Hello from Ashburn

Here are Evan and Brady in all their cuteness, plus a little of the two grandmas. Brett and Mireille's flight was delayed, so they arrived back in Ashburn just an hour before us! We were all exhausted last night, and Brett is sick, but it is great to see everyone.

Easter Sunday II

Church for us doesn't start until 1:30 pm - but we still didn't get picture before! We snapped a few right before we left for Easter Dinner at Gammy & Gampys. Kids were starting to get a little on the tired side. Paige wasn't feeling it at first.

And then the kids rode off into the sunset on their trusty steed...

Easter Sunday

Church starts at 8:30 am for us, so these were the best shots we could get after we came home. We had to keep giving the boys candy just to sit still long enough to get a shot. And most of Carissa's curls came out, too. But they all looked cute and we had a very nice ( even though it was hot) Easter.

Cousin Pictures Take Two

We took another round of "Cousin Pictures" when the Bradfords were in town. These are CLASSIC! I love it!

Starts out ok with Paige and Carissa...
Then we realize we need Derek in there too...

He did not want to be in it...

And somehow Grayson got hit in the head (Ben looks guilty)...

Oh well, we'll try again another time.

All Tuckered Out

We had a long day in Sacramento today and when we got home I had two very tired kids!

This picture reminded me a little too much of someone else though...

It must run in the genes!!

( Me, circa 1998, coming home from an A's game with my college roomies.)

A Few Pics from Mom and Dad

Just a few pictures from the last weeks. We are trying to figure out how to do all this technical stuff!
Obviously, these are from Ashburn

Looks like none of my titles came through---oh well, you can figure it out, I think!

The Dave Moore River area

Grayson swivel-sweeping

Woohoo---Dad is 33 !

Stories and oranges - a blast from the past!

One More Event for June

I don't have any pictures for this post, but I figured you would all like to hear about it. You can all add one more event to this June. I just finished talking with my adviser and assuming I pass all my classes, I will graduate in June. All I can say is that my AP units really ended up paying off. I thought I wouldn't be able to use them since I had the AP units for calculus and United States history and also took those classes at UC Davis. Turns out I can count my AP units, which added 16 units to my transcript. I am very glad that I decided to go talk to my adviser about graduation earlier than they recommend.

This opens up all sorts of options as far as living arrangements, since we will no longer be tied down to living in Davis. I guess we'll see where I can get a job. Also, I need to start looking into the GREs so I can have the option of going to graduate school. So much more to think about, but it is exciting - like being able to fast forward my life six months.

Brett & Mireille - Five Years!

Happy Anniversary Brett and Mireille! Five years have flown by! It just seems like yesterday that we all traveled to the Oakland Temple on a gorgeous March day to be with you as you began your domestic partnership (ha ha!).

Here you two kids are coming out - luckily you didn't have to use the office building corporate entrance and exit - the garden exit was much more beautiful! Brett looks SO young, and Mireille you still look the same! You guys were beautiful!
We were all so glad that Brett finally decided to take the plunge and he couldn't have picked a better match than Mireille. We all know who wears the pants in that family!

I remember that first year after you were married we would get together at your house on Alhambra and discuss things like mortgages, house projects and work - much to the enjoyment of Kirk, who usually fell asleep on the couch. It was so fun being close to each other and both being newlyweds together. Those were the days...before all the children came along.

We can't believe that five years have already passed! In that time you have moved across the country, started a family (with two of the cutest boys we've ever seen!), had great success in your professional endeavors, and are setting out again in a new adventure. The two of you have established a wonderful family together and we can't wait to see what this coming year holds for you.

Brett - just remember - a little less of this please?! What - you're tired?

Love,

Susie and Ali

Evan and Brady

I see so much resemblance between Evan and Brady.

Here is Evan at two and half weeks old.

I just took this today of Brady at two weeks old.

They're definitely not carbon copies of each other, but it really makes me miss the days when Evan was in his larval stage.

Evan is so much fun though he's still not 100% about Brady. I had to stage this picture, but I love it.

The Steed boys.

Pictures From Ashburn

Here are a couple of pictures from the last couple of days in Ashburn. Everything is going great with Brady and Evan---they are both so cute!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALI!!!!!!

Happy Birthday to our wonderful sister, sister-in-law, daughter, mom, wife, friend, PSG, professional river guide - AND guide replacement (i.e., when other guides' teeth are knocked out-- all she needs is a paddle and a jacket), Foster's Freeze shake maker (though more shakes were probably given away gratis than paid for...), basketballer, volleyball player and coach, comedian, secretary, cab driver, chef, maid, nurse, independent business owner, author (The Butterfly and I, 1989, and Kidnapped! 1990.. and other more recent works), Peer Counselor, blogmaster, construction worker, home remodeler, party planner and hostess, homemaker, environmental/community activist (see "I Support Rafting" t-shirt somewhere in closet..), Sharpie permanent marker removal expert, seamstress, auto detailer, diaper changer, butt-wiper, and last but not least, sump removal/discreet disposal specialist.

I'm sure I left a lot of the important ones off..

But nevertheless, Happy 30th! We love you Ali!!!!! This is going to be a great year!

Refresher Course

Brett and Mireille - I know it has been awhile since Evan was little so these helpful hints might come in handy!