Reunited

Our ten year reunion has come and gone. We saw familiar faces, reminisced about days long gone and toasted to the next ten years. Everyone was genuinely happy to see each other. When I came home that night, my mom asked, "who were you most surprised about?" And to be honest, there was very little surprise - Facebook has sort of made the reunion shock obsolete. I've seen who has three kids, who is a doctor and who has had some interesting life changes.

But what I'm most proud of is the friends I've managed to keep close in the ten years since we graduated (some pictures, some not). These amazing people hold a special place in my heart. And that's not just because this is how we automatically posed for a picture at our pre-party, but it certainly is part of the reason.

Thanks for all the great memories, friends! Thanks for hosting a pre-party for a few of us and our folks, Kathi and Greg! Thanks to Josh and Suze for flying in from Chicago and L.A. And a big thank you to my sweetie pie, Joe, for suffering through enjoying my reunion by my side - there were just so many people I wanted you to meet! :)

We have a winner.

Despite my lack of Christmas card sending, I am always stoked to see what's waiting for me in my mailbox this time of year. Travel photos, wedding photos, puppy photos or silly photos - I like it all. This year I'd have to say that Suz, Rob, Gene, Michelle and Jasmine take the cake. Talk about awkward family photo! I think I'm in love. (Michelle, the eye blink brings it to the next level!)

P.S. Josh, Brian and Judy, you were an extremely close second. I just couldn't resist Suze's Farrah flip!

Flashback

I'm fully aware that Stephanie just posted these photos from Aaron's wedding reception, but they made me smile from ear to ear, so I had to repost. It looks like the three of us were having high school flashbacks, quite notably in the Charlie's Angels pose. We weren't alone in the Charlie's Angels pose, right? Any others rock the pose in every pre-Homecoming dance photo shoot? Oh, how Josh, the Jakes, Aaron, Robby and others suffered through our endless photos shoots, time and time again. I take that back - Josh enjoyed it.

Mom, thanks for capturing so many good ones! Especially the one below of Suze :)

(P.S. Did you notice I got my skirt, but for half off! Score.)

Suzie Blue

Dear Suze,

It's funny to think that almost one year ago, Stephanie and I sent you off to school. Who would have thought that our little girl would one day head off, on her very own, to Stanford? I can't deny the tear that ran down my cheek that warm August evening. We always knew you were an adventurous soul who seemed unusually lured by California - first Santa Cruz, then L.A., then Palo Alto. But the question still stands: what about the beautiful, amazingly spectacular Seattle?

We know you want to call Washington your home again, but I should warn you - things have changed around here. It's crazy, it magically changed climates since you left and now is perfectly sunny and 75 degrees EVERY DAY. Plus, every single restaurant has a bajillion vegetarian options, but they also sell bacon. AND, they have coincidentally outlawed the sale of your least favorite food: bananas. AND, there is a huge demand for people in education policy and screenwriting - so even Rob can come! What are the odds, eh? But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Washington is a utopia of awesomeness. Do you think you can even handle it here?

But alas, your journey back doesn't seem as soon as I had hoped. In the meantime, I will anxiously await your next visit so we can find another place to picnic. (Unless you want to switch it up and go to Cowgirls downtown?)

For now, just know that I love you very, very much. Even if you choose to live in (stinky) L.A.

Love,
Petes

P.S. See Suze? You make us laugh. A lot. And we're totally laughing with you, not at you. Right Steph?

Fax and Mills

Dear Susannah,
Thank you for coming down to visit Stephanie and I in Seattle the other night. After you left, Stephanie and I voted and it's unanimous, you must move back to Washington.

So go ahead and get your masters as Stanford (we'll let you do that), but then make your way north again. We agree that L.A. isn't really your style. Seattle, on the other had, has Susannah written all over it. See (below)?

At any rate, the Green Lake picnic was wonderful. Next time you should bring an extra bottle of wine since you spilled not 1, but 2 (!!) glasses of wine. And Stephanie, the salad was delicious. Although I'm sure our friend, the "vegetarian" Susannah, would have preferred a plate of bacon. Or a hot dog. Next time :)

You ladies make me happy.

Love,
Petes

P.S. Remember when Josh thought your last name was Fax and Mills instead of Faxon-Mills UNTIL OUR SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL? Yeah, that was funny.

via, but altered :)

Smartie Pants

Who? You might ask.

This girl. Susannah Nellie Bea.

Why? You ask now.

Because she got into the best program in her field at STANFORD UNIVERSITY!

I'm so proud of her. She's such a smartie pants.

Congrats, Suze! Love ya like a fat kid loves cake. And that's a lot. This kid has also been deprived of cake, so he really loves it. And misses it dearly. Kinda how I miss you dearly. And how I miss Easter candy dearly. Oh, and your brown sweater. I miss that a lot.

TGIF

Yet another laughing photo.

This one is of my wonderful and beautiful friend, Susannah.

She lives in the big city of Los Angeles.

{who would have ever thought that hippy of our group of friends would be living in the biggest city?}

She works here which suits her well-- she's always been an advocate for good things.

Her adorable boyfriend is pretty cool too. He's a screenwriter. Have you ever heard of an uncool screenwriter? Didn't think so.

I can't wait until she moves back to Washington, so I can play with her everyday... I love that girl.