May

 
 
 
 

May was a busy month. Rob went to Vancouver to present his poster and visited some family all while studying for his general radiology board exams. Rob also moved out of his apartment in Danville and now lives with the rest of us! It was an incredibly long year being apart but it is over and we are enjoying doing things together everyday again.

Robert Angus was busy finishing kindergarten! He did an excellent job with outstanding grades. We are so proud of all his hard work. He is going to be moving to Worcester Elementary with Lauryn next year for 1st grade and is very excited to be going to school with Lauryn.

Crazy April

 
 
 
 
This April has being going at top speed for our family. We've had a science fair, birthday, trip to NYC, trip to the zoo, Rob in NC and of course 90 degree weather and sickness!

Lauryn had a great science fair project that Rob helped her with. She compared how long different types of batteries lasted in flashlights and which were the best value. Kirkland from Costco are the greatest value followed closely by Rayovac which lasted the longest. Don't bother buying the really expensive ones as they lasted the least amount of time! She had a good time and everyone was very interested in it. She also just happened to turn 8 this month! For her birthday she wanted to go to NYC and be on the Today Show. We woke up at 3:30 and drove into the city and stood outside for 2 hours but we were on! Meredith kissed her on the cheek (picture sporting the lipstick) and Matt shook her hand. The fill in weather man, Chris (Al and Ann were off,) did his report for us and where she got to say her name (and he was nice to include Robert too) and so we were TV stars for the day. Then we did a bus tour of the city and went to lunch with Auntie Susan and Grandma at a place done in the theme of Alice and Wonderland. It was really cool.

Rob had mock boards in Hershey so I took the kids to the Chocolate Factory while he did those. We saw the 3D show and did an Easter scavenger hunt. (Picture with glasses on.) Rob also had to spend a week at Duke at a review course so on that Saturday morning I took the kids to the zoo. (Picture with the cow.) They had a members stroll where we could get in an hour before the zoo opens which is the best time to go. They have a pair of red pandas now (Lauryn's favorite) and we had to see the elephants (Robert's favorite) but missed them eating their veggies this time. Lucky for us, we have the membership and can make it back.

This last weekend we have spent melting. We've had record breaking heat. It was nice to be able to sit outside but it is no fun when the house is 80 when you wake up!

Robert is home sick today and I've had really, really bad allergies the last couple weeks. I'm no fun to talk to (or maybe I am) first thing in the morning and before I go to bed as the medicines wear off and I start to lose my voice, but luckily we live in a place where there are lots of stores to buy things to make me better.
Next month is just as bad. Robert finishes kindergarten, Rob has to move out of his apartment and takes the Radiology Board Exam June 2nd and all the other end of the year activities that keep popping up. Never a dull moment!

Love to all!

Swim Time!

 
 
 
 

The kids have started another set of swim lessons. We have switched to the sister Y that has a slide. Both the kids are swimming well enough to be able to have a treat down after lessons. Lauryn said it was a little scary but fun once she did it. After Robert got down, the whole pool heard, "THAT WAS AWESOME!" He is still talking about it too so it must have worked out well.
They have also started Tae Kwon Do at the Y too and have been having a blast with that.
Our evenings are full and busy but we've had lots of smiles and extra energy burned so it's all good. We're all waiting for spring to really come though. We've had some teaser days and it makes the normal days feel even colder.

Happy Birthday to Me!

 
 
 
 

Here are some pictures from my birthday dinner. Susan came from New York and we all went out to a nice dinner. Here is also a picture of the kids reading on the couch which I thought was cute.

Things here have been busy. We just went and signed up for our next session of swim lessons and the kids are starting Tae Kwon Do too which they are excited about. Both the kids are doing super in school too.

Rob is really starting to study for his exam the end of May/June. He has also started the job hunt!! Hopefully by the end of summer, we'll know where we will end up after fellowship and begin planning a permanent home. I think we are all ready to stop living in temporary situations. Although our lenght of stays have been a little longer each place we've been, we've always been just staying a couple years and then moving on.

I will try and do better of posting a little more often. I do have my camera with me all the time so you'd think I'd get more good pictures. Hopefully as summer gets here and we're out doing things, I'll get things worth sharing. So far, we've had cold and wind which doesn't make for a lot of interesting things happening!

Lisa :)

Happy 2009

 
 

Happy New Year! I meant to have some pictures of the kids skiing on New Years, but it was too cold and windy so they cancelled ski school. I went up to the ski hill the next day but as Lauryn is with the older kids and out on the mountain, she is hard to find and Robert skis so fast I couldn't get the picture with all the people in the way. However, they both did super and had a great time.

We've also started swim lessons. I tried to sneak a couple pictures in where they wouldn't notice to interupt their lesson so they are not the best but they both had a wonderful first class. Robert got over his couple moments of panic and realized his teacher was only going to tell him to do things that were fun and not scary like jumping in. Once he did it, he didn't want to stop!

We hope everyone else is having a great start to their year as well!

L :)

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!