Love and Happiness

The Haole Goes to Hawaii

2010-08-27T15:38:00.001-07:00

A few months ago, Griffin visited Hawaii for the first time. Though the five hour plane ride was rough (Griffin was really mad that he couldn't crawl up and down the aisles the entire time), once we got there, he was a happy camper. It was the first time that he had met many members of my family and it was a huge lovefest to say the least.

We had loads of fun eating, shopping, going to the beach, eating, catching up with family, and eating! Here are a few of the highlights...

Booz, Jenna, Griffin and Grandma

Griffin's first trip to the beach!

Griffin with his cousins, Isaac, Isis and Kiersten.

BFFs

2010-02-23T14:40:00.001-08:00

Our great friends Brian and Shye recently had a little boy, Evan Carter. He's quite adorable! While visiting Shye and Evan a few weeks ago, I couldn't help but think what great friends they will be....and how they will cause havoc together.

Here is their first picture...

Griffin Meets the Basses

2010-01-31T21:31:00.000-08:00

It's always a fun time when the Basses come to town. Recently, Bryan and Kathy came to visit us with their two girls, Estelle and Veronica. Their trip started out a little rough...there was a very random string of rainstorms that his Southern California and (if that wasn't enough) Estelle caught a little stomach bug. After a few days though, the skies cleared and the tummies settled and we had a blast. We even made it out to the LA Zoo which entertained not only the children, but the adults as well!

It's always fun to have family over, but it seems even better when Griffin gets to meet them for the first time. We can't wait to see everyone again!

I love this one of Griffin for some reason.

Griffin and me at the zoo.

Griffin and Estelle

Frank with Veronica

Griffin, Estelle and Veronica

Big smile from Veronica!

I can just see them playing together in a few years!

A Belated Holiday Update

2010-01-31T21:20:00.001-08:00

For Christmas 2009, we were lucky enough to have a couple of visitors from Hawaii with us. It was a special Christmas - Griffin's first - so it was only fitting to have some special guests as well. Grandma Barbara and Boozie stayed with us in El Segundo and helped us celebrate the holidays. After tiring ourselves out with the usual shopping, eating and just catching up, we managed to snap a few good photographs.

Griffin was very festive in his Santa bib.

Another Christmas outfit for Grif!

Grandma Barbara and Griffin

Boozie and me (in my disco dress)

Griffin, Boozie and Grandma

Aunty PJ's Visit

2009-12-03T12:29:00.000-08:00

Griffin was lucky enough to get a visit from Aunty PJ a few weeks ago. We had a great time shopping and hanging out and letting her spoil us.

Here are a few pictures from her visit!

Halloween 2009

2009-11-01T22:20:00.000-08:00

I went back and forth for a long time whether or not I wanted to get a costume for Griffin's first Halloween. I thought it would be really cute, but kind of a waste of money to dress him up in something he wouldn't even remember. At the last minute, Frank and I decided to dress him up. And when I say last minute, I mean LAST MINUTE. I'm talking a trip to Target at 6:00 pm the day before Halloween. It was slim pickings, but we got lucky and found him a very cute hot dog costume. It didn't quite fit...we had to cut slits in the bottom of it so his legs could stick out!

Here are a few pictures of Griffin as a hot dog and our trip to the El Segundo Halloween Frolic. I already can't wait for Halloween next year!

Trick or treat!

Me and Griffin

Frank got hungry...

On our way to the Halloween Frolic...

Frank and Griffin enjoying the town...

well, actually Griffin slept through most of the Halloween festivities. But Frank and I had fun!

Cheese!

2009-11-01T22:15:00.000-08:00

I'm embarrassed to say that I spend a good chunk of my waking moments trying to make my kid smile. I poke, prod, make weird faces, and speak in a very high pitched voice (why?) in order to get him to do this. Sometimes Griffin smiles immediately at me. Other times, he makes me work for it! I don't mind...here's the smile I love!

Go Lakers!

2009-10-29T13:45:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that Frank is a fan of basketball and the Lakers. For a baby shower gift, Brett got Griffin a Lakers onesie and matching booties. When the NBA season opened up a couple days ago, we couldn't wait to dress Griffin up in his new outfit! Check out Griffin with his NBA duds on...

Fun with Grandma Barbara

2009-10-29T13:08:00.001-07:00

Grandma Barbara recently came to visit us from Hawaii to meet her newest great-grandson. She stayed for 2 weeks, though it didn't seem nearly long enough! We had lots of fun going to lunch, doing a little shopping and just sitting around catching up. It's always nice to see grandma, but it was even more fun this time with Griffin here to entertain us.

Here are a few pictures from her visit...

Playing patty cake!

Growing Boy

2009-10-21T19:37:00.000-07:00

Clearly Jenna is in charge of the posting, but I could not resist. These pictures are my favorite.

6'6" shooting guard here we come...well a 6'5" Tiger 2.0 would be okay too.
(For the record, home measurements are 26 inches long with a 22.5 inch wing span.)

MMMMM... yes that is his real belly!!!!

This is the life.

How does he sleep like that?

GO CATS!!

GO CATS!!! Is there anything better?

A Real Funny Guy

2009-10-13T13:56:00.000-07:00

Griffin definitely has moments where he makes us laugh. Somehow one of the funniest things he does is spit up. I know every kid does it, but when Griffin does it, we swear it's quite a spectacle. Here's some evidence.

Exhibit A

The victim

Then he gives us this face and all is forgiven. What a ham!

Happy Birthday Frank and Brett!

2009-09-26T19:45:00.001-07:00

Last week, we went to the Nakabayashi house to celebrate Frank and Brett's birthdays. The company was great and the food was delicious as usual!

Best cake ever!

Birthday kids

Brett and Reese

Apparently Daddy is his Super Hero...

Griffin at 7 weeks

2009-09-26T19:33:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that Griffin is 7 weeks old today. While part of me feels as though we just got him, another part of me believes that he's been with us forever. We think he's a pretty funny kid with all of his noises and faces, but what parent doesn't find their child entertaining?! One thing is for sure...he's getting pretty big!

Here are a few pictures of his past few weeks...

Dreaming of the Lakers...

Naptime with dad!

Griffin's first stroller ride...too bad he wasn't awake for it!

Peace and quiet!

Happy 4 Weeks Old!

2009-09-05T20:58:00.001-07:00

I cannot believe that Griffin is four weeks old today. Time has just flown by these last few weeks! We've settled into a bit of a routine...or at least he has. I still find myself scatterbrained, trying to remember all the things I have to do during the day.

Griffin's gotten so much bigger lately....and what a personality! He makes us laugh every day with his faces and noises.

Here are a few pics of the little guy. There are even a few with his eyes open!

Picture Obsession

2009-08-18T18:47:00.001-07:00

Like any new, proud parent, I'm a bit picture happy. What do you expect? Here are a few pics of Griffin in his first days at home....enjoy!

Griffin's Birthday...

2009-08-12T12:52:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, August 8, Frank and I happily welcomed our son to the world. Griffin Toshio Bass arrived at 9:03 a.m. via c-section at St. Joseph's Hospital in Orange, CA. We spent 3 days in the hospital before coming home yesterday. He keeps us up all night, but we're so excited to have him with us...

I will definitely write more about little Griffin soon...maybe after a nap. But for now, here are some pictures of his first days with us.

Mommy and Griffin's first picture at the hospital.

A selt portrait with proud parents

Griffin's first visitors...the Nakabayashis!

Family picture!

Sleeping soundly...

Daddy and Griffin

Griffin and Grandma Gayleen

What mama?!

Griffn and Daddy!

Griffin's first car ride home from the hospital

Baby Shower Fun

2009-07-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

I'm a very lucky girl...Last weekend, Brett, Shye, and their mom very graciously threw me an awesome baby shower at their house. It was like a mini-cat reunion as many of my old NUSB buddies turned out to partake in the festivities. We even had some out-of-towners join us in Carri and Jenny. It's funny how we're all a bit more grown up now, yet still very much the same.

Needless to say, we had a great time catching up, playing baby shower games and eating some good food.

Here are some pictures of the shower...

Me, Aunty Debbi and the onion dip

Aunty Gwen, me and my mom

Me in all my pregnant glory

NUSB group shot

I was warned to avoid this game from other pregnant ladies...

90210!

Grandma Visits Us

2009-06-09T21:38:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, we were lucky enough to have a very special visitor...my grandma! She scheduled her visit over my birthday so it was a joint, festive celebration. We did the usual things we do when visitors come to visit - shop, eat, and anything else touristy. It was great to spend some quality one on one time with her while we chatted and got caught up. I think she especially got a kick out of things when she saw how big my belly is and how awkwardly I manage to handle it!

Here are a few pics from her visit...

Me and Frank at the Salt Creek Grille for my birthday

Me and Grandma at the Salt Creek Grille for my birthday

Me and Grandma in Santa Monica on a shopping trip

More Hawaii Pics

2009-05-15T13:12:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since our last post...probably because we haven't been up to too much shenanigans. Being pregnant does that! But, it's safe to say that we're doing great and are preparing for the arrival of our little one. Perhaps one day I'll post some pictures of my pregnant belly, but until I get the guts to do that, we'll just have to keep everyone in suspense.

For now, I just received photos from my cousin, Boozie, from the last trip I had to Hawaii. Here are a few of the good ones...

Me and Isis

Me and Landon

Me, Kiersten and Isis

Boozie, Me and Jadine

Family and Food

2009-03-26T17:47:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago, I went home to Hawaii for a few days. The trip really had dual purposes -

1. See my family...it's been almost a year since I had been home, and it was really great to just lazily sit around grandma's house. No matter how many things change at that house, every time I go back to it, it's like I never left.

2. Eat as much food as possible in four days. Every meal had a plan. Strategy is key when trying to cram it all in. I ate every kind of cuisine possible - korean, filipino, hawaiian, japanese, and chinese. It was pretty awesome.

One of the afternoons, we took the kiddies to Chuck-E-Cheese for a while. Here's a picture of Isis and Jadine. Like mother like daughter.

Happy Anniversary!

2009-02-02T12:07:00.000-08:00

To celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary, Frank and I recently went to Palm Springs for a night. It's hard to believe that three years have passed since our wedding in Hawaii. Oddly, it seems like so long ago, yet just yesterday. If anyone needs their memory jogged, here's a photo of the day....we look pretty much the same.

Alright, back to the anniversary...it started off a little slow because it was actually supposed to rain for most of the weekend. That put a bit of a damper on the activities we had hoped to do. Predictably, Frank really wanted to golf and I really wanted to lounge at the hotel pool. Luckily, we don't melt and a little rain never hurt anyone. Here's how our day went...

We arrived just in time for breakfast in Palm Desert. We found this really cute French bistro restaurant in the El Paseo area there. After breakfast, we decided to try to check in early to our hotel and check out the Agua Caliente casino. Unfortunately (and unsurprisingly), we didn't have very good luck at the casino. We had hoped that it would occupy us for a few hours, but after about 30 minutes or so, we were done. Oh well! Later that night, we had a great dinner at LG Prime Steakhouse. Needless to say, we left there full and happy.

Here are a couple of snapshots of our trip...

This is the driveway to our hotel...that's why it's called PALM Springs...

Me and Frank taking a self portrait on our hotel room balcony. Smile!

Happy (Belated) Holidays!

2009-01-06T13:30:00.000-08:00

This holiday season, we were lucky enough to have some family visit from Hawaii. Boozie and Cheyne stayed with us for a little over a week. Though the cold(er) weather initially posed a bit of a shock to them, they persevered through the frigid mid-50 degree weather. (I joke, I joke. Midwestern readers - I can feel you shaking your heads.)

Most of the trip was occupied with shopping and eating (surprise, surprise). However, there were also some fiesty games of Wii mixed in there as well.

Here is a picture from our visit to Candy Cane Lane - an El Segundo neighborhood holiday light spectacle.

Boozie and Cheyne at Candy Cane Lane

Unusually Busy

2008-11-19T22:39:00.000-08:00

Living thousands of miles away from both of our families means that we don't get to see our families as much as we'd like to. That problem seemed to be resolved with an unusually busy few weeks in which we saw many family members. Here's a recap...

The Basses Visit
It all started with a visit from Bryan, Kathy, and Estelle who were in town because of a conference that Bryan was attending. They were conveniently staying only about five minutes from us. We spent a lot of time hanging out at their hotel pool, exploring our town, and playing gin rummy (which was become one of our favorite pastimes).

One of the highlights was taking Estelle to Manhattan Beach to see the ocean. It was an eventful excursion for Estelle who excitedly watching the birds and the surfers, though she had a bit of a spill in the water when a wave suddenly surprised her. Though the latter was a really sad moment for her, it provided a good bit of laughter for the rest of us. I'm sure she'll think it's funny one day!

Kathy and Estelle exploring the shore

Too cute to leave off the blog

Estelle and Kathy

Us...in our usual pose

Mama Kira Comes to California
A few weeks later, my mom came to visit us from Hawaii. We had a great time eating, shopping and just hanging out. She and Frank had a particularly good time watching wrestling on tv (an odd interest to have in common). Unfortunately, it was a relatively short trip, but we had a great time catching up with her nevertheless!

Viva San Antonio!
Exactly one week later, we headed to the great state of Texas to visit PJ (Frank's sister) and mom. It was my first trip to San Antonio, so I was eager to see what the city had to offer.

One of our first stops was the River Walk. There were lots of shops and restaurants. Mostly, it provided great photo ops! Here are a few...

Frank's mom (Peggy) and us in front of cool mosaic art at the River Walk.

Frank and JC's Texas Prom Picture
(just joking)

Frank with his mom and sister

My attempt at art

No, we're not on the boat. Just thought it was pretty!

On Veteran's Day, we also made it down to the Alamo where we learned about it's history and, of course, took more pictures. Enjoy!

Me and Frank

The front of the Alamo

Frank and a cannon

Pretty building with random guy

Family picture at the Alamo!

Needless to say, we had a wonderful time catching up with all of our family in the past few weeks. It was a whirlwind, but always fun!

Birthdays Galore

2008-09-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

Last week, we celebrated a few birthdays in Las Vegas (shocker, right?) with Brett, Shye and Brian. Also joining the party were my cousin Landon and his girlfriend Jaime who flew up from Hawaii for a little vacation. As usual, there was a lot of eating, shopping and gambling. Here are some highlights from our trip...

We arrived on Thursday night and met up with the rest of the group. It's like we never left...

One of our favorite places to grab a fun, frosty drink is 32 degrees.
Here's Shye, Frank, Brett and Bob on Thursday night starting things off with a bang.

After 32 degrees, there's always pizza from New York New York.
What's Vegas without late night/early morning munchies?

Since we were celebrating three birthdays - for Frank, Brett, and Jaime - we went out for a celebratory dinner at Fix in the Bellagio on Friday night. Everything was great...from the food to the company!

Group shot at Fix

The birthday boy and me

Brett and Frank toasting to another fun birthday

One thing about my family....we love food. In large quantities. So when Landon suggested we go to Lawrys for dinner on Saturday night, Frank and I were happy to oblige. It was our first time there, and it didn't disappoint.

Frank, me, Jaime and Landon at Lawrys

The birthday kids with their dessert

After dinner at Lawrys, Frank and I met up with Brett, Shye and Bryan to do some gambling. When we saw them, Brett gave Frank a fun birthday hat she won at Excalibur. These were actually more useful than I initially thought. You could see Frank from all the way across the casino with it on! After all, it's not often you see a 6'4 guy with a wizard hat on....

Frank and Brett with their party hats

All in all, we had a great time celebrating with our friends and family. And why not? We were in Frank's favorite city with some of our favorite people.

Happy birthday to Frank, Brett and Jaime!

My "tru" home (ie VEGAS)

2008-08-27T21:39:00.000-07:00

This being maybe my first and last post I actually write... This is my first time in Vegas in 2005. Needless to say I was hooked from that point on. I feel vegas-itis if I do not go at least every other month... That be said... I wish you all a good night...

Road Trip to San Francisco

2008-08-18T13:20:00.000-07:00

It's pretty much common knowledge that we enjoy road trips. Usually, the trip leads us infamously toward Las Vegas, but a few weekends ago, we ventured north to San Francisco to see one of our best friends, Noah, who was in town playing football.

We left for San Francisco on Friday afternoon. Other than a bit of a traffic jam in LA, the trip was pretty uneventful. One thing to note about the trip to San Francisco from LA - there are cows. Stinky cows...at one point we could smell them even with the windows rolled up. Despite this, we persevered and arrived in the city and went to visit with Noah for a bit before calling it a night.

On Saturday morning, we had a hearty breakfast with Noah at IHOP. It was really great catching up with him...just like old times. Before long, he had to get ready for his game, and we had to go check into our hotel. We were staying in Union Square at the Powell Hotel - which was a great find as it was very affordable, comfortable and convenient! By the time we got settled in and walked around a bit, it was time to go to the game.

The view from Candlestick Park

Under the bright lights

Braving the cold...yes, the cold!

Noah and Frank...together again.

Big smiles from me and Noah

Sunday morning was reserved for sightseeing. I wanted to walk around Union Square more, see Chinatown, and of course, shop! For some reason, I love to play tourist!

Cable cars in San Francisco

Frank and some weird golfing frog

The entrance to Chinatown

Loved the lanterns

Obama in Chinatown...probably the coolest picture we took.

Me and a big heart...I couldn't resist.

Before we knew it, our sightseeing and shopping had to come to an end and we had to make our way back to the hotel to check out and get on the road back to LA. Overall, we really enjoyed our weekend in San Francisco visiting with our old friend, Noah, and exploring a relatively new city for us.

Earthquake

2008-07-29T22:59:00.000-07:00

Today, we experienced our first earthquake as residents of Southern California. It happened around 11:45 this morning while we were both at work. Actually, it all happened very quickly and was done before I even knew what had occurred.

Rest assured that Frank and I are just fine, though. Oddly, there's not much to say about it. After it happened, we went on with our days as usual. It was a bit anticlimactic, really...but when referring to earthquakes, anticlimactic is definitely a good thing!

A Visit with the Basses

2008-07-29T22:47:00.000-07:00

A while back, we were able to visit with some family from the Bass side...Bryan, Kathy, and Estelle. It had been so long since we saw them and it was really great to catch up over the weekend. It's always great seeing Bryan and Kathy, and Estelle just gets bigger and funnier every time we see her.

Since it was so long ago, it seems a little odd to be blogging about it now. (What can I say? I have not been as diligent as I'd like to be in updating this blog.) Anyhow, we had a wonderful time catching up. Some highlights of our trip include....

Playing Taboo with Bryan and Kathy (remember torpedo? and glasnost?)
Playing Gin Rummy
Estelle saying, "Too bad, so sad"
Going to the lake/pool

Here are a few pictures from our great time...

Frank, Estelle, and JC in the car

Frank and Estelle at the playground

Memorial Day Weekend In Hawaii

2008-06-06T12:36:00.000-07:00

Over Memorial Day weekend, we visited our family in Hawaii. It had been around a year since our last visit which is surprising since we live in California now. Needless to say, it was a trip that we had been looking forward to for a while now. Obviously, it was great seeing everyone and catching up. Unlike most people when they visit Hawaii, our days did not revolve around going to the beach. On the contrary, they revolved around....EATING! What can I say? I have my priorities in check!

Anyway, some of the highlights were....

The children....they're getting so big! I remember when visiting relatives used to say that to me when I was a kid and now here I am, telling them the same thing. We loved seeing all three of them - Isaac, Isis and Kiersten. They all have very different personalities...Isaac is a charming rascal, Kiersten is the quiet one, and Isis is almost 3 going on 16.

Golfing at Koolau....it's touted as one of the most challenging courses in the country. I was a little nervous going in because of this. In the end, we had a great hanging out with Uncle Brian and Landon. Only in Hawaii, can you golf next to a mountain, eat spam musubis from the concession stands, and see wild pigs on the course. In the end, I lost 15 balls, but I'm calling it a moral victory just for finishing!

Eating at O Bok....my favorite Korean restaurant in Manoa Marketplace. I get hungry just thinking about it.

Anyhow, it was a great trip. I regret that I didn't take more pictures while we were there, but I did manage to get a few - mostly of the children. Enjoy!

Frank and Isis

Jenna and Jadine

Jenna, Isaac, Jadine, Isis and Boozie

Frank, Isaac, Jadine, and Boozie

Isis (the new ham in the family)

Kiersten and Isis at the park

Isis with Grandma's hat on

Go Dodgers!

2008-04-17T22:09:00.001-07:00

A little while back, we fortunate enough to attend a game at Dodger Stadium. It was our first time visiting the historic field and watching the Dodgers play in person. We arrived early to the game, found our seats (which were surprisingly awesome) and purchased some drinks and a couple of famous Dodger dogs. Here are a few pics of the stadium and our first game...

Dodger stadium from our seats before the game.

Another pregame picture...

A view of Dodger Stadium from the bullpen.

Big smiles at the game!

Supercousins Reunited!

2008-04-17T21:39:00.000-07:00

We love having family in town to visit us. Given that most of our family either lives in Hawaii or Minnesota, it obviously doesn't happen that often. But when it does....it's always a good time. A couple of weeks ago, Patrick and Shannon came to visit us from Minnesota. Unsurprisingly, Patrick and Frank resumed their usual "two peas in a pod" behavior. (I trust that if you've seen them together for more than 5 minutes, you know what I mean.)

On Friday afternoon, we visited the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. It's a really fun area with shops entertainers and it's right next to the beach....what could be better? We also went to Houston's to celebrate Patrick's birthday.

On Friday night, we went to a club in LA called Elevate. It was on the 20-somethingish floor of a building. I took a couple of photos in the beginning of the night and then completely forgot that I had a camera. Here are a few with my friend from work, Anna.

On Saturday, we went down to Sunset Beach to get sushi at a place called Daimon. It's one of our favorite places to eat. The sushi is the best I've ever had. Seriously, I'm not exaggerating. I was too preoccupied to enjoy dinner AND take pictures!

On Sunday, we bummed around all day. But, we were able to take more beach photos. (I know we already did that, but can you blame us? It's 5 minutes away!)

All in all, it was a great weekend hanging out with Patrick and Shannon. We can't wait to do it again!

Easter 2008

2008-03-27T21:54:00.000-07:00

This Easter we celebrated by doing what we usually do at holidays - go to the Nakabayashi's to eat. What can I say? We love it there!

I admit I was a little worried when I received a text early that day from Brett that said "Don't dress up...you might need to run." I think it's common knowledge that we California Basses aren't really big on the whole exercise thing. Needless to say, we knew we would be in for a surprise that evening.

Upon arriving at the Nakabayashi's house, we learned that we'd be having an Easter egg hunt in the backyard. I can't even tell you the last time I participated in an egg hunt on Easter. We had a great time scouring the yard for the eggs that were generously filled with candy and...money! That's the beauty of adult Easter egg hunts. Brett did a really good job hiding the eggs. It was definitely a challenge finding all 68 eggs. In the end, Shye was the big winner since she found the most eggs and won the grand prize...a giftcard for gas!

After the egg hunt, we ate (another) great, delicious meal made by Aunty Gwen. She really spoils us with that turkey....

Here are a few photos of our Easter...

Vegas (again)

2008-03-22T22:16:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we decided to spontaneously road trip to Las Vegas. We left on Friday night, arrived in Las Vegas late Friday night/early Saturday morning, and left to come back home on Saturday afternoon. Yes, it's insane. But, it's not the first time that this has happened...and I'm sure that it won't be the last!

Since we frequent this city so often, it's not really much of a novelty anymore. It pretty much went like this....

Drive
Go to Barstow for gas and In-N-Out
Go to Primm to gamble
Try not to lose too much money in Primm
Sleep in the car for 2 hours
Gamble for most of the morning
Lose some money
Win some money!!!
Go home

AND...I won my first sports bet which was very exciting. It officially made us winners for the weekend which is a rarity, believe me.

Here are some photos of the very exciting trip -

Pictures Galore

2008-02-27T11:16:00.000-08:00

My dear cousin, Jadine, just sent me photos from Hawaii of the family. It's always fun to get pictures since we live so far away and only see each other once in a while. Here are a few of my favorites. Enjoy!

Candy Cane Lane

2008-01-14T20:50:00.000-08:00

Over the Christmas break, my little cousin, Boozie, came to visit us in California. We had a lot of fun with her - mostly eating and shopping! One of the highlights came when we explored Candy Cane Lane in our little town. Apparently holiday spirit is a prerequisite to live on this street because during the holidays the residents literally block their street off from traffic so that crowds can gather to see the outrageous holiday lights. Here is a glimpse of our trek down Candy Cane Lane...(yes, that is snow on the ground in one of the pictures - as Frank would say, UNREAL!)

Holiday Fun - Even at Work

2007-12-19T15:06:00.000-08:00

Holiday festivities are pretty common this time of year - even at work. A couple of weeks ago, Frank's company had their Holiday Party at a place in Santa Monica called the Buffalo Club. We had a great time celebrating the holiday season with his co-workers. Here are a few pictures of the night -

Not to be outdone by the festivities, my department at work recently participated in a Holiday Cart Parade. Basically, each division has the opportunity to decorate their cart in a holiday theme and we parade around campus like crazy people. Our cart was themed "Gingerbread". Here are a few pictures of the fun -

Frank's Favorite Holidays

2007-11-23T10:06:00.000-08:00

Frank's favorite holidays are unquestionably Thanksgiving and Halloween. There's something about eating until you're sick and dressing up like a crazy person that he enjoys. If you've ever seen Frank on any of these holidays, you know what I mean.

This year, we were lucky enough to be invited to Thanksgiving dinner at the Nakabayashi's. The spread is amazing - roasted turkey AND deep fried turkey, dressing AND stuffing, cranberries, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, ham, and of course, homemade crescent rolls. Needless to say, we ate too much and could barely walk afterwards. But it was well worth it! We actually brought our camera with the intention of taking a few pictures to post, but once we got there, food was all we could think about!

Halloween 2007 was also very festive and spent with the Nakabayashi family. Because it fell on the Wednesday before Brian and Shye's wedding (which just so happened to be in Las Vegas), it was guaranteed fun. What we dress up as for Halloween is a constant debate. This year, Frank was a criminal, complete with orange jumpsuit. Appropriately, Brett and I dressed up as his security team. It was quite a spectacle, but luckily, in Las Vegas, there are far crazier people than us! Here are some pictures of us in our costumes...

Bruins vs. Sun Devils

2007-11-11T16:35:00.000-08:00

Yesterday marked our first collegiate football game in California - UCLA vs. ASU at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. We went to the game with a couple of Frank's co-workers, Nishi and Nicole. Here's a picture of us having some pre-game fun at an Italian restaurant.

When we arrived at the game, we realized they do things a little differently at UCLA compared to NU...for one, they had what Frank called a "hype man" who led the crowd into a synchronized cheer, complete with clapping and fist pumps. There's no shortage of school spirit at UCLA...but if I hear the word Bruin one more time...

Movers and Shakers

2007-11-07T15:57:00.000-08:00

We like change. That's been pretty well established. In the last 4 years, we have called 4 different places home. We've gone from the attic apartment, to the Andersonville apartment, to the HB apartment, to the new, wonderful El Segundo apartment. In the meantime, we've also had a total of 8 jobs between us. Finding your niche is never an easy thing, but I think that after all the shifting around, we've finally done it. That is, of course, for now!

Here's a picture of Frank enjoying our newest home.

Here we go...

2007-11-04T20:19:00.000-08:00

When I asked Frank if he wanted to create a blog a few weeks ago, he responded with an expected, "Why would we do that?" Of course, there are many reasons - to provide an outlet for our thoughts, to keep friends and family updated on our lives, to keep up with the rest of the 21st century...Despite my prodding, he actually gave in. Though, I'm sure that 90% of what is posted will be coming from me on behalf of the both of us. Not too surprising...

So here it is...a peak into our lives. I hope it's entertaining and not too scary!

Btw - Love and Happiness by Al Green was our wedding song. We tossed ideas around for a while as to what we thought the title of our blog should be. It's not as easy as it sounds...I guess when in doubt...go with Al Green.