Claire's 19th birthday

We started Claire's birthday celebration at Osaka Japanese Restaurant Sushi & Hibachi Steakhouse. The light was dim and I only had a phone for pictures, so please excuse the fuzziness. Below, Pat finishes her annual recount of Claire's birth. Spare me the details. I was there.

Some of our sushi dinner, including soft shell crabs, shrimp, eel and assorted slimy and gooey stuff.

We migrated to Hemingway's Ltd for dessert. In Claire's expert opinion, the flavors were good but the presentation was sloppy by Eurpoean standards. I noticed she ate all of her mixed berry crepe.

Of course Pat is smiling--it's chocolate!!!

The mocha ganache between the cake layers was magnifico!

Kid goes to college

One day short of a year after leaving for Belgium and 49 days after returning home, Claire packed her bags and high-tailed for greener pastures. This time, she is off to college to study environmental sciences. So once again, we are empty nesters and this blog is back in business.

Below, Claire visited the Mizzou Tiger, which is big enough to eat the Nittany Lion stature in state college. Take that Penn State.

Pat and Claire give each other a big good-bye. Since Claire's dorm room is half-way across campus from Pat's office, I doubt they will see each other until Thanksgiving.

Claire ponders her journey through the columns to the wonderful, magical land of academia.

Claire celebrating a good start on a messy dorm room.

Claire's dorm, which is ironically named Responsibility Hall.