Short Video

But, I think you'll enjoy this one. This is a few seconds of Lulu dancing to Duke Ellington last week...before getting distracted by the toddler-sized play broom on the floor beside her.



I love that her dancing style is reminiscient of Bill Cosby and Wynton Marsalis...and that it appears that she's tapping the beat against her chest at the beginning of the video. Who knows, maybe we'll make a jazz player out of her yet? The only question is what instrument will she play...piano, drums, or clarinet?? :)

Turkey Trot and my Revenge

Run to Feed the Hungry 5K, post-race:


My revenge later that evening:

B&W

taken from Treasure Island on our way back to Sacramento on Sunday:



Oakland-Bay Bridge


Downtown

Lulu and Friends.

Lulu got to meet some new friends this past weekend in San Francisco. We had a nice time at the 21st Amendment brewpub with our friends Randy (Walter's old boss at WVU), Christa (Randy's grad research fellow), Sarah, and a bunch of Germans (who were friends of my advisor, Stephan).

Lulu had a nice "conversation" with Sarah during dinner:



And she *really* enjoyed meeting Randy:







The Germans contemplating Belgian beer:

San Francisco Highlights

Lulu enjoyed her weekend trip to San Francisco. I was participating in a conference, so she spent a lot of quality time with Daddy on Saturday (unfortunately, no pictures of quality time). But, here are a few pictures of her enjoying the surroundings:

Enjoying the view from the top floor of the conference with Daddy:


Look, Daddy, the TransAmerica Pyramid!


Watching the fountains



A Starbucks was located across from the entry gate to Chinatown:





I love those curls!

We made a pit-stop on Treasure Island on the drive home and snapped these two shots:

Conference + Child = Chaos?

I am attending my first academic conference with a baby this weekend in San Francisco. Technically, the conference sessions started yesterday morning, but my paper isn't scheduled until tomorrow. So, I am picking up Gropius at work around lunchtime and we are driving in to The City to get there around hotel check-in time. I just called the hotel and confirmed that we will have a crib waiting for us, complete with bedding (so there's one less thing to pack). Now, I just have to get my clothes packed, Gropius's clothes packed, Lulu's clothes packed, all my paper(s) printed out for FunTime tomorrow, and finish up my PowerPoint presentation....before lunch.

Wish me luck and I will keep you posted as the situation develops...

Israeli Couscous

So, we've been experimenting of late with Israeli couscous in my house. It's a great, quick grain to throw in with Lulu's veggies for a lunch to take to daycare or for a quick weeknight dinner. I think they're just small enough that they don't function very well as finger food, but the shape is fun!

Gropius found a recipe on epicurious that he's been wanting to try: Toasted Israeli Couscous with Pine Nuts and Parsley. So we grilled up some chicken on the grill with a little Moroccan spices (ras al hanout) and quickly boiled some carrots to create a really tasty meal:



Then, I had to have a little fun with all the orange in the photo for this one:



Next up, maybe Israeli Couscous with Squash and Parsley Butter?