Back to the Civilized World

The days are kind of becoming a blur, so it is good i'm blogging as we go, because i could never keep things straight otherwise! We left Tonopah on Sunday morning, but before heading out of town we decided to tour the old Silver mine that was active from about 1900 until 1948. It ended up being an incredibly cool little attraction. There were tons of old tools, buildings, and equipment, and we had a great time wandering around the old mines.

The little town of Tonopah, NV

We had a private showing of the educational film about the silver mines

Cris and the girls on the walking tour

A little bit of turn-of-the-century Ohio all the way in Tonopah! This old piece of equipment had a label on the front from Columbus, Ohio!

The road from Tonopah, NV to Delta, UT

On the way to Delta we drove past Great Basin National Park, and decided to take a detour. We barely squeezed in for the four o'clock tour of the Lehman Caves. I'm so glad we made it, because it was super cool. We were slightly unprepared, as the other family on the tour had thoroughly prepared for the tour, and knew the names of all the formations, and the nitty gritty details about caves. we also had on flip flops and tank tops, while the other well-prepared family had hiking boots and jackets (it was rather chilly down there). In spite of all that we had a blast on our little detour, and i'm really glad we had the chance to stop at the caves.

then we were back on the road to nowhere until we arrived in Delta, Utah.
Remember how i was commeting on our "hotel" in Tonopah? Well things got a whole lot worse in Delta. We did truly stay in an official Motel. Our room was right next door to a group of Harley riders, and i was a little nervous that the middle of the night crying from the babies would wake these guys up, considering our wall was about as thick as toilet paper. But we made it through the night without any angry motorcycle guys banging down the door. We even found a little park to have dinner in the night we arrived.

Juneau enjoying an ice cream sandwhich on our picnic

picnic fun!

This was probably one of the best days of Nova's life, because she discovered the absolutely perfect slide. She went down this slide probably more than 20 times, and every time she came down laughing and giggling for "one more!" By the time she climbed back up the stairs she was laughing before she even came down. Nova has truly turned in to a little daredevil. We are proud of our girl who only a few months ago was terrified of elevators. Now she is jumping in to the swimming pool, putting her face in the water, and going down big curly slides. What progress!

"The Slide" Nova's favorite thing about our entire trip!

We have found ourselves doing some pretty ridiculous things to keep the girls entertained. Here Cris is trying out the shower cap to keep nova giggling during her diaper change.

Pillow rides

Adorable little Jbug

These "pop-pop" pictures are dedicated to Auntie "Poppop" Nutkin, who introduced the girls to lollipops. They LOVE lollipops, and the mess is well worth the 30 minutes of quiet during the car ride.

It's not all fun and games! There have also been some melt-downs along the way. Juneau is dangerously close to her terrible twos, and has been practicing some outstanding little fits recently. Fortunately they have been short-lived...so far at least!

So tomorrow we start the last leg of our trip and will arrive in our new home of Colorado Springs tomorrow evening.

The Adventure Begins

"Yosemite Valley, to me, is always a sunrise, a glitter of green and golden wonder in a vast edifice of stone and space." - Ansel Adams

Our adventure started on Thursday, when we said goodbye to our friends, and to Aunt Bets, and boarded the plane in Honolulu. This flight was especially great because since the Army paid for our flights, all four of us got a seat, instead of trying to fit the 4 of us in to 2 seats like usual. The girls did wonderfully, of course. They are becoming expert travelers. We figured out this is Nova's 5th flight from Hawaii to the Mainland (9th flight if you count the round trip returns). Juneau has 1 less than that, but she also gets to claim the trip home from Vietnam, so they are about equally as accustomed to sitting in the airplane for 6+ hours at a time.

We flew in to Oakland, and spent the night at a hotel until we could pick up our car in the morning.

The Girls after arriving in Oakland, all tired out!

The double crib setup in the hotel

After picking up the car we started the roadtrip through California, Nevada, Utah, and into Colorado. First stop was Yosemite! I have never been to Yosemite (or out west at all for that matter), so i was thrilled that we would be able to spend some time visiting. Yosemite is Cris' all-time favorite place on the planet, so he was of course totally thrilled about the trip. Cris lived in Northern Ca for several years, and spent many weekends climbing at Yosemite. He was especially excited to re-visit El Capitan, on which he spent 4 days eating, sleeping, and climbing on the face of El Cap while he climbed The Nose in 1998.

We spent the day doing some driving and hiking around the park, and then checked in to our very cool hotel in El Portal just outside the park. We had an awesome balcony overlooking the Merced River. The girls loved standing on the balcony and watching the water rush by.

Our view from the Hotel Balcony

Juneau and Nova enjoying the view

Friday we woke up bright and early and headed back into the park for some more sightseeing.

I love these next few pictures of Nova. She looks so sweet and cute.

Yosemite Falls

Another view of Yosemite falls

Nova was obsessed wtih taking off the tank top she was wearing. We were chasing after her all day trying to keep her shirt on!

Nova in front of El Cap

Sisters

Me and the girls exploring El Cap Meadows

This one's for Grandpa Stickley - Juneau found some Milkweed in the meadow! Cris snapped this photo just for you!

Check out that mouth full of teeth!

Juneau in front of El Cap

Half Dome

Not sure if Juneau is hugging Nova or Choking her in this one.

Cris sitting in El Cap meadows reminiscing (and Nova getting ready to try to take her shirt off...again!)

Dad and Nova climbing rocks

Dad and Juneau in front of El Cap. Juneau impressed some visitors by pointing right at the rock and saying perfectly clearly "El Cap!"

Juneau loves being thrown up high

Dad teaching Juneau about Rock Climbing while watching the climbers on the face of El Cap

Hanging out in the meadow

Watching more climbers

This picture is for Uncle Casey. Casey apparently got quite wet several years ago in the water surrounding this boulder.

We then headed out of the park and onto a road that leads literally into the middle of nowhere. I grew up in rural west virginia, so i am by no means a city girl, but i have never ever seen anything as desolate as the road we took through california and into Nevada. After hours and hours of nothing we finally arrived into the crazy little town called Tonopah.

This is a brief glimpse at the scenery for our 4 hour drive from California to Nevada.

We are currently checked into our Motel (cris claims it is actually a hotel because the room entrances all face the interior of the building, but i think calling it a hotel is a real stretch), and we are rather enjoying speculating at what it would be like to live such an increcibly simple life out in the middle of nowhere Nevada.

Speaking of simple lives, we are getting used to living out of our suitcase. I have found myself having to be creative and settle for washing the sippy cups and bottles with shampoo if there isn't any alternative. it's funny the things you take for granted!

The girls found this round pillow in the hotel and have had endless fun with it!

Tomorrow we are headed to Utah, then on to Colorado.

Farewell Paradise!

Tonight is our last night in Hawaii. This island holds so many memories for our family. It's hard to believe 4 years ago Cris and I got married here in Hawaii, Nova was born here, Juneau joined our family here, we purchased our first home together here, Cris earned his PhD, I finished my residency, and we said goodbye to Cris' Grandpa here in Hawaii. While we were so far from home and family for the last four years, our amazing friends in Hawaii became our family, and now we have to say goodbye to these friends. It's been a tough week as far as that is concerned, with our friends each flying out to their new assignments. We are excited about what the next 3 years in Colorado holds, but so sad to leave this island that has been our home for the last 4 years.

To say the week has been busy is a significant understatement. There is so much to be done, and we have a lot that we are leaving undone. Our home (which we have decided not to sell, but to try to rent given the current real estate situation) in Hawaii still has no tenant, our Prius is not yet sold, Cris has no job, we have no place to live once we get to Colorado. Sounds scary, right? that's what we think too! We have been blessed in unbelievable ways, and i know God will continue to provide for our family in the midst of this transition, but please keep these things in your prayers!

Friday was the end of an era, as i graduated from the Tripler OB/GYN Residency Program. It's funny how surreal it seemed to actually be done. It's been a long road. I was of course thinking back through my journey to end up at this point. I remembered how i cried and cried in the bathroom in the science building my first year of college when i miserably failed my Chemistry test. I remembered studying so hard for the MCAT, and sitting in the same chair for 10 hours a day every day for weeks trying to learn enough get a good score. Then medical school came, and the crazy studying continued. Graduation from medical school was similarly surreal, and then residency began. The 80-100 hour work weeks, the 24 hour shifts, the constant emotional and physical strain for 4 years. Trying to find a balance between being a great doctor and a great mom. The guilt leaving the house before the girls woke up, and not making it home before they went to sleep. I am anxious to see what life will be like as an OB/GYN out of residency. I still don't have a ton of autonomy since i will be an Army doc for the next 3 years, but I am excited to see what the next 3 years will bring. Hopefully a trip to Iraq isn't in my future, but i guess we will just have to wait and see on that one.

The Stickley's and The Clardy's - our Hawaii Family. We will miss these guys like crazy, but hopefully we will be reunited in 3 years to start our practice together!

Our residency class (yes, all girls!) with our Dr. Hill and Dr. Olson

Me and the girls (obviously barely tolerating the sun and heat after the 2 hour ceremony!)

Me with Dr. Olson - my mentor and one of the most amazing Doctors and Moms in the whole world.

Getting my diploma!

6 Happy Newly Graduated OB/GYNs

Following graduation we celebrated with the annual Senior Roast. The 3rd year residents host the party, which is held at the beautiful Halekulani resort in Waikiki. Fortunately, they weren't too cruel to the seniors, and everyone had a good laugh and lots of fun spending time with friends.

Getting ready for "The Roast" in Tracy's hotel room at the Halekulani

6 good friends after enduring 4 hard years

Me and Tracy

Cris with our very good friend Benny

Me with Brandy (a radiology resident, but an honorary member of the OB Crew)

Cris and Brandy

The rest of the week we have spent trying to tie up some of our loose ends. We have gotten to spend a little bit of time enjoying the beach and pool with the girls, but mostly Betsy has been spending a lot of time with the girls. I can't say enough how much the girls are loving their time with Bets. Juneau especially is learning so much. She now knows all of her colors, and is even starting to count (although we hear "seven" quite frequently in the sequence, it's currently her favorite number). She is also learning her shapes, and points out circles everywhere we go. She has several songs that she knows most of the words too, and she also has some dances that go along with the songs.

Juneau feeding Nova breakfast in our "home" at the Hale Koa Hotel

We still have a bit of packing to be done, and a full day tomorrow, so i will sign off for tonight. As a closing thought....does the fact that Nova's feet always end up looking like this by the end of the day make us bad parents? :)

ALOHA HAWAII - WE WILL MISS YOU