MLK Weekend

Pat and Jordan came to visit us (and interview at MD school) and we had a blast while they were here!! We really feel like we know San Francisco now.

Saturday we went to Fisherman's Wharf and ate chowder while listening to some smooth Jazz. We saw a freakishly large sea gull and a fight between a street perform and some locals. Tony guided us to Chinatown where Danny really wanted to buy a live Turtle to cook and eat. Luckily he decided against it. It seems Danny has crossed over to the dark side and now agrees I look Asian. While in Chinatown Danny had a moment of panic when he couldn't find me in the crowd and he started yelling, "Liz! Liz! I can't find her! She's blending in!" Never mind I was one of two blonds on the street.

Jordan (the other blond on the street) and Pat

After Chinatown we walked forever through North Beach and finally to the car. We hit up Golden Gate Park and then headed home for a nap. It was a long day of walking!

Monday we went into the city again for a tour of Alcatraz. It was rainy and super cold but we had a great day despite the weather!

Broadway

Cell

Signs of the Indian occupation still visible

After our tour of Alcatraz we walked to North Beach for some super yummy Italian food at The Stinking Rose (I highly recommend it). Followed by another long walk to Ghirardelli Square for dessert.

View of Alcatraz from Ghirardelli Sqaure

Danny feeling sick from eating too much food. The ovens where they roast the cocoa beans are behind him.

After our dessert we hopped on a trolley for a scenic ride to Union Square.

It was an awesome day!

We also went to the Stanford Theatre to see Duel in the Sun with Jennifer Jones and Gregory Peck. It is a movie I doubt I will ever forget.

We heart Stanford Theatre...*

Mostly because of this dude. The organist who plays before and after the movie.*

Visitors are FUN!!

*Pictures from Yelp

LaPriel Hanson Palmer

**I'll have to find a pic to post later.

My great aunt Priel passed away last week. She was 94 years old and lived a great life. She was my grandma's sister closest to her in age. Aunt Priel lived nearby while I was growing up so I saw her often. I want to write some memories of her so I don't forget.

**I remember her telling me poems and rhymes from memory. Usually about birds and flowers. I have a figurine she gave me with a girl and some birds and she had a poem that went with it.
**Her favorite ice cream was Rocky Road.
**She was a lady.
**She always wore dresses.
**She wore fancy silk robes in the morning.
**She got her hair done often.
**She had an exercise bike on the patio she rode for her exercise.
**She always had a tissue in her hand.
**Her favorite shows were Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.
**She thought education was extremely important.
**She would have a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas.
**She came to our birthdays and always sent cards.
**She always gave us treats and lemons and flowers when we would go to her house.
**She always knew the latest about her grandchildren because she talked with all of them once a week and she was always so proud and had their pictures up on her bulletin board.
**Her and her sisters all used the same phrase "I'll sell you to the gypsies" if you were behaving badly.
**I never saw her angry.
**She took care of me when I was little when my sister had surgery.

I'm thankful for the gospel and the knowledge that families are forever and I will see her again some day.

New Year's

We spent New Year's in Utah with Danny's family. Of course we have no pictures. We had a blast boarding (and skiing) with family and friends, going to the movies with movie stars, going out to eat with friends, playing xbox and scum, and meeting our new nephew Tricky. We're so glad everyone was able to come!!! Hopefully next time Danny won't scare Abbie.

Highlights

*Caden telling us to ask our parents for money so we could buy him a toy
*Discovering Caden thinks Liz is just Danny's girlfriend
*Abbie crying because Danny (and me but mostly Danny) scares her
*Tricky-D living up to his rapper name and throwing up gang signs when only a week old
*The 2 hour drive to Snowbird getting to know Jacob
*For the first time ever...Danny being the one who wanted to stop for lunch while boarding
*Kathey's super yummy Cafe Rio food
*The gift exchange
*Christian Slater sitting next to Scott at the movies
*Walking to the movies and Danny stepping in a huge puddle that we both thought was frozen over
*Discovering Maxwell's pizza in Park City with Rich and Rob....Yum
*My girls meeting me in Park City for a little grub. I'm glad we were finally able to get together!

Christmas

Danny and I spent Christmas in Kennewick. The week before we left was totally crazy. Both of us were super busy with work. I never thought I was going to get everything done for the holidays and I almost didn't make it. Poor Danny hadn't slept for 3 days before we left. When we finally got to Kennewick he slept for almost 2 days straight. I hope we are never that busy before the holidays ever again! While in Kennewick we enjoyed going to Anthony's on the river, ice skating, movies, and seeing lots of dear friends.

The GG's (minus a few)! Love you girls!

Me, Leanne, Michele, and Angie

Becca (and Brittany), Alvin, and me

Dad, Becca, and me ice skating

The Olympic ice skater (Becca) telling me I'm a horrible ice skater and I'm embarrassing her. Good bye.

Rejected by my family.

Luckily Danny decided to join me on the ice for a pair's routine to lift my spirits. He really surprised me with his jumping and lift skills. I was laughing so hard I almost killed us both on the ice. I hope my mom got some good pics! Danny really made a good impression on my parent's stake.

We really enjoyed Christmas this year. My mom always does a fabulous job making Christmas so special. Thanks for all the hard work!!

** I should note that this year we played Santa and Becca really enjoyed her little "village" for her dolls and stuffed animals. She set a new record of 2 seconds opening a Build-a-Bear box (secured with ribbon) she was so excited. We are master toy finders. I'll have to find the pictures.

The Nutcracker....Danny you're the BEST ever

After begging, yelling, and crying Danny finally agreed to go to the SF Ballet Nutcracker with me. And guess what???? HE LOVED IT!!! He's even told other people he loved it so I have witnesses. I'm not just making this up. The show really was absolutely fabulous.

In front of the Nutcracker Christmas Tree

We went to dinner at Max's Opera Cafe (don't know if I'd go again) before the show which is where all the other Nutcracker goers ate as well. It was fun to see all the little girls dressed up in their fancy Christmas dresses. Some even had nutcracker dolls with them...precious. Then we headed into the theater and it was crowded!!! After the first act I was anxious to hear what Danny would say. I expected "I'm never doing this again" but instead he said "That was really good!". After the show he even suggested I buy a commemorative ornament for our Christmas tree. (sigh) We were meant to be. It was such an awesome night! Thanks hubs for going with me!

Highlights from November

1. Our Anniversary!!!! Yeah 3 years.
2. Me being a proactive employee by finding a free pass to Dreamforce, showing up on my own, AND networking.
3. Hanging out with Rob and Ryan
4. Rob staying with us for the weekend and Danny making us walk miles to Stanford campus to see the art museum during the big game.
5. The loud people at Coconuts.
6. Taking Amtrak to Sacramento. Who in California takes Amtrak??? I was surprisingly really nervous about the whole thing. But it was an okay experience other than Danny leaving me alone at the "train stop", which was actually just the underside of a freeway overpass, at 5am when it was still dark - I cried from fright.
7. Shopping, shopping and more shopping with my Mom..."no pain no gain".
8. The Galt Market
9. Yummy food.
10. Danny finally showing up!
11. Watching Four Christmas with the most conservative group of people ever = kinda awkward
12. Danny, Becky, and I waiting in line for over an hour outside of Toys'R'Us on Black Friday to try and get a Zhu Zhu pet. Then getting in the store, running to piles of toys, stalking people with Zhu Zhu pets in their carts, bargaining and trading, and feeling the rush of victory. It was one of the most exciting nights of my life.
13. Knock Knock jokes.

Movember

Movember (the month formerly known as November) is a mustache growing charity event held during November each year that raises funds and awareness for "men's health issues."

The handle bar mustache