there is life after grad school

We have had many good things to celebrate in our family lately:

- moving into a new home

- Abe finishing his dissertation

- welcoming baby Isis

- being completely and totally finished with the phd program

- enjoying amazing California weather

- Abe having no more dissertation work to do on every evening and weekend known to man

- starting a nanny with the kids so I can work part time, and Genghis starting preschool

- no more dissertation

Did I mention that Abe finished his dissertation? We are free! It took longer to complete the "last stage" of his thesis than it did to grow and birth our baby.  But it's done. Done. Done. Done.

I am just a little bit completely ecstatic.

But if the last 9 months have taught us anything, it is to simplify our lives. In keeping with that, I have decided that it is time to officially announce the scaled-back scope of this blog.*

I love capturing the stories, moments, and absurdities of life in the form of blogging, but it's just not happening right now. At the same time, I humbly recognize a devoted group of readers whose Number One purpose in reading my blog is to see photos of our three fabulous rugrats. So, I am going to try to post photos regularly, maybe with captions and stories as a bonus.

Some day, I want to tell stories again. For now, I will work on just living them instead.

With that said, here are a few photos.

Xena at a great garden in Palo Alto. 

Genghis and Xena at the garden. 

Super smile from Isis! 

Genghis reconstructing the Hong Kong skyline and harbor out of legos, based on photos sent from grandma. 

* Okay, I'm pretty sure no one really cares about the stated purpose of said blog. But writing it down officially will help ease my "A-type" mind.