Swim Lessons

Our place here is tiny so I decided swim lessons would be a great way to get out of the house and keep the kids from drowning over the summer, a win-win.  We just did lessons through they Y because they were inexpensive and close by.  I pretty much got what I paid for, the teachers were not organized for the first week but the kids enjoyed their teachers and wanted to go so I'm happy with the results.  Caroline didn't really need much help but she is a great swimmer now.  Devin improved but still isn't as strong as I'd like.  Graham did way better than I thought he would.  He doesn't have the best form but he stays above the water by sheer will power.  It was hilarious to watch.

Caroline learned lots of fun stuff and may want to do swim team in the summer.

George was a champ and played the entire time.

Devin was so sad his lessons were over because he loved his teacher so much.  

Graham was always excited to show me what he had learned. 

Graduation

June was a weird month.  Shawn was finishing up work the kids and I moved down to Dallas then Shawn went back to Nashville to finish his last month and then I flew back to Nashville for his graduation and he and I drove back to Dallas.  I'm so glad I was able to fly back for graduation.  George and I arrived in the morning and once Shawn picked us up we headed to Sam's Club to pick up some treats for the road, then headed to lunch.  Our friends the Millers had let Shawn stay at their place once he needed to be out of the house, which I am so grateful for.  It was much nicer than staying at a hotel and I got to see friends one more time.  After the Miller's headed over to the Maile's house and hung out with them since we would be staying with them that night.  We hung out Heather gave me my first pedicure and she did my hair too.  Frank and Heather are awesome and always make us feel right at home.  Shawn and I met up with his parents and headed over to the graduation dinner.  The dinner was at a new venue and I was a bit skeptical at first but by the end I thought it was the best graduation ever.  Years past the dinner went on so long and it was exhausting.  This year everything was much more streamlined and a lot more fun.  Anyways the food was great and we had a good time and most importantly Shawn was done!!

Just before leaving for dinner.  This is probably the most grown up Shawn and I have ever looked. 

My parents were able to come as well.  We didn't get to hang out before the dinner but it was so nice of them to come.

The graduates Shawn, Travis, Sheyan, and Justin.  

Finally one with all the parents! 

And the 5th years with the guys they helped train.  It was such a fun night, but man I'm so glad its over!

Houston Visits

The best thing about Dallas is being so close to all our cousins here and down in Houston.  We've already been down twice and had a blast each time.  We swam, played with cousins, swam some more.  Its been so great.  We are soaking up as much family time as possible this year.  

George was all too happy to sit and eat pizza while the big kids swam.

The Peterson girls were so sweet and gave George lots of attention. 

Oh and we had donuts at every chance possible.  I LOVE donuts.

Beautiful Siena hanging out at the beach club.

Asher and Devin had lots of fun swimming together. 

Oh and the best part of one of the trips was seeing a movie with my siblings.  I may have fallen asleep during the movie but it was still fun.

Bethany sure knows how to treat her guests!  

And the unexpected buddies Devin and Charlie really hit it off.  Love these cute boys, we are so excited to be at his birthday party this year. 

Summer Fun

In the short two weeks Shawn had off between his board exams and work we tried to squeeze in as much fun as possible.   So we planned a trip to Six Flags and spent the day there.  Since its really not possible to take George on anything Ashely was kind enough to take him for us for the day.  We got there before the park opened and left around 5.  We were all so worn out by the end of the day but had a great time.  Graham was even able to go on a few legitimate rides.  His favorite was the Shock Wave which has two loops, he felt so big and made sure to have his hands up as much as he could.  Caroline and I went on one of the bigger rides there, Mr. Freeze.  Its a short ride and goes 70mph in a few seconds.  It was fun but holy cow my neck hurt so bad the next day from all the rides and getting jerked around all day.

We were already insanely hot when we walked into the park so we got wet on our first ride.  

Shawn and the boys riding around.

We even went big and bought food there.  Holy cow its so overpriced but we had a good time and it had air conditioning.

Devin and Caroline were riding buddies most of the day.  

It was hard to get pictures of anything but I did remember before getting off of a ride.  We were so wiped out by the end of the day but had a great time.

We also went to Clyde Warren Park that is above the freeway close to downtown. 

It was really fun and the kids loved playing in the water and climbing all over anything.

Devin was in heaven.

George was happy a hanging around in the stroller.

Caroline and Shawn played some chess.

And the water was so welcome because holy cow it is so hot here!

We had lunch from the food trucks and enjoyed getting more familiar with the Big D.

Saying Goodbye

We had a lot of goodbyes to say before leaving.  It was emotionally exhausting.  It was really weird saying goodbye when we knew we wouldn't be seeing each other for years.

Caroline and Cecilia are such good friends.  They would have CC days where they would play all day with each other.  We are so grateful their family moved in the last year we were here.  I was also friends with Cecilia's mom and I didn't think I could make such a good friend in just one year.  Heather is a friend for life!  I love this family so much.

Graham and Titan love these cute buddies.

We miss the Broadbents so much!  Katie was a lifesaver for me so many times and her awesome kids were always so fun to be around.

Devin and Samson were kindred spirits.  

Graham and his class full of boys!

When we moved to Nashville the Robison's were the first people to invite us over and it made me feel so welcome.  I loved doing book club (occasionally) with Becca and Caroline and Lindsay were great friends and could play for hours and I'm pretty sure Graham had a crush on Kate.  

Graham with Margaret, best buddies in preschool.

I really wish we could have gotten Eli and Devin together more often because they both LOVE Star Wars and legos a ton and Eli has such a great imagination he and Devin could spend hours playing.  It was so nice of Tammy to let Devin hang out with them almost all day on one of our last days in Nashville. 

I loved going over to the Millers and watching the insanity of all those boys running around. It was so funny and Caleb, Bryce, and Ian are some of the nicest boys I have ever met.  Our first summer in Nashville they almost moved and I remember wanting them to stay because I thought we would be great friends, I was right and so glad we were able to know them these last five years.  Lucky for us they have family in Austin so we are hoping they may have a pit stop in Dallas if they drive down!

The Liddles have been such great friends too.  They moved in the same year we did and Dave was doing a fellowship at Vanderbilt.  I was so happy when he stayed on as an attending so I could have more time with his wife Amanda.  She is one of the reasons this last year was so great.  I looked forward to volleyball every Monday when she was there.  Miss them so much!

My volleyball buddies!  The last week I was there we had two nights of volleyball just the six of us and it was one of the most fun nights of my life.  We laughed so much, it is one of my favorite memories of Nashville!

Caroline and Annabeth have been besties since we moved in.  They are so creative and sweet I only wish they would have been at the same school.  That would have been amazing.  Hopefully Tracie and I can manage to get these sweet girls together again!

And Tennessee of course!  He is such a sweetheart, he and Graham got a long so well I"m glad I got to babysit him after school for a while. 

We had the best neighbors ever!  I loved playing outside after school with them everyday.  Frances was such a great example to me of being involved in the community and just a great friend.  We miss playing with Isaac and Cate so much!  

Our last picture in front of our wonderful house!  I miss Nashville so much.  I'm so glad we were able to be there for five great years and meet so many amazing people. It is the best place we have ever lived.  

Chief Roast

Every year the ortho program holds a roast for the outgoing chief residents and it was finally our year.  I usually look forward to this because its good food and pretty funny to watch the videos that the attending physicians and residents make to poke fun at each other.   Shawn did the editing for his group's video and it turned out really well.  By far the best video made by the residents that I have ever seen.  The attending's roast of Shawn couldn't have been more spot on. They made fun of him for stressing about the smallest things and always feeling guilty for leaving 5 minutes early and then deciding he should just stay.  It was hilarious, I kind of wish I had a copy.

Shawn, Justin, Travis, and Sheyan.  Or as they referred to themselves as the "lost boys."

Shawn getting his graduation plaque.

All the fifth years with Dr. Holt.  Dr. Holt is awesome she was so nice to us and encouraged me to keep baking for people by ordering lots of cakes and eclairs.  We will miss her and Lauren.

And the senior residents with the junior residents they helped train.

Shawn and Mark, one of the juniors.  Mark and his wife came over for dinner about a week and a half before we moved.  I only wish we had done it sooner.  They were so sweet and our kids loved having them over.  Mark's wife, Mary Charles even played Dance Central with Graham and he couldn't stop talking about it. Fun times in Nashville.