Kaitlin's Senior Project: "The Ride of My Life"

On May 5, 2009, Kaitlin presented her senior project to a room full of students, teachers, family, and friends. We could not be more proud of her. Kaitlin worked for a year on an art project made up of thirty-six skateboards connected together to form a canvas upon which Kaitlin transferred one of her designs.

During her presentation Kaitlin discussed her work and the journey that brought her to these final days of college. She spoke with such passion and drive, taking us through the events that led her to decide to change from a biology major to an art major. Specifically, a study abroad trip to Italy marked a turning point in her life, reinvigorating her and leading her to accept and embrace the reality that it was art - and not dentistry - that she loved and wanted to pursue as a career.  

Kaitlin discussed her own personal style of art - calling it a blend of graffiti and type.  In her program, she wrote: "Like graffiti, my work encourages an investment by the viewer.  As Da Vinci tried to protect his ideas by writing backwards, my text is designed to request an investment by the viewer where the reward is a connection and understanding of the typeface and meaning."

I have posted some pictures of her senior project. She is such a talented woman, and has an exciting road ahead of her.  Look closely, invest some time, and figure out what the pieces say...

Adding Two More Lutes to the List....

Kaitlin and Matt graduated from Pacific Lutheran University on Sunday, May 24, 2009.  

Stephen's family is filled with PLU grads.  Stephen's mom, dad, Aunt Debbie, Uncle Steve, Aunt Sandy, Aunt Carla, Uncle Gene ... all went to PLU! (I hope I didn't leave anyone out!).  

Sitting in the stands with Kathleen as they played the same song (written by her professor the year she graduated) she walked to years ago was so special.  Needless to say, it was a bit emotional :) 

Kaitlin, with her purple lei and long blond hair, was easy to spot among the graduates.  And, Matt ... what can I say about Matt ... we was impossible to miss.  He was at least 6 inches taller than every other graduate in the place!

Kaitlin with her grandma Clarice, Aunt Carla, and Uncle Gene

The whole Hansen clan...

With our lil Kaitlin.

Stephanie and Kaitlin

Grandma Annabelle and Grandma Clarice

My mom and dad

Opening presents

Kathleen and her mom

Uncle Steve, Kaitlin, Matt, and Aunt Sandy

He just had to get one too...

After one ride on his old bought-it-in-7th-grade mountain bike, Stephen was down at Old Town Bicycle equiping himself with a much nicer, and bigger, bike. One difference between the old and the new .... PEDALS. Dangerous Pedals.

Last night we were out for a ride and Stephen was showing me how to lift up my front tire to get up onto a curb. This is something that Stephen claims everyone should have learned to do when they were a kid, and was shocked that I didn't know how to do it. Why would I know how to do that? When I was a kid my bike was pink and I wasn't doing tricks with it. Anyway, Stephen was exaggerating the move, and bringing his tire up really high so I could see how it is done. All of a sudden, his tire was slowly getting higher and higher until the whole thing was perpendicular with the ground, and Stephen wasn't getting off! Before I knew it, both Stephen and the bike had fallen completely backwards and were flat on the ground. Stephen landed smack on his back. It was painful to watch, and even more painful to experience.

Apparently, as the bike was coming out from under him, Stephen tried to jump off but his feet were attached to the pedals, and he couldn't get them out! So, as the bike was teetering backwards, he was fully aware of his impending doom and couldn't do a thing about it. Poor guy. Luckily, he seems to be doing ok. Minimal scrapes and bruises, but a really sore behind. I'm thinking he should probably switch back to the regular pedals...

Our First Ride!

We christened the new bike with a trip out to Port Orchard on the most beautiful day ever yesterday.  I’m actually still on a happy high from the perfectness of the weather this weekend.  Not even a rainy-day back-to-work Monday could bring me down today! 

We went to Banner Forest in Kitsap County where I tried out mountain biking for the first time ever.  Was I nervous that I would hate it and have wasted all that money buying a mountain bike instead of a regular road bike? …. Why yes I was … But was I disappointed? Not for a second.  My risky purchase paid off.  I can’t believe I haven’t been doing this my whole life! We were riding through mud puddles, over tree branches, roots, up rough terrain hills … and my sweet little bike didn’t give me one bit of trouble. 

Banner Forest was a great place to start my mountain biking experience.  Such pretty foliage with terrain that wasn’t too steep but still gave me a little bit of a challenge.  It was fabulous!

My absolute favorite part was riding through the thick mud and big puddles.  When we first arrived we ran into some riders who were complaining about the mud, but I loved it.  So fun, but really glad I wore my old sneakers because I stuck my whole foot in a couple big puddles.  Here’s me right after I made it through a big one.

Stephen got pretty muddy too.

Time to go home and go to bed…

The New Bike is Finally Here!

We've Gone Country...

Taylor Swift w/Kellie Pickler & Gloriana

Key Arena

May 15, 2009

At the last minute (literally, 3:30 on the day of the concert) my cousin, Lori called asking if I wanted to try to get into the Taylor Swift concert.  I'm not a huge Taylor fan, but I liked the idea, and my other cousin, Lisa already had tickets so we thought it would be fun to tag along.  Somehow, within hours, Lori was able to score us tickets on the 100 level for a decent price.  We were in!  Little did we know what was in store for us....

Here we are at dinner before the show.

So excited to be on the 100 level.  We had no idea what was to come.

In the main lobby right before...

... we got picked to move down into the pit!!!

so happy!

I don't know if we are close enough ... do you think we will be able to hear everything ok?

The very wet grand finale

Goodbye Seattle!

Class of '99 All Growed Up

Did a bit of dancing on Friday night. In TACOMA. Masa is a little gem of a place right here on 6th Avenue. Never been, but will be going back. We had a great time.

The Saab's New Look

A new rack to hold my new mountain bike (and Stephen's not-so-new mountain bike).

CanNOT wait to get out there and start riding....

Nice work honey!

Mother's Day 2009

We got lucky with some great weather over Mother's Day weekend.  We started the weekend out at the Proctor Market where we waited in line for two hours to buy bouquets for all the mothers/grandmothers in our lives.  That's right. We waited in line for two hours for flowers. TWO. HOURS.  I left Stephen in line, went to Starbucks, checked out the cute little boutiques around that area, and when I got back he was further back in line than I when I left. Don't even ask how that happened. At the hour mark, I was ready to bag the whole idea but Stephen was a determined man.  During his hour wait he had become invested in those flowers and he was not budging.  By the time we finally had our hands on the three enormously beautiful bouquets, we also had several new friends and some very nicely developing tans.  At least it was a beautiful day!

We celebrated with the Hansens at El Toro on Saturday night (unfortunately, did not have my camera with me), and then enjoyed a picnic lunch today with my parents at Point Defiance.  

Playing a little Frisbee

My adorable husband.

He made me a flower crown... what a cutie!

Ta-DA!

Happy Birthdays...

to my favorite peeps.