Ultimate Organization

This video is simultaneously amazing and frightening.

Albert

Burning off all those Buckeyes from the Gator Bowl:

Snow Firsts

Today marks:
- our first sticking snow since we moved to Virginia
- my first experience driving in snow
- my first time walking through falling snow since I was... maybe 4?!

And yes, I did take some time to play in the snow today.

Baby Shower - Engineer Style

Colleen and I (both industrial engineers by education) threw a baby shower for our friend Jessica (mechanical engineer by education).

Colleen with one of our youngest shower attendees.

Soon-to-be mom of 2, Jessica.

We used our background in statics to help us build diaper cakes for centerpieces.

And our facilities planning class helped us create an efficient room layout.

Our knowledge of statistics led us to create a pool.

I never took art in college, but if I had, I think I would deserve an 'A' for the onesie that I decorated.

And the most important skill came from learning about atomic packing factors in our materials class.  We fit all of this stuff into Jessica's car after the shower!

Holiday Adventures in DC

Here's what we did while my parents were visiting for the holidays.

We went to the Udvar-Hazy Museum, which is the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum annex.

Checking out the exhibits.

My dad's plane.

My grandpa's plane.

This computer was used by the Air Force until 1990.
Technology fail.

The space shuttle Enterprise.

We also celebrated my mom's birthday with her favorite cupcakes: German chocolate with coconut pecan frosting.

We toured the Pentagon.  Luckily, we all had briefings planned.

And we visited my Grandpa at Arlington National Cemetery.

We toured the U.S. Capitol and sat in the House and Senate Galleries.

Last but not least, we went to Mount Vernon.

We had lunch in the Mount Vernon Inn.
Check out the wallpaper!

We got to tour the 3rd floor of the mansion,
only available for tours at Christmas.

Lady Washington was telling us about her
life and answering questions.

Whew!  That was a busy, but incredibly fun holiday!

Christmas #3 of 3 (Recap)

Our Christmas #3 was with my parents who visited last week.

We couldn't resist getting my dad an airplane - did you know that Santa has a pilot license?

And we had to get my mom something with owls since she collects them.

J and I got matching Navy sweatshirts - aren't we cute as twins?

Still to come: Holiday Adventures in DC!