Grandma Richardson comes to Iowa!

Our second week in Iowa City, Sylvia came to visit. It was a very exciting visit. Russell met Grandma Richardson for the first time! We were also able to explore Iowa City together. It was a very fun week. She was also here to share the white coat ceremony with us. She was a huge help especially when Russell started fussing during the ceremony:) We had a wonderful week of visiting and are very excited to have the whole family together at Thanksgiving.

The Journey Offically Begins

We have been working toward medical school since a fateful conversation with Mr. Gagnon in May 2005. Since undertaking this challenge, God has provided in amazing ways. Even though we have been working toward this goal for three years, it officially began today. All this week BK has been orientating, and on Wednesday he was fitted for his "short" white coat. The students get a white coat but its a short one...ha ha. So, if you are ever at the doctor and they have a short coat...be suspicious...they might still be a student! They have a ceremony to officially start school where they get their coat and recite the Hippocratic Oath. Sylvia was in town to see BK start school, and we arrived early to get a good seat with the babies. Russell is typically the most easy going baby, but he started fussing during the keynote speech! I was "that mother" leaving with the fussy baby. Just my luck the door was jammed so I was holding Russell and trying to slam into the door to get it open! It was a scene. I was able to get a few pics and a video of Bk and his classmates reciting their oath. It is a little cheesy but after working toward this for three years it was exciting.

Moving!

We packed up Saturday and left early Sunday morning. It was a sad goodbye, but exciting to be on our own again. I was driving Chuck with Russell and BK and Quint were bonding in the moving truck. Although we are loyal U-haulers...the Penske was much cheaper so we took a chance. We drove 8 hours the first day and stopped in South Bend IN over night. After some delicious Subway we went to bed with the boys around 7:30. We were all in one room, and we were exhausted so even though it seemed early it worked out. After a tasty continental breakfast (with an extremely tall Chinese basketball team) we were back on the road. Only 5 more hours to Iowa City! It was exciting to enter our new state and even more exciting to see our new town. We picked up our keys where I lost my flipflops because they fell out of the car and I didn't notice. We entered our new apartment and it was fabulous. The town was cute, but surprisingly hilly and it had a lot of trees. Both things I did not expect in Iowa. Let the adventure of living in Iowa begin!

Why are you from 4 states?

It seems the police find you at the most inopportune times. We are moving tomorrow and we are driving back from Super Walmart with the boys. About 1/2 mile from home the lights came on! When he came to the window I could not believe what a mess I was. I don't normally drive when BK is with us so I didn't have my wallet. For some reason I drove home, and I did not have my license. So first question: Why are your tags from Tenn? well we bought the car on Ebay and we are moving tomorrow so we are going to register it when we get there....Next question: Do you have your licence? No...I forgot it...but I have one. Do you have insurance? Yes! Here it is....Why is it from Iowa? We are moving there tomorrow. Ok.....so if I look up your license it will be valid...Yes...is it from NY State? Um...no...CA.....but I memorized the #. (That redeemed me a little but not much). The cop...so your tags are from Tenn, license from CA, insurance from Iowa...and you live in NY? Um...yeah.... Cue Russell....thank goodness Russell started crying! I think he just felt bad for us...and the best news he did not give us a ticket!

Farewell Fun!

Our second to last night at the lake we had a BBQ and went to the SandBar with the cousins. It was a great send off to Iowa. We had a fabulous time, we laughed, danced, and enjoyed a great summer evening at the lake.