In May we finished up the semester by attending commencement. This year, I decided not to attend the COT graduation ceremonies because I didn't have any students request that I attend. Instead, I took pictures at the Physics and Astronomy ceremony. (See my pics page.) We also had dinner with Brad and Jen and Ana again and drinks at Jen and Honey's before setting out for Boulder.
The other fun thing that happened in May was unpacking our first box of baby goodies. My mom had sent a box with clothes and books and toys. Of course, the nursery is not yet ready for these things but it was still fun to unpack at giggle at the size of the onesies. In fact, one morning I was giggling to myself while Mike was in the bathroom shaving. Wondering what was so funny, Mike ventured out with an inquisitive look. I explained that it was the sheer smallness of the clothes that was cracking me up. He then grabbed a pair of his boxer shorts from our room and brought them to compare. We laughed together at the difference! (I took a picture of the baby clothes hanging in the adult-sized closet...see my pics page.)
Instead of doing much to prepare for the baby I spent the beginning of May getting ready for our 9-weeks in Boulder. Although...I did do one thing baby-related: I bought the fabric that I will use to make the roman shades with. It is a beautiful and unique image of a tree that is growing and blossoming its leaves and flowers. (Again, see my pics page.)
We didn't meander this year during our trip. Instead, we drove from Missoula to Casper, rested for the night, and finished the last leg to Boulder in the morning. Here is some silly trivia:
- Distance away from Boulder where we spotted our first spandex-clad cyclist: 10 miles.
- First meal: Wahoo's Fish Taco.
- First "social event": a return to the rooftop at the Lazy Dog...now a tradition for our first night in Boulder.
- First Boulder event: the Boulder Creek Festival.
- First bike ride: Mike rode Heil Ranch with Hans and Tom while I "wiked" (that's the word I said when I inadvertently blended "walk" with "hike") the Lichen Loop.
Lastly, I took a picture of myself at 16 weeks. I wore a shirt that used to fit loosely everywhere that now makes me look like a sausage. This new fit seems to be due mostly to how amazingly large my breasts have become...their new size "covers" for the increased tummy and booty.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Friday, May 01, 2009
March & April 2009
March and April were not so much busy as they were exhausting. I guess I should begin by announcing that I am pregnant and expecting to add a new face to the Schneider family in November! The first weeks on my pregnancy - the physical changes in my body - were what made the last couples months so exhausting! But despite my morning sickness and serious fatigue, we managed to have some fun times.
The 14er Project
My friends are setting out to do something truly incredible. Please go to their website (http://web.me.com/j14e/14.14.14/Trailer.html) for more information and to donate! I include a brief description of their project here for your convenience:
"The "14er Project" started in 2007 when Erin set off (with a few friends in tow) to climb 14 14ers in 14 days. For those of you who find yourselves on beaches or the rolling plains, "14ers" are 14,000-foot peaks and there are over 50 of them here in Colorado. During 2008, Erin talked Jeff into coming along for the adventure and they found themselves living in a car together for more than two weeks, sick with "14er revenge" and on the top of many sunny, windy, snowy, cloudy peaks.
For 2009, Erin and Jeff will venture into even taller, more technical and more remote backcountry. The plan is to climb 14 official 14ers plus 2 other peaks over 14,000 feet over the course of 14 days during July and August. They will travel over a thousand miles by car and train to reach trailheads near Durango, Aspen, Telluride and Alamosa, Colorado. They will travel by foot nearly 100 miles and 50,000 vertical feet to reach peaks with names like "El Diente", "Crestone Needle" and "Challenger Point".
Other than the fresh air, strong legs, delicious camping food and waking up at 4 am every day, Erin and Jeff are dedicated to coming away with more. They are climbing for a charitable organization that links communities in need with resources called the Global Volunteer Network. Their goal is to raise $5,000 toward a children's project in Kenya at which they intend to volunteer in summer 2010. This project serves children who are orphaned due to HIV/AIDS, poverty-related causes and displacement. "
Some New Friends
We made some new friends - Brad and Jen invited us to dinner at their place where we met their daughter Anna and their friend Ke. We had a delicious dinner and lovely conversation...so engaging, in fact, that we quickly reciprocated by inviting them to our home.
A Story I Remembered in the Shower
For some reason this one didn't make the December blog. My mom was walking the beach in San Diego. As she passed people, they would growl, "Grr." She was surprised by how weird these people were. Why were they all growling at her? One passer-by took pity because of the perplexed look on my mom's face and explained that it was her University of Montana Grizzlies sweatshirt that was provoking such "remarks".
Facebook
I finally joined Facebook and I was totally traumatized by the experience. I can't really recommend it. I am there now and trying to make the most of it and as time passes I'm less freaked out by the whole thing.
Happy Birthday Alex!
Happy Birthday Jen!
We spent Jen's birthday skiing at Lost Trail. On our way home we found two new cool places in the Bitterroot Valley: the Stevensville Brewery and Cafe Firenze.
Happy Birthday Jim!
Jim turned 50 in March and, of course, there was a big bash! We had a Martini-off with several kinds of gin and several kinds of vermouth, and we served Feuerzangenbowle for the 4th time this season! After the big bash on Saturday, Mike and I were invited back for a quiet Sunday dinner. How special! How nice!
Ski Utah
We finished the month by spending the first part of spring break in Utah with Jim, Bjoern, Scot, and Moriah. It was intended to be a ski trip but I was feeling particularly paranoid so I only spent one day skiing...and boy it was a great day! We skied powder at Alta!
April
The Ultrasound
In April we saw the first ultrasound of the baby. It was really incredible! The baby was very active - wiggling and stretching its developing arms. We have a picture of the ultrasound on the front of the refrigerator.
The Piggybank
We also started telling a few select people that we are expecting. I think my favorite "telling" was when I found out that by becoming pregnancy that I had won a competition I didn't know I was competing in. My grandma had started a piggybank for the next greatgrandbaby and was waiting for either me or for my cousin-in-law to get pregnant. Whoever got knocked up first would win the piggybank! I chuckled when I found out, thanked my mom for not telling me that I was, in fact, competing for anything, and smiled when my brother informed me that the piggybank is pretty heavy. :)
Pattee Creek Canyon
Let me see, what else happened? We went hiking in Pattee Creek Canyon with Todd, Kimberlee, and Ivan. Also, the tulips I had planted in the front yard came up and blossomed! I kept talking to them, warning them that the sunny weather was deceptive, that snow was on the way, and that they better not be too wussy. But they were resilient and several completed their full cycle over the course of the month. They were big and weird looking (see my pics on picasa)...well weird for tulips, I think.
Congratulations Jim!
Oh! Jim won the distinguished professor award! What a nice honor...and well-deserved! The physics and astronomy department took over three tables in the University Center ballroom to share the moment with him. When we first arrived, I tried to pick a place that wasn't at the "head" table where Jim and Teresa would sit but close enough to take some pictures. But before we all took our seats we slid the tables together and Jim chose a seat right next to me! I chuckled every time Jim leaned over at the end of each acceptance speach that was given before he was presented with his away to say, "my speech is longer than that." I reassured him that we all knew that he was used to speaking in 50-minute increments so not to worry....and then he used that as his opening line!! His speech was really amazing. It was touching, filled with gratitude, and hilarious. He is only the second professor from the physics and astronomy department to win the prize in 12 decades! Go Jim! After all the awards were presented, a small contingency from the physics and astronomy group stayed behind and celebrated during an "after" party. There was so much laughing that our sides hurt!
Last, but not least, Teresa planted some strawberries and bee balm in my back yard for me. I am very excited about my little strawberry lot. I am also in love with the smell of bee balm. No wonder the hummingbirds like it!
The 14er Project
My friends are setting out to do something truly incredible. Please go to their website (http://web.me.com/j14e/14.14.14/Trailer.html) for more information and to donate! I include a brief description of their project here for your convenience:
"The "14er Project" started in 2007 when Erin set off (with a few friends in tow) to climb 14 14ers in 14 days. For those of you who find yourselves on beaches or the rolling plains, "14ers" are 14,000-foot peaks and there are over 50 of them here in Colorado. During 2008, Erin talked Jeff into coming along for the adventure and they found themselves living in a car together for more than two weeks, sick with "14er revenge" and on the top of many sunny, windy, snowy, cloudy peaks.
For 2009, Erin and Jeff will venture into even taller, more technical and more remote backcountry. The plan is to climb 14 official 14ers plus 2 other peaks over 14,000 feet over the course of 14 days during July and August. They will travel over a thousand miles by car and train to reach trailheads near Durango, Aspen, Telluride and Alamosa, Colorado. They will travel by foot nearly 100 miles and 50,000 vertical feet to reach peaks with names like "El Diente", "Crestone Needle" and "Challenger Point".
Other than the fresh air, strong legs, delicious camping food and waking up at 4 am every day, Erin and Jeff are dedicated to coming away with more. They are climbing for a charitable organization that links communities in need with resources called the Global Volunteer Network. Their goal is to raise $5,000 toward a children's project in Kenya at which they intend to volunteer in summer 2010. This project serves children who are orphaned due to HIV/AIDS, poverty-related causes and displacement. "
Some New Friends
We made some new friends - Brad and Jen invited us to dinner at their place where we met their daughter Anna and their friend Ke. We had a delicious dinner and lovely conversation...so engaging, in fact, that we quickly reciprocated by inviting them to our home.
A Story I Remembered in the Shower
For some reason this one didn't make the December blog. My mom was walking the beach in San Diego. As she passed people, they would growl, "Grr." She was surprised by how weird these people were. Why were they all growling at her? One passer-by took pity because of the perplexed look on my mom's face and explained that it was her University of Montana Grizzlies sweatshirt that was provoking such "remarks".
I finally joined Facebook and I was totally traumatized by the experience. I can't really recommend it. I am there now and trying to make the most of it and as time passes I'm less freaked out by the whole thing.
Happy Birthday Alex!
Happy Birthday Jen!
We spent Jen's birthday skiing at Lost Trail. On our way home we found two new cool places in the Bitterroot Valley: the Stevensville Brewery and Cafe Firenze.
Happy Birthday Jim!
Jim turned 50 in March and, of course, there was a big bash! We had a Martini-off with several kinds of gin and several kinds of vermouth, and we served Feuerzangenbowle for the 4th time this season! After the big bash on Saturday, Mike and I were invited back for a quiet Sunday dinner. How special! How nice!
Ski Utah
We finished the month by spending the first part of spring break in Utah with Jim, Bjoern, Scot, and Moriah. It was intended to be a ski trip but I was feeling particularly paranoid so I only spent one day skiing...and boy it was a great day! We skied powder at Alta!
April
The Ultrasound
In April we saw the first ultrasound of the baby. It was really incredible! The baby was very active - wiggling and stretching its developing arms. We have a picture of the ultrasound on the front of the refrigerator.
The Piggybank
We also started telling a few select people that we are expecting. I think my favorite "telling" was when I found out that by becoming pregnancy that I had won a competition I didn't know I was competing in. My grandma had started a piggybank for the next greatgrandbaby and was waiting for either me or for my cousin-in-law to get pregnant. Whoever got knocked up first would win the piggybank! I chuckled when I found out, thanked my mom for not telling me that I was, in fact, competing for anything, and smiled when my brother informed me that the piggybank is pretty heavy. :)
Pattee Creek Canyon
Let me see, what else happened? We went hiking in Pattee Creek Canyon with Todd, Kimberlee, and Ivan. Also, the tulips I had planted in the front yard came up and blossomed! I kept talking to them, warning them that the sunny weather was deceptive, that snow was on the way, and that they better not be too wussy. But they were resilient and several completed their full cycle over the course of the month. They were big and weird looking (see my pics on picasa)...well weird for tulips, I think.
Congratulations Jim!
Oh! Jim won the distinguished professor award! What a nice honor...and well-deserved! The physics and astronomy department took over three tables in the University Center ballroom to share the moment with him. When we first arrived, I tried to pick a place that wasn't at the "head" table where Jim and Teresa would sit but close enough to take some pictures. But before we all took our seats we slid the tables together and Jim chose a seat right next to me! I chuckled every time Jim leaned over at the end of each acceptance speach that was given before he was presented with his away to say, "my speech is longer than that." I reassured him that we all knew that he was used to speaking in 50-minute increments so not to worry....and then he used that as his opening line!! His speech was really amazing. It was touching, filled with gratitude, and hilarious. He is only the second professor from the physics and astronomy department to win the prize in 12 decades! Go Jim! After all the awards were presented, a small contingency from the physics and astronomy group stayed behind and celebrated during an "after" party. There was so much laughing that our sides hurt!
Last, but not least, Teresa planted some strawberries and bee balm in my back yard for me. I am very excited about my little strawberry lot. I am also in love with the smell of bee balm. No wonder the hummingbirds like it!
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