The New Ms. Trout

Lizzie just finished her first week as the new 8th grade American History at Barbers Hill Middle School. I'm so excited for her!

Go Ms. Trout!!!!

Dinner with Marc and Livia

Two of John's collectors, Marc and Livia Straus, invited us to their home a few weeks ago in Peekskill to celebrate our engagement. We had a delicious dinner and also got to tour their amazing art collection. Here we are posing with Livia in front of John's painting, "The Great Divide" (my personal favorite!) Posing again with Marc...

Dad's Fishing Trip

Here are pictures from my dad's 3 day guided fishing trip. Lizzie, CJ and I stayed behind at the house in Maupin, but Leslie and Josh joined my dad for this trip.

Dad just landed a big one! What's a camping trip without champagne? Leslie gets ready to celebrate the end of a long day of fishing.
Josh poses with some rattlesnakes that tried to sneak into camp.

Leslie, Josh, Dad, and the fishing guides.
Cheers!
"Hot" fishing chicks, Leslie and Amy, pose along the river.

Dad's 60th Birthday

This August 5th was my dad's 60th birthday. Lizzie, Josh, and I joined my dad, Leslie, and CJ at their house on the Deshutes River in Maupin, Oregon for a week of birthday celebrations. During the week Dad, Leslie, and Josh went on a 3 day guided fly fishing trip on the river while Lizzie, CJ, and I got to stay at the house and kick back. It was a perfect week...the only person missing was John who had to stay behind and work in the studio. We missed you John!

Dad cooked paella (the non seafood version in my honor) on the grill one night...it was delicious!

CJ and Lizzie showed off their dancing skills.


How graceful!!


...and not so graceful!


Then Josh and CJ busted out their break dancing moves.


Lucy is so snuggable!

Dad's Birthday continued

We love you Lucy! Dad opens the gratin pan I gave him for his birthday.

While everyone was away on the fishing trip, Lizzie and I had fun cooking together. I was so impressed one night when Lizzie made the most delicious grilled vegetables and chicken.

CJ hung out in his Micheal Jordan jersey while the girls did the cooking.

We all went out to dinner at a new restaurant in Maupin when Dad, Leslie, and Josh returned from their 3 day fishing trip.

Patty, KC, and Emma got to come by and visit. Emma is holding the Chinese parasol I brought her from New York. She was pretty excited when I asked her to be a flower girl in the wedding!

We all pose with Dad at his birthday party. Lizzie made the most decadent 4 layer birthday cake with buttercream frosting and rainbow sprinkles.

Josh re-enacts the funniest moment during the party. Lizzie was out on the deck with all the guests and then turned to walk back into the house, but forgot that the screen was slid shut. She hit the screen so hard that she broke right through it! We all laughed so hard and luckily, Lizzie was able to laugh at herself too.

The delicious cake and the beautiful baker.

Lizzie, Josh and I got to stay at the Laughing Trout lodge which is just down the street from Dad and Leslie's house. It was an awesome place to stay! We can't wait to go back.

View of the house from the front yard.

Inside of the house...

There were deer everywhere! Look how close they came to the house!




View of the Deschutes River from our deck...
Pretty daisies in the backyard.

View of the hills and river from the backyard.

There were so many different kinds of fruit growing in the yard...peaches, apples, plums, pears, and blackberries.


One morning Lizzie and I were both up early enough to catch the sunrise. I don't think we had ever watched the sun come up together. It was an amazing sunrise.

Missy and Stephen visit New York

Missy, one of my dearest friends since childhood, and her husband, Stephen, came to New York to celebrate Stephen's 30th birthday. They had lots of sightseeing and fun stuff to do during their trip and fortunately we were able to meet up one afternoon for lunch. We took them to the Cubana Cafe, one of our favorite restaurants in SoHo. Our studly men, John and Stephen.

HAIR!!!

John and I got to see the 40th anniversary presentation of HAIR in Central Park. It was an amazing performance and for those of you who know me, you know that I love this musical! I took this image from an online review, so I can't claim it as my own. Photography wasn't allowed, or else, I would have lots more pictures to share. John and I stopped at Le Gamin on Houston for an iced coffee before the performance.
We were invited to a picnic dinner in Central Park before the performance by our friend Richard who is on the Board for the dance company that choreographed the musical. John looks so handsome in his green shirt after eating his picnic dinner. Cool sidenote...I got to meet David Salle at the picnic! He was one of my favorite artists in graduate school...until I met John, of course. : )

Little Dog in the Big City

How perfect is it that the dog run in Washington Square Park where we take Georgie is called "George's Dog Run." Georgie and I come here together almost everyday...it's one of my favorite places in the city.

Georgie's hanging out in the dog run. Usually there are at least 15 dogs in here at a time, but Georgie nearly had the entire space to herself on this day.

Georgie and one of her dog park friends, Saffronellie. She is a therapy dog and a total angel.

We had to get a raincoat for Georgie so that she could stay somewhat dry in wet weather. I think she looks totally cute, but Georgie's not used to wearing doggy clothes, so the raincoat is going to take some getting used to.