Birthday's!

There are a lot of May birthday's in our little group and we like to celebrate when we can. This one was for Sarah. It is probably the last birthday we'll get to spend with her since she is moving next month :(

I wish I could claim that I made this cake but I can't. There is this amazing bakery in Palo Alto called 'The Prolific Oven' where we purchased this guy. Chocolate Rum Cake...Yummy!

Colin is one on the other May birthday's and we celebrated his the week before. I arrived late since I had to work for someone and I didn't remember to bring my camera so I don't have any photos. Andrea (sitting) next to Colin is his girlfriend who just moved here from Canada. They have been doing the long distance relationship thing for the last 5 years so I know they are both happy to be living in the same city. It has been fun getting to know Andi a little better.

Cheese!

Later this week Sarah will be defending her thesis which as you can imagine can be a very stressful event. Moria and her sister made a care package for me a few years ago for my board exams and we decided we should do something similar for Sarah. We we created a 'Thesis Defense Preparation Package'. Contents included Calming body wash, Relaxing body butter, dessert wine, snacks, and a fake mouse, and a few other inside joke items. (Sarah works with mice doing cancer research in case you were wondering about the mouse). We decorated the tub and enjoyed giving it to her yesterday. I think she appreciated it....I know I did when I received mine.

Intermural Games

A few weekends ago Stanford held their annual Inner Tube Water Polo Tournament. Kevin has been able to play in the tournament for the last couple of years but I have always had to work. Luckily this year I was able to play.

It was a pretty day but I was still appreciative of the heated pools. Here we are waiting to play our second game (after losing our first ).

Our team was a combination of Chemistry and Biology Students and our second game was against another Chemistry team. We started off behind but were making a comeback but we ran out of time (They were only 10 minute games). I think we could have done better if we had put people in better positions. Three of the Bio guys weren't really into the whole team thing and just wanted to be on offense. I think if they had taken turns of defense and let a few of the faster people play midfield we may have had a better chance.

This picture of me happens to be one where I was just flipped out of my tube and I was trying to get back in. The girl I was guarding was really irritating me and I wanted to flip her too but I wasn't very good at it.

I got fed up and subbed myself out and let Kevin flip her a few times. He then moved on to flipping their lead scorer (Daryl has a powerful arm) over and over again. Luckily he and Kevin are friends or he may not have taken it so well.

We stuck around after our elimination from the tournament and then a handful of us were able to get in and scrimmage. That was the most fun I had the entire day...it was a blast! I just wish I had remembered to get a team photo!

This past weekend Kevin's softball team had playoffs. Kevin is the pitcher.

Kevin isn't the best batter of the team but he did have one hit that brought someone in for a run so I think he was pretty pleased with that.

After their win to make it to the World Series!

At this point I left. It was really really cold that day and despite covering myself in all of the guys' sweatshirts I was freezing. I made it to the car just as it started raining. It only rained for a bit but I was happy not to be in it. They lost their final game but it was exciting to make it that far.

Team Photo! Good job Chemical Abuse!

In a few weeks the summer league begins so maybe they'll take the championship there!

Grad Formal!

This past weekend we headed out to our 5th and likely last graduate student formal. It was once again at the Computer History Museum not far from our apartment so we took a cab over to the party. We were messing with some things on the camera and I didn't end up getting very many good pictures so I only have a few posted.

Sarah, Jonathan, and Kevin while we were waiting in line to enter the museum.

I was so excited to see our friend Scott at the formal! I had to take a picture to prove we were at the same event at the same time.

It is fun to get a little dressed up every now and then and to dance the night away. The D.J. was okay...he played better songs than some in the past but they wouldn't turn the lights off over the dance floor. The staff kept saying they were the emergency lights and they couldn't turn them off with that many people there. That was a little frustrating because it was just too darn bright.(They have been off every other year and the D.J.'s assistant told us they work at the venue all the time and the lights are always off)

At one point this rap group came out and 'performed' halfway through the night. I felt a little bad for the group. They were not in the right crowd and there were all these technical difficulties. Everyone there got really impatient waiting for the mediocre number. Not sure who decided to hire them but hopefully their next gig goes better for them!

It wasn't the best formal that we've been too but we went with good friends and managed to have a great time anyway.

Yosemite

It only took two years but we finally made it back to Yosemite. Sarah and Jonathan had never been and with only a couple months left on the West Coast we thought they had better get that crossed off of their list.

We headed up Friday night and after a little drama with a pair of squatters who had staked claim over of our campsite we finally were able to get settled. (The story is pretty funny so just ask us when you see us and we'd be happy to share)

We woke up Saturday and then headed towards the valley to start our hike. We stopped along the highway and took a few photos with Bridalveil Fall in the background.

We kept driving and eventually stopped to go and check out Bridalveil. On the short walk to the fall we saw this random sight. Apparently it was for Esquire magazine (I might have to flip through it in the grocery store lines for a few months to see what exactly they are using it for). Kevin asked to take a picture with the giant clock. The picture is on Sarah's camera but I will definitely be getting it from her.

The fall was really coming down so we didn't spend much time there. All of our rain jackets were still in the car and we didn't feel like getting completely soaked that early in the day.

Bridalveil Fall

View of El Capitan on the way back to our car.

Even though Kevin and I did the Mist Trail on our last trip we thought that would be a good hike to take Sarah and Jonathan on. I enjoyed it just

as much this time as last time. The falls were all bigger than last time. (I think there was more snow this year)

Vernal Fall can be seen in from the Happy Isles footbridge.

Another view of Vernal Fall on the way up Mist Trail.

Vernal Fall with a beautiful rainbow!

Top of Vernal Fall.

We ate lunch up by Vernal Fall before heading on toward Nevada Fall. Kevin found a rock and couldn't help himself.

It wasn't much further to this fantastic view of Nevada Fall. I was really wanting to to keep going and make it to the top of the fall but I wasn't sure how motivated Sarah and Jonathan were feeling that day. We ended up continuing on and I was very excited since we didn't do it last time.

On the way to the top. If you were ever feeling tired you just had to look behind you and take in the view and remember why you started up in the first place.

We made it! Incredible scenery and a little less crowded than the top of Vernal Fall.

This was well worth the climb.

Kevin wanted to get a picture so you could see Nevada Fall and me. Right after this my water bottle (which was caught on the railing) fell to its end. I watched it fall and heard a 'tink' as it hit the side of the mountain and then disappeared into the mist. A little sad to lose the water bottle but it was free from work so I managed to get over it pretty quickly. At least it wasn't my camera!

Sarah and Kevin with Liberty Cap in the background.

From Right to Left: Liberty Cap, Mount Broderick, and Half Dome. Half Dome is what I want to conquer next.

Nevada Fall from the John Muir Trail.

Nevada Fall with Liberty Cap and Mount Broderick in sight.

We wanted to head back down via the John Muir trail to avoid the crowds on Mist Trail. The trail was still officially closed for winter but we kept seeing people continuing on (including a couple with a baby strapped to the mom's chest) so we decided to go too. Apparently that litmus test isn't a very good one. There were a few parts of the trail that weren't quite ready for people. We weren't in any real danger ever but you had to be careful not to slip on ice in a few sections. I couldn't imagine trying to take a baby on that trail.

View from the John Muir Trail.

Taking this trail added a little distance to the return trip but I think we all agreed it was worth it. A change of scenery and fewer people made it much more enjoyable.

After heading back to the campsite we got ready to celebrate Kevin's birthday since it was the next day. We grilled steaks and veggies over the campfire and it was particularly delicious after a long day of hiking.

Kevin requested carrot cake and at one point it looked fantastic. Then it was left in the car while we were at work on Friday and the frosting melted. We tried to spread it out before lighting the candles but it just began looking worse. Still tasted yummy though!

The rest of the evening we just enjoyed hanging out around the campfire and making s'mores with everyone. Jason and Brett had been rock climbing that day so we were glad to be able to catch up.

I think Sarah and Jonathan had a good time and now they have a big thing crossed off their list. It is hard to believe they'll be leaving soon...we're going to miss them!