we all enjoyed falafels and filed into packard to hear miki’s defense on compressed sensing for MRIs. i still don’t know what that means, but i’m glad i went. :)

we’re finally growing up and moving off campus. here’s some pictures of our new place in menlo park.

oh, these are the things that make me wish that i was in texas. my uncle hosted a test run of his restaurant, and thankfully lily sent me pictures of it all.

after three years of grueling classes and long nights, leith walks across that big stage and picks up the most expensive piece of paper he’s ever worked for. it was a great, but HOT day for all of us.

nasun has a million friends as we all know, and she convinced two very nice friends to use a pool house and backyard area for her pink and brown affair. leith and i had a lot of fun, going around 10:30am to start seeing up for her 3 0′clock party. she knew how perfectly everything should be and we got right to work. i loved helping in the background instead of doing the partying - it was a lot more fun, and leith and i learned some new things in the process.

my aunt peggy married ricardo "bede" maldonado and it was a great celebration, reuniting family after years in good ol’ san anton.

leith gave me the best surprise and took me to alice water’s restaurant, the renowned chez panisse for my 27th birthday. he had gone through the charade of telling me we were having dinner with friends. we even picked up sparking juices and argued about what to wear - went through all the motions to create the facade. he’s proved again that he is great at keeping secrets and planning surprises. the dinner was wonderful, and the company was even better.

my best friend and forever roommate gets hitched. i flew back to dallas for lots of fun wedding festivities. what a beautiful ceremony and great times!

it was a long drive of about 1900 miles, but we were ready. with a full car, a few maps and some snacks, leith and i set off for our new life in california.

i mean, people graduate from college all the time, but nada does everything the hard, rewarding way. :) i remember we wouldn’t talk for weeks because she was working full-time, doing an internship at a children’s advocacy orientation and getting her masters, all at the same time. if anyone deserves a big day…it’s her!