Tooth Fairy!

Happy First Birthday, Violet!

Violet's first birthday (June 6th) took place during our trip to Duke University. We stayed in a dorm while we were there for the conference, so the video shows her running around the dorm room. She looked so sweet in Daddy's Zags hat!

Duke University Trip

Pictures:
1. Laurel and Violet in front of Wanamaker Dorm

2. Jason resting on the lawn in front of the dining hall

3. Gothic-style chapel in the middle of campus

We just returned from a trip to the National Organic Symposium (NOS) at Duke University which is a week-long organic chemistry conference. Jason presented a poster with some of his research and attended various talks and other poster sessions. The NOS takes place every other year and organic chemists from around the world come. So, it's a great time for networking and bouncing ideas off eachother. Jason got good input on some of his research and was encouraged to publish a paper on an aspect that he hadn't even thought important. Laurel and Violet were able to come along as the conference gives some free time in the afternoons to visit the local area. We saw the University Gardens, the Duke Lemur Center, and went out for some North Carolina BBQ.

Tripod

Violet has taken to "tripodding", as we call it, and this is a rare shot I was able to get of her in form. It always seems to happen when the camera is inaccessable! She will stand like this for 10-20 seconds and seems to enjoy the different point of view.

4th Anniversary

Our anniversary (May 24th) fell on a Thursday this year and Thursdays are Laurel's weekly shift at Western Albemarle Rescue Squad. The crew chief sent us off for a dinner at Cocina del Sol here in Crozet, so we were able to celebrate in style. It was a little different celebrating our anniversary in uniform and with a baby along (to say nothing of running ambulance calls), but we had an enjoyable time and enjoyed our outdoor table. Here's to many more years together!

Autumn Graduates From PSU!

We're more than a little late with this post...Autumn graduated on May 19th and we celebrated with a dinner in her honor at The Corner Room in downtown State College. Ray and his parents were able to join the Dennistons and Chrumas for the dinner. We also enjoyed the ceremony as it wasn't too long! Autumn has been going on interviews at various schools in the Westchester, PA area as she will join Ray there after their June 30th wedding.