summer

We've had a great summer so far!

The first 2 weeks of june we had lots of family and Dave's graduation. Then we had the last two weeks of June we had a great time with Dave home. We had lots of family activities and also time to get some things fixed around the house and packed up.

Dave left for Houston Saturday June 28th. He spent the first day getting the internet up and running and getting a few basics in the house and then started in to work. He is working crazy hours, pretty much 5am-10pm plus on call every night. It is exhausting just hearing about it.

Meanwhile, I feel a little guilty that we are kind of having a party around here.    We do miss Dave of course, but seeing as how he is working ridiculous hours we wouldn't see him much even if we lived in the same state!

The first week:
-had dinner with Jessica and the boys
-watched tons of world cup. I have turned into a couch potato.
-went to JoAnn's a couple of times to get fabric for various blankets
-learned to use my mom's sewing maching to make blankets for the kids. They each got to pick fabric and make small "mimi's" and one regular baby blanket (1.25 yard square)
-attempted a walk with the girls on scooters and Sara Riley- - barely broke a sweat!
- went to aquatica after Calvin's school one day. Jo really loved the lazy river. The big kids love the lazy river and the wave pool. With jo there we couldn't do many big slides but the kids didn't seem to mind. They like just hanging out. We'll probably go again a time or two before we leave.
- 4th of july - kids sing performance
-JoJo's birthday party with family - Bob/Kari, Pete/Jessica and the boys. Jo was so cute. She was very excited about her presents.
-fixing up a few things in the house before we go

I have also been working hard on my summer goal to re-watch downton abbey!


4 weeks from today our truck will be packed up and we'll be on our way to Houston. I keep getting notes and texts from people already there encouraging me to reconsider and not come. The weather, Dave's schedule...it's gonna be rough!  But it is worth it to be together as a family.

face paint from the library.  Have I mentioned that lexey is THE sweetest thing?  She is so wonderful.

So jo got these princess pictures. She picked this one and then colored the eyes red. Then, she tried to put it back and get a new one because "it is to scary for me". We got a good chuckle out of that.

cousins and ice cream on the driveway. We will miss this. Too sad to even think about.

Love the evening view. I will miss this too.

Our great friend Jeff Johnson came to town for conference. One night   Dave and I went out to dinner with him. It was so fun chatting! The next day, Dave and Clare went sightseeing with him, to Cabrillo for the tide pools and then to the Midway. Clare loved it. Dave and Jeff I'm sure had a great time too.

 

swimming with dad

The kids love swimming with Dave.

He is so fun! It's not his favorite thing to do so it is very nice of him to get in with them and make it super fun!

Dave tried throwing Jo in the pool but she didn't like it!

the gondas were here too

I didn't get any pics of the Gonda's at graduation. I am so bummed! So we grabbed a few Sunday afternoon at church and home

Dave's mom is a tressel lover. She had to say her good bye's since tressel will die before we see them again. He is such a sweet puppy!

Lexey loved hanging out with and on top of grandpa dan!

graduation

I have been waiting 7 years for this graduation event. The first year we went was in 2007 just before dave was going to start his intern year. Henry Aryan was graduating and he had a beautiful family (espeically his wife). Then and there I vowed to myself I would #1 not be pregnant or post pregnant so that I could look amazing (although if I had been babies are totally worth it) #2 that I would buy a new dress and make sure it was a showstopper.  I didn't buy a new dress or shoes for any of the other years I attended graduation after 2007. So, this year it was my turn for both.  I also got my hair done and had a friend help me with makeup since I am still not really sure what I'm doing in that department.

Dave owns his tux which he wears every year. The girls got dresses from costco (clare also wore it for Scott/abbey wedding) and jo had to get new shoes. Calvin needed a new suit. At church he basically wears shirt and shorts and tennis shoes. He wore the suit for about 5 minutes and then started stripping down layer by layer. If he had stayed out with us more than 15 minutes he would have been naked. 

Anyway, when we first arrived we went outside for cocktails and appetizers. Of course everyone wanted to talk to dave but the kids were already taking off shoes and laying in the sand so I pulled him away for a few pictures. They turned out so great. Glad we have great pics to remember this special night. 

 Joe drove down and brought Emiley to keep him company so it was a treat to have her there to hang with Clare for the evening.

 The kids (chiazo's nephew) running around Dave's legs

 pouty jo

Chiazo's family. She is the shortest of her siblings! These people are all over 6' tall!

OR staff

 jr residents -reid hoshite and vincent chung

 dr. mike levy - awesome dr. peds neurosurgery at radys

 min park - was the chief resident to dave and chiazo

 nothing like standing inbetween dave and chiazo to make you feel very short!

 dr. gerras, kiaser doc

 the dahlquist side of the family, so glad to have them there!

 dr ciacci

 dr. marshall

 jayson sack - michigan man

 my hair. thanks to kelly boles for the updo.

Graduation evening was really great. Lots of kind words said about dave and chiazo. They both worked really hard and did well.
Dr. Carter introduced Dave and then I spoke. I'll see if I can easily get my powerpoint or talk up here.
Dave spoke briefly. His talk was mostly thank yous. He had already given a very good and long talk in the morning so there wasn't much left to say. He thanked staff, residents, chiazo, min, faculty, my family, his parents and most of all me. It was very sweet. I asked him to write out his talk and give it to me for my b-day!
I loved what Dave said about his parents. His dad, who taught him that it's okay to work hard and be away from the family sometimes yet still have them as your #1. His mom, so creative and smart, when he has a problem he can think of his mom and know that she wouldn't give up so he keeps looking for a way to solve the problem.

It was a great evening. One of the best days of my life!