're about ready to seat us, so we go back inside. And wait. And wait. So we take some more pictures.

This is the birds-eye-view of the restaurant from the waiting area. This is me trying to stay happy as our promised 45 minute wait became and hour and a half and then 2 hours. I would have just left, but I didn't want to go back in the cold, get on the motorcycle and try and find another restaurant and a parking spot. So we waited it out. It was ridiculous now that I look back on it. At 9:30 we finally sat down and ordered immediately. It was a good thing too, since were were then told that the kitchen was now closing. I was super mad, but even hungrier. So I ate my "usual" (shrimp louis salad) and Keith got adventurous and ordered a cioppino (seafood stew) that was fantastic. Luckily the ride home wasn't as cold as I'd thought it would be and the night turned out okay in the end. At least my eye stopped twitching. :)

Cashmere man

It's been cold enough this spring that Keith decided to break out his overcoat to wear with his suit to church today. We forgot that Keith even had this fantastic, cashmere coat he bought in Seattle before we moved. It is gorgeous, soft and very handsome. But the best part is the price.
Keith got this fantastic $1,000 coat for about $100! You've got to love that. Way to shop! :)

Presents present themselves

Presents arrived for Keith today!

Here, Keith is engrossed in an impromptu tennis racquet/air guitar jam session - inspired by both his brand new tennis racquet and two new Ray Davies CDs.

He ordered his tennis racquet and the CDs last week, and they both arrived on the same day, so he was giddy with glee. He thinks he could make it as a musician, or a professional tennis player, or possibly both. I told him not to quit his day job. His response: "What day job?" Touché, Keith. Touché.

So here you have photographic evidence of the extravagant lifestyle I am currently supporting. But in his defense, the CDs are cool, and a long time coming. Ray Davies's first solo album EVER?! Awesome. His Kinks Kollection wouldn't be complete without them.

And his tennis racquet... Well, let's just say his old racquet has "served" (haha) faithfully over the years.
How many years?

Spring Break 2006

This week I've come to realize that spring break is *not* the same for grad students as it is for under grads. Last Friday all the under grads came to class with their suitcases in tow ready to head to the airport straight from class. One girl was even wearing a giant straw sunhat and flip flops. I, on the other hand, had no plans to use my passport. My spring break plans included spending the first half of the break getting some writing done and the second half doing something fun. I didn't get the work done I'd hoped to the first half of break, but I decided to take the second half of the week off anyway. Keith and I talked about going down to LA or Monterey for a few days. At the last minute Keith's friend, Mike, was in town for business and came to stay with us for a few days. We were really looking forward to spending some time with him and having some fun in the city. Unfortunately, right after he arrived, Keith got really sick and spent the next 2 days throwing up. We had as much fun as we could sitting in our livingroom watching the rain fall and some daytime TV. Thankfully Keith is feeling better now, but spring break is over and I have to start on homework again. Oh well. Maybe next year I'll disguise myself as an under grad and head to Cancun. 

Happy Birthday, K!

We celebrated Mickayla's birthday three times during my trip to Seattle for Candice's wedding. She was so happy to have everyone there.

You'll notice that Mickayla's new doll and bears made it into the family picture. :)

This is a picture of Mickayla opening a gift of doll clothes from Lilian to go with her doll from Mom. She doesn't look too impressed in this picture, but she was once she opened the box. Her doll got some super cute stuff and is better dressed than I am (admittedly not too hard to do!). Here is Mickayla blowing out the candles on bday cake #3. That sure is a lot of wishes! She's going to have a great 6th year!Mickayla was so happy to have everyone around for the weekend-long birthday fun that I don't think she even noticed that a wedding happened between parties. :)

The wedding

I didn't take very many pictures at the wedding itself since I spent most of my time smoothing Candice's wedding dress for the professional photographer, but here are a few that I took. (I am sure that more will be available on Candice and Mom's blogs later.)

This is Candice and Scott by their beautiful wedding cake that Aunt Cathy made.

Here is Dad giving his toast to the bride and groom. Best wishes to the new Mr. and Mrs. Sanders! We love you guys and are so happy for you.

Here is Keith and Kayla. I'm not sure why they're looking up at me like that. I'm not that tall. I love the flower girl dresses that Mom made for Kayla and Brooklynn. They're so pretty!

Fiesta!

The whole fam went to a Mexican restaurant the night before Candice and Scott's wedding (while they were out celebrating with Scott's family) and had a great time. Apparently Erin is the only one who heard me say "smile" since everyone else is absorbed in their chips and salsa.

While we were waiting for the food Uncle Reed read Brooklynn a story. So cute!

When my food came I was surprized by how big my burrito was! It was really good, but I had to be proud of myself for eating about half of it. Now that I'm looking at the picture I am also taken back by the man behind me who apparently was just dared by his lodge buddy to try and eat his napkin in one bite! :)

Close Ups!

Everyone had a great time at dinner the night before the wedding (thanks Mom & Dad!). And, miracle of all miracles, I have a picture of mom to prove that she was there! Enjoy this folks, it only happens once every decade, or so. :)

I guess Mickayla doesn't really like Mexican food. For the record she didn't eat her "mexi" chicken strips. She was more interested in the coffee cup that her pop came in.

Here are LaDawn and Brent. LaDawn is looking stylin' and happy, but I don't think Superman was pleased with being interrupted just as his food arrived. Who can blame him?Sorry Blake, but this is the only pic I have of you at dinner! Reed and Blake definitely liked the food. They cleaned our plates after we threw in the towel. Aren't they huge? It takes a lot of fuel to power those muscles!
I love this happy-family pic! Aren't they beautiful? Will is such a fun baby and his parents are awesome. Okay, before you guys all get mad at me for posting these pictures, I'll add this pic of Keith and I. This is the cherry on top. Kayla took this picture. I'm obviously mid sentence and I have no idea what Keith's excuse is. I love you guys! I miss you!!

Wedding PARTY!

Okay, so our family *really* likes to be together. The night before the wedding we all packed in to one hotel room (just for the games, we seperated later to sleep) and played Cranium. It was cozy, but really fun. The neighbors must have hated us.Candice and Scott opened the presents from the family too.

Mickayla and Brooklynn decorated the wrapping paper with pictures of everyone in the family. It was really cute! However, I have no explaination (or announcements) following Mickayla's drawing of me. Uh....

After the group party Erin gave the girls french manicures and the guys played a crazy game of Uno. Man, do we know how to party!

Build-A-Bear

Happy Birthday, Mickayla and Brooklynn!
The girls took Mickayla and Brooklynn to Build-A-Bear for their birthdays. Kayla chose a bear and Brooklynn chose a cow. They were so excited! :)
This is Mickayla dressing her bear in the cowboy outfit she chose.
Brooklynn also went with a farm theme with her cow. This picture makes it look like she's strangling the cow, but I think she's actually just checking to make sure his stuffing is just right.

Here's the whole happy group together. What a good looking group!

But I think William gets first prize for best dressed cowboy!