An Early Summer

It seems as if Spring has passed right on through and now Summer is in full sway here in Philadelphia. Besides the bizarre bout of allergies I battled yesterday, we are enjoying every second of the new-ish season. Pictures say a thousand words, but in case you can't figure out what is going on in the pictures below, click on one and it will take you to the online album where you can see the titles/descriptions. (Pardon the laziness, but it's too monotonous to name them all over again on this blog.) Happy Spring!


FHE last night: Bug collecting

















(She's CRAZY for bugs...)


Easter Egg Rolling





After the Easter Bunny stopped by





Easter Dinner


Click pic for the menu








The night before Easter, dying eggs

















Field trip to the zoo


























Conference Weekend

Getting Older

The three year-old currently residing in our house is experiencing a new wave of independence. Besides the psychiatry she gives her sister during a tantrum, and the need to take over the watering of the potted plants, and refusing to take a nap, she is now requesting that everyone leave her room so she can say her prayers alone. Don't get me wrong... it's actually really cool to see this new independence. Her prayers seem more thought-out (admittedly, we've stood around the corner to listen in once or twice before,) and she's learning how to take care of herself and other things. Now, the napping... well, I think I can get over that. She is almost four after all.

The one year-old is also learning at what seems like exponential rates. She said every name of her aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousin in her prayers tonight. Of course, we helped her, but the diction was unmistakable. She still has a very volatile temper, but is exuberantly happy when things are going her way. I think she's going to be a very athletic child because she loves throwing things, kicking balls, jumping and running. Two words: Energizer battery. I can't keep up with her! It's so funny how different the two girls are. Complete opposites in some respects, and totally SISTERS in others. I wonder what their relationship with each other will be like in the future....

The "Highs" of today

Two weekends ago was a bit hard for me, but this week things are really looking up. Today a lot happened that definitely registered as a "High" day. (No, I'm not referring to drugs. I'm referring to good, old-fashioned elation.)

Let me explain... no, let me sum up.

• Thanks to our wonderful family who went to look at some houses for us to rent in UT yesterday, and who made an impression on the owner of the one house we absolutely wanted the most, WE WERE OFFERED THE HOUSE! (High five!)
• Juan found another Endo patient today, which will fill the vacant spot left on his requirements thanks to a patient who no-showed yesterday.
• I went to look for dresses for the Senior Banquet today. After combing through the aisles, and after trying on 12 different dresses, I thought I was out of luck. Well, I was walking out of the store when I realized that I had missed an entire side of one aisle, and when I went to look, it happened to all be my size. I found not only one dress, but TWO that would work. Did I mention that both of the dresses happened to be on clearance?! 85% off, baby!
• And last, but not least, Qiana is napping extra-long today. A blessing! I was able to finish all of my projects on the ol' To-Do list.

Wishing "Highs" to you the rest of this week!

One quick thing...

Juan passed his Boards!!!

Boards... Dun, Dun, Duuuuunnnnnnnnn.

Juan is in Orientation right now for the Board Exam he will take tomorrow. And I just had to deliver even more unwelcome news to him.

It's been an intense week that just has him holding on to every last ounce of sanity. The week started out with the loss of a little envelope of pure gold for a patient's crown. Licensing exams never conjure up warm-fuzzies, but it was actually after losing the gold that he really looked stressed out. He was going to have to pay for it if it didn't turn up. (Yikes!)

It gets better. Guess who got a summons for jury duty in the mail today? Did I mention that his family is going to be here visiting during the trial?

So that bad news was that he had jury duty. But there is some good news, too. Luckily, the gold was FOUND and RETURNED! I love honest people!

Billboard Dad to General Conference.

I'm writing this as I'm waiting for Juan to come home...

...and watching "Billboard Dad", a kid movie from 1998 starring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Sometimes nostalgia triumphs over summoning the will to stand up and grab the remote control.

(Oh, Juan's home and I am going to abandon my original idea to jot down a few thoughts about General Conference today. I'm sure I will get to that tomorrow after the Sunday Afternoon Session.)

Stated simply, if you didn't see this or this (...or even this, part of which I watched just now with Juan) here's your chance. (Am I so nice or what, even providing LINKS!) Enjoy!