Farewell Karla

So many faces in and out of my life; some will last, some will just now and then. Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes. I’m afraid it’s time for goodbye again. ~Billy Joel

For those of you that know me, and the best man at Robin and my wedding, Carl Alberola, you had to know that I was going to get some Billy Joel in here sooner or later!

As most of you know, I've been working at DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP (or its predecessor, Gray Cary) for my entire legal carrer. I worked here during the summer of 1995 and then started full time in September 1996. This September will be 10 years.

In September of 1998, Karla Lyon (pictured below) came to work at the firm after clerking for a local bankruptcy judge (we are both 1996 law school grads). She's been here doing similar work to myself ever since. Though we have not been working on the same projects all of the time, our work has overlapped considerably. We have sought each other out for advice and thoughts on all manner of items. And then Robin and I bought a house 5 houses down from her and her husband Jonny. And then we had kids around the same time (they now have two kids (Taylor - 2.5 and Nathan - belated Happy Birthday to Nathan who turned one on March 25)). Similarities abound. Yet for all the similarities, there are differences as well.

A couple weeks ago, Karla announced that she was leaving the firm to go work for Invitrogen Corporation. Invitrogen is a biotech company up in the Carlsbad area. Her last day is today, March 31.

So.....Fare Well Karla. I'll miss you.



Nothing makes the earth seem so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes. ~Henry David Thoreau

May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of his hand. ~Irish Blessing

Just Some Pictures of Noah

Just after Noah's first birthday, we took him over to our photographer's house for a little photo shoot. Our photographer is a woman by the name of Joanna Herr Hanks. She has her own company called Herr Photography. If you live in San Diego and want some good pictures taken, check her out.

The photos below were all taken at Joanna's home studio in Encinitas. We also just had some photos taken of the whole family along the beach in Cardiff. Those should be beautiful when they turn out. But here is Noah!

Noah in THE Rocking Chair (this was my rocking chair when I was a little boy; my parents refinished it and gave to Andrew for his first birthday)

Noah Standing up in his Froggy Sweater (a beautiful gift from Uncle Howard and Aunt Stacy)

This is Robin and my Favorite - Check out That Smile!

Noah Really Wants the Ducky (notably, he used his "free"dom to soil the tub)

Noah Got the Ducky!

Noah is Naked...

You Guessed it - THE END.

Well, not quite. Baby Justin Cole (son of our friends Peter and Susan Cole) is one year old today. A cute picture of Justin, taken by Peter and Susan just last week, is below. Happy Birthday Baby Justin!

29 for the First Time....

While Noah is one, Robin just turned 29 (March 4). The more I think about it, the more incredible it really is. I am quickly approaching 35 (August 22nd for those who want to take note now). And my beautiful bride isn't even 30 yet.

We had a wonderful day on Saturday for her birthday. We had breakfast in La Jolla at Brockton Villa. The restaurant overlooks La Jolla Cove and is simply a beautiful place. Of course we had the boys with us, so our attention was slightly more focused on spoon feeding yogurt and making sure that bottoms were on chairs than on the view. But it was still beautiful. After breakfast, we attended a fun birthday party for Lauren Pollock (and two of Lauren's cousins, Jack and Evaristo (I just love this name)). That is where the pictures of Robin you'll see below were taken (credits on the Robin and Noah photo go to Theresa and Tony Pollock - thanks guys). After the party, we all went home and had a much deserved nap! For Robin's birthday dinner, we had Lynn Armour (and her boyfriend Greg) (Lynn was one of Andrew's great preschool teachers last year) over to watch the boys. Lynn and Greg even brought over a card for Robin's birthday - so nice. We put on our jackets, hopped in the Mini-Van and headed downtown for dinner at Bertrand at Mister A's. Dinner was just wonderful. Robin relaxed, the food was wonderful and the view was even better (we watched about 20 airplanes land at Lindbergh Field). Best of all, the boys were sleeping when we got home!

Even though she's only 29, she's already busy as can be raising our two boys. What an amazing 29 years she's lived. I've been a part of her life for nearly 8 years now; it seems like forever and it seems like just a day all at the same time.

Here are just three beautiful pictures of Robin on her birthday. It's interesting how I had no problem sending 12 pictures of my one year old, but I would feel strange sending more than a couple of my wife. Regardless, they are great ones.

The Birthday Girl

Robin and Noah

Robin, Noah and Andrew (darn the sunspot)

My Goodness, Noah is One

Noah Slade Sorem is a year old (February 21st - Happy Birthday to Grant Trovaten (my God Brother) as well). As all parents with growing kids will tell you, it seems like just yesterday that our little one was born and we held him tight in our arms without another care in the world. As we are quickly learning, most especially with our 3 1/2 year old Andrew, time flies and we have lots of cares.

We had a very fun gathering at our house for Noah's first birthday on February 19. Papa Rosenbaum was there. Nana and Grampster Sorem were there. Uncle Howard and Aunt Stacy and Frank, the miniature daschund, were there. Auntie Karin could not be with us, but she was there in spirit. And lots and lots of close friends were there, most with their cute kids in tow.

Noah with his Papa!

Nana and Noah (check out Nana's cool Noah's Ark Sweater)

Evidently Noah Knows Who Really Likes Smash Cake - Grampster!

Stacy, Frank and Howard (Frank is Chewing on Howard's Bone)

The party was great fun. We had Teacher Carol from music class (along with all of her many musical toy instruments) there to lead a music class for 45 minutes or so. Below are a couple of pictures from the fun!

Put Your Finger on Your Knee, on Your Knee (Teacher Carol is by the TV)

Me Like Bells

Me Like Drumsticks Too

Daddy is Pretty Nice

But I Love Playing Drums with Mommy

We also had a quick art project -- foam stickers on a foam picture frame with magnet for the fridge. We took pictures of each little one and are in the process of distributing the finished products now.

And we had a TON OF FOOD. It was a salad fest. There was tuna salad, egg salad, salmon salad, chicken salad, lettuce salad, and fruit salad (like I said, a salad fest) to go with a couple of dips Robin is famous for -- 7 layer dip and crab and artichoke dip. The food was so good and plentiful that we're still enjoying it!

In addition to Noah's big birthday, he also decided to start walking. He's toddling around here, there and everywhere. It is so joyous to see him coming toward you with his big smile and just get down to his level and receive a big hug. That's happiness. For him and for us!

And we'll leave you today with pictures of the birthday boy enjoying his smash cake......