DONE!

Andrew is officially D-O-N-E with residency and all training!!!!!!  After 12 years of grade school, 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, and 4 years of residency - he (more like we) is thrilled!

During the month of June, we had three different graduation dinners to attend.  The "joy" or greatest benefit of being Med/Peds is you have three parties to attend instead of just one, ha!  We had the Department of Pediatrics dinner, the Med/Peds dinner and roast, then the Department of Medicine dinner - did I mention that June was a busy month??.

Of course, we only took pictures at one of the three because pulling teeth is easier than taking pictures with Andrew.  Here is the one and only picture I was allowed of the us.

 

Hey -  it isn't the best, but it is proof that we can clean up.  I wanted a picture so we could complete the cycle of "MD training" - I have a picture of us from his White Coat Ceremony at the start of med school, med school graduation, and now residency graduation.  And we certainly won't notice the impact of the past 8 years on Andrew's hair line - nope instead we will notice that I have the exact same watch, ha!

The thought of him working 8 - 5, Monday - Friday is so foreign I don't even know what to think.  It is going to be a major transition for both of us in terms of actually having time to spend together on a regular basis...not to mention he isn't going to be sleep deprived half the year either! 

Now it is on to Board exams - once those are finished, he will be done with tests until he has to sit for Boards again in seven years, I think.

Happenings

The past few weeks have been crazy busy, but wonderful!  We started June with a visit from Adam, Katherine, and Lyla.  I'm so glad they called to ask if they could stay with us on the way home from Texas.  It was wonderful to catch up with them and spend time with sweet Lyla.  Katherine, I promise, we are coming to see the house on our next trip. 

In my last post I told Mom to get another horse - well - she did!  Meet Cash.

 

This picture was taken within a few hours of Cash arriving, so obviously he and Sugar didn't mind too much.  As Andrew said, I bet Sugar is thrilled to not have to ride all the time now, ha!  

Not sure if I have mentioned it or not, but Mom and Dad also got a Great Dane during the winter.  You will not believe how similar he and Tucker appear.  One major difference - Vito is much heavier than Tucker.  One will be tall and skinny and the other will be "built."  This is Vito...

 And a similar picture of Tucker...

  

Moving on from all the animals.  We also had a visit from Mrs. Susan for one of Andrew's graduation dinners.  She brought all sorts of yummy Georgia produce for us.  We have/had peaches, onions, strawberries, blueberries, squash, tomatoes, eggplant, rosemary, and garlic.  Everything but the peaches and onions came out of her garden!!  Of course, I had to make peach cobbler.  I got a little bored and decided to make a lattice top with a little decoration - ignore my lack of art skills please...

 She also requested a trip to Penn's for Chicken-On-A-Stick.  I'm telling you - there is nothing better than watching some one's reaction to seeing it for the first time.  You can tell them all about it for years but until they see it in person, they really don't believe you.  Of course - it was a huge hit...gotta love Mississippi food!

John and Sugar

August 2011 - John's first time on Sugar.

May 2013 - John's ??th time on Sugar.  He rides just about every time he visits Mac and CC.

CC - I think you have another one that will ride with you.  How about get a real deadhead horse next time, not a fake out like Sugar??

Catching Up on Cooking Club

It's been a while since I posted recipes from cooking club, and it isn't because there has been a lack of good recipes.  We changed cookbooks in January and have been working out of "Lone Star to Five Star."  It is a Junior League out of Texas.  Really interesting mix of foods.  So far the desserts have been the major star.

It's Ice Cream Time!

It is that time of the year folks!  I have already made the first batch of homemade ice cream.  I started with peach.  Next up, strawberry.  I just found a creme brulee ice cream recipe. 


Um - yum!

Send me ideas and I will try it out.  I'm all about trying new recipes in the name of finding a good sweet treat!!

Church Humor

Our church has an awesome sense of humor.  It is definitely one of the many things Andrew and I love about it.  The people are friendly and welcoming, the staff is amazing, the fellowship is always excellent, and of course, we really appreciate the traditional Episcopal worship/beliefs. 

However, while we take many things very seriously,  our team names, is not one of them.  Or maybe it is.  The point of the names may be to make people laugh and smile. Here is a little sampling...

We have a group of men that cook for special events and participate in "cook-off"s.  They are the "Holy Smokers."

The crew of runners that trained for the Blues and proudly wore team t-shirts were the "Sole Trainers."  (Yep, I was a proud member of this team...and we all met at the beer truck afterwards.  Go figure.)

Our softball team is known as the "Ash Kickers."  Hilariously the last two times we have used incense during the service - ashes were kicked. 

Okay, really...you have to admit that we are funny bunch.

Just Not Right

How does this stately dog...

and this one...

become this!!??!?!?

Have a little respect, son!  This is how he naps in our backyard.  Lovely.