I don't post youtube videos very often, but this one is awesome. I can't imagine a police officer ever doing this in the US. Perhaps some day soon we will see a "NASA Scientist Dancing" Youtube video...
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Friday, July 30, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
A list of lists
The places we live keep showing up on lists, so I decided to compile a list of the various lists we have been listed on...
Holland, MI
Rank #2 - Happiest places to live by the 2009 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index
Boulder, CO
Rank #1 - Happiest places to live by the 2009 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index
Louisville, CO
Rank #1 - May 2006 in the book Best Places to Raise Your Family: The Top 100 Affordable Communities in the U.S.
Rank #1 - July 2009 by CNN/Money magazine in 100 Best Place to Live in the U.S.
Columbia / Ellicott City, MD
Rank #2 - July 2010 by CNN/Money magazine in 100 Best Place to Live in the U.S.
It has been amazing to keep having the places we have lived showing up on these "best of" lists and we both feel very blessed that we have been able live in such great places. Now I just need Fredonia, NY to show up on something.
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Holland, MI
Rank #2 - Happiest places to live by the 2009 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index
Boulder, CO
Rank #1 - Happiest places to live by the 2009 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index
Louisville, CO
Rank #1 - May 2006 in the book Best Places to Raise Your Family: The Top 100 Affordable Communities in the U.S.
Rank #1 - July 2009 by CNN/Money magazine in 100 Best Place to Live in the U.S.
Columbia / Ellicott City, MD
Rank #2 - July 2010 by CNN/Money magazine in 100 Best Place to Live in the U.S.
It has been amazing to keep having the places we have lived showing up on these "best of" lists and we both feel very blessed that we have been able live in such great places. Now I just need Fredonia, NY to show up on something.
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Becky's Birthday!
Becky's birthday is actually on Monday, but we decided to celebrate all day Saturday, since Saturday's are more fun, and we don't know when this baby will come! We started the day at a cool local coffee shop we just discovered last week (not sure if Zoe the dog is laughing or yawning).
We then went for a short walk with the dog along a river near the coffee shop, and came across this cool swimming hole.
Also, nearby is this bridge which is cool. I could see this being a really awesome picture if I knew how to take pictures.
In the afternoon we then went to see Inception at the IMAX (first time ever to an IMAX...I was impressed, Becky was not). We both thought the movie was great. For Becky's birthday dinner we went to an Italian place in downtown Ellicott City. We had a great time, especially as we realized this was probably our last night out for awhile!
We had such a great day together, just enjoying our last moments before our lives are changed forever. We are so excited to be parents, but have also really enjoyed the first 5 years of our marriage that have been just the two of us (and Zoe the dog). I think after last night we are officially ready for the next phase to begin!
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We then went for a short walk with the dog along a river near the coffee shop, and came across this cool swimming hole.
Also, nearby is this bridge which is cool. I could see this being a really awesome picture if I knew how to take pictures.
In the afternoon we then went to see Inception at the IMAX (first time ever to an IMAX...I was impressed, Becky was not). We both thought the movie was great. For Becky's birthday dinner we went to an Italian place in downtown Ellicott City. We had a great time, especially as we realized this was probably our last night out for awhile!
We had such a great day together, just enjoying our last moments before our lives are changed forever. We are so excited to be parents, but have also really enjoyed the first 5 years of our marriage that have been just the two of us (and Zoe the dog). I think after last night we are officially ready for the next phase to begin!
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Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Neighborhood Shower
Last Sunday our neighbors, Bruce and Nancy, organized a surprise baby shower for the whole street, officially making them the greatest neighbors of all-time. Since we have moved here they have helped us with home improvement projects, given us a dryer, and now put together a baby shower for Becky! This was such a thoughtful thing to do, and was such a great opportunity for us to meet a lot of the neighbors we hadn't had a chance to meet yet.
As it turns out we have a lot of really great neighbors. We had such a great time getting to know the other people on our street. Every one of them brought generous gifts...even the ones we had never even met before! Incredible. Also, Bruce is a chef, so the food was awesome.
Nancy created a beautiful cake and hand-decorated cookies.
Here's a shot of the ladies playing shower games...and Roy. Maybe he was just on his way to the beverage cooler.
It has certainly taken awhile for us to feel like this new place we live is home. Over the past month we are starting to feel much more settled, and the wonderful neighbors around us have been a big part of that.
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As it turns out we have a lot of really great neighbors. We had such a great time getting to know the other people on our street. Every one of them brought generous gifts...even the ones we had never even met before! Incredible. Also, Bruce is a chef, so the food was awesome.
Nancy created a beautiful cake and hand-decorated cookies.
Here's a shot of the ladies playing shower games...and Roy. Maybe he was just on his way to the beverage cooler.
It has certainly taken awhile for us to feel like this new place we live is home. Over the past month we are starting to feel much more settled, and the wonderful neighbors around us have been a big part of that.
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Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Baby Bumps...
Week 32
Week 36
Maybe there will be a picture of the actual baby, instead of the bump, for week 40...
Week 36
Maybe there will be a picture of the actual baby, instead of the bump, for week 40...
Baby Shower
This post is belated, but we've been a bit busy getting everything ready for the arrival of baby Loo! I took a quick trip back to Michigan for a number of celebrations. Gwen and Sarah threw a lovely baby shower with the fitting "Fruit of the Loomis" theme. It was very refreshing for me to be surrounded by family and close friends and share in the joy and anticipation.
My parents also put together a brunch, so I could see my grandparents and cousin Mandy. Even though our babies may not meet for some time, at least they were introduced via baby bump.
We also celebrated Mother's Day, Father's Day, Dad's birthday and Mom's birthday. Marcus and Sarah came up from Chicago for the weekend, and it was nice to spend time with them.
The last event of the jam-packed weekend was a shower for Sheri Camp. It was great to see the Hope girls and have a chance to catch up.
Thank you to everyone who made this weekend so much fun!
My parents also put together a brunch, so I could see my grandparents and cousin Mandy. Even though our babies may not meet for some time, at least they were introduced via baby bump.
We also celebrated Mother's Day, Father's Day, Dad's birthday and Mom's birthday. Marcus and Sarah came up from Chicago for the weekend, and it was nice to spend time with them.
The last event of the jam-packed weekend was a shower for Sheri Camp. It was great to see the Hope girls and have a chance to catch up. 
Thank you to everyone who made this weekend so much fun!