Goodbye for Now

Here is what I like: Awesome Friends

Here is what I dislike (because we don't us the "H" word in our house): Those friends moving away.

This week I said good-bye to Angie and Kristie (more friends are leaving soon)...

but it wasn't really a "good-bye" it was 

more of a "bad-bye" because I didn't want to see them leave. 

The reality of it all hit me Thursday morning when I was helping Angie clean her house.

It was totally awesome to hide in her master bathroom and sob for a while until 

I could contain my emotions and emerge. 

Of course when the real good-bye came those tears flowed freely again.

I'm not quite sure that there is anything good about my friends abandoning me, 

but in the spirit of positive thinking (I know you'll love this Ang) I am attempting to think about the good and avoid 

wallowing in my own self pity.

SO, what is totally wonderful about these friends moving on to greener pastures

is that my life will always be better because they were in it. 

We will always share a real connection no matter where we reside. A connection that came from honest conversations, sharing our struggles, laughing together, supporting each other while additional babies entered our lives, crying together, having lots of G.N.O.'s and learning to simply 

be comfortable as unique individuals with one another.

MISS YOU!

Love, me

Presenting...

The graduating Ohio State University 

Diagnostic Radiology physicians 

of 2011!

As I sat listening to the presentation during the graduation banquet last week my mind flashed back to 

10 years prior when I was sitting in Malibu, California cheering Cody on as he walked across the stage and received his bachelors degree in Sports Medicine.

The next milestone on this journey came close to 2 years later when a  

"White Coat Ceremony" 

marked the beginning of medical school. 

I looked on with pride as my husband repeated the  

Hippocratic Oath along with the rest of the entering class of medical students. 

I now realize how naive we were about the path we had committed to that day.

The next big event was marked by Cody's Medical School Graduation. 

We were smack in the middle of yet another cross country move, 

this time from Utah to Ohio.

At the time I was 6 months pregnant and Brinley was 2.

Again I watched on, with little Brinley, as Cody walked across the stage and received his official title of "Doctor." It felt like we had come so far and sacrificed so much, 

little did we know what a residency ride was in store for us.

(Jeff and Liz)

We not only were clueless about the trials that residency would pose in our lives, but we were also unaware of the amazing friendships we would make and the  

incredible experiences we would have along the way.

The much deepened gratitude and respect I feel for my husband now, and certainly felt last week as I cheered him on during his Residency Graduation, is one of the priceless gifts 

I have received throughout this journey.

Watching him excel in his varied roles during times of extreme demand

 has been an amazing and humbling opportunity for me.

In humble Cody fashion he will not allow me to elaborate on the pictures above and below. 

Suffice it to say that he was presented with TWO awards during graduation last week.

The first award was for demonstrating Excellence in Thoracic Imaging.

 

The second award was presented by Nationwide Children's Hospital 

for Excellence in Pediatric Radiology.

Each resident in Cody's class will be moving on to complete a fellowship year.

I suppose that this upcoming year will present 

career surprises and challenges as past years have,

but I know that at the end of it we will have only grown closer 

going through it....and then of course I will find myself, 

looking on with pride, as Cody completes his fellowship in Pediatric Radiology 

next June!

All About Aspen

Aspen has blossomed into the most delightful toddler!

We find ourselves cracking up daily as we observe her sense of humor, verbal abilities 

and facial expressions become more dramatic.

From her sweet mealtime prayers to daily dancing sessions to singing silly songs and countless precious daily conversations, Aspen is going through what I consider to be the most wonderful and darling phase of her life so far.

When I wake up and hear her reciting books from memory and singing Safety Kids songs in her crib,

I smile within and ponder on what funny and new things she will do that day.

On the day featured above and below Aspen stole the show at Brinley's end of 

the year school luau.

She provided much entertainment to the onlooking crowd.
 

Aspen loves to go on bike rides in her little seat on the back of my bike. 

This morning we went on a 12 mile bike ride and the second I took her out of the seat she 

asked "Mommy, can we go again."

She also loves to wear a helmet when participating in any other outdoor activities.

She is obsessed with wearing sunglasses. 

This week she broke Daddy's favorite pair while adjusting them to fit her head perfectly!

Often she prefers to wear them upside down as seen here.

Aspen has graced our home with her excellent manners. 

 Today she thanked me for changing her diaper. 

The best part of these little interactions is that most often times they are not solicited.

As much as we love her defining head of Velcro curls, we just had to decrease 

the morning drama of taming the fuzz ball.

A few weeks ago she had her first hair cut and both Mama and child have 

been much happier campers since!

I find myself wanting desperately to bottle up this special time in her life. 

As I've continued on this journey of motherhood,
I am beginning to realize how precious and fleeting 

these fun stages of childhood are.

For now I relish the sweet days of laughter, stories, songs and surprises. 

We love you fiercely little one!

Cincinnati take ONE and take TWO

Last week we made our way to Cincinnati with our friends Jeff and Liz for a  

Cubs vs. Reds baseball game.

We enjoyed a delicious dinner downtown and then headed to the ball park where we certainly had a better time than the players on the Cubs team...who struggled and lost.

Jeff, Cody's co-resident friend, scored us great seats. 

Leah, pregnant and very hot at the game, scored herself a $4 snow cone 

which tasted like water. 

Liz, also pregnant, did not give into the over-priced concessions.

It was such a fun date night and we will surly miss Jeff and Liz when they ditch town
for a fellowship in North Carolina.

Less than two days later we hit the road, headed to Cincinnati once again, 

but this time with the children.

We enjoyed a 2-night "summer vacation" filled with fun at Kings Island amusement park 

and the Cincinnati Zoo.

Unfortunately our still camera battery died after taking only a few pictures. Thank goodness we were able to take lots of video of all the great memories made!

Aspen was a TROOPER during our day at Kings Island. 

We arrived at 9:30am and did not walk out to our car until 10:15pm. The day was chock full of fun land rides and a huge water park.

Brinley and Avery were all about the fastest, tallest and scariest rides while Aspen was very content with calmer height appropriate rides. It was a delight to watch the giggles and observe the excitement as the day unfolded.

The picture above cracks me up. 

During dinner at the theme park we watched a country singing show and afterwards Avery insisted that she have her picture taken with the singers. 

Thank goodness we still had one picture worth of battery left as this was VERY important to her!

One word can describe our Zoo day H O T! 

I believe it was around 90 degrees with the humidity in a similar range. We last about 5 hours and were drenched with sweat upon departure.

The girls favorite part of the Zoo was the indoor 4-d theater experience.

On our last day we took the girls on a "Pirate" riverboat ride along the Cincinnati River. 

Aspen was thrilled to declare herself a true pirate, which she continues to remind us about.

The workers were all dress up as pirates and they facilitated several cute games, including a treasure hunt, during the 1.5 hour boat ride. 

As we drove home in a major rain storm Brinley cried for a good amount of time because

she did not want to leave Cincinnati.

I'm pretty sure that expression indicates that the trip was a smashing success!

Moving On, Growing Up

Avery graduated from pre-school last week!

 She was over the moon with excitement about the big event and wore her  

ear to ear smile

throughout the day as proof.

 (Avery with school friend and pre-school teacher)

The ceremony took place at a local high school auditorium.

After several musical numbers each child proceeded across the stage, one at a time, 

to be awarded a diploma from the teacher. 

Avery is happy to announce that she is now officially a kindergartener!

Earlier that same day we attended a recognition ceremony for Brinley 

who is now officially a 3rd grader!

 (Brinley with her 2nd grade teacher)

Our sensitive eldest did not transition quite as smoothly after her last day of school. 

Tears were flowing much of the day and into the late night after she arrived home and declared 

her utter despair by having to say good-bye to her fifth grade buddy.

Apparently they cried together at recess and during parent pick-up after school.

After much reassurance that we would get her "big buddies" contact information from the school secretary,

she was finally able to stop crying fall asleep at 10:30pm. 

It is so tender and sweet to see our daughter developing meaningful bonds of friendship and at the same time it was somewhat heart wrenching for us to comfort her though her time of sadness.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day brought with it 90 degree weather, high humidity and, for us, 

an Ice Cream Festival in Utica Ohio!

Melting ice cream, pony rides, a magic show, local crafts and farm animals were the highlights...

that is until we could stand the heat no longer and headed home for 

backyard swimming pool time.

You have to admit there is something special about local festivals!