Crystal hot springs

I have way too many pictures to make just one video so I am going to try to make separate videos of different things that we did while we were in Utah. We went to Crystal hot springs with my family, and my kids loved it there. They weren't fond of the salt water but had a good time anyway.

We're back....Did you miss us?

Beautiful Utah

What I miss most about Utah

To all my fans out there, don't worry! WE ARE BACK. I know that you all were dying to here all about my vacation to Utah,so here it is in a nutshell. First and foremost I have to tell you how much I enjoyed looking out my Mom's window every morning to see the beautiful mountains. The trip was highly enjoyable, and it was so good to see everyone again. It's hard to believe that I left Utah over nine months ago. This trip made me realize how quickly time flies.... Now, back to my vacation. Where was I? Okay, I already told you about the plane ride. It really wasn't as bad as I expected honestly, and people at the airport and on the plane were more than willing to help us which was so appreciated. I would fly again with four kids by myself in a heartbeat if that says anything.

We stayed at my Mom's house for the entire three weeks, and it was so fun to spend time with her. ( I don't know if it was fun for her and my sister having us there, but we enjoyed ourselves) My Mom was a great hostess. Thanks Mom for everything!

My good friend Kendra entrusted me to borrow her brand new Ford Taurus for the entire three weeks, and it was so fun driving a sports car around instead of the boat that I normally am driving. Thank you so much Kendra!

Alyssa, Kelsie, Leah, and Audrey were absolute troopers. There were times that I definately wanted to pull my hair out but through it all we survived.

I could go on and on about all of the fun things that we did, and all of the people that we spent time with but that would take more time than I have at the moment.

Just know that we had a lot of fun, and it's great to be back in Tennessee. The girls and I were so excited to see Kevin again, it's been a while. It was so cute, on the way back to Tennessee Alyssa kept passing me notes on the plane telling me how much she missed her Dad. One lady sitting behind me was watching her pass the notes back and forth and just thought Alyssa was so cute.

Thanks to everyone for making this trip so memorable, we hope to see you all again soon!

Goodbye moon pies, Hello fry sauce

Utah here we come! Leah looking a little nervous to fly

Alyssa and Kelsie on board

Well, we have actually been in Utah now for a little over a week, and boy is it nice to be back. It's As soon as we started flying over the mountains I started getting a little emotional. It was so nice to see the mountains again. However, I did not enjoy seeing the white substance that they were covered in.

For the record, flying with four kids alone really wasn't too bad. Kelsie and Alyssa sat in the row in front of me. I was able to take one car seat on the plane, and so I just alternated Leah and Audrey from riding on my lap to riding in the car seat. It was quite humorous watching person after person pass up the opportunity of sitting by me. I couldn't understand why they didn't want to sit next to the girl with twins. Oh well, their loss! I was really impressed with how well all four girls did on the flight. I was also impressed with how well Southwest treated us. The minute I stepped off the plane, they had my stroller ready for me, and just helped me with whatever I needed. It was great! Oh, and I almost forgot. We had a layover in Denver for an hour. The babies were starting to kind of fuss a little so I was trying to find a place to sit down with them. Low and behold, I look up and see my old neighbor and her husband and guess what? They are on the same flight heading back to Utah. They ended up sitting by us and helping me with the kids. It was so great. I truly felt like we were being watched over.

One major observation I have made about Utah is that it's way too COLD here! When we left Tennessee it was 70 degrees. Well, it was about 34 degrees the day that we flew in with lots and lots of SNOW!

So far it has been a really fun trip and we even managed to get sick. Kelsie ended up getting the flu a few days after getting here. Alyssa and I also ended up getting sick the night before her birthday. She also had some kind of flu, and I ended up the the flu plus strep. I don't know if it was the change in climate or what. We are getting better now though which is good.

It's been a week filled with lots and lots of activities, and very tired kids.

It's been so fun great spending time with everyone, and seeing my family and friends. I have to say that I do miss my king size pillowtop. This sleeping on hide-a-bed stuff is no good. I also miss my husband. The last time we spent three weeks apart was when he flew out to interview for residency programs. I didn't even recognize him at the airport when I picked him up. (I guess that's how you know it's been too long since you have been apart) We really do miss him, and the girls miss him too!

More excitement coming soon.....

Happy Match day!

Does he look excited or what?
The family

Lt to Rt

Grandma, Trisha's mom, Trisha, Kevin, Aunt Sharon, Uncle Mark, and Aunt Dee

middle hiding would be Kelsie

Well, at this time last year we were just finding out where we would be spending the next four years of our lives for Kevin's residency training.

One day in the month of March is a much anticipated day for fourth year medical students, and they refer to the date as "match day" This is an annual event that is coordinated by the National Resident Matching Program. Approximately 16,000 fourth-year medical students across the country will receive their residency assignments simultaneously on Match Day. All across the nation, the fourth year medical students will all open up an envelope at 12:00 EST. It can't even be opened a minute before 12:00 EST.

The students rank their top programs, and then the programs also rank the students. It all goes into a computer, and then the computer generates a letter telling the student where they will or will not be going. (unfortunately, there are students who do not match anywhere) It's a very complicated process if you ask me.

Kevin interviewed at nine programs including Utah, Michigan, Tennessee, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Wisconsin.

Truthfully, in my mind there wasn't anywhere that I thought that we would be going to except to the Mayo clinic in Minnesota.

The letter was presented, and Kevin opened it up. He kind of read the letter to himself, and kept saying"wow, I am really surprised, I didn't think we would end up here." We had our family with us at the ceremony, and of course everyone was dying to know where we were going. He finally piped up and told us that we were headed to Tennessee. I think I just froze in my seat, and didn't say a whole lot from that time forward but that's okay. All is well, and now I can't imagine my life not being in Tennessee. To be honest, I am kind of glad that I am not in Minnesota enduring the freezing temperatures. It's weird how things work out sometimes.

Leprechauns do exist

My four cute little leprechauns
visiting Alyssa at school
Kelsie at the Science Adventure center
Our shamrock pancakes
Kelsie enjoying her good finds

We had a rather rude dude come to our house the eve of St. Patrick's day. Rumor has it that Larry the leprechaun visits Alyssa's school every year on March 17th. Before the kids come to school, he does some very naughty things including: tipping desks over, stealing things from the teacher, putting things in random places, etc. The kids all had to make a leprechaun trap for Larry in hopes that they could finally catch him. Well, Larry made his grand escape once again.

Alyssa was really hoping that Larry would stop by our house and sure enough he did indeed stop here. Larry sprinkled leprechaun dust from the top of the upstairs all the way down into the kitchen, and boy does he know how to make a mess. (he would fit in good at our house) He left a little note for the girls that said:

My name is Larry
I'm what they call a Leprechaun
But really I am sort of like a little fairy

My favorite color of course is green
And don't believe people, I'm really not mean

I love St. Patrick's day, it's the best time of the year
Because that means spring time soon will be here

You tried to catch me but I'm no fool
You won't find me, not even at school

I left you some treasures that I brought from far away
Know that you will never find me and have a very good
St. Patty's day

Love,
Larry the lepechaun

The girls couldn't have been more excited, they were however a little disapointed that they didn't actually see Larry in person. Oh well, maybe next year.

I really wanted to do a "green" breakfast but didn't feel like getting up at 5:00 a.m. so that I could make a fancy breakfast before sending Alyssa off to school, so Kelsie and I enjoyed our shamrock pancakes after Alyssa went to school. Kelsie, Audrey, Leah, and I enjoyed a fun day at the Science Adventure center. After that we headed over to Alyssa's school. After Alyssa got home we then headed out to the park and enjoyed a beautiful Tennessee day.

We have noticed each other