Flashback Friday

With Mary heading off to Stanford in the fall, this week's expanded Flashback looks back at some pictures of Mary and/at Stanford over the years.

Here is Mary at the age of 4, when she and the boys showed their support for Stanford football on a beautiful fall Saturday when we drove over to Madison to see Stanford play Wisconsin.  But because we were locals (and also because he's such a cool looking mascot), they also made friends with Bucky Badger.

At age 7, Mary visited Stanford for the first time.  Here she is looking dorkily dignified in front of The Claw, an iconic fountain on Stanford's campus.  I wonder if she will let me recreate this pose when we take her to school in September?  (Okay, maybe not.)

When she was 10 years old, Mary was back on campus for her second time.  In the picture she's at Frost Ampitheater and fully decked-out in Stanford gear.  We we were all there and had a great time at Brad's 20th class reunion.  (Peter or John, thanks for taking this picture!) 

This picture is from when Mary was 15 years old.  Although she was sporting a Stanford tshirt, she was rooting for their archrival Cal when Cal upset Nebraska to get to go to the Final Four at the NCAA women's volleyball regionals in Madison.  (Stanford wasn't at this particular regional.)  I was only able to go public with this revelation about rooting for Cal after Stanford had already accepted her.  (But please don't spread it around.)

And finally, age 17 and in front of Memorial Church while visiting campus last spring with Brad. I don't think Mary planned on falling as head-over-heels in love with Stanford as she did (it was her first time back there since age 10), but it's been her first choice school ever since this visit.  Shortly after her 19th birthday, she will return for what we fully expect will be four of the best years of her life.  And she can't wait!