Sanibel Island

Ben and I just got back from a week in Sanibel Island, Florida. We spent the week with Pete's Dad Harry, his stepmom Kandee, and Pete, Mer and Baby Kate. It was AWESOME. We went to the beach every day, swam in the pool every day, hunted for seashells, bicycled around the island, went kayaking through the mangroves, ate tons of delicious meals, had lots of great conversations, and really soaked up the sunshine. We also got to witness Baby Kate take her very first steps! It sure is a treat to get away from Ohio in the dead of winter!



Click here for photos.

Speaking of the dead of winter, we couldn't have picked a better week to go. Athens was hit with a massive ice storm, closing O.U. for the first time in over a decade! There was snow and ice everywhere. Look at these photos that Mom sent to us. Yeah, I would rather be in Florida!

Cheryl's Italian Party

This year is Cheryl's 21st year working at NBIA. Also, she is going to Italy this spring with her best friend! We decided to throw an anniversary party here at work for her. Leah and I were in charge of all the details. We decided to surprise her with an Italian theme! We converted our flourescent-lit meeting room into a romantic Italian bistro!

Cheryl was super surprised! We made her cry! YES!!!

We even had Tom on the web cam from all the way in England!

He wore his Viva Italia hat!

We had Mistretta's cater an Italian feast.

Time to eat! Mangia!

YUM.

A little later, we got Dinah on the web cam!

So neat.

Leah and I made this cake. It means "You're the best!" Dosn't it totally look like a Napoleon Dynamite cake?

Cutting the cake!

PARTY DECORATIONS! WHEE!

Deery Lou Glasses!

When I visited Beth in Seattle in 2003, I bought two Deery Lou glasses, and they have been my favorite glasses of all time. One of them broke a year or two ago, and then the second one broke more recently. Although I've SCOURED the Internet for them countless times, I've never been able to find any trace of them! However, now that my second one broke, two of them magically popped up on eBay, and I won them!! The rainbow one is exactly like my old glasses, and the apple one is different but I love it too. If anyone sees any more of these glasses on the Internet or anywhere else, please alert me!

Birthday Brunch

Nancy, Maia and Debbie all have birthdays right around now. To celebrate, Summer hosted a birthday brunch! Suzanne made donuts:

Rose made a cranberry cake:

Summer made these asparagus tarts!

Rose's first time having a whole bloody mary all to herself!

Summer's bloody mary:

Nancy brought smoked salmon, cream cheese, and little toasts!

I made waffles. WAFFLES!

Look at how pretty Rose's cake is on the inside. Mmm.

Friday was PASSED OUT.

Bon Voyage, Tom!

Tom is moving to England very, very soon. We got together at Zoe's for a Bon Voyage dinner! Here is Tom making a toast:

CHEERS!!!

Suzanne was heading for the bathroom and hit a slick spot on the floor. She slid into those paper lanterns and it was one of the best things I've ever seen. To top it all off, after she straightened herself up, she tried to head out that to the right, thinking it was the bathroom. It was the door to outside!

Oh, did you notice that bling?

Shoes!

After dinner, we headed to Jackie O's. Guinness mustache!

Dancing on the booth!

Playing pool.

Matching lipstick!

Dan and Rose.

Mustache number two!

Friends!

JONES GOT A UNICORN PEGASUS TATTOO! FINALLY!!

Yumi found paradise in that booth.

Rose all of a sudden acquired a beauty mark!

Brad and Sarah got married that night. Congratulations, guys!

We are going to MISS Tom!

I unipegged the pool players.

The Royales played a spontaneous show that night. What a perfect event for Tom's going away party! Suzanne and Tom danced their BUTTS off:

Aw, this pretty much sums up how we all feel. We are going to miss you, homie!