Last week and catch up

Friday afternoon was when news broke that a student had died on campus. As we left around 5 p.m. there were three news vans in front of the dorm. We found out later, when we got to Ralph and Chris's house, that the student was one of mine. I'm still shaken by it and am so terribly sad for his family.


We left campus and went to the release of the new operating system at the Apple Store. We waited in line and talked megahertz and gigs and other such things with people in line until they opened the doors at 6 p.m. We got free t-shirts. And are considering getting part time seasonal work there for a few extra bucks.


Then we went to family night where we had dinner and ice cream and cake to celebrate my and Bethany's birthdays. I love this pic of Chris singing.




Ralph has a tradition of playing checkers with the kiddies. They're getting pretty good!


Yesterday I tried a new tea. My mother brought it home from China a while ago and I just tried it for the first time. It starts out as a little ball of grass, or so it looks.


Not having a glass tea pot, I put it in a clear measuring cup.


I added hot water and let it sit a few minutes.


It bloomed into a beautiful sculpture, called Peaches from God and Good Luck, according to the little pamphlet. I poured it over ice and enjoyed it immensely. It was so perfume-y and had just such a delicate flavor. Really amazing! I have eight more to try from the box. So wonderful.


Last night Bethany, Chase, and Shelley came over before they went to their church's festival. Bethany was "an Indian" (we'll teach her to say Native American some other day).


Shelley dressed up as a fairy, I think, with extra eyelashes, glittery makeup, and wings. I noticed a new thing of parents dressing up with their kids-- the neighborhood families did it, too.


Chase was a blue Power Ranger, though he's never seen the power rangers... makes you wonder how kids think of these things.