Christmas Morning in Danville

Christmas Letter 2008!

Happy Holidays!!! We hope this finds everybody enjoying the joys of family and companionship this holiday season. Wow, has it been a busy year!!! It has also been pretty stressful. We started the slow process of moving the family to Philadelphia this year, although Rob has to stay in Danville until June 2009. The move has been hard on everybody, with difficulty selling the house in the current market, getting the kids set up in a new neighborhood and schools, and having the family separated all week. We’ve really been cherishing the weekends we get to spend together.

Rob has been occupied all year with his position as Chief Resident for his residency. It has been a lot of extra work, and he’s glad it’s finally over. During the spring, Rob interviewed at Neuroradiology fellowships, and found out in June that he will be going to the prestigious University of Pennsylvania for a 1 year of fellowship. Now he’s contemplating finding a “real” job. Hopefully we will start the process this spring and have something in place by the time fellowship starts in July.

Everyone else’s year gives a clue on Lisa’s year. Our lack of a definite plan for the future – not really being able to look ahead any further than next week – really raises the stress levels. Selling the house was awful. Going back to selling the house after the first deal fell through and we already had everything torn apart from packing was even worse – especially with all the crazy people who came looking in the down market and thought we should pay them to buy the house! I am very thankful that any sort of computerized match process is over for our family and I am looking forward to the end when we can finally know that we are staying put. I have gotten involved in things with the kids schools but am limited in what I can do when our time here is so short. I’m thankful that both the kids are doing well in school. I don’t know if I’m looking forward to all the craziness and stress I know is ahead of us in the year ahead, but I know that we will be fine and I remind myself that there are a lot worse stresses that we could be facing which helps keep it in prospective.

Lauryn started 2^nd grade this year. There are a lot of new things to learn, but she’s made new friends (which mean new parties to go to). She has started taking French classes and is doing really well. Soon she’ll be able to talk to her Auntie Christine without her parents knowing what she’s saying. The new neighborhood is much better for riding bikes, which Lauryn really likes. She has been out riding with Leah. She had a great time at the island. She’s really looking forward to getting some time in ski school and on the slopes this winter.

Robert Angus wants everybody to know that he rode on the “Phoenix” this year for the first time. It is a “big kid” roller coaster at our local amusement park (Knoebels), and he had a blast. He started kindergarten this year and he has lots of fun. He has been learning so much at school. He loves his teacher, his school bus driver, and all the friends he’s made. He even likes homework!

Here’s hoping everybody has a safe and happy holiday season, and a great 2009. It looks like it will be another busy year for us, but hopefully with the family moving back together and the end of Rob’s medical training, it will be a lot easier!

Canadian Thanksgiving in VT

Here are some pictures of our trip to VT. We had great hiking weather and tried out a new trial which the kids thought was great. We also got to stop at the apple cider mill and had some doughnuts and cider. They also had wine tasting there from a local winery that we discovered some very nice wine.

Our trip back was very eventful. We had outlet mall traffic where we got to creep along for awhile. We also had a wonderful couple hours on 84 when they shut it down due to a propane truck spill. Then we had our worst trip out to eat ever. We were sat at a table that was broken that they had just moved people from. They were out of a ton of stuff including trip and every kind of vodka. They took well over 30 minutes to even make a drink. Only the kids were lucky enough to truely get what they ordered. The ones who did get food did not get the right stuff and they just totally forgot to make food for 2 of us. After an hour and a half of waiting and still not really having food, we got up and left with the manager standing there having no idea of what to do and going to Wendy's.

It was an extremely late night when we thought we would be home before bed but the views were beautiful, our dinner was wonderful, and the break was needed.

Take care!

Happy October

Here is a preview of Robert's Halloween costume that he doesn't want to take off. He has tried to put it on every moment we've been home. Lauryn, didn't want to be left out so is the scary purple cougar.

We also took a trip to the flower shop Otts. We were there when they were just planting and was a bunch of pots with green in them. The view and the smell was amazing.

Now we are getting ready for Canadian Thanksgiving and then a 5th birthday for a little boy who is so excited about it so there should be lots more pictures to come!

End of September

Everything here is going and going.

Lauryn loves her new school. She has more homework and the expectations they have are higher but they also have lots of extra people like Math and Reading specialists to help the kids worth through any issues they have. She's made lots of friends and even went to her first birthday party of the year Saturday. She also is very excited because on Wednesday she starts French classes! She can't wait to call her Auntie and say things I can't understand.

Robert also loves school. He says his favorite part is homework which he has every night except Wednesdays. He's teacher says he's doing awesome and she had no idea he's still only 4. He reports back every day how many behavior stars he had left. They start out with 3 and if they do anything wrong (forget to raise their hand, be crazy in the hall) they lose one. As long as they don't lose them all, they are OK. His biggest problem was remembering to raise his hand but he's always had 2 or 3 left everyday.

The house is sold! After a couple more little bumps in the road, it is finally done. We're happy to be finished and finished working with the person who bought it. I'm glad we had a realtor and did not try and do it by ourselves because she was a pain in the bum and made things much harder than they needed to be.

Rob and I are good too. He's got so much work he's trying to get done at the hospital that he hardly sees his apartment. However, he likes the walks to and from the hospital and it serves it's purpose. I'm trying to keep up with everyone and getting all the chores done. With two schools to do things for and dogs to walk, I never stop but that's good I guess too.

Love to all!

L

1st day of school

Here are Lauryn and Robert on their first day of school today. They were both very excited (as they were up by 6:30 a.m.) and ready to go. We all walked down together for Lauryn so she should show Robert how easy it was. Robert was the only one on his bus on the way to school so I was able to get on and show him how to put the seat belt on (I didn't think they put seat belts on buses but this one had it) and meet the bus driver. In the afternoon, Robert got home 20 minutes early so he beat Lauryn. Luckily I was almost there when the bus came. We also got to meet some of the other kids in the neighborhood. Everyone seems to be a year off of both the kids, but that's OK. Both the kids had wonderful first days (although Robert got in trouble for talking) and can't wait for tomorrow to come!
L :)

Lauryn's New School

Today we went to Lauryn's orientation. Here is her desk and the front of her room along with her new teacher, Miss Bouboulis. Lauryn is pretty excited now. She met one little girl who is new to the school this year in her class and there was another little boy who came in just after we left so she knows they don't know anyone either. We also got to meet almost all of the specials teachers, gym, music, art, nurse, and reading specialist. Then we came home and the reading specialist (I wish I could remember her name but that's not my strong point) was walking to the place across the street to pick up her kids at her sister-in-laws house.

So now we are set. All the school supplies have been purchased and we have one last weekend before the buses start to come. Lauryn is a little more excited about the bus since her ride will be less than 10 minutes instead of having to catch the bus an hour before school starts.

L :)

Kindergarten

Here is some pictures of Robert's class. We met our teacher (in pink) who's name is Mrs. VanDame. There is a morning class and an afternoon class so that is why there are two names on his desk. We got to put all our school supplies away and see the reading books that he is going to use. He was very happy he easily sound out all the words for their first reader. I think now he's excited that he gets to go to school. We'll see what the first bus ride brings!
Stay tuned for Lauryn. She gets to meet her teacher tomorrow afternoon.

Pictures from the Island

Vacation

Here are some pictures from the island in Canada. I think we can honestly say it's one of the best places on earth. There was lots of swimming, relaxing and just enjoying each other. I'm not sure if we had more fun or the puppies though. Riley couldn't stay out of the water and she was the guarding of the deck. I think the enjoying being outside from the time they woke up until the crawled to bed. The kids didn't mind it so much either. The weather was beautiful when we were there too (despite what the weather channel said!)

However, now is back to real life and moving and getting ready for school. I HATE MOVING! We have a month before we close on the house. We have a good start to most of the stuff going places and are down to the stuff that I feel like just dumping in a dumpster because it's just junk. I know I have just the next couple weeks to be getting up to Danville and deal with it so I have to get in gear.

In the next couple weeks, I will try and do better and getting lots of new things up on here. I have to figure out how to do a slide show too!
Love to all! Lisa

Some Fun

We've been working hard getting the moving process going. The movers came on Wednesday to move the big things to Lansdale. They were great and even chatted with the kids. Anyone who's been around my kids for more than 1 minute knows they will talk your ear off and tell even the smallest details of everything going on.

Yesterday we had friends help us with the big items that were staying in Danville. It was very hot and since it was all big and/or heavy items, it was exhausting. However, it's done. Tomorrow we plan to actually put the apartment together with things in their proper places so that we can continue moving the "junk" over to where it needs to go. Living in limbo and with everything all over has been a challenge. It's driving me nuts that I don't know where everything is or if I do know, it's at a different house. Thank goodness this will be coming to an end. Most mom's look forward to school starting so they can have some freedom from their kids. I'm looking forward to my kids going to be with friends and getting everything in some sort of organized fashion!

Included are some new pictures. The first is of Sophie and Sara. Last week, Sophie challenged Sara for the most favorite, special ball and didn't back down until she got it. It was fun to watch. They were playing and chasing each other and Sophie didn't give in. Sara decided to just lay down and watch Sophie kick the ball and chase after it. When Sophie plays with it, she wants to do it all by herself which is opposite of Sara who would prefer to have to toss it a million times so she can run and get it. I also was able to get Sophie to lay down on command one evening too for the first time. She is actually very good with most commands except for "down" and I can only assume that bad things happened when she would lay down around people when she was a puppy. It's taken us over a year to get most of the way from the petrified, abused puppy to being just another dog so our hope is by next year, no one will be able to tell what a rough start to life she had.

The next two are the kids swimming with friends. We are blessed to have two families we are good friends with that have pools to cool off with. The kids have been having so much fun swimming around and are able to do things on their own in the pool for the most part.

The last picture was taken this morning of the kids watching Berenstein Bears. We're down air mattresses and folding chairs at the house. I'll be happy to sleep in a real bed again but the kids think this is all great fun. So, we continue to try and look on the bright side of things and consider this an adventure instead of just stress and chaos (or at least that's what I keep telling myself!)

Love,
Lisa

4th of July

Here are some pictures of our 4th of July at Longwood Gardens. We had a wonderful evening of looking at the flowers and fountains waiting for the firework/fountain show to begin. We did have a couple hours to wait in the drizzle but we made the best of it and was able to stay mostly dry. It was very nice that it was cool and we did not have to swelter. The show was awesome although the choice of music they put with it had a bit to be desired.
Robert is always entertaining to listen at shows like this. We had lots of "wow" and "cool" coming out of his mouth. We also had a fair amount of the Incredibles, "That was totally awesome!" too. However, the best was after we got home. Since we had eaten a pretty early dinner, we went got back home, the kids wanted a snack before bed. Lauryn picked an Oreo and was very happy. However, after Grandma offered drinks, cookies, and everything else she could think of, Robert had dissolved in a puddle of tears. I got back from taking the dogs out and asked him why he was so sad and what we could do to help. The answer we got back was hilarious as it was not on the top of any one's list of what someone would think to offer a little man at 11 pm.
So, to add to my list of Robert Angusisms:
Lisa: "What can I get for you?"
Robert: "I want a pickle!"

Now it's back to the job of packing, moving and selling the house.

A couple more pictures!

Here is a picture of Robert's preschool graduation. His teacher is Miss Debbie in the pink and Mrs. Baylor in the white with dots. The next is of Lauryn at her end of the year Brownie picnic. I think she earned 11 badges this year.

We're still working on selling the house. Everyone keep your fingers crossed. There is one girl who really wants the house but is trying to convince her dad it's the house for her. There is another couple who last week when they looked said they really liked the house but kept looking and is making a decision tonight!

I'm still figuring out how this whole blog thing works so forgive me if this all comes out crazy! Google tries to be pretty idiot proof so I'm hoping to figure it out soon!

Lisa

PS
Happy 4th of July a little early and Happy Canada Day a day late.

PPS Happy Birthday to my brother! I still haven't mailed your card as it's in Danville but the picture of the kids I have is in Lansdale! Did I mention how much I hate moving!!!

The Beginning

So I'm jumping on the blogging band wagon as part of the request of everyone since we continue moving and it is so hard to remember, especially when tired, stressed and busy, to remember to get everyone everything I would like.

We'll start with our big news that Rob matched for fellowship in neuroradiology at UPenn in Philadelphia for 2009-2010. It is a great program that was highly competitive so we are super duper excited. It is the last place that a computer will have the say in where we move. It is one more step to knowing the end of this very long "training" time is finally coming.

So, watch for updates and I'll work on figuring out the whole picture thing soon!