Hiking with Bella

We have really enjoyed being close to the mountains and being able to take Bella hiking. She loves to hike, especially when there is water involved. 

Family Visit

When we got settled into our new home, my family came up to visit. We went to see grandma for the day then we all went out to downtown Greenville for an evening.

Rob and Grandma

lots of closed eyes...

Layna talking to Grandma

Me and Grandma

The girls

At falls park bridge

Stephen looking at ducks with the girls

hoola hoopin in the park

Rob used a panoramic app on his phone for this pic

Same panoramic app, notice anything unusual... 

Fall Luau

The Tanksleys hosted a fall Luau at their house and we had a blast. Unfortunately, the men didn't last long. Eventually ALL the men that were left crashed in the living room. The ladies had a great time hanging out in the kitchen though : )

Stephen in his grass skirt

practicing my moves

gathering in the kitchen

Jenny looking confused about what Jessie is saying

There are four but I couldn't get them all in the same pic. The one on the floor is mine : )

Justin and John

Leslie posing with her sleeping hubby

Family trip to DC

Last fall my cousin got married in New Jersey. Stephen had to work but I went with my family and we stopped in DC at my other cousin, Dana's, house to visit. We spent a whole day walking around and touring. 

Apple Fest 2011

I am bound and determined to get back to blogging. So I would like to hit a few of the events I missed in order to get caught up. One was last fall when a bunch of the ortho group headed to North Carolina to Apple Fest. I never knew there were so many ways to eat apples. Here are some pics.

Lauren, Lauren, and Stephen

John and Brittany

Me, Carly, Brittany, John and Julia

Buying by the bushel 

Julia and I are about to devour some apples 

Stephen takes a break from eating for a quick pic

Me and Lou

Residency

Stephen started his orthopedic residency on June 21. For the first year he does a general surgery year. Each month is spent on a different rotation. He started on trauma, then on to vascular surgery, and is now doing ortho. Next month will be plastic surgery. So far he is learning a lot and really enjoying it. The hours are a little rough but we are doing great. When you don’t have a ton of time together, what you do have is precious and you make the most of it. I am so proud of him and I am thankful that we get to do this journey together.

There are four residents for each year and five years in the program. Stephen’s co-residents are Justin, Jake, and Julia. Justin and Leslie came from Kansas City and have two little girls: Liviella and Rivleigh Rose. Jake and Carly are from Georgia and just had a baby girl named Louise. Julia is from California and is married to one of the general surgery residents, Dave. They are all really nice and we are super excited to get to know them better. 

From left to right: Stephen, Julia, Justin, and Jake

Moving Week

On our third anniversary, June 15, we spent our last night in the condo. Our wonderful small group came over with pizza to help pack up the Penske and say goodbye. It was definitely an anniversary we will never forget: sitting in an empty apartment with friends eating pizza and doing hard labor. : ) We had a great time though. The guys even invented a new game with a tennis ball and some random cleaning supplies. I don’t remember exactly how it went, just that Brad was awesome at it, lol. We are so thankful for this group of friends and we already miss them like crazy.

My parents came over the night before to help pack up our house. I had no idea how much stuff we had and how long it would take to box up. There is no way we would have been ready to load the truck if they hadn’t helped. I’m tempted to go ahead and start saving up to hire people to do it when we move again in five years.

Stephen really enjoyed driving the Penske. They didn’t have our truck yet so they gave us the biggest one they make. After seeing it with the Jeep being pulled behind I was terrified, but Stephen did great. Bella rode with him in the front seat and she loved it.

When we arrived in Greenville Stephen’s parents, his brother Matt, and cousins Jonathan and Austin came over to help unload the truck.  They did a great job and everything went pretty quick. My desk did get dropped down the stairs but Stephen was able to screw it all back together. We are so blessed to have such great friends and family. They really made the transition so much easier.