I don't really know where to start since my last post.
Things have been a massive blur since the Niagara Falls trip.
Daniel didn't have any days off the last two weeks before moving out of Cleveland.
Which meant I had the unfortunate job of doing the majority the packing.
With a five-year-old and two-year-old at home.
There was a certain little munchkin who loved unpacking my finished boxes, popping all the bubble-wrap, and writing on the hardwood stairs with a giant Sharpie (praise Jesus for Magic Eraser).
I won't name any names, but I will say she looks insanely cute sitting on the ramp of a moving truck...
Despite the total madness, e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. got packed, and I only had 490,234 a few meltdowns in the process.
We all gathered in front of the house for a last family photo and even in that moment it already seemed so bizarre to me that we actually lived in Cleveland for a year.
What's even crazier is realizing just how much has changed in these past five years of residency and fellowship.
Father's Day Weekend 2009 moving to Oklahoma ---- Father's Day Weekend 2014 moving to Kentucky.
It's been the fastest and slowest time of our lives.
I'm exceedingly excited to begin a new chapter.
Even if it has already started out like a nightmare episode Seinfeld.
More on that later...
This poor old blog.
So neglected.
I had to look back to see what the last post was about -- how sad is that?
So.
Time for an update!
We left Oklahoma the first week in June and went to Kentucky to visit family.
Wait, let me back up a second...
I had one last Mom's Night Out with my best friends in Oklahoma.
They gave me a scrapbook that they had all filled with pictures and favorite memories of us together.
I cried (hard) right there at the table at Othello's.
These ladies were sent straight from Heaven.
I miss them so much my heart hurts...
The day before we bid adieu to Oklahoma, Aubrey was going to see her best friend (Lauren) one last time. That morning her mom let me know that Lauren woke up with the stomach bug. When I broke the news to Aubrey she was beyond heartbroken. She had been working on a special photo album to give Lauren filled with pictures of the two of them since they were 1-year-old. We decided to go to her house and let them say their goodbyes through the window. It was the most heart-wrenching goodbye I've ever witnessed. Aubrey (and I) cried the entire way back home, poor Mina even started crying because of us! Best friends are so special -- it's devastating when you have to say good-bye.
Here was the front/back cover of the album (notice the broken hearts), and a snippet of what Aubrey told me to write on the inside. My favorite line: And I hope that you know I love you more than rainbows.
Goodness...it was such an emotional time!
That afternoon we packed up a trailer to take to Kentucky and unload long-term storage items (we really didn't want to bring EVERYTHING to Cleveland for one measly year!).
The LONG drive from OKC to KY has never been easy.
This was our first time to travel a long distance with BOTH girls and a 12 foot U-haul.
It was...an adventure.
And in case you're wondering what was going on in the photo above...
After over 13 hours of (delirious) driving, we rolled into Kentucky just in time for a gender reveal party!
My sister is going to have a baby boy! I'm going to be an aunt!
We don't have many boys around our family, so this will certainly be a fun change!
The rest of our time in Kentucky was crammed packed with visits and trying to find some time to just relax!
Before Daniel drove back to Oklahoma to finish up the rest of the packing, I wanted to have a celebratory dinner in honor of his completion of residency. To say we are proud of him would be a massive understatement.
Because of timing and logistics, the girls and I stayed in Kentucky while Daniel officially graduated from residency. A fellow resident wife sent me this pic of the graduation. Daniel also won the RSNA Research Award. Seriously...the man is a stud!
There were five graduates in Daniel's class, and they each had a slideshow to chronicle their life up to this point. Here was the slideshow for Daniel...he's come a long way! :)
We kept ourselves busy while he was gone by going to Holiday World, for starters...
Aubrey and Mina had a BLAST. They each rode every ride that was available for their age/size.
I didn't take any pictures during the waterpark, but they both cried when it was time to leave. The true sign of kids having fun! :)
This is Miss Aubrey and Miss Vivian sharing a sweet hug while they played on the most incredible playground I've ever seen! Miss V's mama and I are childhood friends -- I'm sad we didn't get a picture together! Then again, it was blazing hot that day and we were both puddles of sweat after chasing our littlest ones around all morning!
Then we had a fun visit with my bestest friend since preschool Sunday School! Aunt Lay Lay!!
And last but most certainly not least...(before Daniel left for Oklahoma) our dear friend Ann Wade drove ALL the way to Owensboro to see us! Daniel actually planned it (Husband of the Year Award) and had her bring her camera. Check out her blog to see some of the photos she took! I am absolutely obsessed with them -- she captured our crazy little family perfectly!
And lastly, both my sister and I were together to celebrate our Dad on Father's Day!
I can't remember the last time this happened!
In fact, we were able to spend so much time together, we all started dressing alike... :)
It was the perfect couple of weeks to get ourselves geared up for the big move to Cleveland!
I have always loved this picture. I remember the day (June 5, 1999), the exact moment (soon after the final event of the State track meet...the 4 x 400m relay). I can remember throwing my arms around my dad, who had been my number one supporter throughout the track season, after accomplishing a goal my teammates and I set out for on the first day of the season--1999 State Champions.
When I see this picture, a joy fills my heart because I can see the love that my dad had for me. Even as a busy doctor, he made changes in his schedule to attend and videotape every race. When rewatching the videos, all I can hear is him screaming, "Gooooo Daniel!!!!" over and over into the camera's microphone as I race down the stretch.
Here is a video to give you an idea (and yes...I lost the race to my teammate, Beau Green):
