Can you smell what the ROCK is cookin?

Sometimes I love being a tourist.

Over 4th of July break, we had Jed's brother Matt and his family in town (I have seen more of Matt in the past 3 months than I ever have before...which is not a bad thing. We like the guy.) I experienced the coldest 4th of July, equipped with coats and blankets and sweatshirts. We continued the frigid weekend with a boat ride. In the water. Which was cold.

We took a ferry to ALCATRAZ (there was no other way to get there, I guess...ask the dozens of people who tried escaping through the Bay) and traipsed around the cells of Al Capone and the Birdman. It was Rad. If you are visiting SF (or live here and need an excuse to play a tourist for the day) do it.

Here is a picture of me sizing up the place, thinking "this is bigger than our place in Queens"

Here is a picture of Jed, scared out of his mind.

Picture of me proving that we were actually there

And "reflecting " on what I just saw.

Both of us looking relieved that we are almost on solid ground.

Thanks again other Eastman's. Always fun to see you!

The Haps...

Just got back from Utah...again. I figured we could have seen a LOT of cool places instead of spending EVERY vacation in Utah, but we get to see family and friends...so that kinda makes up for it. :)

The latest with Jed:
-Had Luke and Matt come to SF to visit...picture taking, Giants game, US Open, World Cup, UFC fighting, (picture me grunting like Tim the Toolman Taylor right now)
-Enjoying playing the Dog Whisperer to Frankie-Lyn and teaching her new tricks

The latest with me:
-I got a job as an HR Manager in a PR firm in SF. I can't wait to be a contributing member of society again. I work with great people, so I am very happy!
-Successfully planned and executed my 10-year class reunion. We had a great time catching up and I am so glad we made it happen. Had a lot of help from people and it was very much appreciated. Go Cowboys!
-I am proud to say that after three long years, I have finished my first quilt. A big thanks to my mom, Hill, Britt, and Hill's mom-in-law Linda for helping me tie and bind it. I hope it was worth the 12 pack of TAB I got Linda (who just so happens to be the last person on the face of this earth who drinks TAB)

The latest with Frankie
-Advancing to the intermediate stage of learning to sit and stay
-Discovered the SF Bay and loves it as much as we do
-Still gets all the looks from the cute old people in Japantown





Our FIRST family picture:



A big shout out to Matt for snapping such great shots! So glad you and Jed can both share in the most expensive hobby out there.

So Grateful

For a new little baby to celebrate. We love you Beck Mondragon!

For having a good imagination to entertain little ones...and the adults

For the sisterhood of the Traveling Thompsons...to Park City



For 7 little faces that CRACK us up!



For the great outdoors

For the golfing, shopping, eating, laughing, driving, organizing, visiting, and relaxing we enjoyed in UTAH

Play Time with Pixi

Our friends had a baby this week. Big time happy for them. We got to watch their dog while they were doing the whole new-born, hospital thing. Yep, Frankie had her first friend over and her first sleepover. They grow up so fast.

Family Visitors

Hebe & Carley and Luke came for a visit this weekend to see the Martin Sexton show, the sites, and of course our newest member.

The Martin Sexton show: A+ for the music. B- for the show, only because H got beer spilled on her which meant H and J got in a minor verbal altercation with the minor who spilled it. Oh well, high school was fun, never hurts to re-live it every now and then.

The sites: Fantastic. Coit Tower. Shopping @ Haight + Ashbury. Food, food & more food (surprise surprise). And a trolley ride, of course.

The newest member: Awesome. She and Carley were fast friends. She and Luke played with each other all weekend. She and Hebe were constantly on the lookout for cool stuff (or maybe small birds).

Good times.

One Big Happy Family

We made the 12-hour drive to Utah last weekend for my sweet great-grandma Hopie's funeral. She was 91 years old and lived a good, charitable life. We drove with Jared and Ryann (my bro and s-i-l) to go and celebrate her life.

After a nice service for Hopie, we had a LONG list of to-do's in Utah. All of which included family time. Which I love.

-Dinner at Maddox' which was AWESOME!!!
-Nieces soccer games
-Bowling
-BBQ and Breakfasts
-Jed sitting in place of the engine in my dad's truck. Man card...check

We are lucky to have such great families and love them all so much!

Say Hello to Our Little Friend

We went to Utah last weekend. We came home with a dog. Her name's Frankie. She's a weiner. She's mini. She's freakin' awesome.

My favorite things so far about Frankie:

1. She's a willing photographic subject

2. She likes to watch me work . . . secretly

3. When anyone around her gets nervous or upset I can say "Frankie says relax"

4. She likes to play ball

About #4. She's not very good at it yet. We're blaming the ratio of the ball's size to her.

We're really excited she's part of our family!