Monday, December 28, 2009
Out goes 2009!
As this year comes to a close, I want to wrap up this portion of the blog which I started a year ago today. 2009 has been a very exciting year. Ella turned 3 on January 1st and our son, Luke was born on January 13th. I also defended my Ph.D in August ending a very long run in school. 2010 is going to be a big year for us. Lyle and I both are nervous about the future but we are looking so forward to all the wonderful times for our family ahead. So, here's to 2009, its been good but bring in 2010! We're ready!
Christmas 2009
Christmas was a little rushed this year since we weren't home but only three days in the month of December but we still had a great time. I realized though that I didn't get very many snapshots so...these will have to do.
Anyone need some really cute reindeer??
Ella opening presents on Christmas Eve.
Luke enjoying the excitement of his first Christmas.
He also hit a major milestone during the holiday season--drinking regular milk. Now for you people who follow strict rules, I know it is a bit early, he was only 11 1/2 months but mommy was really tired of hauling her pump all over the country. So, as a Christmas present to myself, I stopped!! Yippee! This is a picture of Luke drinking cow's milk for the first time out of his bottle--didn't phase him a bit! Phew!
We also enjoyed a nice surprise--a White Christmas! 3 inches of snow fell Christmas Eve night. It was beautiful! So not only did Ella and Luke have a blast opening presents from Santa but they also got to play in the snow a bit. It was so great!
A major theme of this Christmas--can you guess?
Luke's favorite Santa gift--a new remote control! Literally, the only present he actually plays with! Notice the stickers on the table--Ella thought it would be a good idea to decorate the house in Tinker Bell stickers. They are everywhere and I am still trying to figure out how to get those off!
Ella and I in our new Christmas robes--actually mine is a couple years old but Ella's is new and she was so excited that we both had ones with polka dots. I tell ya, that Santa is pretty smart!
Ella's new bed..she has slept on it since we got home.
As I was taking this picture, I realized something. This is a little emotional so bare with me. I took this picture and realized that my whole family, my whole life was in this little room. My husband in bed, Ella on her mat beside the bed and Luke in his little crib over in the corner and I thought to myself...although we are cramped in this little apartment and money is tight...these are wonderful times..times when we are the closest to our children. As the year comes to a close and we are facing a major change in 2010, I know that I will look back on these moments in this little place and wish I could go back.
Anyone need some really cute reindeer??
Ella opening presents on Christmas Eve.
Luke enjoying the excitement of his first Christmas.
He also hit a major milestone during the holiday season--drinking regular milk. Now for you people who follow strict rules, I know it is a bit early, he was only 11 1/2 months but mommy was really tired of hauling her pump all over the country. So, as a Christmas present to myself, I stopped!! Yippee! This is a picture of Luke drinking cow's milk for the first time out of his bottle--didn't phase him a bit! Phew!
We also enjoyed a nice surprise--a White Christmas! 3 inches of snow fell Christmas Eve night. It was beautiful! So not only did Ella and Luke have a blast opening presents from Santa but they also got to play in the snow a bit. It was so great!
A major theme of this Christmas--can you guess?
Luke's favorite Santa gift--a new remote control! Literally, the only present he actually plays with! Notice the stickers on the table--Ella thought it would be a good idea to decorate the house in Tinker Bell stickers. They are everywhere and I am still trying to figure out how to get those off!
Ella and I in our new Christmas robes--actually mine is a couple years old but Ella's is new and she was so excited that we both had ones with polka dots. I tell ya, that Santa is pretty smart!
Ella's new bed..she has slept on it since we got home.
As I was taking this picture, I realized something. This is a little emotional so bare with me. I took this picture and realized that my whole family, my whole life was in this little room. My husband in bed, Ella on her mat beside the bed and Luke in his little crib over in the corner and I thought to myself...although we are cramped in this little apartment and money is tight...these are wonderful times..times when we are the closest to our children. As the year comes to a close and we are facing a major change in 2010, I know that I will look back on these moments in this little place and wish I could go back.
Fun things the kids did while we were away
The kids had a great time at the grandparents while Lyle and I were gone. They did a ton of stuff. Starting with putting up Grandma and Papa's Christmas tree.
They also got a special visit from St. Nicholas who picked up the kids' Christmas lists that were left in their shoes outside. St. Nick brought them santa and snowman Christmas cups, shiny lip gloss, and lots of candy!
Ella got a little creative when she found out that Grandma didn't have any My Little Pony ponies--can you believe, how terrible! So, she made her one. Can you see it? The legs are made out of forks. I thought it was pretty crafty!
The kids even got to see a Christmas parade with their cousins Eliza, Sophia and Maya. It was very cold!!!
They also got to watch Eliza and Sophia's and Joshua's Christmas play. They were really funny. Joshua's play was titled "Christmas at the OK corral" and Joshua was Townsperson #12. He was very proud!!! Unfortunately, since we were out of town, Ella had to miss her Christmas program--I was sad but I don't think she really noticed.
The twins and Maya came down one day to spend the day playing. Luke and Maya became really good friends although Luke kept trying to pull up on Maya which always ended in her falling down. It was funny to watch.
Needless to say, Grandma was very tired after this day!!
Ella and Luke got to ride on all of Papa's tractors, check cows, stay up late and eat lots of Christmas cookies and candy. They didn't miss us a bit!
They also got a special visit from St. Nicholas who picked up the kids' Christmas lists that were left in their shoes outside. St. Nick brought them santa and snowman Christmas cups, shiny lip gloss, and lots of candy!
Ella got a little creative when she found out that Grandma didn't have any My Little Pony ponies--can you believe, how terrible! So, she made her one. Can you see it? The legs are made out of forks. I thought it was pretty crafty!
The kids even got to see a Christmas parade with their cousins Eliza, Sophia and Maya. It was very cold!!!
They also got to watch Eliza and Sophia's and Joshua's Christmas play. They were really funny. Joshua's play was titled "Christmas at the OK corral" and Joshua was Townsperson #12. He was very proud!!! Unfortunately, since we were out of town, Ella had to miss her Christmas program--I was sad but I don't think she really noticed.
The twins and Maya came down one day to spend the day playing. Luke and Maya became really good friends although Luke kept trying to pull up on Maya which always ended in her falling down. It was funny to watch.
Needless to say, Grandma was very tired after this day!!
Ella and Luke got to ride on all of Papa's tractors, check cows, stay up late and eat lots of Christmas cookies and candy. They didn't miss us a bit!
Sunday, December 27, 2009
The Interview Trail
Around the middle of their 4th year, med students go on what is called the interview trail. They go literally around the country interviewing for residency programs. Lyle started on his and since I need a job too wherever he matches, I went along interviewing for post doctoral positions. This process took us on a three week tour of the southwest and was the reason for such a gap in blog posts.
We headed out late the Saturday after Thanksgiving (hoping the kids would sleep all the way) to my parents house in AR where we set up camp. The kids would stay with my parents while we traveled to different cities for interviews.
Our first stop was Memphis, TN. This is a picture of us before going to dinner with the residents and other applicants the night before the interview.
This is Lyle the morning of his first interview. I thought he looked great..very professional!
My interview was later that day at St. Jude Research Hospital. We both had really nice interviews.
We left Memphis on Tuesday and headed to St. Louis for Lyle's interview at Wash U. St. Louis is a great city and we have great friends there...could be a good place for us!
We got home from St. Louis on Sunday and were able to play with the kids for a couple days before heading to Nashville for interviews at Vanderbilt on Wednesday. Nashville was very cool. We stayed in the Marriot hotel at Vanderbilt which was close enough to the medical center for us to walk back and forth...although it was very cold and neither one of us had packed for cold weather!
On Saturday, we made the trip back to AR to see the kids (and give my parents some relief) until we left out again on Monday for Little Rock. Again we both had nice visits but the traveling and the stress of answering a million questions were starting to get to us. We were both tired. Only two interviews left to go!
On Wednesday, Lyle headed out for his Tulsa interview solo. I decided to stay with my mom and help out with the kids. Taking care of a 3 yr old and a 11 month old is hard for anyone. Then Friday morning (Dec. 18th), we packed up all the kids and headed back to Big D. Lyle had his Southwestern interview Friday night and all day Saturday. We were glad to be home...for a while...Christmas was right around the corner and we were due back in AR on the 23rd!
We don't find out until March 18th were Lyle will match and were we will be moving but all in all, it was an interesting process. We are looking forward to the next phase of our lives...Lyle-residency, me-post doc, Ella-kindergarten, Luke-pre-school. Should be fun!!
We headed out late the Saturday after Thanksgiving (hoping the kids would sleep all the way) to my parents house in AR where we set up camp. The kids would stay with my parents while we traveled to different cities for interviews.
Our first stop was Memphis, TN. This is a picture of us before going to dinner with the residents and other applicants the night before the interview.
This is Lyle the morning of his first interview. I thought he looked great..very professional!
My interview was later that day at St. Jude Research Hospital. We both had really nice interviews.
We left Memphis on Tuesday and headed to St. Louis for Lyle's interview at Wash U. St. Louis is a great city and we have great friends there...could be a good place for us!
We got home from St. Louis on Sunday and were able to play with the kids for a couple days before heading to Nashville for interviews at Vanderbilt on Wednesday. Nashville was very cool. We stayed in the Marriot hotel at Vanderbilt which was close enough to the medical center for us to walk back and forth...although it was very cold and neither one of us had packed for cold weather!
On Saturday, we made the trip back to AR to see the kids (and give my parents some relief) until we left out again on Monday for Little Rock. Again we both had nice visits but the traveling and the stress of answering a million questions were starting to get to us. We were both tired. Only two interviews left to go!
On Wednesday, Lyle headed out for his Tulsa interview solo. I decided to stay with my mom and help out with the kids. Taking care of a 3 yr old and a 11 month old is hard for anyone. Then Friday morning (Dec. 18th), we packed up all the kids and headed back to Big D. Lyle had his Southwestern interview Friday night and all day Saturday. We were glad to be home...for a while...Christmas was right around the corner and we were due back in AR on the 23rd!
We don't find out until March 18th were Lyle will match and were we will be moving but all in all, it was an interesting process. We are looking forward to the next phase of our lives...Lyle-residency, me-post doc, Ella-kindergarten, Luke-pre-school. Should be fun!!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Finally a new post : Thanksgiving
Sorry it has been so long since our last post but we have a good reason which I will tell you about soon. First I wanted to post some pics from our Thanksgiving. We had a very nice Thanksgiving here in Dallas. We had a wonderful dinner with our Burdine family. It was nice to see Logan and Amber who came in from Boulder and Landry and Elizabeth along with the kids. We ate great food and had fun running at the park. Here in this pic the kids are enjoying delicious pumpkin cupcakes that Mims made just for them. Luke didn't get to participate this year but he will be ready next year!
Then for the big fun! The Saturday after Thanksgiving, we got a special treat. Landry got us tickets to the TCU football game. TCU had a great year going undefeated and earning a spot in the BCS Fiesta Bowl game in Arizona. Ella learned how to properly cheer for the Frogs which she did the rest of the weekend and got a fancy TCU tattoo on her face. Thanks to Elizabeth and Landry for the great tickets.
Then for the big fun! The Saturday after Thanksgiving, we got a special treat. Landry got us tickets to the TCU football game. TCU had a great year going undefeated and earning a spot in the BCS Fiesta Bowl game in Arizona. Ella learned how to properly cheer for the Frogs which she did the rest of the weekend and got a fancy TCU tattoo on her face. Thanks to Elizabeth and Landry for the great tickets.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tent Fun
Yes, some how we were able to put a tent up in our tiny apartment. The kids loved it and so did Mommy. They actually played together in it for a long time...well 15 minutes before trouble started but that is actually a long time.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
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