Skiing Wisconsin

Last weekend Amanda and I went skiing with a bunch of friends at Devil's Head Resort in Wisconsin. It was Amanda's first time on skis - and she did great! Good practice for our Colorado trip in early April... There is a good video too, but unfortunately too large to be posted here.



Me, Ramon, Greg, Chiping, Mandy, John, Chirag, Amanda, Barbie



For our Colorado trip, Amanda will get a helmet too - to go with the sweet Oakley goggles I got her last week!

Emil is here since last Wednesday, it's been a lot of fun so far and today he did his first day volunteering at the museum. More photos to come...

Billy Corgan Likes Amanda's Work

For the past couple of months Amanda worked on the invitations, programs, etc. for a friend's fundraising event. The event was raising money for an alternative medicine clinic, and headlining the music set at the event was Billy Corgan [of the Smashing Pumpkins].

I saw the design of the event grow into something very, very cool, and a little while ago Amanda received an email from her friend detailing all the praise her design was getting - from event staff and from Billy Corgan himself. In fact, just yesterday her friend reiterated that Mr. Corgan liked her stuff a lot.



A low-resolution version of her save-the-date for the event




Someone else's video of Billy Corgan covering "Nowhere Man" by the Beatles during his set at the event

Yay! Good News!

Anders presented his doctoral defense today and HE PASSED! He's officially a doctor now and can graduate in May!

Fun News!

Anders is going to be super embarrassed that I'm posting this, but he found out the other day that he is the recipient of a University of Illinois Alumni Association Student Leadership Award!

Only 50 students in the entire university's graduating class win this award each year. I'm so proud! I figured this post was the best way to get this bit of news out to his family.



One of Anders' friends sent me this ridiculous photo of him having lunch at school this week. He looks so small next to his giant spoon and bowl of soup!

Christmas Tree

After a couple of years without a tree, Amanda surprised me on Friday by taking us tree-shopping. We found the perfect sized tree and proceeded to Target to get decorations...

Anders Halloween 2009!

I'm finally getting around to posting Halloween photos.



Anders went as an 80s rockstar and I was a fish. No one could tell I was a fish. Since Anders' costume was so good and he was so into it, here are lots more photos of him...



Anders with Mel and Adam.



Jessie and Anders.



With his "goblet of rock."



He pretended to really play that foam guitar all night.



A pretty believable wig.



Playing the guitar.



Eating late night burritos. Anders actually went up to that table of strangers in the background at one point and pretended to play the guitar for them. Sigh.

Fall Weather and Brunch with Niklas

Today was a great day, sunny and warm, nice for being out and about. Thus, perfect timing for Niklas to be in Chicago. My second cousin was in town for a conference this week and today, before he went back to Calgary, Amanda and I met him for brunch. It was a lot of fun to see him again, I hope it won't be another 16 years until next time!



Amanda preparing her Halloween costume last weekend - I will post more photos as soon as I get the photos from Jessie...



Long shadows in the park last Sunday.



Niklas and I enjoying the sun in Wicker Park earlier today.