Last Beach Day

Our last Monday in Wisconsin was a hot one, which was perfect because Anna and I had already planned to spend the day at Atwater Beach.  We were joined by other friends too, and just had the best, best time.  The water was pristine and the perfect temperature for the hot day.  It was pretty shallow too so the kids were able to go out pretty far.  We also had about ten minutes of some awesome waves, which the kids loved.  Reminded me of childhood visits to South Haven.  It was just a perfect day that we will always remember!

You can't see it, but Marshall had caught a fish in the bucket!  There were a lot of small fish swimming around and I think all my kids picked at least one up while we were there.  Something I would never do!

Going Away Party

Our last weekend in Milwaukee, our good friends the Hassells and Vanhilles, threw a going away party for us at Elm Grove Park.  It was a wonderful, wonderful Saturday evening, and just what we needed after a day of packing and working hard.  

The weather was perfect, the food was delicious, and we were surrounded by people who had such an impact on our time in Milwaukee.  It was an evening we will not forget and always hold dear to our hearts.

I failed and never got a group picture, and I didn't even get a picture with everyone who came, but here is a sampling.  We love all these people, including those not pictured!

We have known Dianne and Nile for nine years!  Nile was just six when we moved here...six!  It has been great to watch him grow up.  The last couple of years we've gone to many sporting events for him and he is so thrilling to watch.  Tim and Richard also took Nile to a Packers game years ago and I have run two races with Dianne.  Dianne loves our kids, and they love her.  We are keeping our fingers crossed that Nile will be able to come out and visit us next summer.  We love them!  And Nile got teary eyed when we hugged him good-bye.  That's a real tug on the heart-strings when a big 15 year old boy is fighting back tears saying good-bye.  

Jessica has lived in Wisconsin almost as long as us, but I didn't really get to know her until the last two years.  She is remarkable.  She is a wonderful mom, down to earth, so kind, thoughtful and very helpful.  I am grateful for the good friendship we developed in just two years.   

What can I say.  Rachel adores Liam, and pretty much everyone else in the Vanhille family.  :)

Lindsay and her family go all the way back to our days in the branch.  She and I served in Primary and Relief Society together.  Bridget and her daughter, Catherine, were born just days apart from each other and they also did preschool together.  Her husband and I taught Gospel Doctrine together.  The Zundels are a great, great family.  

The Pitts!  We love the Pitts!  They just moved to Milwaukee one year ago, but we have loved getting to know them.  They are both so fun to be around and Jeremy has an exceptional sense of humor.  In just one year, we shared multiple holiday meals with them and loved every single one.  Anna and I hosted a baby shower for Renee and their baby girl is darling.  They are a wonderful couple and we love them both!

And we cannot leave out the Hassells.  Our dearest and longest Milwaukee friends.  I could write paragraphs about them, and I probably will later, but they are great in every way and our lives will not be the same without them around.  

Our three families were the last to close out the park after 9:00 pm.  The kids were in heaven running around the playground, and the six of us were in heaven talking and laughing.  A perfect way to end our last Saturday night in Wisconsin.  

Residency Graduation

Richard had his residency graduation the week before we left Wisconsin.  It was wonderful to have an evening out to celebrate all that he has accomplished during residency, and even the last nine years, and it has certainly been an accomplishment.

Richard and the other seven residents he has spent the last four years with.  Petar and Zach also did medical school with Richard and did their intern year together at St. Joe's so they did all nine years together.  What a journey!

Basically, for the last four years, Richard spent his days waking up before 6:00 and leaving for work at 7:00.  He had lecture every day from 7:30-8:30 and then he started working.  He had a different rotation every single month:  mammography, neuro, chest, bone, ultrasound, fluro, body, interventional...to name a few.  He spent most of his time at Froedtert, but also had rotations at the childrens' hospital and at the VA.  

We were lucky and usually had Richard home for dinner with us if he wasn't working overnight.  However, he had some rotations where we just knew his hours would be longer and we wouldn't see him until later.  

Before he took boards in June 2015, he also tacked on studying in the morning and at night for a solid year.  That meant he woke up at 5:15, left the house at 5:45 and studied at the hospital before lecture.  When he got home, we had dinner, he played with the kids for a bit, we would put them to bed between 7:30 and 8:00 and he would study again until 9:00 pm.  He did this for months and it was grueling.

During residency, Richard also served on multiple academic committees.  This meant extra meetings, usually after 5:00 pm.  Overall, he enjoyed these committees, but he also had frustrating times as he saw how a large academic institution functions.  He did gain a lot though, and it gave him great insight into academic medicine.  

In addition to the daily work grind, studying, and committee meetings, Richard also gave multiple presentations on all sorts of radiology topics throughout his residency.  I spent a lot of evenings on the couch next to him while he worked on powerpoint presentations.  

This is Carla, the radiology program coordinator for 40 years.  She is one of the kindest, sweetest women we know.  She will be retiring in September, so Richard's class was the last one she saw all the way through their residency.  Richard was able to pay her a special tribute that night, on behalf of all the residents.  She is extraordinary and Richard is glad he was able to finish out his time at MCW with Carla around.  She made everything better.  

Richard also did more traveling during residency than I thought he would do.  Besides traveling two summers in a row for fellowship interviews, he traveled to radiology meetings and review sessions across the country.  This included spending four weeks in Washington D.C.  and two week-long review sessions right before the boards.  

The schedule of residency can be grueling.  We were lucky and had Richard around more than other residents in different areas of medicine, but he was still scarce and we got used to operating without him at times.  There were so many times he worked Monday through Friday, worked the weekend, and then worked the next Monday through Friday before getting a break.  Starting in July 2013 until February 2015 he took a lot of overnight call.  For part of the time he left at 7:00 am and other days he left at noon, worked a regular day, and then worked overnight as one of two radiology residents for the entire hospital, including the VA.  He would get home the next morning, usually around 9:00 am after having staffed out all of his cases with the attending radiologist.  

During his four years of residency, he read over 16,734 studies and took over 100 overnight calls at the hospital.  

This is Dr. Carrera.  He is the longest standing radiology program director in the country.  He is also an MSK radiologist.  He has been so influential during Richard's time here.  All the way back in medical school Richard asked him to his mentor and his help has been invaluable.  He has seen us through residency applications and two rounds of fellowship applications.  He is a remarkable man and has done so much for both of us.  

It has been quite the journey, that is for sure.  Richard and I both agree that if we could do it all over again we would, but we will talk our kids out of medicine!  In all seriousness though, this is not a journey that I would trade.  We have both grown so much as individuals, as a couple, and as a family because of this path we chose.  Richard has grown so much, learned so much, and honestly I am astounded at what he has accomplished over these last years.  He is remarkable and I love him!

Good-Bye Party

Months ago, I had the idea to have a good-bye party for Marshall and Bridget.  Neither of them had birthday parties for their birthdays this last year and so I wanted one last hurrah for them with their friends.  

Last Tuesday, we hosted a party for 14 of their closest friends, mostly school friends, at The Big Backyard.  It was a wonderful success.  Every single person we invited was able to come and it was a delight to watch my kids be so happy and to just run and play and eat donuts (of course!) with their friends.  

Marshall and his group of friends played a whole lot of four square.  

I have so loved Marshall's group of friends.  These kids come from exceptional families who teach their kids kindness, honesty, respect, and so much more.  I hope he always remembers these kids and the happiness they brought him.  

Marshall and Caleb.  Caleb moved next door to us last spring and it has been wonderful!  Caleb's parents have been so helpful and these boys have so much fun together.  We will miss him SO much!  I should also add that Rachel also loves Caleb and he is so good and patient with her tagging along.  

Marshall and Jack A.  Jack was Marshall's first real school friend, they go all the way back to junior kindergarten.  Jack has a wonderful family and his grandparents, who are also wonderful, live just around the corner for us.  His family has provided so many fun adventures for these boys.  

Marshall and Seoul.  Sweet Seoul.  He is having a terrible time with Marshall leaving, hence his facial expression.  These two boys are pretty much two peas in a pod.

Aaron, such a goofball.  He refused to be in any pictures, clearly he was having too much fun.  Aaron has been in the same class with Marshall since junior kindergarten.  They were also on the same soccer team this last year and Aaron's dad was the coach.  They are a great family.

Rachel's best friend, Emery.  She just adores her.  

Such cute kids.  Naomi and Jack were in Bridget's class this year.  Jack and Bridget were also in preschool together last year.  They make quite the little trio.  

Audrey, Davis, Elliot, Jack, Naomi, Bridget, Max, and Zoe.  I really lucked out with Bridget's friends, because the parents of these kids became my very good friends too.  Friends are simply the best.  

Marshall and Aniha.  I had a better picture of these two, but some crazy second grade boy stuck his hand right in front of my phone before I took the picture.  Guess that's what happens when you have close to 20 kids running around at a party!  Oh well.  Aniha, I love Aniha.  She and her family moved from India last spring so this was the only year she and Marshall were in class together.  Aniha is the sweetest girl and is so, so smart.  She and Marshall became great friends this year because they were in the same spelling, reading, writing, and math groups.  I loved watching these two pal around together when I would volunteer.  Marshall and I will really miss her!

Bridget with Audrey and Elliot.  We met these great kids and their families last year at Curiosity Corner.  We haven't been able to see them as much this year, but man, these three do love to be together.  We love these kids and we love their families.  

Marshall and Brady.  These two have also been together since junior kindergarten.  Brady is one of four boys in his family and they are the kindest family.  They also played soccer together this year.  Brady gave Marshall a framed picture of the two of them as a good-bye present.  

Marshall and Jack V.  Ironically, this is the son of a guy I graduated from high school with!  The Vanhilles moved in two years ago, and while Marshall and Jack have been good friends the last two years, their relationship really took off this last year.  The good news is, since both of Jack's parents are from Utah, we will get to see him a fair amount when they come to Utah to visit, including this summer.  

I will admit that this afternoon completely wore me out, but it was surely worth it!  My kids just had the best time.  I will always be thankful for these first school friendships my kids had.  So thankful for good families and good kids.  

Schlitz Audobon

Last Monday Anna and I took our kids hiking at Schlitz Audobon.  This is, hands down, our favorite hiking spot and Marshall specifically requested we save it for when school was out.  The outing did not disappoint and I have never seen it more beautiful.  Purple and white wildflowers in abundance.  Gorgeous.

These two are looking old...

I love this lake.