Best of 2006

Our fondest memories from 2006...

2006 started out with us enjoying life without kids (despite Eunice’s growing belly!) We returned from our New Year’s Death Valley adventures only to head out again shortly to Utah for the Sundance Film Festival, and to New York with Cousins Eddie and Nate for a Cousins Weekend.

But reality started to set in, especially when we found out that we were having a boy! It was time to move out of grad school digs in Palo Alto into our new home in San Mateo and start preparing for the sarrival of the baby.

But not before celebrating the weddings of some dear friends (in Eunice’s 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th month of pregnancy!): Brian and Ellen's Wedding in Gettysburg, Jesse and Eileen's Wedding in Cape Cod, and Sunru and Anne's Wedding in Boston.

Spencer Lin Nichols was born on July 4th, just in time to see the fireworks from Sequoia Hospital! The first month at home was magical… We’ll never forget his first bath , his funny faces, and his rapid growth from tiny infant to chart-busting buddha baby. We were lucky to have the support of so many friends and family.

Soon Spencer was hanging out with his new buds Gaby and Theo, enjoying sunset hikes, and even taking his first plane flight to Vegas, Baby! His first roadtrip was to meet the Great Grandparents down in southern California.

So many memorable “firsts,” especially with the holidays: Spencer's first Halloween, first time meeting cousins Melody and Valerie, hosting our first Thanksgiving, decorating our first Christmas tree, and celebrating Spencer's first Christmas.

But this year wasn’t all about Spencer—the best part of the holidays was celebrating Adam and Rachel’s engagement!

Spencer's First Christmas

This was our first year celebrating Christmas at our place... we decided that since we had a cute baby this year, people would come to us if they wanted to see him!


And come they did: we spent the day with family, starting with a hearty brunch of sausage and egg casserole, french toast with blackberries, and mimosas.



Then it was time for the gifts! Nancy made Spencer a very special stocking, Jim and Susan gave Spencer a fantastic exersaucer and helped decorate our house with ornaments, Adam and Rachel got Spencer his first pair of shoes, Michael got us oranments and a Yahtzee set, and we showered everyone with pictures of Spencer.


Susan and Michael, Ryan's parents, enjoying a moment with their grandson.



What better fits the season than a Christmas Day game of Yahtzee over gin and tonics? Here, Rachel rolls a Yahtzee.... but its too late! She's already scratched out all three. Sad face indeed.


Time for dinner: we tried the traditional American feast for Thanksgiving... for Christmas dinner we had Chinese Hot Pot.


What a day... time to wind down the evening with an intense conversation about the meaning of it all, followed by a relaxing glass of wine by the fire. Merry Christmas!

Click here for the full slideshow, or...

Visit from a red sleigh on Christmas morning

A special Christmas morning visit from jolly Gaby in her red sleigh, drawn by 2 reindeer named Phil and Nikki, all the way from the North Pole of San Mateo!






I guess Spencer was nice this year, since Gaby shared her brand new red wagon with him.


The new year is looking bright.... Spencer has to wear shades!


Thanks for stopping by, Phil and Nikki... now off to visit all the other boys and girls. Just don't let Gaby go down the chimney on her own!

Click here for a slideshow of Spencer and Gaby on the wagon or...

Christmas Eve at the Hills

The annual tradition of Christmas Eve at the Hills continues... Eunice and I finally feel like we fit in because we have a kid of our own to join in the kid-madness (Adam and Rachel, you might consider renting one next year)!


Eddie and Nate made us a music mix to make sure that their older cousins aren't too out of it. Not sure what Eddie's thinking about in this picture, but it must be mischevious since he has sprouted a pair of horns!


And what holiday celebration is complete without a cut-throat basketball game of "knock out"? Adam and Rachel reported that there was a definite home court advantage for the Hill family...


In the always-lively no holds barred white elephant gift exchange. Adam and Rachel struck out with Christmas ornaments (who has room for a tree in Manhattan?) and a Santa casserole dish... Rachel tests to see if the oranments have some redeeming value as dessert. As always, a great celebration. Thanks Bob and Kathy!

Christmas Party at Dad's Place

Party at the Nichols pad in the Marina!


In the back: Jon McLaughlin, visiting from Bend Oregon, Eunice, Jim and Susan, visiting from San Diego, Matt, Dad, Paul, and Ryan. In the front are Rachel, Adam, and Kevin. Not pictured are the real stars of the party: Sophie and Pax, authors of "Body for the Ages: From Heart Surgery to Bodybuilding Champion." Grandpa Nic has been bartering an education in the stock market for personal training sessions with these two. And they are a couple of characters-- Pax showed up in blue tights and a santa hat!

Celebration Dinner at Nancy's Place

On the 23rd, Nancy hosted a fabulous Christmas dinner for her family at her new place up in Larkspur... the perfect opportunity for Adam and Rachel to share their exciting news with the Baron clan, and for everyone to see how much Spencer had grown.


Dinner itself was out in Nancy's backyard studio... very cool to walk into a candle-lit artist studio and dine amongst her art!


Spencer opens his gift from great-grandma Mimi-- a set of bathtime ducks that flash in psychodelic colors whenever they get wet. Very cool.... thanks Mimi!


Cousin Thomas holds Spencer for the first time. Good form, Thomas!


And thanks for the great gifts, Nancy - they'll keep us warm this winter!

Decorating Dad's Tree

After sharing their big news, it was time for Adam and Rachel to get down to business-- hanging the ornaments on Dad's Christmas tree.


This is a much less haphazzard affair than at our house: the lights are clipped to the branches, not just laid on top. The bubbling candle lights need to facing upwards to boil properly. The Native American angel needs to perched on top, preferrably with a songbird over her shoulder...


A fantastic shot of Spencer and Grandpa Nic by the fire.


Smile Spencer, its almost Christmas!


Hanging the final ornaments.


And checking out the view from the street. Looks good from here, Eunice!

Adam and Rachel are Engaged!

Great news... Adam and Rachel are engaged to be married! During their recent trip to the Bay Area for the holidays, Adam took Rachel to the top corner of Dolores Park, site of some of their earliest memories in San Francisco together. He dropped to one knee under a tree overlooking the San Francisco skyline... and she said yes! They came to Dad's place on the marina afterwards to share the good news, and we went out to take some pictures as the sun was setting over the bay. How romantic!

Click here for a slideshow, or...

Late evening light over Alcatraz (not meant to be symbollic that marraige is like a prison, you guys!)


A big smooch in front of the Golden Gate bridge.


Don't be bashful... congratulations Adam and Rachel!

New Ornaments from Susan and Jim

Susan and Jim sent us some cool ornaments to hang on our very first Christmas tree (including the big polar bear, sailboat, and glittery Santa Claus in the photo above).


The acorn ornaments are amongst our favorites!


Spencer particularly likes the polar bear. Thanks for the Christmas gifts, Nai Nai!


Spencer's been drooling a lot lately (evidenced by the big wet spot on his outfit) - a possible sign that he'll be getting some teeth in the near future.


He's also getting more mobile...


...And loves to smile!


Click above to hear Spencer's trademark chuckle.


Spencer and Dad in matching outfits.

Spencer Eats Peas

Spencer has made the momentous transition to eating solids!


We've started him off with peas...


...and rice cereal.


Yummy!!!


Click above to see Spencer in action...

Visit from Dave Weickhardt

Ryan's GSB classmate, Dave Weickhardt, had a weekend layover in the Bay Area on his flight from London to Australia.


So, we bundled Spencer up and met Dave in San Francisco to brave the long (but worth it!) lines at Mama's, our favorite North Beach brunch spot.


After brunch, we checked out the massive Santa-gathering in Washington Square Park.


Spencer isn't too happy to learn at such a young age that Santa Claus isn't real...


Parting shot with Dave in front of our Christmas tree.

Bugs - Up Close and Personal

Grace invited us to the Ideo kids holiday party. Not your typical kids party, given the presence of some VERY large bugs!


Here, Spencer gets a close-up look at an Australian walking stick, which when threatened mimics a scorpion...


Eunice, trying to act calm despite feeling nauseous as the prickly-legged bug crawls towards her precious baby.


Spencer doesn't seem too concerned...


A bug starts making its way up Grace's arm. Theo, fast asleep, isn't fazed at all.


What an adventure - thanks for inviting us to the party, Grace!

Spencer on Fire!!!

One of the perils of the holiday season: You leave Spencer unattended in the Jumperoo for just a couple of minutes, and he gets moving so fast his hair catches on fire! Just kidding--- we all know that Spencer doesn't have enough hair to actually catch on fire.
[No babies were harmed in the taking of this photograph.]

Decorating our First Christmas Tree

The tree was trimmed and set up in our house, but our work was just beginning!


With a few supplements from the Nichols family collection of ornaments and lights, we were ready to decorate our Lover's Christmas Tree.


The Nichols men, ready to go to work.


and Eunice too!


Grandpa Nic finds an especially heart-warming Christmas ornament.