Pumpkin Patch

We went to a pumpkin patch near our house today. It's about the coolest set-up we've seen. It's a kid's dream....petting zoo, pony rides, hay castle, games galore, giant jump houses, and don't forget the pumpkins! They also have the best gift shop full of fall decorations - I had a hard time resisting buying a bunch of stuff but then realized that I don't want to have to move it! There isn't a hay ride and I think that they may even ship the pumpkins in to the farm, they have a section you can walk out and u-pick or you can pick from a table....we chose the table route - we found some that "begged to be carved" right away! :) We got a pumpkin for each of us - even a tiny one for the baby. (ya ok, so we're dorks!) Speaking of the baby, we decided that we're going to find out what it is, our "official ultrasound" is Nov. 21 - we'll see if we can hold out until then to find out. We could really find out anywhere after ~15 weeks, it just gets easier to see the later it is, we'll keep you posted when we find out.

Oh Baby!

We are excited to tell you all that we are having a baby! We are 13 weeks and 3 days pregnant. It's due in late April. The baby is the size of a peach right now. On the ultrasounds we can see it kicking and squirming all over the place. It's nice to have connections in the ultrasound world ya know. :) We are so excited about our new addition and we can't wait to move home to Oregon in December and start our new family!

Home From Paradise

On the jungle covered, winding, one lane road to Hana!

Enjoying dinner at Mama's Fish House

The black sand beach

We had a wonderful time in Maui. We snorkeled every day that we were there. The weather was beautiful - about 85 degrees each day with just a couple days with sprinkles. We went to a Luau, magic/comedy show, drove to Hana, swam with turtles, took a catamaran trip to Molokini crater, visited a blow hole, saw and swam in the 7 sacred pools and much more. It was such a relaxing time. We stayed in a condo with a full kitchen so we got to cook a lot of our meals which made us happy. It was our first visit to Hawaii and we can't wait to go back!

Thar she blows!

We enjoyed many of Maui's beautiful pink and orange sunsets

Hawaii Photos

At our favorite beach - Napili Bay

Jason and I at the Old Lahaina Luau

Look at those hula hips go!

Jason in his snorkel get-up at Molokini Crater

I Passed (make that twice)!!!

Wow what a busy week it's been! Monday I took the first of my National ARDMS Ultrasound Board Exams! I started with Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation....and PASSED! Today I took the Vascular Principles and Instrumentation exam and PASSED it too! YaHoo...2 down and 5 to go! I think that these were going to be the hardest of all of them and there were the 2 that I am required to pass (I only have to take one more to be registered but most employers require more...and if I know the material now I might as well take them now!) so hopefully this is a good sign of things to come! I am SO glad to be done with the physics portion of my studying and exams - physics and I don't get along well, but apparently well enough to pass! :)

Jason and I leave for Maui tomorrow. I am not going to study one bit while we're gone and man alive does that feel good! We're so excited for our trip and cant wait to hit the beach, snorkel a ton, eat some good food and enjoy our time together!

Oh and on a side note...I HATE earthquakes! I woke up at 2am to loud cracking sounds and everything shaking a bit...just a 4.1 but good gosh they freak me out! They are so common place here that it doesn't make the news or anything - maybe I'm just a big baby.

My Sister's Beautiful Wedding

My sister Merideth, and my wonderful new brother-in-law, Erin, got married 2 weeks ago in the San Juan Islands. It was such an incredible weekend full of hugs, good food, fun memories, beautiful scenery, relaxation and lots of laughter! Lots of guests came from far and wide to celebrate their special day, and they made it a full weekend affair so we could celebrate to the fullest. The weather couldn't have been better...high 70's low 80's all weekend. The rehearsal was at sunset on Friday followed by a delicious gourmet dinner. Saturday we had breakfast while overlooking Friday Harbor, shopped at the farmers market, shopped in the cute shops, and finished the evening with a BBQ crab feast at 4th of July Beach. Sunday was wedding day - we helped set up for the reception, I had lunch with Merideth and about 10 of her friends then the wedding prep began. The ceremony was at 4:30 in an amazing tiny chapel overlooking the harbor (it was like it was from a picture book!). The ceremony was complete with personalized vows and the minister was a longtime friend of Merideth's. The reception was at the yaught club - a band, good wine, great food and golf ball sized truffles on the wedding cake rounded out the night. There are so many wonderful photos that I am having a hard time selecting just a few, so forgive how many I am posting. Congrats you two, we couldn't be happier for you!

Hooray I'm Done!

Last Sunday was my graduation from Loma Linda! It was a small simple ceremony, but it was nice. It feels so good to be done with school! It was hard to say goodbye to all the girls in my class though, there were just 12 of us girls and we built such strong bonds and friendships over the last 2 years! Now I just have to buckle down and study for and take my boards! I'm trying to get them all, or most of them (There are 7 in all that I have to take...one for every area we studied...abdomen, ob, vascular etc.) done before we move back home. We're aiming to move home mid December - we can hardly wait!

This is my dear friend Sara. We studied our butts off together. I don't know how I could have survived these 2 years without her. She's an Oregonian, a Duck, and a Ford Scholar- we were destined to be great friends!

Jason's family sent me these beautiful flowers, so sweet of them!